Wednesday, 6 January 2016

The second post of the year

I wrote a great post the other day, about my New Year's resolution, and promptly posted it on my web site instead. If you're curious, please pop over and see what I'm planning this year!

And then I realised, I should post something here too, because there's only so long you can wish people Happy New Year before it's weird.

So... Happy 6th January.

I'm currently writing another short story, which obviously means I've been doing a lot of other things instead!

I have
  • redesigned my writing submission database (yes, all parts of that are as geeky as it sounds)
  • voluntarily taken the dog for a walk during really heavy downpours
  • walked to town to pay a bill... a bill!
  • possibly organised a book signing with my local independent bookshop owner, and then bought a book from her (A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson)
  • chomped my way through lots of Christmas chocolates
  • celebrated the return of Castle - yay!
I guess, all that's left is to get on with this story.


51 comments:

  1. Happy New Year Annalisa. You have been so busy already and it's only the 6th. Well done, you. I'm winding up slowly. I love the idea of walking in down pours. How refreshing! Have a great year!

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    1. These are not your common or garden downpours, unfortunately - these are apocalyptic showers :-)

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  2. I think we're still good to wish a happy new year - I do wonder what is the cut-off, though? February? - so Happy 2016! :)

    I need to re-organize my submission tracking system. It's gotten rather unruly and out of date.

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    1. Happy New Year :-) I would panic greatly if I didn't know where each and every submission was!

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  3. You are off to a start - healthy walking is good and I'm sure the dog is happy. Chocolate is still necessary. Let's not ramp up too quickly - might get dizzy. Good luck for 2016

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    1. You always speak such sense Joanne. I shall always listen to you, especially with regards to chocolate :-)

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  4. Good luck with the book signing. I love visiting independent stores. So much personality.

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    1. Our local bookshop was recently taken over by new owners, and it's really interesting to see the changes/improvements. And it's always nice when they recognise you!

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  5. Good luck with the book signing. Sounds like a great idea. Happy 2016!

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    1. Thanks Julie. I might try to branch out to some other indie shops - there are a couple around here.

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  6. Hi Annalisa - I guess if I had a dog .. I'd have been out in those downpours and they have "down poured" haven't they - terrible squally showers ...

    Well done on what you have been doing and here's to a great 2016 and success with all your goals and plans .. cheers Hilary

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  7. Have a prosperous year, and best wishes!

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    1. Thanks Blogoratti, and you! I tried to visit your blog, but it kept throwing me out.

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  8. My dogs won't walk in heavy downpours. If I take them out into one, they stand stubbornly and glare at me until I take them back inside.

    Best of luck with your writing and your book signing!

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    1. Aw, poor things. I think mine would prefer to stay home, but he'd be far too boisterous for the rest of the day!

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  9. A good and positive start to the year. I hope you finalise the book signing.
    Happy New Year, Annalisa :)

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    1. Thanks Suzanne - it's a matter of timing at the moment. Happy New Year :-)

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  10. Good luck with the signing! And those are great things to start off the new year. I like your Take a Selfie Every Day Challenge. I don't think I'm brave enough for that one. Here's to a great 2016 for all of us! :)

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    1. The great thing about the selfies is that I don't have to show anyone. And it's interesting that already I don't feel quite as self-conscious about looking at my photos. I think it's going to do a lot for my confidence!

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  11. I think it's still early enough to say Happy New Year! Sounds like you've already accomplished a lot. Good luck with everything!

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    1. Then, Happy New Year, Sarah :-)

      It does sound like a lot, doesn't it? The chocolate eating was especially tough ;-)

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  12. Congrats on arranging a book signing! That's awesome! And I think I've wished people happy New Year multiple times on blog comments now. LOL! Stay out of those downpours though - don't want you to get sick. :)

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    1. One of the perks of doing the rainy walks is I get to put my PJs on the minute I walk through the door. Sometimes, Hubby is waiting at the door with them :-)

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  13. Those dog walks should counter all of that chocolate eating.
    Sell a ton of books at the signing.

