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As I’ve gotten older, I find myself in a reflective mood this time of year. The current year is drawing to a close, the New Year is just over the horizon. Since I’m such a lesson-oriented person with a tad of goal-making obsession thrown in, I wanted to look back on this year at the highs – and lows – and see what I can learn to guide me into 2020 with a brighter, enthusiastic mindset. At the end of 2018 I made some goals for myself for  2019. Of the 7 things I listed, I only stuck to 2. More about that on tomorrow’s blog.

For now, since being positive is such a good thing, let’s start with the good things that happened this year.

1. I had 3 books published through 2 publishing houses and I released my very first indie pubbed book into the world  ( the story of how this came about is detailed on tomorrow’s blog, so check back.)      
2. I celebrated my 59th birthday and my 32nd wedding anniversary. No small feat, either of them.
3. I never wrote them all out together until now, but I won ALL of the following awards this year:
4. 2019 NERFA Winner – Contemporary romance 40k-56k CHRISTMAS & CANNOLIS
5. 2019 Book Buyer Best Top pick of the year – Contemporary Romance – DEARLY BELOVED
6. 2019 Book Buyers Best First place in Mainstream Romance: CHRISTMAS & CANNOLIS
7. 2019 International Digital Awards – Winner CONTEMPORARY NOVEL – CHRISTMAS & CANNOLIS (this is the second year in a row I’ve won this division, so YAY!)
8. 2019  Golden Quill Contest – Winner Contemporary CAN’T STAND THE HEAT
9. 2019 Maine Romance Writers Strut your Stuff Grand Prize Winner DEARLY BELOVED
10. I finaled in a bunch more contests, but the wins have a tad more cache ( hee hee)
11. I sold more books than ever before this year, so I hope that means I gained some new, loyal readers. That’s the goal, anyway!
12. I joined a fabulous Blogging Group called the ROMANCE GEMS where I get to blog to the masses once a month ( more if I want a special day!) The support and love in this group is astounding.

And of course, there were things that weren’t so great that happened and need to be listed.

1. I was dropped by one of my publishing houses after book 1 of a 3 book series was published due to low sales. I never realized they wanted me to sell 1,000,000 books right out of the gate. And yes, if that sounds bitter….I am.
2. I received some not very flattering reviews for a few of my books ( and yes, they were outnumbered in droves by the positive ones, but the negative ones are the ones you ALWAYS remember)
3. I tore the rotator cuffs in both arms, the bicep tendon in my right and had to have surgery to fix the right arm so I could function like a human being again. ( Left arm is next year)
4. I continue to see my parents deteriorate with age and that truly saddens my soul.
5. Several of my friends lost their parents this year making # 4 a reality for me to come.
6. The world around us is very dark and scary right now and I truly am sick and tired of seeing another high school or mass shooting, or another home-terrorist attack every time I look at the news. I am trying to be hopeful for the future, but it’s hard.

I am happy and hopeful, though to see that there were more good things listed above than bad things.

So, I look forward to starting 2020 renewed, recharged, and delighted with the potential happiness the year will bring.

Happy New Year, peeps  ~ Peg