Happy New Year!

First things first: I am so pleased to have reached my goal of publishing Volume 3 of the SPOTD series this year. Thanks to everyone who supported this fun project! One of my 2014 resolutions is to market the books better so more people (especially kids) have the chance to meet Chase Cooper and his friends.

As I reflect on 2013, I realize that it was one of my favorite years ever. Here are other highlights that I shared with friends and loved ones in my Christmas cards:

* Organizing my sewing closet with help from my niece G. It looks spectacular.

* Best birthday present: My nephew E visiting for the weekend.

* Traveling to Sanibel Island in June with my college housemates. Paddling, reading, eating, shelling, shopping, and sharing time with great friends. 

* Traveling with my sister to Washington DC in July to see a good friend and the sights. Good food.

* Worst night of sleep: Camping in the rolling oven (AKA the Shasta) at Prairie Island Campground in Winona. Seeing performances of Henry V and Twelfth Night at the Great River Shakespeare Festival made the hot night worth it.

* Best. School photo. Ever.

* Directing Peter Pan and Wendy at MHS. Cast and crew of 46, an enormous pirate ship, actual swordplay, and all.

* Taking a voice class at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.

* Enjoying lots of family get-togethers at my parents' cabin.

And here is my list of favorites from the year:

Theater: As You Like It (Guthrie)

Music: Maroon 5’s Overexposed and One Republic’s Native

Cinema: No movie astonished me this year… It’s my goal to see more (better) films in 2014.

Movie on DVD: The Decoy Bride

Television: English teacher jokes on the new Michael J Fox sitcom and 80’s jokes on The Goldbergs

Young Adult fiction: Roth’s Divergent series

Adult fiction: The End of Your Life Book Club (Schwalbe), Cinnamon and Gunpowder (Brown)

Geek fiction: The Circle (Eggers)

Digital fiction: Half Way Home (Howey)

Web Series: Emma Approved

Graphic Novel: Stardust (Gaiman and Vess)

Prologue: Death Comes To Pemberley (James)

Binge fests: Orange is the New Black, early seasons of Supernatural and Breaking Bad

I neglected to share my favorite Marvel character of the year, Ming-Na Wen's Melinda May from Agents of Shield. The smartest, strongest, most well respected, least immature character on the series. And she's not only female, but in her 40's and still winning the affections of the requisite hottie. Without drama. 

Here's to a 2014 full of inspiring and entertaining books, movies, and poetry. In the words of the best new year blesser of all time, Neil Gaiman:

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."