I know the New Year is an arbitrary date, but the idea of starting anew with endless possibilities is always exciting for me. I like to take stock of things I did or things that happened to me in the last year. It’s fun to realize that I live a pretty amazing life.

In 2015, I published my first young adult suspense novel, RACE WITH DANGER. I had great fun writing it, and it is currently a finalist in a nationwide contest. I will have the second book in this trilogy completed in a month or two.

In 2015, my novel THE ONLY CLUE won the Grand Prize in the Mystery and Mayhem contest, and my novel THE ONLY WITNESS won Honorable Mention in a Library Journal contest (which is a bigger deal than it sounds like).

A couple of years ago THE ONLY WITNESS won a Grand Prize in the Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Contest. Apparently readers like signing gorillas.

I got the rights back to my three Penguin/Berkley Prime Crime mysteries and republished them myself so I could finally make some money from them.

Maple Pass, North Cascades

Friends Rae Ellen and Sudsie in Utah slot canyon

Mt Shuksan from Ptarmigan Ridge

I went to Costa Rica with my sister and twelve other great people.

I enjoyed doing things with my mom in town.

With almost zero snow in the Cascades, I spent a lot of time hiking with friends in beautiful places.

Maple Pass Trail, North Cascades

I laughed a lot at my crazy cats.

Leo and Chloe taking it easy on my bed. Ruusky is too dignified to be seen with them.

Life is good.

And 2016 will be even BETTER!

I hope you’re feeling the same way.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!