Tag: new year's resolutions

One of my resolutions for 2011 was to read more, so here’s a list of the books I hope to read next year.

Books I have and intend to read first

• The Advocate’s Betrayal …by Theresa Burell (good friend, good writer)
• The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy …by Michael Orenduff (I won this!)
• Case Histories …by Kate Atkinson (I started this and want to finish it.) Read more

I always love the fresh start of the New Year, but this one is special. Next year will be the first time I live my life as a full-time novelist. I’m finally making enough from book sales to turn down freelance work. At this point, the most cost-effective way to spend my time is to write another Detective Jackson novel. I’ve been working toward this goal since August 7, 1989. Read more

1. Call one bookstore every single day. The idea is to introduce myself and my series and to encourage the store to stock some copies. It should only take five minutes. The rule is: I can’t eat lunch until I’ve done it.
2. Write another novel before the year is over. I’ve written three in the last two years (Jan. 08 to Dec. 09), so I should be able to do this. I think I’ll write something completely different, maybe a futuristic thriller.
3. Start teaching. Read more

No matter how efficient I work, I still have this growing list of things I want to read/learn/get better at that I never seem find time for. Maybe in 2010…
A few things I have not yet learned to do:

• Read a manual called Perfect Eyes that I paid $39 for in the hopes that I could keep my eyes from getting worse. (It’s near the top of the pile, but I’m damn near too blind to read it now.) Read more