Lea Wait, here, wishing everyone a Happy 2016!

In the part of my life labelled “books and writing,” it’s a busy week.

It’s publication week (although copies from on-line retailers started winging their ways to readers last week) for the third in my Mainely Needlepoint series: THREAD AND GONE, which revolves around a piece of medieval needlepoint, conflicts between Mainers (and visitors) young and old, and, of course, murder. Today I’ll be sending out emails or postcards to those on my mailing list, and crossing my fingers that THREAD AND GONE will be read and enjoyed. It’s on its own: there’s nothing more I can do for it now.

On the other hand, I’ve spent the past month, between Christmas cooking and snacking, working on twisting plots, checking facts, and ensuring that sub-plots were resolved,  killers captured, and all kittens found new homes, in the 4th Mainely Needlepoint book (DANGLING BY A THREAD), to be released next November. This morning I hit “send” to deliver the manuscript to my editor. I’ll see my words a few more times before my readers will .. but it’s time to sort out my files, update my “Bible” of information about the series … and start thinking about the next Mainely Needlepoint book, due to my editor May first.

But before I start that book, I have to open the large envelope from the editor of my Shadows series, and proof SHADOWS ON A MORNING IN MAINE. The “first pages” arrived late last week, and I promised I’d get them back this week. (That book will be published next September, and, no, there isn’t a cover yet. I’m looking forward to seeing one, though!)

There are other writerly challenges on my “to do” list. I’m looking for a new agent for my books for children. I have several stand-alone mysteries I’ve been thinking about and researching. I’d like to make a stab at starting one. There’s a mystery I wrote several years ago that I may finally have figured out how to revise. It’s on (literally) the back of my desk right now, in waiting.

And, like everyone else, it’s time to pull out the tax files and start figuring out just where money went in 2015 … and how much the government will want this spring.

So I’m looking forward to a January of finishing up; catching up; starting up; and taking a few deep breaths. Next week I have a couple of signing/talks scheduled that I’m hoping won’t be postponed because of weather. Snow dates are required for commitments this time of year in northern New England, and maybe where you are, too.

But for right now — it’s 2016. A new start. As with every year, there will be highs and lows. This year I suspect will have a lot of both.

But it’s time to dig out of the snow, dig into writing projects, and forge ahead into whatever life brings.

With hopes 2016 brings you dreams fulfilled and time with loved ones. It will be a year to remember.

Happy New Year!