It’s my birthday in two
days. Last year I celebrated my special day at a decadent resort in the
Caribbean, a once-in-a-lifetime splurge.Had I put the trip off for a year to save more toward it I would have
been majorly disappointed, given what’s happened with travel this year. Note to
self:Don’t put things off if they are
important to you.
This year’s celebration
will be much closer to home with a weekend at one of my favorite spas, and I’m
hoping Friday the 13th will prove to be lucky.I don’t know about you, but I always feel a
bit of a slump the month before my birthday.I am definitely more introspective, looking back on the past year as
well as forward.I chalk it up to a kind
of death-rebirth phase.Shedding what
didn’t work, planning to change things where I can.It’s my mental inventory time.
Checking in: Over the
last year I didn’t lose any weight.On
the plus side I didn’t gain any weight, so I’ll call that a win.
Note to self:I am not here to pay bills and lose
weight.I am here to be the best person
I possibly can.Best mother, wife,
daughter, sister and friend. I feel my track record is pretty good, not
perfect, but what is?
In an effort to ramp up
my fitness, I started meeting a friend once a week to trek up a mountain and
see the view from the top.It’s not
easy, but it’s getting easier and we’re getting faster.Win: I don’t huff and puff as much as I did at
the beginning.
Professionally this
year, I published 9 books and 2 novellas. Some are selling well.Others are struggling to find their
readership—or have the readers find them.I expect that to be ongoing. I’ve
heard that 90% of book sales are earned by 10% of the authors, which tends to
be a trueism for sales generally.Those
top 10% don’t have to do much except show up with a new release.Readers know them.Readers continue to buy them because they
deliver—meaning they meet or surpass reader expectation.Even if they occasionally fall short, their
fans forgive them and line up for the next release.
As long as I continue
to deliver a satisfying story with a happy ending, my fans will find me.That’s the thing that keeps us seasoned
writers going.Plus the fact that we
don’t recognize a life where we’re not writing.
I have no projections
as to what the next year might bring because sitting on a white sand beach this
time last year, watching the sun go down and listening to the waves lap against
the shore, who could have guessed everyone’s world would be turned upside down.I’ll just keep writing, and if I never go
back there in person I’ll always have my memories.And possibly a setting for a new book.Because right now, readers need an escape and
happy ending more than ever before.
Speaking of Happy Endings, have you snagged your copy of the feel good holiday anthology, Christmas Comes to Dickens? It's still only 99 cents and the accompanying Cookie Recipe Book is a bargain at Free.
Since today is
Remembrance Day, Veterans’ Day, Armistice, or whatever it’s called in your part
of the world, take a minute to honor the world’s true heroes, past and
present.Like a happy ending, we also need
our heroes more than ever before.
Sign up for Kathleen’s VIP Reader Group to receive a
free book, updates, special giveaways and fan-priced offers.http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1
It’s no secret. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE Halloween. Not just because I enjoy scary things or buckets full of candy. (Um…we’ll talk about that later) The thing that truly gets me, right in my pumpkin-spiced-loving heart, is the excitement and mystery of the weeks leading up to the 31st. It’s that unsettled feeling, those goosebumps and shivers, which hint that something unexpected—even magical—is about to happen.
For me, these feelings began in childhood. I grew up in a time that heartily embraced Halloween. No rules about when or how you could Trick-Or-Treat. If the light was on, you rang the bell! I even went with friends on the way home from school. After the big costume parade and party, of course. Does anyone remember making orange and black paper chains to decorate your classroom? Scary decorations, pumpkins, running in the dark. We laughed until our sides hurt and ate way too much candy. My best friend and I would tremble and lock arms when we passed “the haunted house.” You know the place. Every town has one.
Throughout the years, I added many more special Halloween magic memories. College events, my first apartment gathering with Mr. H. and our friends, and later introducing our own daughter to the things we love. The best of times as we dressed up, decorated, baked, and watched fun, spooky shows, and movies together. The magic—all there, only different.
