The year is ending again and a new one is about to begin. What I want to know is what happened to the years between New Year's Eve 1999, when so many people were worried about Y2K the next day, (except me, 'cause I figured whatever would happen . . . would happen. Right?) and New Year's Eve 2007 which is in two days. Sigh. WHERE did those years go? We're practically into a new decade.

Well, for me, they went into my writing. I started book one in my Metropollis Mystery series late in 1999. Spent the next few years polishing the manuscript, networking with other authors, and trying to find a publisher. Found one in 2002, book came out in 2003, publisher went under in 2005 and I was looking again. Signed a contract with Five Star in 2006 for Fifty-Seven Heaven, the first book in a planned new series. That book was released this month and I've written the second with fingers crossed (a bit difficult to type that way) and am working on the third.

Authors have to spend an inordinate amount of time on the Internet, promoting, networking, getting our names out there, but doing it in a way that doesn't turn people off. And a lot of our time is spent setting up signings, attending conferences, giving talks at libraries, etc. All of which sells books and takes time away from writing. Whew.

Since this is the time of year for resolutions and since I make and break them with great regularity, sigh, what will I resolve to do this year? Hmmmm.

Well, for starters I want to keep working on the book I just started. I'm having great fun with the characters, particularly one character who drives everyone else nuts. Hehehe.

But the other thing I want to do is not let the business of writing control my life so much. Balance. Time off. Time with famiy. And write that book!

So, what's up for you in 2008?