At this time of the year it is common to make a list of accomplishments of the prior year and a list of goals for the new year. Well, I've been dragging my feet about it, but here goes.

2010 Accomplishments:

My main goal in 2010 was to become an author. Hopefully a published author, but at least a writer who was actively trying to get published. I have written stories for decades without ever trying to get them published. I was partly scared of rejection, and partly struggling to finish stories. I always write like gangbusters for the first 50 pages, and then I have to find a way to make happily Ever After work. Which isn't always easy.

Back in February/March I decided it was time to take my writing seriously. I finished up the story I was writing for the gals at work and began polishing it. I wasn't sure if I submit it to more than one place at a time, so I decided to submit to Liquid Silver. I had always liked their stories, so I thought I would start there. My goal was to have it submitted before the end of May, and I did that. I sent in a query letter, synopsis and the first three chapter of Sleeping With the Wolf. I was certainly hoping that it would be accepted, but my goal was to submit. A rejection notice would be proof that I was trying to become a published author. But LSB first requested the full manuscript and then made me an offer to publish it.

Holidays must be my lucky time. I submitted Sleeping With the Wolf on Memorial Day Weekend, received my acceptance on the 4th of July Weekend, it was published the week of Thanksgiving, and I submitted The Wolf's Glory close to New Year's Eve.  Let's see … What holiday is coming up in about 6 weeks' time? Valentine's Day? Perhaps I'll receive an acceptance for The Wolf's Glory around then? If Liquid Silver accepts it. There is no guarantee.

2011 Goals:

My main goal is to have three more books published in 2011. Hopefully The Wolf's Glory will be accepted and published, and I'm currently working on Tracking Tami, the story about another of Taye's cousins and a crash survivor.  Another story I have an idea for is a Christmas short story. It would be contemporary, with a military hero who is home for christmas visiting his parents who run a lock and key service, and a woman who locks herself out of her running car early in the morning on Christmas Eve.

I have no idea if I will make the goal of three more books published in 2011. But I'm going to try.