It’s the first of January and I wrote out my list of goals/objectives for 2014 this morning. The past few years, I made no resolutions, at all. I’m lazy, know I’m lazy and kind of just allowed myself not even to bother to make any because I knew I’d probably not follow through with any of them. So this year, I’m trying to be more optimistic about life and my future, and so I jotted down some things I’d like to work towards this year. I’ll try with each of them as best I can, when I can (some of them are quite daunting) but I’ve taken the safe route in life for a while now, and haven’t been living to the fullest. It’s time I challenged myself to do more.
On the writing front, I didn’t manage to write a novella this Christmas, or even finish the re-write of my vampire novel set in Cork and Boston. I’ve gone through some of it and tweaked it here and there, but it’s far from finished. I want it to be the best young adult/new adult story I’ve ever written, and that means plenty of hard work lies ahead. My aim is to have it released this summer. Of course the road to hell is paved with good intentions…
What I did find myself gravitating towards was the completion of Erin and James’ story. I have loved these two characters since I first sat down in the summer of 2007 and started writing Under the Desert Moon. I released Beneath Manhattan Skies to a mostly positive reception in November and even managed to interest people who had never heard of Erin and James to go back and read the prequel, Under the Desert Moon. Some readers are wondering will Erin and James ever get it together? Of course they will. They are meant-to-be. And I outlined the novella over Christmas that will see them finally commit to one another. I’m a few thousand words in and should be finished by the end of this month. I want it to be short, sweet and a little bit sexy, because these two have been waiting years for each other. In this as yet untitled novella, or rather a long short story, Erin is all grown up and her school and college days are long behind her. She deserves to be with the man of her dreams, and James has been waiting for her. I want those two to be happy and in love and carefree, as much as a human woman and a vampire man can, anyway.
So, that’s what I’ve been up to. I hope 2014 will be better for everyone. If 2013 wasn’t the best year of your life, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate and see what needs changing. I want to smile more, laugh at silly things, and try to relax, because I am a worrier, always have been, and it’s probably never going to change entirely, but definitely something to work on.
Best wishes for the year ahead, Emma.
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Emma's Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction 
Glad to see you are feeling so positive about 2014, Emma. I wish you all the best in completing your goals, and it sounds as if your writing is going from strength to strength! I hope I get to read some of it one day. 🙂
Thanks, Becky. You have some great resolutions. I’m borrowing the say “yes” one.
Happy New Year!! I wish you all the best to reach your goals in 2014!!! I know you can do it! I’m a worrier too, but found when I finally let go of things that are out of my control anyway, life is so much sweeter 🙂 Hope you find a way to let go too!
I’ll try to let go more and just relax a little. Worrying is a habit of a lifetime! Thanks, Laura.
Good luck in 2014! I can’t wait to read the rest of James and Erin’s story!
Thanks Lauralynn. I hope I finish their story soon.
Awesome Emma! I am inspired by your positive outlook and will outline some goals of my own:O) I am also looking forward to hearing the completion of Erin and James story!
I found it less pressurized to write out “goals” rather than resolutions, which make you feel really bad if you don’t follow through. 🙂 Good luck with your goals, Michelle.
Thanks Emma, same to you as well!:O)
I can feel the energy in your post, Emma. You’ve got me thinking I need to write out my goals for the year ahead so I can hold myself accountable. I’m a worrier too (so many of us are), and it’s hard to let that go, especially when I see myself falling short of something I have planned. Like you said…we need to relax, smile more and laugh at silly things 😀
I’m super excited about your plans, especially seeing the conclusion of James and Erin’s story. Here’s wishing you success in all your endeavors. Happy New Year!
Hi, Mae. I’m so happy you could feel the energy. I wrote this post on the spur of the moment in about ten minutes and just posted. I hope I can stick to what I’ve written or at least keep trying for the next twelve months.
Is it a writers thing that we seem to all be worriers? 🙂 Best of luck with your Twelfth Sun tour. I hope it brings you many new readers and fans.
Loved reading this Emma, I had a busy end to last year that kept me away from writing, but not reading in public. I’m determined to achieve a few writing objectives this year and incase the works published, rarely have I made resolutions, this year I am, delighted to see I’m not alone, let’s aim for a great end-of -year review! Look forward to reading lots from you and all our marvellous readers and writers in 2014, Kevin.
Thanks, Kevin. I have a lot of respect for people like yourself who can get up in front of a crowd and read. I would be terrified. Keep up the poetry. I enjoy reading your poems on your blog and listening to you read.
