Good morning everyone! I’m pretty sure I’m the only one up at this hour on the weekend but that’s ok. I’m lying in bed reflecting on the year and feeling accomplished. I have only my friends, family, and fans to thank for it.

This year I’ve made big steps in the saturated world of writing. I’ve acquired the position of publisher’s liaison for the Horror Writers Association, put out the follow up to The Unsaintly (The Unsaintly Chronicles: The Anti God), designed the covers of Kindra Sowder’s Executioner series, put together a magazine due out in November (Inked Muse Press), joined a fantastic team as a collaborating writer at Horror Addicts (horroraddicts.net), as well as #GoGetItLife (gogetitlife.com), and began my training as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line (crisistextline.com).

Whew. Let me take a breath.

In this journey I’ve discovered a lot about myself. Whatever you put it to the world you will receive.

When I put my first book out it was such a rollercoaster of emotions. I wondered if it was good enough. Being self published for the first time, there were snags…formatting messed the book up, editing mistakes that I caught after the fact..all the horrific things every author could ever imagine. I even got a taste of internet trolls who serve no other purpose than to bring people down for their own amusement.

This year I’ve also learned that I have an auto immune disease (Sjogren’s Syndrome), and it has wreaked havoc on my body, how I function, and how I mentally get through everyday. It has been a huge challenge to my already busy life. I presently suffer through chronic, severe migraines..I don’t have time for anything more. But life has a funny way of reminding you that you are not the captain of the Life Ship.

There have been some catastrophic events occur this year, but I’m grateful for the small, happy moments and choose to focus on those.

My second born son has made me a grandmother. Unexpected? Oh yes! I’m still fairly young, and so is he. But Haven is here and I fell in love with that tiny boy just like I did with my son when he was born. And now my son will start to understand the pure heartbreak that comes along with the overwhelming love associated with having a child.

I do my best to keep the fans in the loop without smothering them. I know, for me, it can tedious seeing “buy my shit” over and over. Big house authors have this kind of freedom from that because they have a publisher and agent to push the money issue while the author just has to show up and engage with the fan base. Sure they have to promote and what not, but not like the indie author who is their own agent, promoter, publicist, etc.

I’m not whining at all. I love to do all that but it does get hard to find the balance.

I would love to sit and do nothing but engage the reader but it gets hard when your budget limits giveaways and the fans are (understandably) drawn to swag. Trust me, I’m still in fan mode, and I get it! I’m also a collector so it’s been another lesson in balance lol.

I guess my point in reflecting this morning is to let you all know that even though I cannot shower you with swag…you’re so appreciated. Thank you for getting me to where I am, regardless of how meager that place is. I intend to remain as humble as I am in this moment regardless of how high the tower goes. Life is such a gift. I don’t want to miss the “now” moments. This “now” moment is about gratefulness and serenity.

Have a fantastic weekend.