It’s that time of year again when we look back at what has passed and then towards the future. For me this is going to be a difficult post because I usually like to keep my posts reasonably short, but a lot has happened and I have a lot planned out in front of me. A lot I’m looking forward to and a lot I hope you will be with me for.
This Past Year.
Lets cover the obvious and visible first. The illness. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. There is much I’ve not told you about this past year and still can not say, but there is hope for some resolutions, finalisations, support but there are also challenges ahead, as there always will be with this. But the challenges are steep and involve huge issues with my head and neck/cervical spine, but as always, I just keep putting one foot in front of the other because I damn well have a life of some description to live. I will, because I want to raise awareness, tell you as much as I can, when I can.
Now for the fun stuff. The writing, the blogging, social media and friendships. It’s been a great year.
The Crime book club has continued to meet through Google+ Hangouts, so real-time meetings can happen regardless of geographical boundaries. And boy do we have some geographical boundaries, UK, US, France and Australia are regular attenders. It’s a slow grower but we’re regular and we have fun. We also don’t worry about reading what’s popular at the minute, we like to think outside the box sometimes and have had some interesting discussions because of that. It’s a fun group. You can see the list of meetings on YouTube HERE.
I have increased my blogging activity from inconsistent to posting 5 days a week, Monday to Friday. The series, What’s Your First Draft Like? has been a success this year with a post nearly every Friday, bar a couple, and it’s still going strong. I’ve started a new series for book cover reveals where the authors answer questions about the cover and book. And I’ve overhauled the blog look and feel, hopefully making it feel, sleeker, more streamlined, organised and nice to look at.
Oh yes, I released a book this year. What, you didn’t know? Shallow Waters was released, Monday 22nd December and has had some great reviews so far. I’m absolutely thrilled with how it’s doing. I want to thank everyone who has supported me in whatever way, because it means so much, and I am so very grateful. So a huge thank you!
The Year Ahead.
I have plans for 2015. Lots and lots of plans. And plans that I can carry out in a paced fashion as my body dictates to me. So what are these plans?
The blog is going to continue the course I have now set it on. I am going to post 5 days a week, discussing, books, First drafts, the Crime Book Club, my health occasionally, I’ve been asked to do a small series of posts on the actual specifics of self publishing; so how-to upload to kindle etc. My Recently Read posts; I fully intend to try harder to widen my reading horizons. I am also going to sign up to do more of the free Future Learn courses so will include those in the blog topics. So as you can see, nothing changes, I’m pretty much going to keep blogging about anything that pops into my head!
What is interesting about 2015 and blogging is that I am now going to be a contributing blogger on another WordPress blog, where once a month I will do a book review post. My first post on Sourcerer is Monday 19th January and will be the third Monday of each month. I’ll be blogging about crime fiction and any other genre I happen to be reading, and as I say, I will be reading wider this year. Feel free to join me and cheer me on, especially my first day on the new job! I’m really excited about it. Branching out. Not just being in my own little corner of the blogging universe. It’ll be strange. I’ll be the new girl in school.
Now, I do generally have plans afoot for my whole social media platform. Monday night I sat down with a notebook and pen and wrote a plan of each area and where I wanted to go/wanted to do. Being disabled enough to prevent me traipsing all over without a full-scale itinerary first and then a plan for a two-day lie down means my social platform is my window to the world and in reverse, the world’s window to me. So now we have our window’s in place, we need to know what we all want to be looking at.
I have a YouTube channel where I have the Book club’s playlist and then another couple of videos I have uploaded. I am going to make more of YouTube and I have plan on what content I am going to put on there, so without spoilers, just lets say, lookout for that.
There is also going to be a Newsletter campaign that will run in the New Year. It will be fun and interesting and instead of bogging down this post even further, I’ll leave it for another day, but you can subscribe to the newsletter HERE.
As for the writing, I am looking forward to starting back to work on Hannah Robbins #2 next week and hope to have it ready to go in six months time.
All that’s left for me to say is thank you for being here with me. I’ve loved being a part of this social community with you. I am looking forward to the next 12 months (well, most of it anyway) and hope to see you all along the way. If you have any questions, ideas or anything else you want to say, you can get a hold of me on the contact form above.
