Like most people on planet Earth, I’m glad to see the back of 2020. What with the pandemic, and then flooding to hit our village on Christmas Day (thankfully the floodwater stopped about three feet from our front door, but not all those who live locally, as well as in the villages both up and downstream from us, were as lucky), 2020 felt somewhat mentally exhausting. Which is why I’ve been quiet for a while online.
It’s going to take me a while to get caught up with comments and posts and responses to the WWP, but I will get it done. I’ve a few writing projects on the go at the moment which is where I am focusing most of my energy (the final read through of my Historical Romance Novel, the finishing touches to The Winter Ghost, and a bit of editing for The Dreamer), all of which I hope to complete this month, just in time for Wattpad’s Open Novella Contest to open again in February. I failed at it last year due in no small part to poor time management and thinking I could commit to more projects than was actually possible (if you know me, you’ll know that is an ever-present obstacle!).
This past weekend, I rewatched The Lord of The Rings movies, which is always a joy, but specifically to celebrate J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday. I remember the first time I read the books. I was about 10, and from then on, Middle Earth has been an obsession for me, as it has been for many. If you follow my book review blog, Sammi Loves Books, you will know last year I started reading the seven books that make up C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. Currently, I’m on book 5, but I have a sneaky suspicion those remaining books will be set aside for a while as I pick up LOTR – I’ve already been thumbing multiple copies. I keep telling myself it’s only because I want to look at the maps – which I do as I love maps – but I know it’s only a matter of time before I start reading…and then everything will stop until I finish it. And I don’t mind; I find it inspiring.
Do you have any reading or writing goals for this year? Do you have a book obsession? Indulge yourself and tell me all about it in the comments…
Wishing everyone all the best for 2021! Stay safe and take care,
Sammi x
Sammi Cox 
Happy New Year, it’s only 6 days in. So really you’re right on time! Have a blessed one, it is what we make of it.
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Good point, Lisa. Perhaps it just felt later than 6 days in…Wishing you a blessed 2021 🙂
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Thank you 🙏🏻 you too, sorry just saw this.
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🙂
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Happy New Year Sammi
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🙂
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Sometimes we expect too much of ourselves, Sammi. A timetable always helps me – not that I always stick to it, but it helps to have it there. Be good to yourself.
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Thanks for the great suggestion, Elizabeth. A timetable sounds like a sensible idea 🙂
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Happy New Year to you, Sammi. It’s not much but I’ve pledged to read 24 books this year. I could not manage 12 last year but my mindset is different this year. Plus, I’m going to reduce my time in the blogosphere as it is just way too much of a time-suck.
Good luck to you!
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Some great sounding goals for 2021, Dale! Wishing you all the best with them. Blogging does require a hefty time investment, one I seem to always struggle with. But perhaps if I get a little better organised…hmm…And pledging to read 24 books is fantastic – I hope you discover, or even rediscover, some wonderful reads 🙂
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Thanks. It really does. I think most of us who are not retired or involved in writing a novel or whatever do! I am definitely going to do my best! 🙂
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I love Lord of the Rings and always watch it at least once during the year. A delightful set of films as well as treasured books!
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I couldn’t agree with you more, Jaya! 🙂
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Hi Sammi, and may the New Year bring you cheer. Sorry to hear of the flooding (but, hey, you at least escaped it)
You might be interested in this: Learning to Fly launches on 1st April. I have only to format for KDP POD and use Kindle Create for the e-book, and I’m done. Then it’s the scheduling for reviews (dear book bloggers….)
Thereafter I’m working on The Hare & The Adder which will be a book in 2 parts: Hegrissa & Alsalda. It’ll be a big thick book!
I miss our chats, I’ve been so busy, walks & photos and edits and establishing my “platform” on Twitter
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The almost being flooded was a strange, unnerving experience, but yes, at least we escaped it, and for that we’re grateful. 🙂
Yay! This is exciting news. You know I’ll happily review and share and interview etc 😀 Anything I can do to help, just let me know. And yay for The Hare and The Adder too. Exciting times ahead!
I miss our chats too. Just where do the hours go?
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That’s great that you’ll do that for me. This week I’m preparing to format for PODs… oh I so love that. One step nearer. The e-book is a doddle after that,
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No problem at all. On my writing goals list for this year is to try my hand at kindle publishing…we shall see… 🙂
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Oh, exciting. It really is quite easy.
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Happy New Year, Sammi!
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🙂
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Happy belated new year to you too, Sammi! The flooding at Christmas sounds doubly bad for the timing, how awful! I’m glad your family escaped the worst of it. You are the third friend so far who’s said that they watched all the LOTR movies over the break — I think this is beginning to be a tradition!
I’m not sure what my reading and blogging goals will be yet for this year. I “read” a ton of books last year (74, versus my goal of 52), but those were mostly audiobooks (which to be fair, take a lot more time). I haven’t actually sat down in my reading nook to read a “real” book since the eye health problems started in February. Between the eye problems and work stress, it’s all I can do most evenings to flop in front of the TV. But my (one good) eye is almost recovered from the most recent surgery, and one definite goal for this year is to get back into the habit of enjoying that reading nook.
Good luck with all of your writing and revisions and reviewing!
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The flooding certainly made for a strange Christmas Day…
Watching all the LOTR movies over the holidays is definitely a tradition I can get with! 🙂
Yay! You smashed last year’s reading goal – 74 books is an amazing number. I think I just scraped over my own goal with 53 or 54 books…
That’s fantastic news that your eye is almost recovered from the most recent surgery. And I hope you get to enjoy that reading nook again soon 🙂
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Almost all of those books were audiobooks, so that’s even more hours of consuming books than if reading print. But it also represents a major disruption to my normal routine. Now that I’m (cross my fingers) getting back to normal, I won’t be able to listen to nearly as many audiobooks. So I’m setting my reading goal this year the same as last year: 52.
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Reading goals mostly for me.
I haven’t decided what my writing goals will be.
As far as writing is concerned, I want to go with the flow.
Reading feels to me like filling the pantry.
Writing oftentimes feel like one is “depleting the pantry”.
Happy New Year!😄
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That’s a wonderful way of looking at it. You need to read if you’re to write. I love it! Wishing you all the best 🙂
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Same to you 💐
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