This last Christmas season was one of the most enjoyable for me in a long time. There were a couple of reasons for this.

1. I completely ran out of steam early in November, following an extremely busy summer and fall with the book launch, travel, book clubs, other appearances, my other business obligations, and the normal stresses of life. This manifested in some stress-related illness that completely surprised me, as I have always considered myself super cool under stress. Apparently not. And so, I let my calendar languish for November and December with only a few social events, family functions, and holiday prep penciled in.
2. I did my usual banana-pants interior Christmas décor, which this year included five trees, plus one upstairs bedroom, which I decorated with the leftover sugarplum fairy motif I collected for the book launch of Sensible Shoes. Why waste a good sugarplum?
3. I eschewed the normal outdoor light extravaganza, which was Scott’s signature Christmas indulgence. I use the word “eschewed” in honor of my friend, the Delightful Lee. She and I had a long talk about this word the other day and how to pronounce it. Neither of us knew. But I can write it. So there.
   • But I digress. I chose not to put the lights up as part of lowering my stress, and avoiding the very real possibility of falling off a ladder alone in my front yard and lying in the bushes until my Apple watch sent help.
   • No one seemed to mind that mine was the Bleak House on the street.
4. I cooked as little food as possible, letting others schlep in the pots and jars of homemade goodness. I did, on several occasions, make good use of the Magnolia frozen foods I’ve mentioned before. They are easy and delicious.
   • Another digression: For the first time, my fridge did not fill up with delectable stacks of leftover goodies. In fact, I was shocked after Thanksgiving to find I had not a single smidge of anything. Like either my children decided I did not need delicious leftovers or they are starving themselves and eagerly took home all the food. I would be miffed to find it is the former, horrified to find it is the latter. It was weird.
5. I did not write a word or do any writing business: no social media, no scheduling appearances, no ordering books, or any of the dozens of other things I do as part of this new career. I just concentrated on friends, family, and enjoying the holiday season. It was glorious.

On January 2, I hit the ground running:

1. Updated my new calendar book (yes, I am old school), entering the six book clubs already scheduled for the new year.
2. I started writing my new romantic suspense (working title Death in Corfu). It is super fun. I can’t wait for you to read it.
3. ZOOMed in on a writing workshop led by my fave instructor Allison K. Williams.
4. Found and registered for an October writing workshop, also led by Allison, in Morocco. Yep, MOROCCO!!! More about that later.
5. Am noodling an idea for a four-week writing workshop concept I will host this spring. More about that later, too.
6. Put away all the Christmas décor and breathed a sigh of relief that it all fit back in the closet. One note about that: I asked my daughter Sarah to help me get my enormous tree down and put away. I decided that I am not getting on the top of the step stool anymore (see the note above about lying in the bushes. I also don’t want to lie on my floor.) It didn’t take very long and we had a fun time wrestling it into its box.

So my house, and my writing life and I are back to normal after the whirlwind of the holiday season. I hope yours was as lovely, festive, warm and delicious as mine and that you’re ready to tackle the new year with renewed energy and optimism.

Happy New Year, y’all. Much love to you and yours.