This year at Camp Hills, we dug out our decorations and even added some new ones. Darling Daughter put up a Halloween Tree for the first time. It’s black with purple lights and fabulous Halloween ornaments. FANTASTIC! (You can find many great options on Etsy) DD’s are Tim Burton-themed…Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride. We grew our own pumpkins and supported a favorite local farm by buying the BIGGEST ones we could find there. 30 lbs.+ each - no kidding! We needed wagons to get them to the car. You know they'll be outstanding Jack-o'-Lanterns providing yummy seeds aplenty!
Ah...the holidays! The spookiness of Halloween, the good food and family gathered around the Thanksgiving table. Then, there's Christmas and the author's urge to write a story worthy of a Hallmarkesque holiday movie with all the cozy feels?
However, before we get to Christmas, we have to get past my second favorite holiday ... Halloween! Or, we could just mix the two of them together for some awesome entertainment and a take on Tim Burton's wonderful "The Nightmare Before Christmas".
I suppose I should acknowlege Thanksgiving, even though -- as a Canadian resident -- I've already had mine. Not to worry, I'll dig down deep to my American heritage during my column next month and share some of my favorite recipes fit for your holiday table! I promise.
Now ... to get on with what I believe is a perfect set of holiday tropes all wrapped up in one anthology ... Christmas Comes to Dickens. Ten best selling authors, ten brand-new holiday novellas.
The holiday season is in full
swing in the quaint New England town of Dickens. We have all sorts of fun
holiday activities to share such as a Christmas tree lighting in the town
square, ice skating on Grosvenor’s Pond, sleigh rides, cutting down your own
Christmas tree at Gridley Meadows, caroling on the Common. You name it—Dickens
has it all!
While some of our stories may interact with one another, others may not. We hope you will do as we did and enjoy the magic that is the holiday season, no matter when it's taking place.
Our storybook setting abounds
with romance, children’s wishes, much needed miracles and—maybe even—a touch of
magic!
Join us as our best selling and
award-winning authors fill your holiday stocking with ten brand new novellas
ranging from sweet to sassy, including:
Millie’s Awesome Holiday
Miracle by Top 100 Best Selling Author Nancy Fraser - Can one little
girl fill the holiday season with enough miracles for everyone? This story will
warm your heart.
Miracle at Holly Hill Inn
by Top 100 Best Selling Author Maddie James - Ariana is looking for the perfect
Christmas. Instead, she finds a Scrooge. Will two days snowbound at Holly Hill
Inn bring them together?
Holiday Hearts by
Top 100 Best Selling Author Caroline Clemmons - Laura is funny, beautiful, and smart.
She’s not about to date her boss. Can Ward convince her he’s not just looking
for a holiday fling?
The Tinsel Tango by
Best Selling Author Bonnie Edwards - She needs R&R. He teaches Tango. Or
does he? Can love survive secrets & hidden agendas when a dance teacher is
exposed as a wealthy tycoon?
Wisdom of the Heart
by USA Today Best Selling Author Liz Flaherty - Best friends fell in love in
high school. But life, families & distance happened along the way. Could
they still be in love?
Operation Snowball
by Best Selling Author Kathryn Hills - Returning home to Dickens is hard for
Army veteran, John Gridley. The last thing he expects to find is love with a
pretty widow.
Angel Kisses and Holiday
Wishes by Best Selling Author Peggy Jaeger - Sage left years ago,
leaving Keith's heart in tatters. She's back as his grandmother’s doctor. Is
there hope for them?
Holly’s Wish by Top
100 Best Selling Author Kathleen Lawless - What if the girl who got away is standing
right in front of you? Years ago, they shared one magical Christmas Eve. Is it
too late for them now?
Holiday Heart Wishes
by Best Selling Author Lucinda Race - Vera picks up Tony, a stranded motorist,
on her way back to Dickens. Will they discover their heart wishes can come true
at Christmas?
Santa’s Wish by
Best Selling Author Jan Scarbrough - Will Christmas magic help them overcome
the obstacles of her dashed career ambitions and his grief so they can find a
second chance at love?
