Dear reader,
I'm back from yet another visit to Hawke's Bay to see my parents. It was so nice to spend time with them, and I'm happy to report my dad is doing much better than the last time I saw him. I'll be heading back down for Christmas.
It's about that time of year where I start thinking about goals and plans for the new year ahead. For 2024, I'm going to focus on streamlining my book production process. I want to get more efficient with my writing schedule so I can publish at a faster rate while maintaining my quality standards. Wish me luck!
It has been about 4.5 years since I gave up full-time work to focus on writing (I still work part-time, though). While it's been an amazing journey, I have to admit I'm still not where I ultimately want to be in my author career. So I'm facing a bit of a crossroads. Do I go hard at the writing thing, cross my fingers, and hope it all works out? Or do I pick up more hours at a day job again and put writing on the back burner? The thought of the latter makes me cringe because I know it will slow my progress even more. But I also need to pay the bills. What's a writer to do?
I'm still mulling over the options, but one thing I know for sure is that I'll keep writing and keep sharing my stories, no matter what. Thanks as always for following along on this crazy adventure with me!
Until next time.
-Sara
Clashing with the CEO teaser
“Before you leave, can I have a word?” Neil asked.
“Sure, go ahead,” I replied.
He took a cursory glance down the empty corridor, then closed the door for good measure. I suddenly felt apprehensive. Whatever he had to say seemed serious. He leaned back against my desk with folded arms, then spoke in a lowered voice.
“How long were you alone with Daniel?”
“Just for a minute. Why?”
“He didn’t do anything… untoward, I hope.”
“What? N-no. Of course not.”
Neil clenched his jaw, his expression stony. “Good. If it happens again, call me straight away. I don’t trust him around you.”
“Why not?”
“He has self-control issues around attractive young women.”
“I-I see.”
“He’s also just a nasty piece of work in general.”
It seems I had underestimated Neil’s animosity towards our parent company’s president.
“But he’s your boss…”
Neil looked me dead in the eyes. “Take it from me, Amelia, you don’t become as rich and powerful as he is by playing nice. You have to get your hands dirty—and I know where his hands have been.”
“Then are your hands dirty, too?” I asked, a quaver in my voice.
He didn’t miss a beat. “Yes, they are.”
Link roundup
📚Book world news and views from around the web
‘You Can’t Hide It’: Georgette Heyer and the Perils of Posthumous Revision [NY Times]
To date, Heyer’s books have sold around 20 million copies. But some readers have questioned her enduring popularity in light of offensive ethnic and antisemitic stereotypes that occasionally appeared in her work.
What Does a Happily Ever After Look Like? [The Pudding]
Girl meets book, girl checks out the book cover. Girl reads book, and they live happily ever after. The “happily ever after” is what makes a romance novel — the promise that love will work out in the end.
Is Ghostwriting Ruining Literature? [Book Riot]
Since ghostwriting has existed for so long, it feels futile to argue that it’s suddenly ruining literature. The effects of modern celebrity ghostwriting, however, can be felt throughout the publishing industry as up-and-coming authors still have to fight to even have their book proposals read.