It’s that time of year again when we are plagued by folks wanting to know our upcoming goals and resolutions for 2008. Have you thought about them yet?  I haven’t, other than what I want to accomplish in terms of my writing. How about a continuation of all the goals from last year, i.e. clear out closets, sort photographs, clean house, stay in touch with friends, and the perennial favorite–do more exercise. I’d have a lot more to say regarding writing goals, with all sorts of new things to learn. My motto is, If you stop learning, you stop living.  Your brain turns to mush if it isn’t exercised, same as your muscles. I could do crossword puzzles or play online chess, but instead I’d rather plot another story. Steeping my mind in a book keeps me fresh and alert  It also keeps me healthy because I’ll daydream about what my characters should do in the next scene instead of worrying about things I can’t control. And let us not forget the benefits of reading. For mental exercise, reading is ahead of television where you sit passively staring at the screen. In contrast, when digesting a work of fiction, you create mental pictures, which is a true gift  A bunch of words, and they turn into images in your mind. Incredible! What other species can do this? Get off the computer and pick up a book right now. And resolve to read even more next year.                        

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!  MAY 2008 BRING YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITY.   

Reading more is one of my goals, Nancy. And doing more thorough plotting before sitting down to write a book.

Happy New Year! I just discovered your latest book and have started the New Year by reading it. So far I absolutly love it and have checked out the on line library to request another one of your books.

I am a writer (newbie) myself, and finally finished up my second manuscript. It is a great feeling. Now the real work begins, doesn't it.

And yes, I have a reading goal each year. Last year it was 50 books, and I have read 67! I keep a running list and yours will be the first book of the new year!

Dara, more thorough plotting sounds like a viable goal. Good luck!

Barbara, thank you so much for your kind comments about my books. Good for you for setting reading goals and exceeding them! Best of luck submitting your manuscripts.

I never thought about setting a 'number of books to read' goal. I've always got a book or two going, and since I started getting e-books as well, I can keep reading without running out of bookshelf space. Today I found Suzanne Brockmann's newest on my doorstep, compliments of a fantastic library system, and it's killing me not to drop everything and sit down with it.

Reading is how I exercise, believe it or not. The Y has recumbent bikes, and I sit on one and read while I pedal. It's the only cardio exercise machine I don't fall off if I try to read at the same time.

I read more than one book at a time, too, Terry. One by my bedside, one in the bathroom, one in the car. Heaven forbid I should be stuck anywhere without rading material! We have a recumbent bike at home but that's when I watch the news on TV.

Ah, yes; more reading! A definite addition to the list (yours looks amazingly like mine, BTW).:P

I just finished reading Killer Knots and I really enjoyed it. What I liked about it was the diaglouge style. It flows...I can 'hear them' speak..does that make sense? I even have a 'voice' for them (and no I am not drinking or am psychotic!) That is what I like about good diaglouge. When you can 'hear' them. They become 3 D. I have another book of yours that I plan to read "Perish by Pedicure".
What I did get confused about is the heroine is Jewish yet she is eating Lobster!?! I remember someone bringing in a Lobster salad at our Messianic Fellowship as we are all kosher observant and I think 2/3 of the people nearly passed out!!!
Anyway it is a great book and I could hardly peel myself away from it. Enjoyed it so much and am anxious to start the next one by you. Please keep these coming!

Barbara, thanks for your kind comments about Killer Knots. Re Marla eating lobster (does she? I don't remember what I wrote), I am Jewish and I eat shrimp. So it depends on how religiously observant you are. ;)

re: Lobster, then your characters are more than real, they are human! (because I have a penchant for steamed clams which drives my congregation leader crazy. I don't tell him!)That is what I like, real characters. In my first book I wrote about a dietitian who is a junk food junkie. She kept a stash of Twinkies and powdered doughnuts in her desk drawer as none of the doctors could cope (and neither could she) with bran muffins that were made of processed cardboard. Characterization is fun, and it is authors like you, who sort of inspire me to just have fun with the people in my book. I'm starting Perish by Pedicure today. You've also inspired me to start buying the books so I can have a little collection going. Normally I read one book to see if I like it and if I do, I hit Borders!
Thanks again!

Thank you, Barbara. A dietician who likes junk food...that's a good one. But I have to say, my bran muffins are moist and wonderful! The recipe is on my website. Scroll down and click on Recipes. It's on the bottom. Sometimes I'll throw in dried cranberries.