December 2023 Vol. 261
Dear ones,
Goodness, it’s that time again! We’re deep in the holidays, and 2024 is breathing down our necks. I, for one, am glad. 2023 was an epically difficult year, with too many highs and lows for my comfort. They say may you live in interesting times, and 2023 was...interesting, for sure. I’d like a non-interesting year from the upcoming 2024, wouldn’t you? Something calm and cozy. (Huh. I’m searching for my thematic word of 2024, and darn if “Cozy” doesn’t sound like something I need to pursue. I’m only two weeks away from starting my annual review, and I know this year’s theme is going to focus on self-care, so thank you for helping me find what I needed!)
December is not always my cheeriest month. But this year, things feel different. Lighter. Happier. There’s been more sunshine time, and a lot less stress. I’m done with major travel events, all my deadlines are met, and I’m writing a new book. The act of creation is paramount to my state of happiness, undoubtedly. If I’m not writing, I’m a grumpy bugger. I hadn’t planned to start the book before the new year, but you know how it is, sometimes, what you want doesn’t happen.
And there is another joy-making thing: I’m writing about writing again. Specifically, I’ve started a series live writing my 32nd novel called 22 Steps. (In hindsight, I might have been smart to title it 32 Steps, but I wasn’t thinking that far ahead. Ahem.) I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my blogging, nor with my Substack, but as you can read in that post, something clicked as I began prepping for this new novel. I spent a decade writing about writing on Murderati; this is a synthesis of that with a bunch more experience under the belt. We’re only a few steps in, so don’t hesitate to join up. The free part of my Substack will always remain so, and that includes Friday Reads. It’s a bit like the Smatterings of old, just with more books.
Many of you heard that our area was rocked by a couple of tornadoes last week. We weren’t affected outside of a scary warning that never materialized, but there were terrible storms that did, and too many of my Tennessee neighbors are hurting. If you’re so inclined, the Community Foundation is doing disaster relief, as well as the Humane Society of Sumner County and the Humane Society of Clarksville-Montgomery County. We have a hashtag, which is wrong on too many levels to count, to reflect the spirit of this city and the people who live here. We are #tennesseestrong. But help is never turned away.
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