Dream Big

Well, that’s a wrap on 2022, and what a year it was for me! It was the year of me taking the big jump into publishing my first novels and embracing the idea of other people reading my stories. It’s been incredibly rewarding, while also totally terrifying at the same time.

I did so many things this year that I NEVER thought I would purposely do. I set up at many farmer’s markets and vendor fairs (which is absolutely the worst if you’re an introvert like me who also hates trying to get strangers to buy stuff from you…). I was interviewed by the local paper, which I only managed not to stutter through because there was a cat in the room. I also did a radio interview with a local radio station, and I can honestly say that was the furthest thing from what I ever thought I’d have on my little author resume! And I spoke three different times at three different libraries in the month of October, talking about myself (ugh) and my stories…which, again, never thought I would willingly agree to anything involving public speaking.

It was a year of facing many of my fears and challenging myself more than I have in a really long time. Do I still hate public speaking? Yes. Will I do another library tour or radio interview if offered? YES. The biggest lesson I learned from 2022 is to do things even if you’re scared, and say YES when an opportunity presents itself. I survived every one of those times (including my very first Maker’s Market in which I had “I hate this” on repeat in my head for the first forty minutes) when I doubted myself and wanted to bail. But I didn’t. And let me tell you, I’m a master at bailing on things I don’t feel comfortable doing. I skipped a hell of a lot of college classes due to anxiety, but this year I didn’t let anxiety or my very introverted personality hold me back from taking a chance on new things.

So for 2023, I feel pretty encouraged. I’m not expecting to land myself on the New York Time’s Bestseller list but I’m hoping to get more positive reviews from readers who have connected with my stories. I’m not afraid to dream big this time, and dare to set my sights on bigger things, because I’ve proven to myself that I CAN DO HARD THINGS, and that it’s worth doing them. I can do what needs to be done in order to get my dreams accomplished. Ooh, I just reread that sentence and got goosebumps.

I have some plans, or some ideas, that I’m going for in 2023. Some of them are basic, like finish the sequel to Water Under The Bridge, and also do the sequel to There’s No Place Like Gnome. Others are more abstract, like get more comfortable with marketing and ways to promote my books online. Then there’s the far out ideas like getting my books into a store at the Mall of America…because why not? As I said in my newsletter for January, you don’t get if you don’t ask. There’s no harm in trying, right?

This year, I wish for you to be able to look at your life and let some of the fear and doubt sift through the positives and hope, dropping away so that you can figure out the best way to live your unique story in this world. You have one life, and an unspecified amount of time. It’s taken me 34 years to truly understand that, and I’m not letting myself waste any more time thinking “maybe later,” or “I can’t,” or “I shouldn’t,” or “someone else could do it better.” There’s just you and now, and that’s all we get to work with.

So go big or go home, love sincerely, work hard. And don’t give up when all you really need is some rest.

Happy New Year, y’all.