Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020!

I consider myself an optimist who can find joy in any situation so it is not entirely out of character to say that this past year has been one of the best. Each year brings different challenges, joys, problems, and triumphs and at any point in time the current year is my favorite. But 2019 brought my husband and I are wonderful, smiley, talkative son and so I think 2019 will remain my favorite for quite some time. 

Some personal highlights of 2019:
-we bought our first house and while we love it, we had NO idea how much work it is
-we both love our day jobs and are approaching our third and fourth years there
-we handled pregnancy during a move, the Phoenix heat, and got through a pretty traumatic birth
-we welcomed our son!
-I survived maternity leave and going back to work full-time. It is difficult being a working mom and trying to find any time for myself and it's a struggle still--but I'm giving myself time to adapt to the new role and hope for the best. 
-we hosted Christmas for the first time ever

Some author highlights of 2019:
-I finished writing three books despite the pregnancy/no sleep/baby thing
-My final book from my Cleat Chasers Series went through edits and is releasing January 2020 (this was hard because edits were due right around my due date!)
-I got a new contract with City Owl Press! INTERNSHIP WITH THE DEVIL is a personal favorite story of mine because it is a slowwww burn romance. I love writing the first kiss scene and it takes these characters a while so there is SO much tension. This book also was a therapeutic way to cope with losing my grandma and feeling helpless at my mom's sadness. The main character talks about how roses remind her of her mom and that is a based off my own mom--she LOVES roses and has this rose smelling lotion that will make me think of her every time I smell it. 
-My young adult romance got a like during #pitmad and it ended with a contract! (The best happy ending for a twitter contest) OUR LAST CHANCE is coming out in 2020 with an awesome publisher with lots of energy and it is different than my other books because it is young adult, high school characters and doesn't have a lot of steam. It features two student athletes desperate for scholarships and fun fact: the coach's name in the story is a tribute to one of my coaches who made softball a wonderful sport for me.  
-My books are available in paperback for the first time and there is NOTHING like the feeling of holding your own works that you created. Nothing. (Except maybe my son...) I got to mail out copies to readers and had a stupid smile on my face while at the UPS store. I got an odd look but I didn't care.

2020 and Beyond:
-Writing looks different now for me but I'm hoping to finish a couple of manuscripts and get them out into the world!
-I'm hoping to continue writing relationships with some awesome writers. Writing a book is never a single person journey so I am thankful.

-What I'm working on: 
-the second book in Out of the Park Series feature Michelle and her mystery guy
-copy edits for my two 2020 releases
-the second book in my enemies-to-lovers series with City Owl Press. It is my favorite trope to write and I'm already planning how to make these two characters love to hate each other. 

I wish you all the best for 2020. Happy New Year!
xo

Jaqueline