What’s New in ’22 … Delsora Lowe

For me, it is not what’s new for the new year, but what I will recycle and make new in 2022.

I’ll admit, 2021 was not the most productive year I’ve had. Between trying to figure out how to live a normal life, in a crazy situation, and then experiencing many life-changing situations, both sad and happy, I had difficulty making my goals that I set out for myself last year.

For 2022, I’ve brought forward all that I planned and was excited about in 2021, in hopes of accomplishing them in 2022. That list includes both professional and personal goals. For several years I have had on my list to join a local, non-profit organization that provides a meeting place and a list of activities for both teens and retirees. Last spring, I finally joined. The activities that interested me most were exercise classes, various art classes, and a writing group. Did I do any of them? 

A BIG FAT NO!

So, what’s new for ’22, is to get myself out of the house, with mask in place, and get to exercise class two days a week, join the writing group, and explore some art classes that will definitely take me out of my comfort zone. My sister was an artist. My grandmother was a juried craftswoman, mostly in painting on tins and velvets. My grandfather dabbled in painting, as did my mom. My daughter is an interior designer and a floral designer. Me? I loved art when I was in school, and I took craft classes as an adult and loved rug braiding, pottery, knitting, etc. But I never pursued any of them beyond the adult education classes I took.

2022—here I come.  Time to get out of my comfort zone and learn a new craft. If only, because it will challenge my creativity in a different way than writing. And by doing so, my hope is to jumpstart my writing,

I’m convinced that if I can activate my creative brain in other areas beside writing, that I might jumpstart my writing creativity, as well. In other words, allow the light of creativity to shine through once more.

“It is the light in the lantern which shows you the path,
 not the lantern.”
from a Yogi Tea Bag

And that leads me to what I love…writing. Alas, 2021 was a bad year for me. I totally shut down. I missed most of my goals I set for myself at the end of 2020, and I beat myself up over it. But hey…as I write this, we are in the last few weeks in December and all of a sudden, my creative juices are flowing through my brain and into my fingers. Time to take advantage, pull all my 2021 goals forward, and kick up a dance of creativity (both physical and mental) for 2022! And STOP with the I’m a failure self-talk.

The words of encouragement I have chosen to guide me for 2022 are:

Self-Forgiveness and Looking Forward

What are you going to do to move forward and find something new in ’22?

~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. Her new novella, The Love Left Behind, will release in late fall, 2020.

Social Media Links:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/

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What's New with Lisa Kinley

 

Thank you so much to the wonderful genre-istas of Romancing the Genres for letting me join today! My name’s Lisa Kinley and I write cozy mysteries featuring Hazel Hastings, a snarky, plus-sized romance author and college English professor with two cats, too many hobbies, and a popular Instagram account about donuts (but she hates being called a donut influencer).

What’s new in ’22 for me? It’s a big year! My debut cozy, Meet Cutes and Murder, just came out a couple of weeks ago. I’m planning to release the second in the series, Bad Reviews and Bloodshed this summer and the third, Romance and Red Herrings, in late 2022. There will be a lot of writing and editing and fretting and brainstorming in my future.

On the personal front, I turn 40 this year and will be starting a new job in two weeks. Both are big milestones for me. I began working at the job I just left in 2005, which is the same year I began writing romance novels (and the year I met the amazing Paty Jager!). I didn’t plan it, but the week I left that job is also the week I released my first book. Isn’t it funny how timing works out sometimes? I’m so excited about this new job, my upcoming cozies, and some romances I’m working on under another pen name.

My focus for this year will be consistency in my writing. For the past 17 years, I’ve been able to write what I wanted, when I wanted, and to whatever pace felt right. Sometimes that meant months away from writing, sometimes that meant writing in every free moment.

Now that I’m published and have editing appointments with someone who books out a few months in advance, I need to be more consistent with my productivity. I’m hoping my new job will help with that. It’s remote and narrower in both scope and responsibility than my previous one, which will hopefully leave me the time, energy, and emotional bandwidth to make writing more of a priority. This will be a year of learning my process, pushing my limits, and hopefully making steps toward being a full-time author.

Wishing you a wonderful 2022! I hope it’s full of all good things, great books, and rewarding words. 

And if you’re interested in a funny cozy mystery set in Oregon with some (elder) millennial vibes, check out Meet Cutes and Murder. You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook or my website.

Finding a Writing Path!

by Diana McCollum

 

First let me say my writing career has been on hiatus. 2019, Like many of you the pandemic stopped me in my tracks. I couldn’t seem to get a grip on what I should be doing, and I let things slide and my writing went nowhere.

