Reflection, In the Moment and Looking Ahead to 2020

A belated Happy New Year to you all!

Reflection

Thinking of my personal journey, 2019 was a tough one family wise, reflecting the state of the nation, but I feel in a stronger and more optimistic frame of mind for 2020.

Back into my writing life in 2019 I worked on:

•  Preparing my new novel for presentation to the world. Date to be announced shortly.
• Updating website and social media sites. It’s amazing how quickly it all becomes out of date and a bit tired.
• Writing regular blog posts once more, particularly enjoying the special ones about our life in Scotland on http://www.selectionsofreflections.wordpress.com . So many precious moments with wonderful friends.
• Engaging more on Twitter and Facebook, although I have a long way to go on that one.
• Catching up with what’s new ~ this is a big one. Try https://nicholasrossis.wordpress.com/2019/12/29/how-to-market-your-book-in-2020/ for up to date marketing techniques. It all makes my mind boggle!

I am so aware that everything has moved on since I last published a novel in 2014. Was it really six years ago? I have published a travel memoir with a difference, but this year will be the first full length novel since we moved to Fife.

In the Moment

I aim to be in the moment, be aware of opportunities which come my way and above all try not to plan rigidly so that I am able to be more spontaneous. This means in my life in the community too ~ not having so much on that I cannot respond to where my heart says I should be in the moment.

Ahead to 2020

Being aware of my ‘in the moment’ aim, I am positively looking forward to life, launching my new novel, being there for the family but hopefully not overwhelmed by it and above all  ~ joy!

A dear friend of mine, who usually buys a special Christmas card for me, apologized and said she’d been ill before Christmas and hadn’t got around to sending one. I replied, ‘that’s quite all right, I’ve just opened two cards with the word Joy in large letters on the front. Since it is your surname, I’ll think of you whenever I look at them.’ ~ and I did.

And so I wish you Joy for 2020 too.

Happy New Year and Blog Resolutions for 2013

Hi Folks and a Happy New Year to you!

A past reflection 

Oddly enough it still appears that it is my spontaneous, one off posts which attract the most attention. In 2011 it was ‘Can you Snuggle in Bed with a Kindle?’ and I thought this year it was going to be technologically related too, and be, ‘Life Sans Internet~ The Trials of Launching a Book without the Internet’ but this autumn the lead was overtaken three fold by ‘In Answer to the Oxford Mail~The Unique Island of Alderney.’ I’m pleased about that, because my aim was to describe the island and its people, whom I have come to care about a great deal.

New Year Resolution

This time last year I made the resolution to be more consistent in my blog writing and began with a series about fantastic and frivolous flying facts. It was fun to research and had a positive reaction from readers, so this year I’m launching 2013 with a new theme:

A Historical Virtual Tour ~ The Solent and Beyond

I will be focussing mainly on places related to my latest novel although the content will be wider and with much of the research not included in my novel. It is an interesting and understated area of the UK, easily accessible and yet you can still get off the beaten track in minutes and discover beauty spots, quite walks and places of historical significance in the most unexpected corners. If you are like me and revel in learning the history of a location, it makes it all the more memorable. You imagine days gone by on that very spot, generations who have passed through and occasionally seen little change but more often there’s a significantly different picture in front of you today.

I will continue to have the occasional spontaneous post and as I move towards March there will be some important announcements to make too!

I look forward to your company, comments, tweets and responses on Facebook!