I tend to shy away from declaring New Year's Resolutions each January 1st, but something hit me upside the head this morning so I thought... ya know... maybe THIS is the year to boldly declare a resolution to...

Restrain my tendency to give advice or feedback in any way that can be discerned as negative in any way. Only provide positive feedback.

Even if I foresee a train wreck incoming, any words of warning cannot be helpful for a few reasons, but mainly because:

1) My words could hold up a person's from taking that risk that will lead them to their own dreams. No risk, no reward, right?

2) If someone takes a risk and fails or decides themselves not to take risk and misses out, then it is that person's regret, not mine and I should accept I have no personal stakes in that person's regret/lesson.

3) Hey, what if they're right and everything falls into place and is perfect from them? Come on, that's what we all want, right? My negative words, even under the guise of advice for what my opinion could be their best interests, could've prevented that success and THAT would be unforgiveable.

I've learned with my adult children that I can give them advice and they either listen or don't. But whatever the outcome, whatever they miss out on or end up regretting, is their regret/their life lesson. Not mine. I made zillions of mistakes, have zillion regrets but they're mine, my life lessons on which I was formed. I shouldn't attempt to pave the path for others and rob them of their own lessons with my overly cautious advice when the situation/experience is meant to mold them into the person they're meant to become.

And sometimes, all goes above and beyond wildest expectations so they WIN!

This all came about because my immediate instinct this morning reading a mom's post in a Grown & Flown group on social media was to throw up all the warning signs and expound on just how awful a decision can be for their child who just quit their job to become a writer and the mom was asking for referrals for literary agents.

Now, most (if not all) writers know agents don't grow on trees and getting one to acknowledge your existence (and your writing) is a pipe dream. Also, typically one doesn't write a book in a day or week, immediately get an agent and a publishing contract worth thousands or millions. Henceforth, writers typically need jobs to pay for all those pesky things like food, shelter, clothing, etc. until Harper Collins comes banging on our front door with a giant check.

Then I began to read Psycho-Cybernetics: The Original Text of the Classic Guide to a New Life by Maxwell Maltz and I am learning so much, including "All problems, personal, national, or combat, become smaller if you don't dodge them, but confront them. Touch a thistle timidly, and it pricks you; grasp it boldly and its spines crumble." And "It is the COURAGE to do something regardless of the consequences." so "Why Not Bet on Yourself?"

This paragraph shook me to my core and changed my mentality on the subject:

Nothing in this world is ever absolutely certain or guaranteed. Often the difference between a successful man and a failure is not one's better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on his ideas, to take a calculated risk--and to act.

So here's the thing... I could've commented on the post with all sorts of advice from being an author for several years and passed along my lessons learned, but 1) others had already blasted their opinions so why add to the negativity, and 2) would the adult child in question be depressed and disheartened and quit writing and never realize their dream? Who am I to "piss on their parade?" Because maybe, just maybe... they will be the exception to the rule. But they won't be if they don't ever try. Never trying is indeed the worst failing of any endeavor.

Try or not, it's that person's individual decision to make and not for someone who doesn't even know them to dissuade them or demotivate them. So... best wishes to that brave person and I hope their support system holds strong and all their writing/publishing dreams come true.

In the meantime, I will continue to read and better my own thinking so I can live in COURAGE too.

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PNR and Fantasy Romance Reading Recommendations for January 2025

I'm a sucker for a good PNR series and box sets so enjoy these!

Angel's Destiny: Good vs Evil Fantasy Romance Box Set

by Skylar Cassidy

https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/5669e11c-931d-11ef-8474-2ff21186d7db

Angel's Seduction:

Dark magic is causing a rift in time, and I’m the Angel in charge of finding the source.

Turns out, it’s a sultry, seductive witch using dark magic. I could stop her in an instant and heal the rift.

But wait… I know her!

She’s a fallen Angel, her memories removed. I have to help her get her memories back.

But when I’m in her presence I can’t keep my hands off her. Is she casting a spell on me?

We have to work together to heal the rift she has caused. All realms, including Heaven, may implode if we can’t stop this.

And I won’t be able to find out why I can’t live without her.

Angel's Journey:

All I wanted to do was relax after being in battle. I didn’t realize I had time-traveled to an ancient enchanted forest, complete with a sexy Princess.

A real-life damsel in distress. A sexy, HOT damsel, who is the picture of pure innocence.

She’d lost her memory. I had to help her.