Thank you for a great 2014, here’s to a better 2015. Wishing you all the best.
Rebecca x
What a lot you have planned for 2015 Rebecca! I’d like to say a big thank you for the many interesting and informative articles and I really want to join in with the book club this year as it always sounds such fun. I’m looking forward to the next Hannah Robbins novel too. Wishing you all the very best in 2015!
Thank you Cleo! We’d absolutely Love for you to join in at the book club! The more the merrier. And we really do enjoy it and I am smiling like a cheshire cat at the end of each one!
I’m looking forward to blogging in 2015 with you. Though you add so many books to my tbr! 🙂
Have a great 2015 x
I am envious of your plans and visions Rebecca – I have this feeling there is something I should do/could be doing in 2015 but I haven’t figured out what that is yet 🙂 Wish I knew what IT was 🙂 Happy new year to you.
Happy New Year Carol. It is a little unusual for me to be this organised to be honest. I hope 2015 is a great year for you x
Thanks Rebecca – I hope so too.
I wish you a wonderful New Year, Rebecca, and let all your dreams come true. Big hugs.
Thank you Jose! I’m looking forward to another year blogging with you. Hugs
Rebecca, I can’t see beyond the tip of my nose, leave alone plan a whole year ahead. I wish you all the very best in your many endeavours and especially with the publication and sale of your books including the second in the DI Hannah Robbins series. A Happy and Healthy New Year to you!
Thank you Prashant! I do feel slightly organised which is rare for me!
Happy New Year. I hope it’s a good one for you.
Phew, it makes me exhausted just reading what all your plans are for 2015! I cannot say enough how amazed and humbled I am by your level of activity, especially given your health issues. You are a shining example to us all that things can be done if you put your mind to it and budget your (physical and mental) resources wisely.
Have a wonderful 2015 and here’s to even more fun at Crime Club!
Thanks Marina. I don’t think any of us know what we’re capable of until we’re faced with it and you’re aware of that. It’s just about wanting some level of a life and you’re right, budgeting.
I’m looking forward to going into 2015 with you. Wishing you a great 2015, one that is all you would wish for yourself x
Wow, Rebecca, you’re an inspiration with all your hard work and exciting plans for the New Year. Very best wishes for every success in 2015 🙂 xx
Thank you Elle! I’ve really enjoyed blogging with you. Wishing you a great 2015 xx
Good luck for next year. I really enjoy your blog and find it extremely inspiring!
Thank you Vicky! Happy New Year. Have a great 2015!
Rebecca! I didn’t know that you had released your book – consider me another reader. I am going over there right now to get it! I am so excited for you. And I hear you with all of the other difficulties in your life. Let’s email ?? Take care and wishing you an amazing 2015! Jade x
Jade, yes, only just though. And yes, we need to keep in touch. Have a great 2015! X
Sounds like you have a busy year ahead of you! Happy New Year and cheers to a wonderful 2015!!! I wish you very much good luck in anything you set your mind to! x
Thank you Lucy. Happy New Year! Wishing you a great one x
Congratulations, Rebecca, on the release of Shallow Waters! I couldn’t be happier for you! As to your health, I know there are difficult challenges facing you this year. I am amazed at the strength you show in dealing with them. Wishing you better health this coming year, and looking forward to all that you share on your fantastic blog. Oh, and the crime book club, too! 🙂
Thank you Margot. It’s definitely been a rollercoaster year but it’s ended on a real positive. I’m looking forward to blogging and crime book clubbing with you through 2015. Wishing you a great year Margot x
Congrats on 2014 and Shallow Waters! Here’s hoping you have a great 2015!
Thank you! Happy New Year. I hope you have a great 2015!
Congratulations on everything you’ve achieved in 2014, and wishing you lots more in 2015 🙂
Thanks Annalisa. Happy New Year. Wishing you a great 2015 x
Love the run-down, Rebecca. I do one, too–much briefer. I like your more detailed presentation.
Thanks Jacqui. As you know, my posts are usually much shorter 🙂 Happy New Year.
