Happy
New Year to all my readers out there! I’m not sure about you, but I found that
2025 was a kind of ‘expect the
unexpected’ year. Unfortunately, I never did get my knee replacement
surgery date last year. Sigh. BUT, I’m booked to go get my new and improved
knee at the end of this January. Yay, me! I’m a little nervous and excited at
the same time, so wish me luck and a fast recovery! That said, January 2025
started with an urgency to research the best publishers to query for The Last
Timekeepers time travel adventure series, and Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls
teen psychic mysteries, as the publisher I had been with for ten years was
closing at the end of 2025. I had decided to split up my book series with two
different publishers (not a lofty goal at all!), where I’d approach a Canadian
publisher for my Fairy Falls series (based in Canada), and an International
publisher for The Last Timekeepers. Wow, talk about kismet! I managed to find
two publishers willing to take on my backlist and future books within two
months. Now that’s when hard work meets luck!
While
I was busy dismantling my old author life, and trying to build a new one, we
were met with devastating news at the loss of our 22-week-old grandchild
February 1st, who was to be born in late spring of 2025. Then, my 95-year-old
mother was hospitalized a week later through a fall in the long term care
facility she’s living in, and still hasn’t managed to regain her walking
abilities. Yes, I’m a firm believer that there is strength through adversity,
and I’ve found that you can only keep it together by understanding that we’re
never in control of the narrative. The truth is we are all experiencing life in
our own way, and at times, our mettle is tested to bring us to the next level
of our lives, if we so choose.
So,
between the grieving what was lost, and making choices that would support my
new Author Life, I
made a plan to tear down my old author world, and build a better
one that would serve me, my needs, and my goals. This whole process entailed
resubmitting my books to the publishers who offered me contracts, doing the
necessary edits and changes, approving the new book covers for The Last Timekeepers
series, firing my useless web designer, and hiring a supportive, reliable one,
and trying new ways to connect with my target audience via school libraries and
Instagram. I managed to get my young adult time travel books and teen psychic
mysteries re-released in May and June 2025. Not bad, and way ahead of schedule.
Woohoo!
Moving
forward in Author Life 2.0, I found that there are two things I’ve learned from
coming out of this challenging year. First, to stop putting pressure on myself,
and just enjoy the ride. Life goes by so fast, and if you don’t slow down to
‘smell those roses’ you’ll miss out on so many things or opportunities that
were meant for you. Second, I have nothing to prove. Period. So many times we
seek the approval of others: our parents, our peers, our colleagues and bosses,
our spouses, even our children. That’s a lot to take on. The only approval you
need is the heart-based approval you give to yourself. It’s a form of self-love
that we all need in this world right now.
How
was 2025 for you? Any milestones? Did you need to take a welcome break from all
the craziness we’ve endured the past six years? Have you been in your comfort
zone far too long like I was? Would love to read your comments! Cheers, Happy New Year, and wishing you a
healthy, happy, and prosperous 2026! Thanks for taking the time to read my
blog. I appreciate you!
