I have one open contest! It will end on Sunday! So, enter before it closes!

‘Tis the season to be challenged… (Puzzle & Contest)

UPDATE: The winner is…Joy Boutwell!
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Win a $5 Amazon gift card, just for having fun!

Solve the puzzle, and then tell me two things:

1. How long did it take you?
2. What sort of holiday treats do you make this time of year?

Open Contests & Giveaway

These contests and offer are still open! Take advantage while you can!

1. Global Happiness (A Puzzle & a Contest) —Will close Saturday! Win a download of your choice from my backlist!
2. Tell me a holiday story… — Will close Saturday! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Something or someone is marching along… — Win an Amazon gift card!
4. An early holiday gift from me to you… (FREE Read)

Planning for 2020

December’s actually a little late for me to begin planning what I want to accomplish in 2020. Any other year, I would have begun in November by drawing a mind map to start organizing my thoughts about my biggest priorities.

In fact, until this year, EVERY year, I led a group of authors through building their mind maps and then in December, I conducted a “Write 50 Books a Year” workshop to help them—and me—plan our work for the New Year.

However, this year, I stepped back from my Rose’s Colored Glasses group, needing some time to heal after two years of terrible losses (my grandmother and father). I’ve been a bit aimless as my publishing schedule this year will attest. I lost my ambition and focus.

Now, I’m trying to get back in the groove, so I’m “bribing” myself with new treats to try to encourage some excitement in me. I’ve always planned my work goals on Excel spreadsheets, and I’ll do that again this year, with an emphasis on “realistic”. My integrated plan—life and work—has been an evolving thing. I was a Filofax girl forever and then for several years, a Bullet Journal girl. I don’t have the energy to do the BuJo thing again. So, I bought a very pretty Erin Condren notebook. It’s shiny, rose-gold and pink, has tons of stickers and pretty pages. I spent yesterday assembling it, but then I opened it to January and froze.

I was afraid to commit pen to paper and mar those pretty pages. Or maybe, I was afraid to commit to a schedule because I know I won’t take it seriously…? Perhaps, I need to spend time playing with my Excel worksheets some more. I’m not sure.

However, 2020 has to be better than 2019. I have to be better. So, to you, my friends, any suggestions to help me buckle down and get the work done? What planning system do you use? I’d love to hear your suggestions.

UPDATE: The winner is…Pansy Petal!
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For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card…

Tell me your favorite element of this picture, and then tell me the answer to this question: Is the holiday marching toward you or are you marching toward it?

These contests are still open! Be sure to enter while you can!

1. Global Happiness (A Puzzle & a Contest) —Win a download of your choice from my backlist!
2. Tell me a holiday story… — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Jennifer Beyer!
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‘Tis the Season! I have lots of fun stuff planned for the days I host this blog this month. Today, it’s your turn to tell me a story! See the picture below? Isn’t it pretty? Don’t you wish you were standing in the freezing cold, snow coming down all around you, and a handsome man is bending toward you…

Uh-huh. Yup. Bet you’re there, too. But what happened to get the couple there?

Tell me the story! Doesn’t have to be long. Doesn’t even have to be good. I’ll randomly choose a commenter to win a $10 Amazon gift card! So, have fun!

UPDATE: The winner is…Becca B!
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I’m falling behind and behinder! Yes, things are crazy here. We have mom health issues going on, for which everyone is pitching in. My dd is leaving on a cruise, so I’m moving across the street to watch dogs and cats (11 in all—plus a Guinea Pig!). I have editing jobs lining up, one right after the other. I need to begin a new book or finish an old short story. Doesn’t matter which—I need to write words! And I’m making Christmas gifts, but not fast enough! Everything store bought is bought, but I like to add some pretties to stockings, but production is sloooooow… So, yes, holiday stress is running high.

So…I thought a puzzle would be nice. Something sweet to remind us of how it feels when the holiday finally arrives. Enjoy a moment of peace. And then, comment below, telling me what has you stressed or if you’re made of steel nerves and aren’t stressed at all! I’ll do a random pick and send the commenter the download of their choice from among my 200 releases!