Time for Giving Thanks!
2019 is winding down to a close, and what a wild ride it has been!
In the last 12 months, I have:
- Finished setting up my new office
- Spoken at the Boonslick Regional Library in Boonville, MO
- Updated the covers for all three books of The Blood Royal Saga and published a library hard cover edition of Book One, In The Blood
- Attended the Independent Book Publishers Association Conference in Chicago, IL
- Published Soar: Indie Author Business Planner
- Been interviewed by KPIP radio in Fayette, MO
- Done my first professional photoshoot
- Attended Boonville Heritage Days in Boonville, MO
- Traveled as a special guest and speaker to the International Vampire Film and Arts Festival in Highgate, London
- Toured Mid Continent Public Library’s Story Center in Kansas City, MO
- Taken part in the Fayette Festival of the Arts in Fayette, MO
- Met with readers at the Celebrate Wildwood Festival in Wildwood, MO
- Been interviewed by Paul Pepper for KBIA radio and KMOS TV in Columbia, MO
- Had a booth at Mid MO Pagan Pride in Columbia, MO
- Participated in the Missouri Library Association‘s Tradeshow in Kansas City, MO
- Edited and Published my first short story anthology, Dark Conjurings: A Short Fiction Horror Anthology, along with six of my good writer friends, including Sarah Read who wrote a fabulous forward for the book
- Exhibited at the Twin Cities BookFest in St. Paul, MN
- Been a special guest and speaker at the Multiverse SciFi & Fantasy Convention in Atlanta, Georgia
- Taken part in the Daniel Boone Regional Library Local Author Event in Columbia, MO
Needless to say, professionally, this year has been nothing short of fantastic!
My personal life, however, has been full of stress. My father’s health isn’t what it once was, and he needs more help to get through his days. Migraines and Meniere’s Disease have slowed me down at times throughout the year. I’ve also lost nine friends and family members over the course of this year, and those losses have been difficult at times to bear. And we had a major project on the homefront, replacing our roof. This house was built in 1892, and up until this fall, no one had ever taken off the original cedar shingles. They had simply added another course of shingles on top of the old ones. Four layers of them were weighing our house down at a staggering 9000 pounds. All that has now been removed and replaced with new decking and shingles which has been guaranteed to last at least fifty years.
I had intended to publish two more novellas for some other writers and finish and publish Flesh and Blood: Book Four of The Blood Royal Saga by the end of this year, but given the stumbling blocks I’ve faced in my personal life, those projects have to be pushed back until the spring of 2020.
However, I’m still working diligently to make sure those projects come to fruition, and I’ve got a few more surprises as well that I’ll be announcing soon.
I’m grateful beyond measure for my friends who have joined me through my joys and journeys and supported me when I needed their strength. You are truly the best, and my life is so much better because you’re in it.
I’m honored to know and work with so many inspiring and interesting writers, artists, and creative folks and to have the opportunity to learn from and grow from our interactions both in person and online. You help me continue challenging myself in new ways and remind me that I’m not alone.
I am overwhelmed by all the opportunities that came my way this year. To those of you who gave me a hand up and who made a seat at the table for me and for my work, thank you, thank you, thank you. A thousand times, thank you. Because of you, I am changed for the better.
To the teachers I’ve met along this journey, both professional and personal, thank you for helping me grow in my craft and in my life. You have helped me understand what is possible and shown me where I want to go from here.
I’m also thankful for the readers who have enjoyed my work, supported my endeavors, followed and interacted with me on social media, subscribed to my blog, reached out to tell me they liked what I’m doing, and written reviews of things I’ve written. I am truly blessed and humbled. Thank you. I love you all.
Most of all, I’m grateful for my family who have been my rock throughout this year’s ups and downs. I owe you everything.
I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and a joyful holiday season. I hope it is filled with laughter and love and many moments of gratitude.
Wishing you all the best!
One Comment on “Time for Giving Thanks!”
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The Real Delia 
Hi Delia,
Hope all is well with you.
I met you in Fayette twice, on the square during festival. My family lives in Fayette, so I visit from Des Moines often.
I would enjoy meeting for coffee one day there, if you would like to talk, and share some writing insights.
All the best
Mahlon