My Angel instinct was to leave innocence alone and not defile that purity. But my libido was overcoming my willpower.

I need to possess her.

Magical beings in the forest don’t want us to succeed. They work with the witch who cast a spell on her.As our two worlds collide we must work together to overcome the witch’s spell. If we don’t, Earth as we know it…will die.

And, I will have lost the love of my life.

Angel's Fortune:

My brother Bowen is missing. I don’t need a fortune teller to complicate my quest to find him. Especially a hot, sexy, infuriatingly sassy one.

She makes me want to break every rule in the Angel’s Rulebook. Specifically, the one about consorting with practitioners of magic.

Not to mention the one about sleeping with them.

But our mutual lust for each other continually threatens to derail my quest to find him. Until I discover that our lives are entangled, like it or not.

A powerful sorcerer has used his ring to steal her family’s magic. And now Bowen is under his spell.

Together, we must defeat this sorcerer and free her and her family. His magic is getting stronger daily.

If we fail, it could be the end of our love, not to mention all of mankind.

***

Dracones; Books 1 - 3: Cursed & Hunted

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/d326f010-9245-11ef-b42f-8f84dc4fd548

A thousand year curse … Prepare for a book hangover as the dragons, wolves, witches, vampires and a scared kitty take you on a thrilling, yet enduring adventure.

“A book that will stay with you.” -Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dracones Awakening:

After their village was destroyed they fled to earth, now, fourteen years later two fallen angels are dead, and Tierney’s father is missing…

In the search for Tierney’s dad, secrets and lies are revealed, and as Jax battles the beast raging beneath his skin, it paralyzes him with dread. What if he hurts someone innocent? What if he hurts Tierney?

Well aware that he’s not worthy of her love—when a monster surfaces—one so vile it makes Jax see red—he does what he believes is the only thing that will keep Tierney safe.

But is it?

Dracones Revelations:

Secrets have power … and some have the ability to destroy.

For years Sami’s kept certain horrifying events from the past buried, until the one person who should accept him, doesn’t. The rejection, combined with his approaching awakening and steadily growing powers, has Sami spiraling out of control.

But life waits for no one, and when a female dracones finds herself in trouble, Sami heads to Calgary to rescue her. The reprieve will do him good, and the mission should be quick and easy, right? Wrong. Stranded in a blizzard with a stunning woman who warms his heart, Sami’s awakening arrives. If that wasn’t enough, he’s suddenly confronted by vampires that can walk in the day, and someone he believed to be dead.

Rage, hurt, and despair consume Sami. He knows his family has his back, but can he let go of the secrets and free himself from their power before anyone else gets hurt?

Dracones Betrayed:

He barely survived her the first time...now she’s back…

When Phoenix shifter Hellfire shows up seeking Sami’s help to find her sister, he’s torn. She heartlessly tossed him away, and he’s finally picked up the pieces of his life. He’s trying hard to move on and has other relying on him.

How can he leave?

Yet, as Sami catches a glimpse of Hellfire’s own secrets, he realizes there’s more at stake than just a missing phoenix. Faced with impossible choices, what will he do?

Hang on tight because this whirlwind of prophecy, hate, and betrayal will sweep you into another realm teeming with immortal creatures and devastating consequences as we discover if Sami will ever find happiness.

Dive into the Dracones today and feel your savage heart soar. This steamy series is an emotional adventure that’ll leave you breathless.

For fans of Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward, Larissa Ione, Lara Adrian, Dianne Duvall, Christine Feehan, Gena Showalter & Nalini Singh.

***

Luna Condemned: A Paranormal Wolf Shifter Series (Servants of Shay Book 2)

by Ava King

https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/3360976e-92c9-11ef-a552-d3c407a7fcd2

My name is Yaz, and I’ve been labeled a traitor by my people.

Only the Moon knows why I had to fall in love with a hunter, and now I’ve been forced into the impossible position of having to choose between my heart’s desire and my loyalty to the pack. No one says no to the Alpha wolf, after all, so what do I do now that he wants me to use my relationship as a weapon against the hunters?

A wolf is nothing without her pack, or so I’ve been taught. Do I abandon this love that has set my world on fire, or do I face exile by defying the Alpha? I need time… and a way out. But neither seems to be in the stars for me.

***

Blessings for everyone's new year!

In agreement with my year-end 2024 newsletter, I wish to express my sincerest gratitude for everyone here and for all readers of paranormal and fantasy romance. You are greatly appreciated.