Goodbye 2018... I won't miss you.

Recapping 2018...

I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but 2018 was a slump year for me. In more ways than I can even begin to understand. Writing took the back seat to family. Royalties tanked. Life moved forward.

My daughter started her first year of college. My son started his senior year of high school. I published one book.

2018 has been my hardest year since I first published. The market is getting harder, it seems, with each passing year. But this year? This year has been an uphill struggle. At points I was ready to just throw in the towel. Quit and move on to other avenues that would remove me from the utter disappointment of an unsuccessful year. There's nothing like feeling as if you've let down not only yourself, but your family as well. It's been an absolute kick in the gut. But I told myself that I have to take the good with the bad. Things have a way of turning themselves around, I just have to push harder to break through the negativity that so easily settled on my shoulders. I have enough on my shoulders as it is, I don't need that additional burden weighing me down to the point of surrender.

As for 2019, I can only hope things smooth out. Become less stressful. But there aren't any guarantees. My daughter will be starting her second semester of college, possibly transferring back home once it's complete. She's not overly impressed with dorm living, and being two hours away from home has been hard on her. My son will graduate in May. Turn 18 in July, and then ship out to boot camp in August. One will leave the nest, and the other might return. As for me, I have a date with my editor and plan on forcing myself to focus. Nothing will ever be smooth sailing, so I might as well get used to it and learn to navigate around the rougher parts. I've always loved writing and it's time I got back to it.

I wish you a prosperous and very happy new year. Let's hope 2019 brings about better days and less hardships. Successes that make you grin ear-to-ear, and an abundance of excitement that will carry us through to 2020.