 

2021, still dealing with the pandemic, sanitizing like crazy, wiping down groceries with sanitizer, washing masks, and avoiding people. Then in April of 2021, my husband and I took a trip to CA to have our first visit in 18 months with family. On that trip we decided to move back to CA to be closer to family. 

We put our house up for sale May 3^rd and it sold by May 25^th .  Then back to CA to find a home to move to. So the summer was all about moving and getting settled.

 

This year 2022, we are pretty much settled. I am taking the path to publication.

 I have committed to taking writing classes from POV Authors, restarting my newsletter, blogging for Romancing the Genres and Windtree Press. I’ve blocked out time each week to write on my work in progress. I also plan on venturing out of the romance genre and writing a short murder mystery to be included in an anthology Windtree Press is producing in the fall.

I’m pulling out an unfinished MS “The Rose Witch” and intend to finish that novel this year.

 

I am excited to finally be excited to write again. My desk in clean, papers have been filed or discarded, and calendar has been filled out with dates for classes etc.

 

Most of all, I’d love to attend a conference in person. There is nothing quite like being around other authors. The excitement, the good vibes and the networking, all good.

 

Are you looking forward to in person conferences and meetings?

Happy Holidays!

 

 

New You in 2022? by Lynn Lovegreen

 

The beginning of the year is a great time to do something new. Want to try a new hobby, join a club, work toward a big goal? You can do one or all of those things—a new year, a new you!

 

I’m guessing you already have a new year’s resolution or other goal for your “official” commitment for this year. Let me suggest some smaller things you might try during 2022. These items may not be earth-shaking, but they will provide moments of satisfaction or joy. That’ll give you the feeling of a new you!

 

·      Put on a favorite song. Sing along or dance to it.

·      Take a new route on your next walk.

·      Try a movie or TV show that sounds intriguing.

·      Play—ride a bike, play a game, or skip down the sidewalk.

·      Try a new food. 

·      Watch birds, either at a neighborhood feeder or out in nature.

·      Tell someone thank you.

·      Pull a favorite item out of your closet and wear it for a whole day.

·      Watch rain fall or the clouds roll by.

·      Make a list of five things you admire about yourself.

 

After you’ve done something new or fun or satisfying, are your shoulders a little less heavy? Do you feel bright as a shiny penny? Then you’re new in 2022! Good for you!

 

Any ideas to add to my list? What makes you feel joy?

 

Lynn Lovegreen has lived in Alaska for most of her life. After twenty years in the classroom, she retired to make more time for writing. She enjoys her friends and family, reading, and volunteering for her local library. Her young adult historical romance is set in Alaska, a great place for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com. 

A little inspiration from visiting author Kayla Kensington

  

I’m Kayla Kensington, and I am honored to write a blog post for “Romancing the Genre.” I write inspirational and sweet romance. My first inspirational book, Finding her Family’s Love will be published by Mt Zion Ridge Press on February 1, 2022. February cannot arrive fast enough. I’m so excited.

 
What led me to write inspirational romance? Although I’ve always read and enjoyed the genre, when my husband of thirty-plus years faced health challenges, I read every inspirational romance book I could find. I wanted to provide other readers with the same comfort, encouragement, and love I discovered through inspirational romance.

 
From the age of eight when I learned in Ms. Eaton’s third-grade class that writing existed as a career, I yearned to be an author. When our teacher gave us the news that authors penned stories, she wore a green, sleeveless dress, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and she smiled. On that May morning, the spring breeze cooled our classroom and rustled the window blinds. Although I’ve done other work, writing, my faith, and my family remain my passions.

 
When I’m not writing, reading, or swimming at our community’s pool, I am privileged to work full time as a school librarian. In my middle school, I also teach creative writing and writing lab, a class for students who need writing assistance.

 
My writing always includes contemporary issues and real-world problems. In Kendra McFarland’s case, the main character in my novel Finding her Family’s Love, she experienced emotional abuse by her late husband, which damaged her self-esteem. I applied the emotions I experienced from a long-ago, emotionally abusive relationship. In addition, I wrote an article for a major publication regarding emotional abuse. From the letters I received from the magazine readers, I knew many individuals faced the sadness and insecurity emotional abuse prompts. I hope my book brings readers peace.

 
Want to know more about Finding her Family’s Love? 

 Widowed and pregnant, thirty-year-old Kendra McFarland doesn’t want or need a new love interest. When she meets her deceased husband’s relatives and yearns to be part of their family, her mother-in-law rejects her, blaming Kendra for her son’s accidental death. Will Pierce, her late husband’s cousin, offer her a fresh start, or will Kendra’s visit rip apart the McFarland family?

