A New Year ~ A New Start

A New Year, a new beginning. January, the first month, is named after the Roman God Janus, God of gates, doors and beginnings. It is the fresh start of a new year. Coming close to a world celebration, people cheer and wish each other a Happy New Year. For some it is no more than a change of the calendar. For me it was the start of a second career, inspired when husband and I retired to Florida.

This photo taken seven years ago at a successful book signing at  the start of 2006.  Four Summers Waiting was my first novel published by Five Star/Gale.

 

Since then the years have held highs and lows in writing. The lows were when few people appeared at book signings, and I waited and waited for royalties  to come.  The highs were when friends, businesses, and libraries hosted cocktail party signings, Book Club luncheon signings, and library Book Talk signings. This past year when my local Venice library  hosted a celebration of the three books in my Maine Shore Chronicles series, with over fifty people in attendance, I was overwhelmed.

 

Long hours of writing, rewriting and living with characters in my head and in my heart has finally paid off. I have been fortunate to have all of my Five Star first editions given a second edition in Large Print by Thorndike Press.  With the submission of Book 4 in my series, I look forward to the New Year hopefully. It is a book my readers have asked for: It is Tante Margaret's story, the continuing character in my Chronicles series who has won the hearts of my readers. I have called it Tante Margaret~From the Heart.

 

When the clock strikes twelve on New Year's Eve may it open a book of opportunity to new young writers and continued success to my fellow published  writers. I end with a quote of Emily Miller: Then sing young hearts that are full of cheer.With never a thought of sorrow;The old goes out but the glad young year, Comes merrily in tomorrow.