Posted on: December 31, 2022
2022 is almost over and it’s time to take stock and see how I did with the goals I set at the beginning of the year. To be honest it was not a bad year, certainly better than the two before. I was fairly cautious about setting goals as so many plans had been dashed previously. We are still not comfortable about doing much travelling but are enjoying spending time with our two dogs instead.
I’m a habitual planner, so setting goals and making plans keeps me going.
Not meeting a goal is not a bad thing. It can just be added to the next year’s list. Or maybe it is no longer important and can be struck off permanently! Let’s see how I did with meeting my 2022 goals.
Goals for 2022
Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral was published by Central Avenue Publishers and released on September 13th. I am happy to report that this book is doing well and I’ve received many positive reviews.
2. Publish a collection of short stories
I am working on this and have polished the collection of stories but have not published it yet.
3. Learn how to self-publish
Haven’t done this yet.
4. Start writing a new book
I have started writing Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones (working title). I even returned to The Isle of Arran to do more research this year.
5. Market my books in person and online
I am pleased with my marketing efforts for 2022. Online marketing has gone very smoothly with great results. I’m eternally grateful to the blogging community who have been so very supportive. I also visited bookstores, libraries and schools in three Canadian provinces doing signings and presentations. I sold out of books in one store!
6. Return to Canada and spend time with family and friends in BC and Alberta
This was a highlight of the year. I saw so many family members and friends during my three-week visit to Canada in September, including both of my children and all of my grand and great-grandchildren.
7. Travel to at least one new place
I did this and the new place was Prince Edward Island, a Province on the east coast of Canada. A place I have wanted to visit since I read Anne of Green Gables when I was ten years old. I even had an opportunity to visit the house that inspired the author, Lucy Maude Montgomery, to write the novel.
8. Update my blog
I’ve done some work on this but still have more to do.
9. Buy a new computer
I did buy a new computer and just love it. The speed is incredible!
10. Take an online course
I’ve taken part in a few online courses, mostly via podcasts and Zoom meetings.
11. Read at least 48 books
According to my Goodreads challenge, I have read 46 books this year. But I also read 2 books that were not on Goodreads, and one of the books I read was War and Peace; that should count for 3 books at least! So I’m calling this a win.
12. Keep up to date with technology
This is something I really believe in and don’t want to fall behind. I have updated my new computer to Windows 11 and have had no problems with it at all. I tend to learn new things as needed.
13. Make new friends and stay in touch with old friends
“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet” – Will Rogers. I have turned a few strangers into new friends this year but have spent most of my time keeping in touch with my long-time friends. I was happy to have met a couple of blogging friends in person which is always special.
14. Keep calm and stay positive, no matter what
I did a good job of this in 2022 and it certainly reflected in my health and attitude.
I’m happy with the results and am ready to face 2023 with a new set of goals, along with some carried over.
How did you do this past year? Any surprises?
Happy New Year one and all!!
Posted on: January 1, 2021
I’m sure I’m not the only one who is happy to see this year over. Here´s what the crew of Starship Enterprise felt about 2020.
For someone who loves to set goals and make plans, this has been a tough year. So many plans were ruined and goals not met. But we are safe and healthy and as we speak, our family is OK as well. That is really all that matters at the end of the day.
So, as painful as it is, here is my report on the goals I set a year ago, never imagining a global pandemic!
2020 Goals
Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady has been edited, beta-read and with the publisher. It is scheduled for release in May 2021 and is available for preorder. I am so excited about this book as it takes place in a unique country, with tons of history, action and fun. Fans will be pleased to know that Caleb is back too.
2. Write Amanda in France
I am halfway through writing Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral. It is coming along slowly. Like many writers, I had trouble concentrating at the start of the lockdown. Amanda falls in love with Paris, Versailles and Giverny and gets to stay at a bookstore!
3. Decide if I should continue writing Amanda stories or venture into something else.
I haven’t made that decision yet. I’ll see how the next two books do.
4. Write more short stories
I did write new short stories and revisited and polished some old ones. Short stories were easier to focus on this year. My short story, Lockdown With Anne, was included in an anthology about the pandemic called, With Love, Comes Hope.
5. Write more travel articles
I didn’t write many travel articles. The fact that we couldn’t travel, didn’t inspire me to write travel articles.
6. Help others with their writing as many have helped me
This is something I did a lot of. I had the time, it could be done online and it made me feel useful. I did some editing as well which I enjoyed.
7. Work on my TBR list, read at least 40 books
Another thing I had time to do and it took my mind off the situation. I read 40 books, many I had wanted to read for a long long time. They are listed on my Goodreads Reading Challenge page
8. Visit Venice
We had planned to celebrate our anniversary and my birthday in Venice. All booked but sadly, cancelled due to a global pandemic.
9. Attend a family reunion in Alberta
Cancelled as well. I was very dissapointed as I love to see my aunts, uncles and many wonderful cousins.
10. Travel to the UK and visit friends
Also booked, plans set to meet up with a number of friends, but cancelled.
11. Organize my office
I did some organizing but more needs to be done.
