Happy New Year!!!

5:38 AM Elizabeth Seckman 56 Comments

As another year of memories gets pasted in the scrap books, it's time to say good-bye and look ahead to 2015.

And what better way to set and track goals than the Update Day blog hop hosted by Misha Gericke and Beth Fred!

Update Day monthly check ins are a great way to stay on track.

Last year, my goal was to publish two books.

I managed one.

That's one book shy of the goal, but I did manage to get some other things done- little odds and ends, like putting together an author website and a monthly newsletter.

If you're interested...you can subscribe :)

* indicates required



I also got to venture away from the computer desk last year and made it out to some book fairs. Hanging out with writer friends and readers is really just about the most awesome thing ever.

In March- there was reader/writer convention where I got to meet the amazing Tara Tyler and Ashley Chappell.

me, Tara, and Ashley

 And I got to meet my publisher and hang with some World Castle peeps.
Best selling author, Kathi Barton
 me!
 writer/ publisher, Karen Fuller
writer and awesome gal, Ashley Chappell
and publicist Babs Hightower

Then there was the Huntington, WV Book fest in September where I got to meet the multi-talented Carrie Butler!

me, Carrie Butler, and Tara Tyler
Then, once again, I got to meet up with my book fair bestie, Tara for the Upper Ohio Valley Book Fest in Wheeling, WV. 

Tara helps me master the selfie!

For 2015....

Publish two books
Master marketing
More book events

That's a lot of work in those three little goals, sooooo...fingers crossed!!

56 comments:

  1. One book is still a great achievement, especially with everything else you did. :-)

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    1. Thanks Misha! And thanks for the hop to keep me on track.

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  2. 'Master marketing'?

    No lofty goals for you. May your 2015 be a marvelous adventure.

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  3. Master marketing? That may take 365 days to do all by itself haha good goals indeed though

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    1. Aim high, then there less chance of crashing, right?

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  4. I keep telling myself that experience will make each one of these tasks easier. The first time is always the worst (hardest) and each "next" time it gets easier/better. So, even if you don't "master" marketing, just doing it better than you ever have before is a reasonable goal, no???

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    1. I suppose I could be reasonable, but then that's really not my style.

      Just joking. Wise words Robin. Remembering that we are slowly getting better with each attempt would be way less frustrating than my approach.

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  5. Hope the goals work out for you Liz. I think you did very well last year.

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  6. One book is better than none, Elizabeth. And I love your author site; it's warm and inviting. All the best this year.

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  7. Hey, girl - you're an author! That is the biggest step. Kudos - it looks like you're having fun, too. Double whammy!

    Happy New Year and God bless.

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    1. You're so wise Cherdo!! I'm so good at looking forward, I often forget to appreciate how far I've come!

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  8. I'd say my goals are the same . . . except publishing 2 books might be a stretch. 18 Thoughts comes out Jan. 27th, so there's one. Then I need to finish writing my next WIP, and I plan on shopping that one to agents and shooting for a bigger publisher. *fingers crossed* Good luck to you . . . I'll be rooting for you!!

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    1. Good luck to you too Jamie!! Shopping agents and publishers is a job in itself!

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  9. Hi Elizabeth,

    Hey, even just doing the one book is one book more than most folks will ever do. Thus, kudos to you, my kind friend.

    Here's to a productive and realistic New Year.

    Gary :)

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    1. And hugs to you my friend, for always being a ray of sunshine- well, besides during blog hops. Tee hee.

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  10. Awesome accomplishments and goals! I love the book events . . . somehow that didn't make it on my original goal list. I'll have to remedy that. :) I love those pictures. :)

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  11. Good luck! I might join the bloghop once I think of a goal to set :P

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    1. Anything can be a goal Michael- riding the electric bull is a goal. :)

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  12. You accomplished quite a lot Liz. One book is more than zero and you already have a series out so go you!

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    1. Thanks Sheena-Kay! You're always a ray of sunshine :)

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  13. Happy New Year! Great pics. I tried to sign up for your newsletter, but I don't know if it worked. I hope to get to at least one book event this year, and I really hope I can make it out to one your and Tara's way. :)

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    1. I would love it if I could meet you at an event!! We'll have to make that happen. Not sure if you signed up or not- not sure if I did the link right. I am so very good at this sort of thing, you know!

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  14. Hey- one is nothing to sneeze at!
    If you do master marketing (for example, sell more than 5000 copies in a month or something), you can always write a book about that. I know I'd want to read it.

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    1. That would be awesome! I will keep counting. I'm in the selling a couple hundred a month, so I have a way to go!

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  15. Looks like one fabulous year!

    Happy New Year - may all your dreams come true!

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  16. I like your website - the About Me section is brilliant. When you master marketing, can your next goal be to share the knowledge with me? Thanks :-)

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    1. I most certainly will. If I can master it. I'm better at planning to master things than I am actually doing it.

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  17. Good luck with those 3 goals, Elizabeth!

    Though I didn't mention it on my reading goal--I want to jump back into historical romance. I haven't read any in 2014! (Crazy, right?) So I've got my eye on Jack Byron there...

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    1. Well, I think you should certainly add Jack Byron to your list. He's quite the guy- if I do say so myself.

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  18. love your site, the color scheme is like mine and it's so bright and happy! :) and love Tara!

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    1. Pink is my favorite color. And life should be all about the bright and happy, right?

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  19. Those are some great goals (and the website looks great). Good luck! Especially 'master marketing.' We're 5 years in to marketing and can admit that we still don't know what the hell we're doing. Does it ever get easier?

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    1. So far, no good. Marketing seems to switch up as quickly as a sixteen-year-olds style, and I'm not very good at thinking outside the box and coming up with creative ideas.

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  20. Happy New Year to you and yours too! Gotta have those goals or else nothing will be accomplished. You got to meet some great writers. I know Tara and Carrie, at least in the blogging world.

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    1. You're right. You have to have goals- something to shoot for!

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  21. And I subscribed to your newsletter, although I'm not sure it went through.

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    1. I'll have to check my subscriber list and see if you're there. Thanks for signing up!

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  22. Getting a book published is a major accomplishment. Now my accomplishment will be to read it. It's on my list and I swear it will be read soon!

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    1. I understand the lag in the read list! I have a back log years old. Hope you enjoy when you get to it!

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  23. Sounds like you've had an awesome year, Elizabeth!
    Here's wishing you success with this year's goals.

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    1. Thanks Joy. Hope you have many blessings this year also.

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  24. I'm still laughing about Ashley writing my name on your book to make me jealous. I'm completely jealous of all those photos. It's been an amazing year!!

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    1. Ashley is a funny gal! One day we'll get a picture together!

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  25. Well I think you got a lot done! One book is really good. And looks like you had fun at the meet-ups!

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    1. I had the best time at the conferences. They really are worth the effort!

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  26. Yeah, and you did what you did on top of being a mom of FOUR boys/men!!! No easy feat! Thanks for the link. I too, want to "master" marketing :(, and gosh are you pretty!!!

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    1. Aw shucks, Lisa. Thanks! Marketing is so hard and really just throws the biggest wet blanket over the creative fires, but it must be done.

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