Every year, I take a few moments to post here about what the past twelve months have brought, followed by my hopes and goals for the coming year. Starting with a retrospective of 2023: If you want to read my list of goals from January, click here .  How did I do? Well, I met all my writing deadlines. All three books I anticipated releasing did indeed come out on time. I'm still waiting for the print release of Keep Your Family Close, but the digital came out on December 8.  Accounting-wise, I managed to get caught up in time to get my tax stuff to my accountant, AND I'm proud to say, I've done much better with keeping up on the income and expenses this year! In fact, my spreadsheets are done! Most of them, anyway. I still have to compile my mileage, but that's pretty easy.  I also did better with my fitness goals. I'm still not where I'd like to be (and the holidays have done a real number on my workout routine), but I'm definitely improving.  Where I failed...

What a wild rollercoaster ride November was. Losing my friend and agent, Dawn Dowdle was rock bottom. But what's that saying? When one door closes, another opens? I guess it's true.  Earlier this week, I accepted an offer of representation from the amazing Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary Services.  Paula asked me some tough questions when we first talked. She made me take a good luck at where I am with my writing career and where I want to go. Stepping out of one's comfort zone is never easy, but life is too short to avoid taking the big chances and shooting for the stars. If nothing else, Dawn's sudden passing taught me that.  Think about it. A new year is coming. What big dream have you been pushing aside for the sake of playing it safe? If you had a chance to do (or write!) what you've always dreamed of, what would that be?  

Yesterday evening, I received news that completely knocked me for a loop. My beloved agent and good friend, Dawn Dowdle had died.  I'd just talked to her on the phone about a potential new contract last Tuesday. We laughed about some publishing business silliness. We emailed back and forth over the next several days. She'd been having some relatively minor health issues that were supposed to be treated yesterday.  She died of a heart attack Sunday afternoon.  Even as I type it, I can't quite believe it.  I can't even fathom what her daughter and husband are going through.  Her huge extended family at Blue Ridge Literary Agency, myself included, are reeling, heartbroken, devastated.  Right now, no one really knows what the future of the agency will be. We're all sitting tight, waiting, and remembering Dawn.   

It's been so long since I last posted and so much has happened, there's no way I can fit it all into one post. Especially since I'm busy with the second draft of a new book. So I've decided to catch up a little at a time.  First up, HELPLESS , my 12th Zoe Chambers Mystery came out in May. It's my first foray into straight suspense, rather than whodunit mysteries, and the reviews have been outstanding. I'm so happy. And relieved.  Second, Where the Guilty Hide is FINALLY available in paperback in the US. It took a lot of trial and error and manually pushing buttons by my UK publisher, but it's out there! I won't go into the frustration involved in not being able to get my books into US bookstores. And I've been assured this won't happen when the second Detective Honeywell Mystery comes out in print early next year.  That would be Keep Your Family Close which has my absolute favorite cover of all of my books! It's up for digital pre-orders no...

I am over the moon to share the news that Fatal Reunion has received an Agatha nomination (my sixth!) for Best Contemporary Novel! You can find the entire nominee list here . You would think that six nominations in, I wouldn't be surprised by the news. But I am more stunned with each one. I never take it for granted and never assume I'll ever walk that path or wear that "NOMINEE" ribbon at Malice Domestic ever again. I'm beyond grateful to those who wrote down my name on the nomination forms. 

I may have started 2023 with lots of hope for a productive January, but the Universe quickly revealed other plans. My husband staggered out of bed on New Year's morning and announced he felt lousy. No, we did not go out partying on New Year's Eve. On January 2, he tested positive for Covid. After two days of playing nursemaid, I also tested positive.  Thankfully, we both had mild cases. His was worse, but I think that's because I learned from his mistakes and from the virtual doctor's appointment he had before I started feeling crappy.  Still, mild or not, it knocked me down for a couple of days. Days I didn't have to spare. My deadline for the second Detective Honeywell Mystery is February 1! The good news is I've made up for lost time. And we've both recovered, which is even better news. Barring unforeseen disasters, I will make my deadline. More good news is today is the digital release of Where the Guilty Hide ! It's being well received so far, which...

Here we are, beginning a whole new year. It'll fly by, I'm sure. As I age, the hours, days, weeks, and months seem to gain momentum. So it's only natural that my biggest hope for 2023 is to SLOW DOWN.  Having said that, I still have goals for the year. Here's what the first quarter looks like. January: Complete my second/third draft of Detective Honeywell mystery #2 so I can meet my February 1 deadline. February: Tackle my 2022 accounting stuff. Once again, I failed at keeping up-to-date with recording expenses, so it all has to be done NOW. Also, work on a second round of edits on HELPLESS, the 12th Zoe Chambers mystery. And begin outlining the 13th one. March: Work on developmental edits on Honeywell #2 and begin drafting Zoe #13  If all goes according to the schedule, I should have THREE books coming out in the next twelve months! So much for slowing down. But I do plan to begin each day with some "me time," be it meditation, yoga, or exercise. Or a combina...