12. Organize my computer files
Again, not as much as I should have. It´s not like I didn´t have the time!
13. Learn more about writing and publishing a picture book.
Lost interest in this for some reason.
14. Publish an anthology of short stories
I´m working on this.
What I did do was a lot of cooking and baking, walking the dog and connecting with friends and family through social media.
My three words for 2020 were:
support – Support others in whatever way I can, as so many have supported me over the years.
connect – Connect with people, stay in touch, facilitate connections.
motion – Keep moving, physically and mentally.
Little did I know how important these three words would become.
By supporting others, I was able to take my mind off of my concerns. Since I have learned a few things over the years of writing and publishing my books, it has been great to be able to share that knowledge. I enjoyed interviewing and featuring other authors on my blog and helping promote their books.
I connected with so many people, some I haven´t been in touch with for quite a while. These connections kept me sane. Connecting through social media has been a godsend. I Zoom with my writers’ groups here in Spain and in Canada, and video message and Skype with family members and friends near and far. Connecting through blogging has been my social life and I so appreciate those connections. So a huge thank you to all my blogging buddies!
Walking the dog three to four times a day has kept me moving and kept the baking off my hips. Walking has been good for my mental well being as well.
Although many of my goals were not met, it has still been an OK year.
I stole this from a writer/blogging friend, Janet Givens. I love it.
I wish you all a very Happy New Year!
Stay safe and well so that eventually we can all travel and meet up again soon.
Posted on: December 31, 2017
I am a very goal-oriented person and require goals to keep me on track. At the beginning of every year, I write down some goals as I believe writing them down cements them in my mind and helps me to meet them. As the year comes to a close, I like to look at the goals I set for myself and see how I did.
These are the 2017 goals I posted on my blog.
Prepare Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind for publication in the fall of 2017.
Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind was completed in January 2017 and after a number of edits and a few beta reads, it was published and launched October 1, 2017! This is book number six in the Amanda Travels series. I am so proud of this book. Thanks to everyone who assisted and supported me, bought this book and reviewed it. Launching a book is much like giving birth, hard work, painful but so worth it!
Return to Canada in October to promote the newest book
I returned to Canada in August and September for an awesome six-city book tour and wrote about it here. I moved the date up in order to accept an invitation to present a workshop for the Vancouver Public Library’s Writer’s Camp in mid-August. It was an incredible experience. The book tour was successful and I now have many more Amanda fans. I was also able to see many friends and family members while there.
Write Amanda in Holland, book seven of the series
I started Amanda in Holland-Missing in Action and have written over fifty percent of it. I would have liked to have been further along by now though.
Explore places in Spain we haven´t been to before.
I visited the amazing city of Cordoba with special out of town guests as well as other small towns and rural sites in Spain. Although I had visited Barcelona twice already, I explored parts I had not seen before. There is still so much to see and do in this fascinating country.
Return to England to visit family and friends
We travelled to York in January to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary and visit some of Paul’s family. In October we travelled to Liverpool to meet friends. Both fascinating cities that reminded me of why I love England so much.
Go on at least one interesting trip outside of Spain
We spent a week in Malta and loved every minute. I wrote about that trip here.
Attend Pueblo Ingles or a similar program assisting Spanish-speaking individuals with their communication English
For some reason, this hasn’t worked out again this year but it is still on the list.
Create a new up-to-date website
My clever brother created a swanky new website for me. I just love it and can’t thank him enough. www.darlenefoster.ca
Organize the files on my computer
I started this but need to work harder to get things organized better.
Learn to use the new Samsung Tablet Santa delivered!
I use my tablet daily and take it with me when I travel. It was such a great gift. It didn’t take long to figure most of it out.
Keep in touch with family and friends, including friends on social media.
I make a concerted effort to keep in touch with everyone. Social media has been a huge help with this. I even met some of my social media friends in person this year. I wrote about it here.
Be kind, be strong and never stop being curious.
Yes, yes and yes.
In retrospect, 2017 was a very good year and I look forward to 2018.
I wish everyone who reads my blog a very Happy New Year!!
“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.” George Bernard Shaw.
Posted on: January 3, 2017
I hope you all welcomed the New Year with joyful spirits! We enjoyed welcoming the start of 2017 with our dog, eating our 12 grapes at midnight and watching fireworks from our terrace.
I just returned from a successful launch in Canada of Amanda on the Danube – The Sounds of Music. I am so happy with this book and hope the readers will enjoy this adventure through a beautiful part of the world!
2. Finish Amanda in New Mexico – The Ghost Hotel
I just finished Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind and hope to have it published by, October 1, 2017. Yes, I did change the sub-title. These things happen as you go along with the writing.
3. Do more promoting of all the Amanda books and Pig on Trial
I did a lot of promoting of all my books but still feel I could do more.
4. Connect with local schools and bookstores
I did 4 presentations in Spanish bookstores last year. Have not connected with any schools yet.
5. Continue to explore Spain, attend cultural events and write about them
I saw a lot of Spain and attended many cultural events. Of course, there is still much more to see and do.
6. Travel to Holland, France and England
I made a trip to Holland and France last year. England will be soon.
