The Best Parts About Reading and Writing...Especially During the Winter Months ❄️📚📝

 

This particularly harsh (and very early!) Upstate New York winter has caused me to be extra grateful for my love of reading and writing, which can be done from the comfort of my own home. Putting my focus on my work and hobbies I enjoy has been a nice distraction from not only the winter, but all of the chaos in the world today. Growing up, reading has always been my escape. How amazing it is to be able to travel to a different world, as seen through someone else's unique perspective, without ever needing to go anywhere! That's what I hope my children's books do for young readers: experience the magic of being transported to another world, needing nothing but their imagination. 

Writing has always been therapeutic for me, long before I began writing books. It allows me to express myself, get my feelings out, and stay organized. Even writing to-do lists can be calming for me! With writing, there's something about visually getting my thoughts out on paper (or my computer) that feels releasing.

What are your favorite parts about reading and writing? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy reading...and stay warm! ❄️📚

What I Love About Valentine's Day 💕❤️💕❤️

Why do you love Valentine's Day? I love the brightly colored pink and red decorations (especially during the winter!), flowers, special treats, and tokens of affection. Another thing I love is the "blind date with a book" idea, which many of my local libraries now offer. It's a mystery book wrapped in Valentine's Day paper with the genre listed on top that you can take home to keep. Isn't that a great idea? It's always something I look forward to. 

I also think it's great how Valentine's Day isn't just limited to mostly couple's anymore (ever heard of the new term "Galentine's Day"?) or kids giving out Valentine's Day cards. It's for everyone! 

I'm really excited about my Valentine's Day children's book coming out next year. As most of you know, holiday books are one of my favorites. I hope that children get just as excited to read mine as I got excited to read holiday books when I was a kid. There's nothing like that magical, festive feeling! Who else here loves holiday books? What were your favorites as a kid? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Valentine's Day (and happy reading)! 💕❤️📚 

The Year Ahead of Me

                                                          Happy February!

This past year has been filled with plenty of writing (including a new children's book!), author events, craft shows, new homes for my books, and more. Some goals I have for the year ahead of me are to finish up my new Valentine's Day book (no, I wasn't able to get it out in time for this year!), to be consistent with blogging, and to venture into new writing territory (particularly article writing that's literature-based or perhaps mental health related). I also plan on publishing some journals that are Upstate New York based (stay tuned for more information!). 

Aside from writing goals, I also want to work on my mental health in relation to being a published author. Like most of us, there are times when we don't sell anything for long periods of time, or we receive negative book reviews here and there. It's hard not to let that discourage me and affect my confidence as a writer; it's still something I'm working on. Unfortunately, it's all part of the job. It's easy to lose touch with why I began writing books in the first place, which is to spread the love of reading to children, to inspire people, honor my family and cherished memories, and to express myself. 

Let's make a promise today to celebrate writing for the sheer joy of it; not for the sales or the good book reviews or awards. What's your motivation as a writer? What are your writing goals for this year? Let me know in the comments below! Also, be sure to subscribe to my blog!

Happy writing!