Dear Friends:
As I write this, I’m peeking out my office window, enjoying our first snowfall of the season, and waiting for the next storm to arrive. No doubt there will be many more in the Northeast this winter. The blanket of white reminds me that the year is drawing to a close, and of all the wonderful, unexpected events occurring in 2022.
First, life has veered back to “normal” with the resumption of concerts (Audra McDonald, Jeff Beck & Johnny Depp, Coldplay and Sir Paul McCartney), in-person book events (at local libraries, colleges, and bookstores), dining out, going back to Broadway (Straight Line Crazy), a summer vacation (Maine), a milestone anniversary and high school reunion, and spending time with friends and family. This year has also brought sadness and loss, war and discontent, and devastating court decisions, but the positives of 2022 far outweigh the negatives we’ve faced and conquered. Oh, I forgot to mention, I met President Biden this October!
On the flip side, 2022 welcomed a smiling, roly-poly new member to our family, our second grandson, Wesley James. Wes spreads joy to everyone he meets, and reduces them to baby-talk with the bat of his chocolate brown eyes.
Speaking of arrivals, I released two novels in 2022.
Hooker Avenue dropped in April and
The Midnight Call was rereleased in September. And I’m polishing the third installment in "The Queen City Crimes Series,"
The Empty Kayak, for release in May 2023. My favorite protagonists, Attorney Jessie Martin and Detective Ebony Jones return to investigate a presumed drowning in the Hudson River. Was it suicide, an accident or murder? You'll find out this spring.
Phew! It’s been a busy year between the writing, revising, and promoting “The Queen City Crime Series,” and presenting “The Writer’s Law School” lectures around the country. And I have to thank my team, Meryl Moss Media, Jess Taylor, Kristen O’Connell and Level Best Books for getting through the marathon and over the finish line. Of course, my family was there to cheer me on all the way!
As for 2023, I’m raring to go! Bring it on 2023! Let’s beat this wintry triple-demic, and stay the course. There’s so much to look forward to, like a new season of
Outlander, Bridgerton, and
Succession, a new Justin Cronin (The Passage) novel
The Ferryman, and experiencing Wes walk and talk. These may seem trivial, but they’re a start...and then there’s a book tour this summer!
I’m hoping you, too, can reflect on 2022 and experience the joy of the past year while anticipating a glorious 2023. You never know what surprises the year has in store.
Happy Holidays and take care.
