Reflections and Resolutions

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.