An auspicious day, this: birthdays!

It's my sister's birthday (happy birthday, Sisty Ugler [just kidding]).

And it's the birthday(s) of my kittens.
My sister is at that age where we don't like to count any more, so I won't focus on her. I'll focus on the kittens. Not kittens any more, really. They are 3 years old today.

I know the exact date because we adopted them from a group that fosters animals (Last Hope, in Minnesota) and the lady who had the pregnant mama knew exactly when she gave birth. So happy birthday, Pandora, the Paw of Destruction (shown in the yoga pose above). And to Opie Dopey, her intrepid sidekick.

Long may they run!

Birthday Resolutions

Unlike New Year's Resolutions that I constantly break, I treat my birthday month as a time of reflection of what I have accomplished so far this year and what I want to accomplish next.

This year saw me brave enough to submit to The Wild Rose Press and to see my first published book. This birthday's musing has really seen me digging deep for where I am and where I want to be. What kind of writer do I want to be?

For this coming year, starting now, I want to shop my paranormal romance to agents, self-publish at least two titles, and learn to promote more effectively. I want to use my time wisely and write at least three more books by the time the next birthday rolls around.

Do you use a specific day of the year as a time of reflection? New Year's? The end of the year? The Summer Solstice?

Jill James
Tempting Adam @ TWRP, Amazon, BN.com

My Birthday

I am riding high from my birthday today. It has amazed me at how many friends have taken their time to send me a greeting and best wishes. I've always thought writers are the best kind of friends, now I know beyond a doubt.

As a writer and because I live in the mountains, I don't get out much or have much of a social life. I rather like being a hermit most of the time because I have my muse to keep me company. A week ago I enjoyed three days at a writers' retreat with my Sacramento Valley Rose group and certainly thrived on the comraderie. Like one of the attendees said, "I've never enjoyed being a writer as much as I have since joining RWA. People who don't write, don't understand what I am talking about most of the time and if they did, they don't care."

My mentor, Karen Rose Smith, told me twelve years ago to get into RWA and join a local chapter if I was serious about writing. She opened a door to a great new chapter in my life. I have also joined online groups, volunteered for lots of jobs along the way, and have made life-long friends.

Maybe the best part of writing are the friends, but accomplishing writing goals aren't too shabby either.