I started my first proofread expecting to find a few typos (and I did), but not things that I thought I'd edited in the previous draft! I guess that's why we (authors) proofread, again and again, until we're sick of the story (but we still love it, too... it's complicated!).

The pre-orders for A Slice Of Mystery are officially open (or at least I pressed the button... some retailers may take a few days to update their stores), and I started sharing the first few chapters in various places to help people discover the book. I'm learning!

The next step is to look for ARC readers, and to write a press release, yet another new skill to be acquired.

As I'd hoped in my last email, I did finish the first draft for the sequel. I haven't read it yet, but I worry it might be too dark, and will require a lot of revisions. It may be just a feeling, since darker scenes take me longer to write than light and funny ones, so we'll see in February, when I do the first read.

After several DNFs, I was starting to think there was something wrong with me, but then, I opened Double Booked by Lily Lindon...

At about 9.29pm on a Saturday, I told myself I would start it, and read at least a couple of chapters (you see, at that point, I was convinced it was going to be another DNF).

So I did.

9.30 p.m., I started Double Booked by Lily Lindon.

3 a.m., I closed the book on the final page, having thoroughly enjoyed myself!

I hadn't stayed up to read an entire novel in one go in a VERY long time, and while I regretted it the next day (I need sleep!), it also gave me hope again.

It wasn't me, I wasn't broken, it was the other books that weren't right for me (and one of them was a bestseller, proof that you can't make everyone happy!).

I'm sending this a little bit earlier than usual, because I am taking the full two weeks of the end-of year holidays OFF. No work of any kind, only pleasure reading, video games, jigsaw puzzles, crafts, good food, and a lot of sleep (did I mention I need sleep?!).

It's the only time of the year when I allow myself to do truly nothing, and I am very much looking forward to it! The downside, of course, is that I'm cramming as much as possible this week, so it will take me a few days to truly start to relax, still, it's totally worth it.

My brain needs this reset, and every year (I've been doing this for about eight years I think), when January rolls around, I can't wait to get started on whatever is on the to-do list, and I have so much energy to get it all done!

Which reminds me (unrelated, but kind of, ADHD brain), one thing I forgot I'd done and came across by accident: At some point this year (I'm guessing over the summer?), I created a virtual sticky note in my notes app (Google Keep, in case you're wondering), where I listed things that felt like "achievements".

I'm using the term VERY loosely here - some of those, I had nothing to do with them (e.g. my mystery tree producing an apricot for the first time!) Still, I came across the note earlier this week, and it was nice to see the things I did, the DIY projects that had been lurking for month and years that I finally tackled (in January, funny enough - told you there was a link!), the cities I finally explored after talking about moving for years, the unexpected find of a perfect pair of jeans, all the big and little things that, at the time, felt significant enough to be written down.

I enjoyed the feeling so much, I'm pretty sure this is going to be a new tradition.

With that, it's time to say goodbye, happy holidays, and I'll talk to you next year!