Even though I’m Canadian and our Thanksgiving is in October, as a nod to my American writer friends on their Thanksgiving happening today, here’s what I’m thankful for in my writing life:
BOOKS
As both an avid reader and a writer, my world is populated with an abundance of books. Fiction in multiple genres, writing craft books, memoirs, and a couple of lovely coffee table books with brilliant photographs fill both my home office and my bedroom bookshelf. Reading is the perfect escape for me.
CREATIVITY
I have always felt blessed to have that creative mind that sees stories and characters everywhere. I know this is a gift I have been given and it’s the perfect one. It’s such a rush when the writing flows and my notebooks and file folders filled with bright shiny new ideas beg to be picked for my next WIP.
WRITING FRIENDS
From local writers to those around the world, I am blessed to have so many writer friends. Writing is a solitary activity, and sometimes that’s good, because that’s how the words get on the page, but having a group of writer friends means none of us are alone in this venture. And with the ability to have video chats, I’m able to connect with folks from all around the globe.
MENTORS
There have been a handful of times when I’ve been lucky enough to connect with someone who believes in me and my work. One such well-known author helped me re-work my 1st suspense novel and get it ready for publication. The women in my online critique group have taught me so much about myself and writing. I belong to two online writing communities, and the leaders of both have inspired me beyond words, and I attribute their wisdom to how far I’ve come with both my writing and my author presence.
FELLOW AUTHORS
Whether they become acquaintances, fans, mentors, or the writers of the books that I can’t forget, we’re all authors hoping to share our stories with our ideal readers. I feel privileged to belong to such a prestigious group of individuals.
THE INTERNET
I remember very early on in my pursuit of being published, the only way to reach out was through snail mail. I remember having to provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope for replies. Everything took so long and there really wasn’t any guarantee that your submissions always reached the right people. Things like Query Tracker, Submittable, and email queries allow writers to submit their work instantly.
MY NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS
When I decided to start my free monthly author newsletter, I turned to friends and family looking for subscribers. I was encouraged by the number of folks who agreed to sign up. Ten issues later, my subscribers have found me online through my socials and now my website, and I continue to grow my email list.
MY BLOG
Being able to share my experiences, my expertise, resources and information is important to me as a writer. So many folks have shared with me over the years, and I want to do the same. Maybe someone who’s been struggling with how to do something will find answers in one of my blog posts. Maybe someone else needs encouragement. Maybe they just want to be entertained a little. It wasn’t difficult to set up my blog on WordPress, and I encourage my readers to write about their passions and share them.
MY WEBSITE
Thanks to my very talented VA, Sherrie Lynn Clark, this fall I was finally able to build and launch my very first author website. I’d love to hear from you if you check it out. Let me know what you think or ask me questions about the writing journey.
A PUBLISHING CONTRACT
Fall of 2025 delivered a milestone in my writing career. My psychological thriller, They’re Watching, was accepted by Creative James Media, and I signed the contract in September. After a decade with publishing credits for articles, essays and smaller pieces, my second book is now slated for release in 2027.
There’s always something to be thankful for, and I’m very thankful for 2025.