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    1. I might have to walk further - I've just found a whole heap of Christmas goodies that I forgot we'd bought :-)

      I hope to sell a lot of books!

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  14. I enjoy walking, which of course means I rarely do it.

    I also wiped out a lot of chocolates.

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  15. Yeah, you write short stories about like I do. It's a special way that all my writing gets "done." And the last of my chocolates are currently enjoying their last 24 hours of existence.

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    1. But the important thing is, Rena, we both get them written :-) Enjoy your chocolates!

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  16. Walking into town probably isn't the most fun when it's to pay a bill, but hey, it was probably a nice walk!


    Also, I'm trying to let my bloggy friends know my blog has moved to http://libbyheily.com/blog/

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    1. Safe to say, paying bills isn't my top ten of favourite things to do :-)

      Good luck with the new blog.

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  17. Yay! Happy new year. Here's to an epic one. I'm still too timid to do a signing, or maybe too tied down by a baby, so I applaud you for setting that up. It sounds like you've got your head on straight for 2016.

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    1. I've done on before, when my second book was released. It was fun, because it was quite small (no queues or groupies, lol). I think 2016 is going to be a good 'un :-)

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    2. Seconded. And if not, we'll fortify it with cheese, eh?

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  18. Happy 2016! Definitely a great start to the year for you. You go girl! May there be many wonderful things to come in 2016 for you and your family.

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  19. Happy New Year. You've been quite busy. I wish someone would volunteer to walk my dog. I can't walk him even when it is nice outside and he is a lab, supposed to be the easiest, most gentle, family dog in the world. He is great, sweet, lovable, but oh so strong, and will not mind me. He minds everyone else. Me, nope. Pulls me, drags me. Once he cracked my tailbone and gave me a concussion when he took off after a rabbit. I just have no control over the dog. I know it's because I won't put the choker collar on, I'm afraid of hurting him. He will walk without a leash and stay right by my side if I have a bag of treats. But that can't be any everyday occurrence. I have to walk the dogs separately. At least I'm getting exercise. Plus, I'm paying my daughter's boyfriend to walk him once a day, but that's a HUGE secret, b/c if my husband found out he'd flip out. We're on a really tight budget right now. A book signing with Kate Atkinson, chocolates and the return of Castle. Sounds like 2016 is off to a good start for you. Enjoy!

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    1. Oh gosh, your dog sounds like a handful. Mine tends not to listen to me so much, but as he's getting older (almost 2), I'm winning the battle. We use a harness on ours, which did help to stop him pulling so much.

      I'm not signing with Kate Atkinson, I just bought her book. But that's a goal for sometime in the future :-)

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  20. Hi Annalisa,

    Happy January 8th! :) You have a lot of distractions going for you. I look after my son's dog, Penny, during the week when my son is at work. This means, I walk down three flights of stairs to take her out in the latest stormy downpour we've been experiencing. I so relate to you and taking a dog for a walk in the rain. Maybe you might like to pay my bills? Well, you can't blame me for trying :)

    All the best in 2016, Annalisa.

    Gary :)

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    1. And I bet when you get down all those stairs, she's reluctant to go outside coz it's... you know, RAINING! Dogs, gotta love 'em :-)

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  21. Hahaha I identify with your short story writing process!

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  22. Goodness, Castle. I didn't realize that show was still running! That used to be a comfort watch for me.

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    1. Castle is well and truly still going, albeit a little chubbier these days :-)

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  23. Your databse ... nicely colour coded, I hope?

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  24. Normally I would have been reading your post and thinking, "That's me." this year though I have vowed to be more productive and am actually succeeding in that so far. Still it did make me chuckle and reminded me of the good old days. hehe

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    1. I had to force myself to get on with it. I have a deadline for the end of the end of the month, so I can't procrastinate anymore :-(

      Well done on being productive - sometimes you just have to tell yourself 'Enough! Get on with it!"

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