Writing is such a frustrating process.

Okay, maybe not the writing part. I love to write. Now that the five books are edited and released, I can finally listen to the voices in my head. But, believe it or not, that is where some of my frustration begins. I never stop thinking, but I don’t always have time to write everything down.

So what is spinning in my head? I have the historical that I’m rewriting. It was actually my second book, a sequel to the time travel that was my first story. I recently finished rewriting it, now I want this story to shine as well. I also have energy directed toward writing the fourth and final book of the Amazon urban fantasy series. And with the inspiration I received from reconnecting with friends from junior high and high school, I’m writing a first person women’s fiction story about a reunion.

The other part of my frustration comes from the waiting game that goes along with the submission process. Patience certainly isn’t one of my virtues. I just keep hoping that with the backing of a fantastic agent like Maureen, the success I’ve had with my BookStrand books, and the potential of the Amazon series, an editor will see what I can do and take a chance on me.

Until then, I’ll just keep writing and waiting and not let the frustration get the better of me.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17, King James Bible

I send to all of you my best wishes for a wonderful Christmas! May it be full of family and friends and bring you peace and joy!

Now that my “year of living dangerously” has ended, I’ve made an amazing discovery.

I love to write.

I think editing and promoting five books while working full time took a toll on me. Not that I regret a single minute of it! But I started to realize that I wasn’t looking forward to writing. Editing was just too important and so time consuming, I had nothing left at the end of a day. Now, don’t get me wrong. I actually love editing. I just found myself with very little free time. I had to start forcing myself to write new words, which is SO not like me. And it made me sad to miss out on what started me on the path of writing in the first place — the sheer joy of crafting words into a beautiful story.

But the edits are finished. For now. And I seriously doubt I’ll ever have quite the whirlwind of a year I had in 2009. Seriously — five full length manuscripts edited, released, and promoted everywhere from chat loops to interviews in eleven months? All while working as a teacher of advanced psychology and U.S. history to around 180 teenagers, being secretary of IRWA, and helping judge six different contests? And I came through it with some sanity and a smidgen of sense of humor left? Priceless.

My mind is suddenly free. Story ideas are popping in my head like shooting stars. I find myself anxious to write again. I rediscovered the joy I feel when I have stories flowing through me that are begging to be written.

And, damn, did I miss it!

It’s my anniversary! A year ago, I was privileged enough to release my first book, Turning Thirty-Twelve through BookStrand Romance. And my heavens, it has been a whirlwind of a year!

Turning Thirty-Twelve has been well received by reviewers, earning honors like 5 hearts and a “Reviewer Top Pick” from Night Owl Romance, a “Best Book” rating from Long and Short Reviews, and 5 kisses from Two Lips. It currently sits in spot #3 of the top mainstream romances at BookStrand after having been #1 for quite some time, and it was a finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence Contest. But I think the most outstanding achievement of this spunky little book was that it was named the Best Contemporary Romance in the Heart of Denver’s Aspen Gold Readers’ Choice Contest.

I was thrilled to find out that BookStrand was so pleased with Turning Thirty-Twelve that they offered me a contract for the first in the Damaged Heroes series, Murphy’s Law. That story will always be the “book of my heart” because of the connection to the harness horseracing world. After reading Murphy’s Law, my publisher contracted the rest of the Damaged Heroes series, and over the course of this year, I had all four books released. So what happened to my Damaged Heroes? Lots…

Murphy’s Law received glowing reviews from several different review sites, including 5 hearts and a “Reviewer Top Pick” from Night Owl Romance, 5 hearts from The Romance Studio, and 5 books from Long and Short Reviews. The highest honor though came just this last month when it was named a finalist in the EPIC Awards for the best Contemporary Romance of 2009.

Free Falling, the second of my Damaged Heroes, has also been well-received by reviewers, including 5 cups from CoffeeTime Romance, 5 kisses from Two Lips, and 5 hearts from the Romance Studio. To my surprise, it was also named an EPIC Awards finalist for best Romantic Suspense/Mystery of 2009.

I believe the biggest surprise of all for me was the success of All the Right Reasons. That book was an emotionally draining story to write, and I left my heart and soul all over the pages. I was able to honor all of my relatives and students who have chosen to serve in the military. When the reviews began to appear, they included a Romance Junkies Blue Ribbon Favorite, a Two Lips Recommended Read, and a CoffeeTime Recommended Read.

The last Damaged Hero just popped up in print this week. Faith of the Heart has also been reviewed several times in ebook form, and it has earned 5 hearts and a “Reviewer Top Pick” from Night Owl, 5 books from Long and Short Reviews, 5 ribbons from Romance Junkies, and a “You Gotta Read!” rating from YouGottaRead reviews.

After a year like that, I doubt I’ll ever be able to top it. On the other hand, this year held one more really important surprise for me. It brought me my fantabulous agent, Maureen Walters of Curtis Brown, Ltd. And with a lot of hard work and a big dose of luck, she’ll be leading me on to bigger and better things.

So, paraphrasing Jackie at the end of Turning Thirty-Twelve, thank you for the best year of my life!!