Tag Archives: #writingcommunity

Looking back, looking ahead. 2021 in review and a glimpse at the future.

2021 was, for me, a weird year. Personal losses, professional highlights, and a mix of mental and physical ailments marked 365 days that should have brought us out of the pandemic and back into normalcy.

Nope.

As I sit here in my office writing this, I think reflecting on the past year is one way to plan for the next, so here goes.

2021 in review.

Professional stuff:

wrote and published 4 full-length books and one prequel/novella

won 2 writing awards

got a new contract for 5 books with a new publisher

entered the Kindle Vella world and am kicking it!!

Attended my first writing conference/book signing since 2019, the Fall in Love New England conference

Had two book signings in my local Toadstool Bookshop for new releases.

Personal stuff:

lost 22 pounds ( of the 50 I need to lose)

welcomed my first grandson

saw my nephew married

kept my parents covid-free and healthy

had a negative mammogram but a positive melanoma biopsy that resulted in 1 Mohs surgery on my face and one excision on my shoulder. ( not fun!)

Lost my father-in-law to a myriad of medical issues.

For the first time since I started doing it, I was unable to complete the Goodreads reading challenge this year. Time, as they say, just flew.

I turned 61. Unbelievable.

Not bad. Not great, either, when you consider I could have written a lot more since I’m home for the pandemic and retirement.

So, looking toward 2022

First and foremost I have to lose the rest of the 50 pounds for my daughter’s big – 3 times delayed – super wedding reception in May.

I have 7 books on the docket to write for 2022 and am seriously hunkering down to start them in January

I have 3 conference/book signings booked for the year starting in July.

I am going on a family cruise (covid-permitting)

I want to be a better person in every way so I am going to start meditating daily

I want to be around for my grandson’s life so I am eating healthier.

I want to grow my book sales, online presence, and reader loyalty.

Some of these are lofty goals, some are not. Either way, I sincerely hope 2022 is better than 2019/2020/2021 has been. We need a break. I need a break.

Happy New Year, peeps.

~Peg

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#LongandShortReviews #WednesdayBloggingChallenge 6.24.2020

I’ve been M.I.A. for a few weeks because….life. But today’s topic got me back in the blogging challenge saddle.

My “go to” book or movie for a pick-me-up. Easy peasy and I’m gonna do both!

Book first:

I’ve mentioned this book dozens of times on this blog – and others – but whenever I can’t find something new and intriguing to read, I pull out my copy of NEW YORK TO DALLAS by J.D. Robb from my book case. It is without a doubt my favorite Robb addition of the In Death Series to date, even though they are all excellent reads. This one, though, is so packed with emotion, suspense, and love, plus the way Robb really gets to the meaning of marriage, that it’s worth a re-read every now and again. The last three pages are my absolute favorite in the book and even though I’ve read the book numerous times, I always cry when I re-read them.

When I need a movie pick-me-up there is no better feel good, make me laugh until I cry movie than MOONSTRUCK starring Cher ( in her Academy Award winning role.)

The reason I love this movie isn’t only because it’s just the funniest, tenderest, loveliest movie about family that I’ve ever seen. I have a more personal reason for watching it when I need an emotional lift.

The movie was released in 1987, the same year I got married. Directly after saying our “I’do’s,” hubby and I relocated to Wisconsin for my husband’s job. He’d been there already for 6 months, coming back home so we could get married. And while he’d already gotten acclimated to the town and the people, even making new friends, I knew no one.

Not a soul.

I had no job, we lived in a tiny basement apartment and hubby was gone all day long at work. It was December/January 1987-88 and where we lived, on Lake Superior, the daily temps were in the negative 20’s. Every day. All day. So I couldn’t really go out and do stuff. I was lonely, missed my old life and was inching towards depression when it should have been the happiest time in my life.

One day I decided to get out of the house and go to the movies. The local mall-theater had Tuesday matinees so I figured at least I’d get dressed, get out for a few hours, and maybe, just maybe, feel better. Once I saw MOONSTRUCK was playing I purchased my ticket, got my tub’o’gross movie popcorn and settled into my seat.

I was the only one in the theater. Seems everyone had a life in Superior except yours truly.

Two hours later I left the theater with my spirits lifted, a huge smile on my face, and feeling so much better. Watching the antics of Loretta Castarini ( Cher) and her crazy Italian family made me feel like I’d been teleported back to NYC and my own crazy family. That was a turning point in my new life.

If you need a lift either emotionally, spiritually, or even physically, this is the movie to see. I just may watch it again tonight!

Now, let’s see what some of the other authors in this challenge read or watch to make them feel better. L&SR

I would be remiss if I didn’t do a little self promo here. I’ve got a new book releasing on July 1 titled WOKE. It’s an updated version of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, but in my book, Beauty doesn’t wait for love’s first kiss to bring her back to the land of the living!!

Waking up each day is a gift….

On her 21st birthday, someone slipped a potent drug combination into socialite Aurora Brightwell’s champagne putting her in a coma for the next ten years. It’s been a long road back, and it’s time to reclaim the life she lost and find out exactly what happened on that fateful night.

Financier Kincade Enright has his own reason for helping Aurora discover who poisoned her, but for the time being he’s keeping that – and his true identity – to himself. What he can’t keep hidden though, are his growing feelings for the one-time paparazzi darling and party-girl.

When this prince of finance joins forces with the former sleeping beauty, nothing can stop them from finding the answers they seek…or prevent the powerful emotions developing between them as they search for the truth.

Until next week, peeps ~Peg

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#LongandShortReviews 11.20.19 Weekly #Bloggingchallenge


Today’s challenge topic is very apropos the season: THINGS I’M THANKFUL FOR.

Every year, author, author ANGELA HAYES does a November month long THANKFUL AUTHORS promotion, where other authors tell what they are thankful for. This was my post this year: TA

One of the things I wrote that I am most thankful for this year is that I still have my mother with me. I am an only child and therefore the sole caretaker and advocate for my mother and stepfather. Since my father doesn’t want a relationship with me and hasn’t for some years, my primary focus as a daughter has been to mom and stepdad.

My aging parents continue to, well…age, and bring with that all the problems and complaints specific to the infirm elderly with them.I need to take them places now because they don’t drive, can’t be waiting for buses in the winter cold and can’t afford taxis to take them to weekly doctor appointments or even grocery shopping. My mother fell and broke her hip last year and every movement she makes worries me because I am afraid she will fall again. They live about 25 miles from me, so I need to set aside one entire day every week to get them where they need to be. I’m not complaining, even though it may sound as if I am. They want to remain in their own home for as long as they can live somewhat independently and I will not take that away from them. They know if the decision ever needs to be made that they will need to move to elder care, I will support whatever they want to do. I feel having as much independence that they can, albeit limited, is much more sound emotionally and mentally for them. Luckily, I am afforded the luxury of being able to cater to their needs – which aren’t many, but still…

So when I say my prayers at night and when I sit down to Thanksgiving dinner this year, this is the thought uppermost in my mind and what I am thankful for: in this age when families are fractured, relationships are fragile, and people care more about themselves and their own needs than those of others who need help, I am thankful I have the capacity to care for my aging parents and to try and make their lives a little better. They don’t have much time left in this physical world. I want it to be as happy as I can help make it.

Let’s see what some of the other authors in this blog challenge are thankful for this year: L&SR

Until next time ~ Peg

 

 

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