7. Work hard at making new friends in Spain
I have made some wonderful friends here in Spain. I also just recently found a writers group that meets every week. I am so excited about that and have been to a couple of meetings. Everyone has been very welcoming.
8. Attend Pueblo Ingles with friends
This didn’t happen due to conflicting schedules but we will keep trying.
9. Take time to read more
I did read more and learned how to read in the pool during the hot summer!
10. Practice Spanish
Need to work on this but seem to be communicating fine with my Spanish friends.
11. Keep learning more about writing
Thanks to the many blogs filled with writing information, I feel I have learned a lot.
12. Enjoy my more relaxed lifestyle
I am enjoying this lifestyle very much. I have learned not to get upset when things don´t happen as fast as I would like.
13. Look after my health by eating better and exercising more
We got a dog, which wasn’t on the list, and now I go for many walks.
14. Keep in touch with family and friends back home via social media and mail
This has worked out well. I even Skype on a regular basis with my 88-year-old mother. I have been sending postcards of the area I live in, to my great granddaughters. They tell me they love them.
15. Help other writers meet their goals
I have promoted other writers on my blog and given assistance to writers whenever I can.
16. Be thankful for at least three things every day.
This is now a habit. So much to be thankful for.
I think I did quite well with my list, although there is always room for improvement.
In the next few days, I will post my goals for 2017 as I look forward to things that have never been.
Whether you wrote them down or not, I hope some of your goals for 2016 were met. Or maybe a dream you didn´t know you had, came true! The best thing about 2016 was getting our dog and I didn’t even know I wanted one.
Dot at the beach on Christmas Day
Posted on: January 2, 2014
Happy New Year to everyone who reads my blog. I truly appreciate the time it takes to read blogs and to make comments. I feel honoured that you choose to read mine. Your kind words have meant so much to me over the past year.
Every January 1st for as long as I can remember, I have made a list of goals for the coming year. The habit of setting resolutions has gone out of favour but I tend to need to have goals to keep me anchored. It is always fun to revisit the past year’s goals and see how I did. Here are my 2013 goals from last year’s blog.
1. Reduce the clutter. I will take a page from Lorna at Tea Room Delights where she has decided to get rid of one thing a day for the entire year, for a total of 365 things. This may help me get this done! Today I got rid of the old calendars.
Check (somewhat): I did get rid of some clutter but not enough. I stopped counting so I don’t know if I got rid of 365 items or not. It was a good idea though.
2. Complete Amanda in Alberta-The Writing on the Stone and have it published before the end of the year.
Fail (somewhat): I did not finish Amanda in Alberta but have 13 chapters of a 20 chapter book completed.
3. Take a trip to Alberta to do research for Amanda in Alberta with my eleven year old grandson.
Check: I had a great time doing research with GS 2 and came away with good ideas.
4.Ensure my foot returns to normal.
Check: I have looked after my foot well and, although there is still a bit of pain and I still can’t wear most of my heeled shoes, it is so much better.
5.Continue to look for more outlets for my writing.
Check: I have guest blogged for some great blog sites.
6. Write more travel articles.
Fail: I have not written many travel articles this past year.
7.Contact schools to do readings.
Check: I did a couple of readings at schools and a workshop at a Junior Author’s conference which was most enjoyable. Would love to do more.
8. Consider working part-time in order to spend more time on my writing.
Check: As of January 1, 2014, I have arranged with my employer to work 4 days a week, giving me one whole day to write. I’m so pleased this has worked out.
9. Take a nice holiday with Paul (without injuring myself)
Check: Paul and I had a fabulous holiday to Spain in May. I returned with all body parts intact.
10. Practice kindness with everyone I meet, no matter how my day is going.
Check: I have been conscious of practising kindness in my daily life and recognizing that not everyone has a good day everyday.
All in all I feel I did quite well with my 2013 goals.
Now for my 2014 goals:
1. Finish Amanda in Alberta -The Writing on the Stone for publication early spring by writing diligently and completing three chapters a month.
2. Get rid of unnecessary belongings, prepare the apartment for sale, sell the apartment.
3. Start new writing projects: a picture book, travel articles, another Amanda adventure.
4. Cut back working hours some more, possibly retiring.
5. Take an extended vacation to Spain or move to Spain by the end of the year.
6. Attend my grandson’s graduation in Alberta.
7. Spend quality time with friends and family.
8. Plan a few small holidays and/or getaways.
9. Continue going to yoga on a more regular basis.
10. Pay attention to the signs the universe is sending.
One of my Christmas gifts from my wonderful daughter was a 30 minute Tarot card reading and consultation. The cards indicated changes in the horizon and a warning to slow down. The three cards I chose at the end of my session were so amazing:
Break Free: Try different ventures and experiences as a way to grow and earn.
Simplify Your Life: Eliminate clutter from your home and work life to balance the flow of activities.
Divine Magic: Extra magical energy surrounds your situation right now. Expect miracles!
Wow, now I feel so ready for the coming year!
“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”
-Gloria Steinem
Whether you set goals or not, I wish you all the best that the new year has to offer.
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