Goodbye 2013: Highlights of My Year in Photos
Every year, when December ends I like to take time to look back on the past 12 months. Maybe it's because, as a writer, I'm always focused on dates and deadlines, but it feels like the perfect time to reflect.
If I had to describe my 2013 in one word, it would be "change". There have been a lot of surprises packed into the past year for me and things are a lot different now than they were when I rang in the last new year. One thing that hasn't changed though is that I spent the year doing what I love: writing romance, which is definitely something to be grateful for. With that being said, here are some highlights from my 2013, both work-related and personal...
My new puppy!
Like I was going to miss out on a chance to show off some adorable puppy photos. This was last January ... he's nearly as big as I am now. No more sleeping on windowsills for him! Still as cute as ever, though.
New books, of course.
I had 6 releases in 2013. Those included 3 in my Inked in the Steel City Series, 1 new Half Moon Shifters Series book and two standalone novels:
Innocent Ink (Inked in the Steel City, #2)Dedicated Ink (Inked in the Steel City, #3)Abiding Ink (Inked in the Steel City, #4)Bright Blue Moon (Half Moon Shifters, #2.5) Rough Around the Edges Hell Without You
Obviously, continuing my Inked in the Steel City Series was a huge part of my focus in 2013. I really enjoy writing these books and am so grateful for the support and enthusiasm series readers have shared with me as I continue to tell the Hot Ink Tattoo Studio staff members' stories. Thank you! I'll be kicking off 2014 with Book 5.
I moved.
This may sound like a pain, and moving always is, but I couldn't be more glad. The neighborhood I was living in before was a real piece of shit (and that, by the way, is my biggest understatement of 2013) and living there was a constant source of misery and frustration. It was my biggest goal, period, to move.
Plus, now I finally have an office. Here it is looking very bare shortly after I moved in. :)
Meeting readers & writers!
Conventions, book signings and events - these are always guaranteed to be highlights of my year. I love spending time with other book lovers. It's so much fun to be around others who "get" what I'm so passionate about. My favorite events of the year were the RT Convention in Kansas City and Lora Leigh's RAW in Hagerstown, MD.
RT Convention
RT Convention
Lora Leigh's RAW
Lora Leigh's RAW
Learning that there is life after wheat.
I've always loved to cook. To eat, too, for that matter. LOL Early in 2013 I discovered that I needed to go gluten-free for medical reasons, which means, among other things, no wheat in my diet whatsoever. At first this was totally miserable. And hard! Turns out almost everything in the typical American diet includes wheat in some form. I immediately dropped 10 pounds and despaired ... how many salads can one possibly eat?
Just look at that authentic Creole gumbo. Who needs wheat?Well, since then I've revamped my cooking and even baking skills. I've still got more to learn, but I'm making more delicious food than ever. Plus, being rid of the health problems gluten was causing me is priceless. And oh yeah ... I gained that weight back. LOL Which brings me to...
I'm pregnant.
Even though this has been true throughout most of the year, I saved this one for last since I still haven't had the baby yet. I'm due at any time, so who knows, it could even happen before the end of 2013 and then I'll have left something big out of this post. LOL
Although pregnancy rarely feels like a highlight, I'm sure the arrival of Baby R will be, whether that falls in 2013 or 2014 (personally I think it'd be cool to have the New Years baby - we'll see if Baby R agrees). :)
To all my readers, writer friends and fellow book lovers I've met over the past 12 months...
Thank you for being a part of my 2013.
Most of these highlights never would have happened if it wasn't for the people who read my stories. Your support, and in many cases your friendship, have been definite highlights in both my professional and personal life and I can't wait to share 2014 with you. I hope 2013 treated you well and that this next year turns out to be your best yet.
What were the highlights of your year, and what are you looking forward to / hoping for in 2014?
If I had to describe my 2013 in one word, it would be "change". There have been a lot of surprises packed into the past year for me and things are a lot different now than they were when I rang in the last new year. One thing that hasn't changed though is that I spent the year doing what I love: writing romance, which is definitely something to be grateful for. With that being said, here are some highlights from my 2013, both work-related and personal...
My new puppy!
Like I was going to miss out on a chance to show off some adorable puppy photos. This was last January ... he's nearly as big as I am now. No more sleeping on windowsills for him! Still as cute as ever, though.
New books, of course.
I had 6 releases in 2013. Those included 3 in my Inked in the Steel City Series, 1 new Half Moon Shifters Series book and two standalone novels:
Innocent Ink (Inked in the Steel City, #2)Dedicated Ink (Inked in the Steel City, #3)Abiding Ink (Inked in the Steel City, #4)Bright Blue Moon (Half Moon Shifters, #2.5) Rough Around the Edges Hell Without You
Obviously, continuing my Inked in the Steel City Series was a huge part of my focus in 2013. I really enjoy writing these books and am so grateful for the support and enthusiasm series readers have shared with me as I continue to tell the Hot Ink Tattoo Studio staff members' stories. Thank you! I'll be kicking off 2014 with Book 5.
I moved.
This may sound like a pain, and moving always is, but I couldn't be more glad. The neighborhood I was living in before was a real piece of shit (and that, by the way, is my biggest understatement of 2013) and living there was a constant source of misery and frustration. It was my biggest goal, period, to move.
Plus, now I finally have an office. Here it is looking very bare shortly after I moved in. :)
Meeting readers & writers!
Conventions, book signings and events - these are always guaranteed to be highlights of my year. I love spending time with other book lovers. It's so much fun to be around others who "get" what I'm so passionate about. My favorite events of the year were the RT Convention in Kansas City and Lora Leigh's RAW in Hagerstown, MD.
RT Convention
RT Convention
Lora Leigh's RAW
Lora Leigh's RAWLearning that there is life after wheat.
I've always loved to cook. To eat, too, for that matter. LOL Early in 2013 I discovered that I needed to go gluten-free for medical reasons, which means, among other things, no wheat in my diet whatsoever. At first this was totally miserable. And hard! Turns out almost everything in the typical American diet includes wheat in some form. I immediately dropped 10 pounds and despaired ... how many salads can one possibly eat?
Just look at that authentic Creole gumbo. Who needs wheat?Well, since then I've revamped my cooking and even baking skills. I've still got more to learn, but I'm making more delicious food than ever. Plus, being rid of the health problems gluten was causing me is priceless. And oh yeah ... I gained that weight back. LOL Which brings me to...I'm pregnant.
Even though this has been true throughout most of the year, I saved this one for last since I still haven't had the baby yet. I'm due at any time, so who knows, it could even happen before the end of 2013 and then I'll have left something big out of this post. LOL
Although pregnancy rarely feels like a highlight, I'm sure the arrival of Baby R will be, whether that falls in 2013 or 2014 (personally I think it'd be cool to have the New Years baby - we'll see if Baby R agrees). :)To all my readers, writer friends and fellow book lovers I've met over the past 12 months...
Thank you for being a part of my 2013.
Most of these highlights never would have happened if it wasn't for the people who read my stories. Your support, and in many cases your friendship, have been definite highlights in both my professional and personal life and I can't wait to share 2014 with you. I hope 2013 treated you well and that this next year turns out to be your best yet.
What were the highlights of your year, and what are you looking forward to / hoping for in 2014?
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