In 24 hours, it will be 2007. I usually reserve my whole “year in review” thing for my birthday, since January 1st is an arbitrary designation of some pope observed in my case mainly by when my taxes roll over, but my birthday is a measurable distance that belongs to me. (Also, it’s really convenient that it happens in January.) But what the hell, I’m off to a killer party later tonight, so I guess I will be recognizing Gregorian year changes, and I have some time to kill.
2006 was a good year for me. One of the best I’ve ever had. My first book was released! I got engaged! I began writing full time! I sold my book in both Brazil (to Editora Record) and Portugal (to Aletheia)! I went to a whole bunch of parties and book conferences, I spoke at both conferences and chapter meetings (look, Ma! I teach, too), I read more than 52 books (read: more than last year), I made a whole host of new friends, I took a trip with Colleen (whose book is out now) to New York City and met Scott and Justine, and a trip with Marley to Connecticut and met everybody in the CoLoNY chapter of RWA. I ran the Great Blog Voice Experiment. Both of my critique partners sold their first book contracts. Two of my very good friends, Colleen and Jana, had their debut releases. My little brother graduated from college. I was on the cover of several romance novels.
2007 also promises to be a big year for me. I have three book releases scheduled for next year:
The paperback of Secret Society Girl, Everything I Needed to Know About Being A Girl, I Learned From Judy Blume, Ed. by Jennifer O’Connell, and Under The Rose (being the second book in the Secret Society Girl series). My little brother is getting married. I’m getting married. My dad is having a big birthday. My friend Cheryl is having her debut release.
So with all of these wonderful thing going on, what else am I hoping for in the new year? What am I hoping to accomplish?
1. Exercise. (I’ve been a bit of a lump this year.)
2. Keep my apartment clean. (I’d like to be able to entertain more.)
3. Write more. (This year, I wrote one and a half books. Next year, I’d like to double that.)
4. (corollary) Continue writing full time.
5. Contract more books.
6. Read classics.
7. Live bigger.
Number Seven covers a lot of ground. It encompasses a few goals for personal growth that my friends and I have set for ourselves for the coming year, as well as a general injunction against sweating the small stuff.
What are you especially proud of this year, and what are you hoping for in the New Year? Tell me here so I can add your wish to mine when the clock strikes twelve.
December 31st, 2006 at 3:44 pm
Selling my first book, The Second Virginity of Suzy Green, was the greatest achievement in 2006.
For 2007 I want to improve my writing and sell more books (actually I’ve got loads more resolutions/goals - lots of the usual exercise/diet stuff - but writing is the most important).
Happy New Year!
December 31st, 2006 at 4:30 pm
Here’s wishing you another great year, Diana. You have many exciting things to look forward to.
For 2006, I’m proud of the release of my first book, Delicious. I’m also proud that I kept my son alive through his first birthday. Not that he isn’t disgustingly healthy. It’s just that as a first time parent, it certainly felt like a major accomplishment. Goals for 2007: more book contracts, hopefully into mass market romance (bigger printruns, wal mart distribution, yee haw!); write 2 books (ideally as part of the aforementioned contracts); maintain already fragile sanity and productivity after baby #2 arrives in May; spend less time letting professional anxiety getting the best of my creativity.
December 31st, 2006 at 7:54 pm
All of your 7 are in my top 10! I’m also adding:
- more one-on-one time with each of my 4 kidlets and
- come up with kick-ass promo for my December release.
Wishing you a truly wonderful 2007, Diana. I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished this year and can’t wait to see what you’ve got coming!
December 31st, 2006 at 10:33 pm
Hey, your #7 TOTALLY rocks. I spent a lot of this year looking out the window, feeling restless. I heard an interview with Angelina Jolie (I know, I know … but …) and she said she had the window tatoo removed from her back, because she didn’t need it anymore.
Why? Because she now lives outside the window. “Live bigger” is a great goal!
December 31st, 2006 at 11:44 pm
Great list, Diana! I’m proud, of course, that my debut novel also came out this year…just barely squeeking in under the deadline. I’m also proud to have read new and exciting authors, trying genres I previously avoided. I’ll probably try to do my year in review soon, too. But not tonight. Or tomorrow.
Happy New Year to you! All my best!
Shannon
January 1st, 2007 at 12:34 pm
It has indeed been a fabulous 2006. What do you say we top it in 2007?
January 1st, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Well, I just have to add “Appear on romance novel covers” to my list.
January 2nd, 2007 at 11:06 am
#5 kind of sounds icky.
Contract more books.
“Oh, what happened to you?”
“Well, I contracted books. I generally practice safe reading and writing, but I was drunk and was in Myrtle Beach. And who doesn’t have books in Myrtle Beach?”
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Congrats on the greast year, Diana. I just bought SSG for a friend’s 14 year-old daughter to read on her road trip home from Chirstmas, and she LOVED it!
My 2006 marked me selling my first two books (LORD SIN, and LORD SCANDAL). 2007 will be the year of my first book hitting the shelf, and I’ve got high hopes (just like the ant).
And I’m going to adopt your #7 as my own: LIVE BIGGER. A great motto for 2007. I’m going to Europe twice this year. I’m going to Morocco. I’m going to write my third book, and it’s going to be more plot driven (and I’m going to learn to not be a total pantser!). I’m going to take chances!!!
January 3rd, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Diana, love your list. Congratulations on all the things you’ve already accomplished and will in the coming year. Happy 2007 to you and everyone here.
Patrick, you continue to amuse me against my will.
January 3rd, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Yup, 2006 was definitely good to you! I’m sure 2007 will be even better!
I made my first sale in 2006…albeit a small one. Here’s to hoping I’ll have a bigger sale to celebrate in 2007!
January 3rd, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Robin - That you are actively fighting it makes it all the sweeter!
Just like your chocolate that you don’t want me to win. But you know I’m going to. Such sweet chocolate, all for me.
January 4th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
More contracts, more money, less weight gain.
Okay, honestly, I haven’t gained weight in a long time. But I also haven’t lost any.