Endings and Beginnings

by Kaye George

As the day of the two-faced god, Janus, approaches, I find myself reflecting on the past year, as many of you are doing. 2013 was a year of highs and lows--aren’t they all? I prefer to concentrate on the highs as I go into the unknown of 2014. My Good News Jar got crammed so full I had to stop putting things into it. I think I’ll get a bigger jar for next year. (Maybe I wasn’t as selective as I should have been about what I put into it?)

I got a lot accomplished: 2 novels and 2 short stories published and at least one novel and a few more short stories in the pipeline for next year. I also brought out my very first published novel as an audio book and want to do the next two of those.

In case you’re interested in my writing, the novels were EINE KLEINE MURDER, the first Cressa Carraway Musical Mystery, by Barking Rain Press and DEATH IN THE TIME OF ICE, the first People of the Wind Mystery, by Untreed Reads. The stories are “A FineKettle of Fish” by Untreed Reads and “Immy Goes to the Dogs” in The Untreed Detectives anthology, also by Untreed Reads. (What would I do without Untreed Reads?) The audio book of Veronica Newton reading CHOKE,the first Imogene Duckworthy mystery.

***(Just a note for Kobo users: All my Untreed Read works are 50% off through December 31st with the code 50DEC.)

With the new series coming out next year from Berkley Prime Crime, it dawns on my that I’ve gotten myself into writing FOUR different mystery series. If anyone has figured out how to squeeze a few more hours into the day, please let me know. I don’t sleep much as it is!

This year also brought us to a new home in Knoxville TN. We’re enjoying the climate, an almost complete about-face from the Texas heat and drought. In other words, tons of rain. I find I haven’t picked the best climate for allergies and arthritis, but nothing’s perfect. We have close family here and also in the Washington DC area. We’re much closer to DC than we were. We did leave behind some family in Austin, but, again, nothing’s perfect.

In 2014, I’ll have the new series, The Fat Cat series, start in September. Until then, I should be getting out a few more short stories in planned anthologies. Three anthologies, I hope. No more moves, which should make next year much simpler. We moved in 2012 and also in 2013, so that’s enough of that. I hope for a trip to the Rockies in the spring or the fall, and many trips into the Smokies, which are right next door now. I also hope for a trip to Europe, but that’s not really in the plans. I’ll keep buying Lotto tickets.

Best wishes for a wonderful New Year to all of you!

I apologize for the lack of images. I was unable to load any to the blog this time.