Take a look at an excerpt from Finding her Family's Love:

“Hey, you’re up, and dressed even,” Pierce said, looking in the half-open door. 

“I am, then I went back to rest. You look tired. It doesn't look like you slept out on the couch?” When she awoke earlier, she noticed the empty living room couch where she thought Pierce might have slept. The maroon pillows that decorated the couch hadn’t been moved. The matching maroon and green-striped blankets stayed folded with neat corners, exactly as they had looked yesterday. She hadn’t heard him rustle about in the second bedroom either.

“I slept under the stars. When you feel better, you should try it.”

As she sat in bed, she braided her hair, still damp and fragrant from the shower. “I’ll keep that in mind. Was that your sister and her children I heard outside? I’m sure that wasn't you cock-a-doodle-doing. Whoever it was, sounded quite rooster -ish.”

He smiled. “Can’t take the rooster sound-effects’ credit. My youngest niece has the rooster-call gift. Sorry they woke you. I learned about hips and lips today. It’s in my new vocabulary and a way to quiet them, if needed. I’ll have to try it on those loud high school students as they rumble through the school hallways.”

Sitting up straighter, she shifted her legs and let her feet dangle for a moment over the side of the bed. “I don’t need quiet. I love children’s giggles, whispers, and questions. Even the crying doesn’t bother me, never has. Could I walk to the house and say hello?”

“How ’bout I make you some breakfast? After you’ve eaten, I’ll bring them down for you to meet. Right now, my nieces are having ‘grandma time.’ It probably won’t last too long.”

“Sounds good. Do they know...?”

“Nothing, not even who you are, except that you represent the female gender. I figured you’d want to tell them.”

She took a deep breath, letting out the air slowly. “Thank you. You figured right.”

Interested in Finding her Family's Love? You can preorder at  Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Familys-Love-Kayla-Kensington/dp/1955838143/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2DIX0LRXZIMCK&keywords=Kensington%2C+Kayla&qid=1641866145&sprefix=kensington%2C+kayla%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-5

Hello there.  I'm Kayla Kensington, and I'd love to hear from you! Please consider connecting with me via social media:

Website kaylakensington.wordpress.com

Email kensingtonkayla@gmail.com

Twitter twitter.com/KaylaKensington

Instagram instagram.com/kayla_kensington

I Could Write a Book by Eleri Grace

 

What's new for you in 2022? 

Well, as my title says, hopefully I'll write a(nother) book! 

The tune from Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1940 hit "Pal Joey" is a love song of course, but a few lines from the lyrics speak to my mindset:

But my busy mind is burning to use what learning I've got
I won't waste any time
I'll strike while the iron is hot

Those are my hopes for 2022: not wasting time and striking while the iron is hot so to speak. 

Maybe I would have developed writer's block anyway, who knows, but I can conveniently blame Covid-19 and its destructive siblings Alpha, Delta, and Omicron for my lack of output and motivation over much of 2020 and 2021. 

I'm once again using the Cultivate What Matters goal-setting system. Even though I wasn't filling out all the reflection work each month or quarter as the system urges one to do, I bought it again this year because my goals I had set were always in my mind, even if I wasn't always faithful about recording it all. My goals for 2022 are more similar to 2021 than not. This could be read as an indication that I failed 2021, that I didn't accomplish all that much. But the truth is that some of my goals don't lend themselves to being checked off or completed in full over the course of a single year. 

The one writing goal that could have been completed but wasn't is the publication of my third full Clubmobile Girls novel. My intention is to finish and publish it this year, come what may. But I'm celebrating that I learned how to write a novelette and published it in 2021 (and I now have the barebones start on 3 other novelettes to complete a quartet of stories). I've also got new branding in the form of new cover-art that will be released this year. I'm waiting until I can reveal the cover for Book 3 before then announcing the new cover-art for my first 2 novels -- but truthfully I'm so excited by the new look of my covers that I may not wait much longer. My hope is that these new covers will speak to a wider network of readers as they are more in keeping with the look and feel of other WWII fiction released in the last couple of years. Watch my social media and blog for my new cover-art reveals in the coming months! 

My goals for 2022 are varied, as Cultivate What Matters encourages people to evaluate many facets of their personal, working, and leisure lives. Whatever your goals are for 2022, I hope you find joy, peace, fulfillment, and pride in all that you do!

You can find my Clubmobile Girls series on Amazon. Learn more about me on my website, or on my social media accounts through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.