January 3rd, 2014. The year’s first blog post. (Check out the sidebar for posts from the blog tour I did last month.)

And now I have no idea how to write for my own author website, after the regular ol’ blog I kept for the past 2 1/2 years. I’m still figuring out where all the buttons are here, let alone how to write!

Well, here goes. Please bear with me as I figure out my voice like a 14-year-old boy.

In 2013, I set these goals:

1. Grow closer to God

Status: yes. By the bumpy, circuitous road by which one always approaches the Most High. Including some harrowing rappelling and scraped knees. Including some good books, like C.S. Lewis’s The Problem of Pain and A.W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God. Including astonishment at the imagination, grace, and wisdom of a Love greater than myself.

2. See my novel accepted for publication or self-published

Status: Why, done, as a matter of fact 🙂 The labor and thrill of the year was seeing The Illuminator’s Gift published on December 2nd, 2013!  (Permanent links to its Amazon home are on the “Books” page.) After five years of writing and months of research into publishing options, I finally decided to self-publish…then did it in seven weeks, thanks to the grace, energy, and forbearance of everyone I know. I was also extremely honored to host my first book signing last month, supported by so many loving family members and friends.

3. Work up to a monthly income I can live on

Status: This one’s a bit more vague than I realized. Rather than achieving the American Dream, I’ve come to peace with holding my hands open to God’s plan. For someone who likes to plan, that’s a teeth-grinding journey of trust. But I’m learning. And with His imagination, it’s a wild ride.

4. Learn the craft of bookbinding

Status: Not done yet. But it’s still a goal 🙂

And now, for some new goals in 2014. My practical, small-picture goals are too numerous to list, but here are a few big-picture habits I’d like to develop:

1. Pursue God first and wholeheartedly. (That goes for writing as well as everything else.)

2. Get up earlier….

3. …in order to write at least 5 times a week. 

4. Blog weekly. You all might have to help me with this one. Clamor at me if I lag! If I do, it’s probably because I’m working on the sequel to The Illuminator’s Gift.

 

I’m revving my engine for a busy, exciting year full of completely unpredictable adventures. What are your goals for the new year? 

 

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