Hope you have a great 2015, Rebecca, and that your health allows you to achieve the things that are important to you. 🙂
Thank you FictionFan. Happy New Year. Wishing you a great 2015 x
Sourcerer – does that mean it’s fantasy? Awesome.
Your planned blog posts sound great, especially as most of the topics are so well established.
Happy New Year!
Oh yes Alex, I’m being allowed into a blog that is way outside my usual territory! And they’re letting me talk about what I want! I’m definitely going to have to mix my reading up for that though.
Happy New Year!
Hey Alex! Sourcerer isn’t exactly fantasy-themed, but we love some fantasy and sci-fi when we can get it. Our staples are comics and television, but we also do a little book blogging and I post photography there, too. An all-around pop culture blog with a geeky twist, is what we’re going for. We’ve only been at it a year, so it’s still very much a work in progress.
Thanks so much for your support in 2014, & esp. for the First Drafts series which has been a godsend. Have a great New Year, good luck with all your plans (esp Hannah Robbins #2) and I hope we can meet up in 2015!
The support has been mutual Helen. You were going to buy an ereader! We’ll definitely meet up this year. Happy New Year. I hope it brings you much joy! X
I’m blown away by your energy and your refusal to let your illness stop you doing what you love. I’ve so enjoyed meeting – virtually – and connecting with you this year (and DI Hannah Robbins! Still in shock – and knackered – after reading the denouement!) Your blog is one of my favourites, and I love What’s Your First Draft Like? – I wish I could be so imaginative. I’d love to join your crime book club, but my rather old laptop doesn’t have a camera (I’m going to nag Mr Crimeworm til we get a newer one!) Lastly, thank you for being so helpful and welcoming as I found my feet in the crime blogging community – finally, people to talk to about books! Yay! Oh, nearly forgot, Happy New Year when it comes! xx
Happy New Year! I think we find out how strong we can be when we need to. Before that we don’t know. I just want to have some kind of life that’s all. I’m glad you’re part of the blogging world and I look forward to you getting a new laptop! If you have a smartphone with firward facing camera you can use that…
Don’t even have that! (I’ve never even used my phone to go online – shocking, I know!) Totally agree with what you say about not knowing how strong we are until we need to – when I was ill (thirteen years ago, but I still have the legacy, in the form of a limp, as it left my right leg shorter than my left) I didn’t think I’d get through it. But the way I see it, I could have lost my leg, or died – apparently it’s 50/50 with what I had – necrotising fasciitis, or “flesh eating bug.” Plus now I think, well I got through that, so I can get through anything! I’m sure you’re way tougher than me, too!
Sounds like you have a great 2015 planned. I hope it all goes well and your health cooperates. =D
Thanks Patricia. Happy New Year. I hope 2015 is a good year for you x
Hope the New Year will go just as you planned, well done for your ambitions. Hope also that your health will improve and not hinder your life too much. x
Thank you Chris. I don’t think it will improve. I think the hope is that I learn to manage it better so I can live my life more comfortably. Have a great 2015 x
There’s no denying it, 2014 has been a roller-coaster for many, I think. You’ve already got so much going on in 2015 too and I wish you a Happy New Year and every success for 2015. I’ve loved being a oart of your blogging in 2014 🙂
Thank you. It has been a busy old year for many. You and little bean! It has also been wonderful sharing it all with you and I look forward to going into this year with you x
Happy New Year Rebecca! May 2015 bring you happiness and success beyond your wildest dreams 🙂
Thank you Raven. Happy New Year to you and wishing you all you wish for yourself!
Happy New Year! I hope it’s a much better year for you, health-wise. I loved Shallow Waters and am off to review it now!
Happy New Year. I’ve just read your review. Thank you, it’s wonderful! X
Wow. That IS a lot of plans. Congratulations on your release, and thanks so much for contributing to Sourcerer. We’re a friendly bunch over there, and we’re all readers and writers, so I think you’ll fit right in 🙂
I’m working on an announcement of my own to run on Monday afternoon.
All the best in 2015!
Goodness, you did have a wonderful year!