New Year's Post and IWSG Post for January 2024

 Happy New Year!!! 

I am filled with excitement for this year as a writer, as a woman, and as a believer. I know the world has sorrows and we have had our own grief as a family (we lost a few older loved ones last year), we also have shares of joys and I am determined to have the courage to seek out the joy, peace, and healing, while standing firm in faith and love for God and for all my fellow humans this next year. I have seen the ugliness of sexism hurt young women I know in the workplace over the last year, but I have hope that we will see more women standing up and standing firm in their equality for work and life. 

As a writer, I have plans to release some of the books I have been building on Kindle Vella as paperbacks, ebooks, and audibooks. I have a new Youtube channel I am working on for 2024 (and hopefully beyond), and I feel filled with gladness to turn the calendar page. 

I recently shared my Vision board in my newsletter on Substack, and I thought I would share it here again with a brief explanation of each image:

Images “explained”:

• Courage is a main theme for me and it’s time for me to recognize it and showcase it.
• The bridge is about making connections and having courage to cross deep chasms.
• The “healing” rocks image is about my quest for natural healing alongside medical help.
• The “exploding” book is about writing imaginative works that create space, refuge, and wonder for readers.
• The head-to-chalk drawing is about trusting myself as an artist.
• The Bible and prayer images is about staying in God’s word and keeping my faith alive.
• The collage/design table is about trusting my artistic side, but also seeking out other artists to work with or alongside.
• The compass is about seeing every day as an adventure/quest into life, and about traveling.
• The arms out in the woods image is there to remind me to get outside and praise God.

There are so many goals and ideas for resolutions, but these are my main ideas for the year. I do not like to call them goals or resolutions for they are a little more like the foundation under those. 

IWSG January 2024

I am posting a few days early, since IWSG runs on the first Wednesday of every month and today is a Monday, but I want to give a shout-out to all my IWSG buddies, and to say Happy New Year of Writing to you all!

If you are interested in IWSG, here's more about this group:

Insecure Writer's Support Group

A database resource site and support group for writers and authors. Featuring weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, a book club, and thousands of links – all to benefit writers! #IWSG

Website / Facebook Group / Twitter / Book Club
Reedsy Discount / Past Issues

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

Our original founder and current captain is Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

The awesome co-hosts for the January 3 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Olga Godim, Diedre Knight, and Natalie Aguirre!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional
January 3 question: Do you follow back your readers on BookBub or do you only follow back other authors?

Quick response for me: If I notice that readers have followed me, I sometimes follow them back. But it takes noticing, and sometimes, I am a little slow on that. 

NEWS

I participated in the New Year Indie Author Book Blitz hosted by Katherine D. Graham and loved it. Katherine is a rockstar and always spreads kindness to fellow indie authors. 

The Book Blitz is still viewable on Youtube if you want to check it out. 

I have a new Youtube Channel: The Truth About Storytelling. I did a bit of a different "goal" list on there because I was playing around with the idea of Achievable Goals. It was meant to be lighthearted, but of ourse, I was serious about it. 

I will be asking for help soon with book shout-outs this year, for more than one book. If you are interested, please comment below. You can always participate for one book or more than one book. I've been holding onto them for a while.