I got Trouble Girl out last year! Hurray! The launch was small; the marketing is non-existent. But it’s out, out, out!

Elisa says it exceeded her expectations and that “Ava becomes even more relatable and engaging as she becomes an independent and thoughtful young woman entering a new world. I’m looking forward to books 3-5.” Thanks, Elisa! I truly appreciate that you left a review without bidding from me. For the first book, I sent emails and asked people to leave reviews. This time, I did not have time. FWIW, readers have told me similar things verbally. Thank you, all!

I’m ridiculously busy with stuff other than book writing and marketing, hence the drop off in marketing. All efforts in 2025 went to writing and publishing. Publishing is a lot of work. Hats off to publishers for the thankless tasks they complete in this dying industry. 

Reflecting on 2025

1. Biggest triumph: <private>.
2. Smartest decision: going on all those writing retreats/cons.
3. One word that best sums up and describes my experience: transformative (best I can do).
4. Greatest lesson learned: don’t give up.
5. Most loving service I performed: investing in everyone around me, including self.
6. Biggest piece of unfinished business: Book 5 is not done.
7. Most happy about completing: <private>.
8. Three people who had greatest impact on my life: 
   1. <private>,
   2. <private>,
   3. Francis Peck (her support/treating me with respect as a writer).
9. Biggest risk I took: Costa Rica inner critic/writing workshop.
10. Biggest surprise: <private>.
11. Important relationship that improved the most: <private>.
12. Compliment I would have liked to receive: Trouble Girl is amazing .
13. Compliment I would have liked to have given: <private>.
14. What else do I need to do or say to be complete with (last year): Feeling quite complete/satisfied with the strides made vis a vis <private> and writing.

Creating (2026)

1. One outcome I would like to have in 2026: Book 5 finished.
2. That is important to me because: I can move onto the next phase/project in my life
3. Ask yourself at least 3 more times why it is important to you. That is important to me because:
   1. I thought I was going to storm the publishing industry and be “that” person: the big success that came out of nowhere, that amazed everyone with their talent and insight but I haven’t been that person; however, I know that investing in things can have unpredictable results; that something I never expected might happen, if not the success, attention and accolades I was aiming for.
   2. Finishing what I started.
   3. Exorcising my shame.
4. Speculation: take the last answer you arrived at and look from there. If it were fulfilled, what would your work and/or life look like at the end of the year? If you got what you wrote, and got it fully, what would be there at the end of the year that is not there now?
   • Exorcising my shame. I wouldn’t care what people said about me—wait, but I would because now I care about being considered a good human being, while there was a time in my life when I was so angry and frustrated, not only did I not care about being good, I actively wanted to be bad. Then, when I turned my life around, I became embarrassed by things I’d done. I’m not as embarrassed anymore because I’ve explored my actions and that time in my life through Ava.
   • But I’m still owned by fear and fear of people’s sneers, at least somewhat. Also, if my shame were completely exorcised, I wouldn’t gain much, actually. Shame is not all bad. It keeps us from being unhealthy in spiritual, emotional, social and physical ways. If my shame were exorcised completely, I’d be psychopathic. If the shame from things I’ve done, how I grew up and became who I am were exorcised, I certainly have room to become more confident without being psychopathic. 
   • I cannot see the changes in myself because I’m in myself. I’m quite likely already more confident than I used to be. Freer, happier, etc, even if I don’t feel or see it. Slow growth; the reverse frog boiling in water. 
   • FWIW, 2025 outcomes are almost all complete, with exception of <private> and <private>.
5. Allow yourself to speculate and make note of several outcomes (try to list at least 10). The more specific they are, the better. And, don’t try to settle on one at this point.
   1. I’d be pretty cold and calculating, even if in a good way: ie. Thinking ahead, measuring possible outcomes according to my reactions and moving on those as opposed to emotional reactions.
   2. If I did choose to act on emotions, it’d be calculated risk, which is good.
   3. <private> could learn by watching me.
   4. <private> could learn by watching me.
   5. I’d find my way back into activism of some sort.
   6. Maybe I’d start something or join something via Al Anon.
   7. I’d travel more and/or go to more writing retreats and enjoy them.
   8. I’d move to a bigger, better located, place.
   9. I’d be nicer to people and make more friends.
   10. I would lose my fear of letting people get close to me.
6. One, two or three outcomes from the above list that most represent the fulfillment of what is important to me:
   1. I’d be pretty cold and calculating, even if in a good way: ie. Thinking ahead, measuring possible outcomes according to my reactions and moving on those as opposed to emotional reactions.
   2. I’d travel more and/or go to more writing retreats and enjoy them.
   3. I’d move to a bigger, better located, place.
7. This step adds the greatest amount of empowerment to this process. Get out your calendar and schedule times to do those things that will result in your achieving the outcome you selected. At this time you may not know all that needs to be done. However, if you have time scheduled, you can reflect and determine what actions are appropriate at that time.
   1. Finish the book –write as much as I can.
   2. Keep eye out for bigger, better located home.
   3. Go on retreats.

That’s it. A lot of “continue what I’m doing” with a few tweaks.