The year in a nutshell

I know – help help, get me out of the nutshell! (dad joke!)

This year has been a mix of ups and downs for me, but as a friend of mine once said, the trend is generally up. Although it’s been another challenging year in the world, and on the workfront, I choose to focus on the bright side.

On the day job front, my company got sold to another, much larger company and we officially become employees of that company on Jan 1^st. What that means we don’t know except – change! And more change! But change can be good, and I have my fingers crossed that this will mean interesting shifts as we merge.

On the writing front, to my surprise I didn’t release any Universe Chronicles books this year, though I did have other, non Soul Mate releases. The fifth book is getting a release date scheduled, probably 2^nd quarter next year. That isn’t to say I slowed down – far from it. I had a number of novellas and short stories in anthologies and collections, as well as a novel, and more will be released next year.

I keep track of my word count and am happy to say that I will have written more than 500,000 words by year end. Now that’s not to say that all of them are good, but each one gives me the opportunity to see where my story is going. That’s the life of a pantser. I am pleased with the process I’ve made this year, and hope to continue that in 2023.

All in all, it’s been a good year, with many stresses on the job front and successes on the writing front. I intend to up my marketing game again next year, so hopefully that will yield good things for me, and for the reader.

As we close the year, I want to thank all of you for all of your support and insight. Thanks to all who drop me notes – I appreciate each one! Here’s to a great 2023. May it bring you all the things you long for!

Claire