Everything I Need.

2013 was a pretty damn good year. A year of hard work, making changes, taking chances. My Year of Getting Unstuck. :)

Last year at this time I was looking at another bout of seasonal depression. When the sun goes away for weeks on end, I tend to roll up in a ball and withdraw from the world - which means my productivity slows to nothing. It's hard to get any kind of momentum going when it feels like the sky's about to come crashing down on your head.

This year, though? Has been completely different. Maybe it's the change of scenery - I moved last July from the dingy, rundown apartment I'd lived in for 20 years to this bright, sunny new place. Every morning I get up and throw open the windows and there is light!

That, my cat and my laptop are pretty much all I need.



2013 marked my debut as a self-published author. I can't tell you how much I learned by trying to do it all myself. The first thing I learned is that no one does it all themselves. Cover art? Forget about it. I have no talent in that area. I tried doing my own formatting, but after hours of beating my head on my desk, I decided to farm that out too. Editing? Definitely farm that out. It'll cost you a few bucks, but this is a business like any other, and you have to spend a little to (hopefully) make a lot.

As for making a lot... well, not really. If your measure of success is the New York Times or USA TODAY best seller lists, I doubt you'll ever see my name there. But from the past July to the present, I have paid pretty much all my bills by what I've made on my self-pubbed titles. That's my measure of success, and I'll happily take it.

The next best thing that happened to me this year? Hooking up (no, not like that!) with the awesome LA Witt for a couple of hot military romances (coming early next year from Samhain) - and a super-hot, super-kinky rock star book (currently in progress). The best part about co-writing? Trying to pull the rug out from under each other every chapter. *rubs hands together* It's so much fun.



Another goal achieved this year? Signing on with Samhain Publishing. In addition to Lori's and my two military romances, they've picked up my previously self-pubbed Bannon's Gym series. Black Dog is slated for April 1st (the second year in a row I've had a book out on April Fool's Day - wonder if the universe is trying to tell me something?), with the sequel, Takedown (aka, Tom's love story) coming in July. I'm planning a third book too, which should hopefully be out by the end of the year.

And, knowing this upbeat new me, there'll probably be a few other surprises along the way. Stay tuned, and have a happy and safe New Year! :)