I’m not very good with New Year’s resolutions, but I do try to set up some reachable goals for myself—sometimes at the start of the year, sometimes smack in the middle.

This year, I thought I’d share some of my current & upcoming goals with you…& ask you to share yours in return.

To get under contract again. After I turn in MUST LOVE VAMPIRES later this month, I’ve only got one more Desire to write before all of my myriad contracts are up, & of course I’d dearly love to sell some more books & know what my creative projects will be for the rest of the year.  I’m not worried, mind you, but rather curious & a little anxious to know what the future will bring.  Especially since I would dearly love to…

Sell some of the proposals I’ve been sitting on for ages. I’ve got a handful of really cool proposals worked up for some very cool stories I would love to write, so I’m very much hoping that I can find a home for them in the New Year.  Of course, the question then becomes Which do I submit first? because even though I would love to do them all—& all at once—I am only one person.

Be less negative & pessimistic. Ha!  Bet you weren’t expecting that one, huh?  Do I come across as a little Pollyanna-ish at times?  Yes, it’s true, I definitely have a very Pollyanna streak.  But I think my true nature is to be negative & pessimistic—like Eeyore—because my first reaction to nearly anything is immediate cynicism & grumpiness.  I usually catch myself pretty quickly & can change gears before the negativity gets a foothold, but I would still like to work on it so that my initial, knee-jerk reaction is happy-happy, joy-joy instead of bah-humbug. Hey, it could happen! :tpspspspt

Be more flexible. Physically, sure. Never hurts to be able to touch your chin with your elbow or your nose with your knee.  But I’m talking about being a little less reactionary when plans change unexpectedly, things don’t go quite my way (i.e. as I’m expecting them to go; I’m not that bad when it comes to not getting my own way…so says I, so it must be true :tpspspspt ), or my belongings get moved. Does it really matter if someone leaves a pencil out, even though I like all my pens & pencils to be neatly arranged in their assigned pencil holder?  No, it does not. 2011 is the year to get over it & just put the stupid pencils back myself without grumbling about it first!

Catch up on TV shows I’ve missed. This one will probably end up getting moved to the top of the list because…well, this is me we’re talking about.  But Glee is a runaway smash & I have yet to see even one episode because I want to watch from the very beginning… I have recently discovered that The Big Bang Theory & The New Adventures of Old Christine are hilarious, but I jumped in around season season 19 & would dearly love to start over…  And I’ve heard good things about Supernatural & Human Target, but know I should probably start from episode one with those, too.

So there you have it—I’ve set the bar.  It may be low, but I’m setting it.

What about you?

Ginger Champagne

Ingredients:

3 strips pickled ginger
1 cup ice cubes
1 ounce vodka
1/2 cup champagne

Directions:

Place the ginger strips into a shaker & press to release the flavor.

Add the ice cubes & vodka.  Shake and strain into a champagne glass.  Top with champagne.

Happy Sunday & Happy New Year!  I hope you’re having a terrific 2011 so far!

Since this is sort of a holiday Happy Sunday—& since we’ve got some big giveaway winner announcements to make below :eeee —I thought we’d break with tradition once again.  This week, let’s share the things we’re happy & grateful about concerning the New Year.

For instance, I’m inordinately happy that I remembered to write 2011 on a bunch of blank checks so I don’t go writing “2010” until February. And that I’ve thus far remembered to write 2011 on everything else.  So far.  Knock on wood.

I’m also excited that being in the New Year now means we can officially begin the countdown to my 2011 releases.  HER LITTLE SECRET, HIS HIDDEN HEIR from Harlequin Desire in June & MUST LOVE VAMPIRES from Kensington Brava in October! :dancing

The New Year means that holiday shopping is behind us & we can stop worrying about finding just the right gifts for everyone, getting them wrapped, getting them delivered, getting our cards out…  Whew.  The holidays are a lot of work, you know. :xmastree

And, of course, I’m extremely grateful that my loved ones & I have all gotten through another year with our health & happiness & blessings in check.  But then, I’m pretty much grateful for that every day, not just once a year. :party

So how about you?  Do you have any New Year happies (or would that be “happys”) you’d like to share?

And now for the moment I know you’ve all been waiting for:  the announcement of our winners of both last week’s Free Book Friday giveaway & my “Bloody Good Holiday Giveaway.”

So for the copy of Christie Ridgway’s Not Another New Year’s…

:dancing Anne!!! :dancing

Congratulations, Anne! :congrats   Please contact me with your full name & mailing address, & I’ll get your prize out to you as soon as I can.

And for mailing list subscribing winner of my “Bloody Good Holiday Giveaway”…

:dancing Jennifer Cryblskey!!! :dancing

Congratulations, Jennifer! :congrats   Please be sure to contact me with your full name & mailing address & I’ll get your giant chest of Christmas booty to you as soon as I can.

Thank you to everyone who drops by to participate in our ever-so-fun Friday Funny & Free Book Friday posts, & thank you to everyone who’s signed up for my mailing list to enter this contest!

Stick around…this most recent prize could go to only one winner, but I intend to hold a lot more very fun giveaways in the future, & am even toying with the idea of a monthly Mailing List drawing.  Woot!  So you definitely won’t want to miss that, if I ever get my ducks in a row enough to get it going. :ouch