Have a great year Kevin.
All the best to you in 2014! 🙂
Thanks, Jamie. Same to you.
Happy New Year Emma. I finished Beneath Manhattan Skies. Not going to say much until I write my review but will tell you this, I’m still loving these characters and this series. Such good news to know you’ll give them a happy ever after:)
I’m still wishing for more from your ass kicker in Dark Whiskey! That story is still with me:)
Happy New Year, Laura. Yay, great to know you still like those guys. It’s funny about Dark Whiskey. I thought it would be just another short story that flew under the radar like the others, but it’s the most popular short I’ve released. Maybe Jesse will get her day or night! I just need to figure out how to fit more into a 24 hour day.
Good luck with everything this year. I’m looking forward to reading more on your blog.
Good for you, Emma!
Cheers, Shannon.
Happy New Year, Emma! I love your resolutions to yourself. Those are the things that are the truel value to life anyway. Congrats on your successes… May 2014 bring you many more. 🙂
Happy New Year, Kitt. And same to you.
I read your short and loved it!
Yay! That makes me so happy. Now I need to get to work on getting word of mouth, blog features, etc. going… 🙂
And thanks for leaving such an awesome review on Amazon!
I am glad to hear you so upbeat about your goals. I wish you much success n 2014!
Thanks, Sherry. Best wishes to you, too.
Happy New Year, Emma! I love a challenge, too, and hate my tendency to over-think the negative outcomes, but worrying is not all bad. I always feel that, if I’ve foreseen what may happen, I’m half-way to knowing how I would cope with it, too. So worry now lessens worry later, if that makes any sense to you. Maybe I’m just kidding myself, but it’s how I see it. 🙂
You have a point about being able to visualise yourself dealing with any negative outcome. As my dad says “hope for the best, prepare for the worst”, but this year I’m trying not to dwell on what could go wrong. If we follow the law of attraction, then focusing on the negative only brings about more negative stuff. I’m not sure if I believe in the law 100% so maybe it’s time to go back and read The Secret. 🙂 Thanks, Ella.
Hey girl!
First of all Erin & James will get together – very very excited about this!!!! 😀
Secondly, I like your attitude to 2014. Yes you are a worrier, as am I, but all we can do is proceed with confidence in our abilities, be nice to people (which we always are), and if we encounter a bit of bother along the way, no need to worry, it will pass, and worrying will do nothing but waste time for you, make you feel miserable, when 9 times out of ten, it is futile. My motto for 2014 is “what’s for you won’t go by you” and “don’t worry, it’ll pass.” The world is your oyster as my Mom always says and it’s true. Nothing is holding us back except ourselves, so we have to proceed into 2014 with courage and happiness! 😀 Wishing u all this and more! xxxx Ok my very wise & knowledgable advice is over! 😀 Laura
Hi, girl. Yes, they will be together and happy by that last page. I’m working on their happily ever after today!
I love what you wrote. Be nice to people, don’t worry and just get on with things, and remember that anything not so great will always pass. And be confident in our abilities. That is a big one for me to work on, because I do lack self-belief and it’s high time I sorted that out. And your mom is right!
Thanks, Laura. Happy New Year xx
PS – I think I’ll start blogging again! 🙂
Yay. I look forward to your music and movie posts.
Happy New year Emma, like others I wish you all the strength and attitude to be able to manage your very long list of goals for 2014 resolutions. I will not make a resolution as they are meant to be broken that is why so many people come out with strange ones :-)) I do have aims a slight difference I have more time to try and do my aim (cunning) as so many things in life crop up and slow us down as I have found this year. This I have found the hard way this year.
Again good luck Emma we are all behind you.
Best wishes
Debs
Happy New Year Debs. I wish you lots of success in your aims this year, too. All we can promise ourselves (and no one else) is that we will do our best. At the end of the day we are only accountable to ourself if we don’t follow through with our plans and goals. 2013 wasn’t my favourite year, so I’m willing myself to make more of a go of it in 2014.
Good luck with everything, and as always, I appreciate you stopping by.
All the best,
Emma.
Good Luck with everything to you too Emma I also love to drop by, Debs
Hi Emma I seem to of lost you on my laptop blogg :(( it was a bit nerving hopefully all normal now I await your next blogg’s of 2014 Paranormal awits you !,!,, Debs ;-)’
Happy belated New Year to you, and may it be a magical year for you. Allez!!!!!!
Happy New Year, Hubbard. Let’s hope it’s a great one.