Taking Inventory, Making Plans

It's that time of year again--time to consider what I've gotten done in 2019 and to plan on what's next. 

2019 in Review

• Homecoming was released on 11/14/2019 and so far people are still reading, rating, and enjoying the novel. Here are some facts about the book:
  • I started it in January with the goal of writing a low-angst sweet romance about small town life.  I'm glad to see reviewers indicating that they found the book a good antidote to the impeachment anxiety and that I nailed the best of small-town life.
    
  • As I indicate in the notes at the end of the book, the novel in some ways is a love letter to my current home town. Camden has welcomed us in its own quirky and up-and-coming recovery ways.
    
  • If someone bought the Umsted House and turned it into a Writer's Colony I would whole-heartedly support it!
  • The protagonist is named for Lucy the cat--she used to visit me in the office when I wrote and after we adopted Chester, she has stopped visiting as often. 
• Renovations on the house: 
  • We started renovations in June. I lost the kitchen sink a good month or so ago. We have three rooms that are not completely chaotic.
  • Kitchen cabinets are projected to be ready in January of 2020. Guess we better pick out countertop material soon.
  • While I know I will love the finished product, I am so ready to have the house to ourselves again. And to have a normal amount of dust.

So, given that the last half of the year has been chaotic, I'm glad that I managed to get a book out at all in 2019.