2023 Year in Review:

I was looking back at 2023, and it was an eventful year. And not in a good way.

It started off ambitious. I was planning to be far more physically active. I had purchased a fancy new mountain bike with fat offroad tires and power assist, and I was having way too much fun trail riding with it. I was solo camping in mid-January in Shannondoah River State Park when I crashed my mountain bike. I shattered my right collar bone, broke two ribs, and dislocated my shoulder. The worst part was I was two miles away from my truck, and there was NO cell service.

Collarbone Repairs

I managed to get my shoulder back into the socket, straightened the handlebars on my bike, and road the bike two miles back to my truck. Those two miles were a nightmare of pain, but I knew I was alone in that park and had to do it, no matter the pain. I drove myself to a hospital as my vision narrowed in shock and inability to breathe. After they stabilized me and filled me with pain meds, I called my wife, Brenda, and she and my sister Amy drove the two hours to pick me up at the hospital. Soon I had a new titanium collar bone installed and six weeks of shallow breathing.

That wasn't the last time Brenda saved me in 2023. Less than six months later, once again while camping, I had a heart attack. I was being bull-headed, but Brenda convinced me that my chest pain might be more than reflux. Boy, was she right. The quick trip to the ER discovered a 90% blockage of my right coronary artery. Emergency surgery followed, and a shiny new stent was installed.

My dog Whiskey

In the second half of the year, I humbly got my shit together. Dancing at the edge of the abyss can do that to you. I got very serious about my health. All my "numbers" have improved. Diet and exercise have improved. I am riding my bike again but sticking to the roads these days. I got a dog named Whiskey that I walk every day, who also lowers my blood pressure. I even bought a camper so I can enjoy solo camping (with my dog) and be more comfy.

All of that adventure seriously cut onto my writing goals for 2023. 

• I only managed one writer retreat. Not two.
• I only published two books: Blood Heretics and Peck's Halfway
• I only produced one new Audiobook. 
• I only wrote two new 1st drafts of books to be published in 2024.

It's New Year's Eve today. My goals are ambitious for 2024. I hope to publish four books this year. I believe I can do it, as two of them are already written in 1st draft. The third has a verbose outline and will be the project for my spring Writer Retreat. And the fourth will be drafted in my September Writer Retreat. At least, that is the plan. Stay tuned, and hope for no ER visits this year!

--Wish me luck. Happy New Year!

The year comes to a close...

I want to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes as I begin another lap around the sun. Several people asked what was in store for me this coming year. So here is a quick accountability list:

1. Spend more time outside. Camping, dog walking, bike riding. 
2. Spend LESS time in the ER. Just saying.
3. Keep Writing/Publishing and having fun doing it.
4. Spend more time with friends. Maybe even you.
5. Be more amused and less angry at the world.
6. Make sure the people I love know it.
7. An occasional relaxing cigar and bourbon.

--Got any other recommendations?

Looking back at 2021...

It’s that time of year when I look back and do the year in review.

I accomplished a lot of stuff this year. More in some areas than I expected and less in others.

• I produced 2 audiobooks.
• I wrote 3 novels.
• I published 1 book (another is only weeks away).
• I wrote 6 short stories.
• I lost 30 pounds (gained 20 back in the last month during the holidays).
• I traveled A LOT more. (I even visited both my adult children finally).
• I went camping several times, even solo.
• I built things that made my home more excellent.
• I helped several fellow authors publish.
• I continued my weekly podcast on YouTube.
• I read 81 books. (paper, kindle, and audio)
• I took Tai Chi and Guitar Classes.
  
• I had my first Book Signing in 18 months.
• I listened to music I love every day.
• I made new friends.
• I donated Blood 4 times.
• I planted many trees.
• I said "I Love You" at least a thousand times.

--I'll call this year a win.

2017 Year in Review

Light at the end of 2017

Looking back at 2017 is kind of tough for me. In general, it was not a good year in my world. It was not all bad, but the thing on the problematic side of the scale all cause me to lose momentum in writing.

So here is the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from 2017.

On the Blogging front:

• I posted every day at min. Twice sometimes. 376 times.
• I read a lot of books.
• I interviewed a lot of authors.
• I wrote 52 more comics.
• I did lots of quotes.
• I posted a lot of things that inspired me.
• I even posted a few tips.

Not writing stuff involved with authoring:

• I did several book signings. 
• I attended conferences about writing.
• I attended a weekly writers group.
• I expanded TannhauserPress.com.
• I focused more on the business side of writing. 
• I Tweeted a lot. But not BUY MY BOOK constantly! 
• I produced and published another Audio Book.
• I hired a firm to build a new website/platform/brand.

Writing in 2017:

• I wrote stories for three anthologies. 
• I wrote two more novels.
• I wrote 17 chapters in my personal memoir.
• I wrote 5 original ghost stories.
• I outlined my next three novels. 
• I documented ideas and concepts for about 400 more projects.
• I wrote 15 original short stories (unpublished).
• I wrote almost daily until things got complicated...

Carl Wilsey

Personal life had too many monkey wrenches:

• My Brother Carl died suddenly from cancer.  
• My Son moved to California, and we had a great, but bittersweet, cross-country road trip.
• My wife fell down the stairs and horribly broke her leg. (She's fine now)
• All these monkey wrenches were necessary distractions from writing.
• My next novel SHADOWS OF THE SENTINEL is two months behind schedule.

It wasn't all bad news:

• I began a fitness plan in 2017, and it's working for once!
• I have lost over 100 pounds total so far.
• I have not been this thin/healthy since 1976.
• Book sales have skyrocketed.
• I have met significant financial goals in my life.
• I plan to become a full-time Author in 2018. 
• I have family and friends that love me. Old and new.

I have High Hopes for 2018:

• I will have two or three novels to be published.
• I will appear in three or four anthologies.
• I will transition to Full-Time author. (I wonder if my boss reads this?)
• I will become super fit!
• I will spend more time outdoors.
• I will camp more.
• I will travel a bit more.
• I will relax and enjoy my shoes... 

 

--Goodbye 2017. And good riddance. 

2014 in Review

Well another year is coming to a close and a quick look back is in order.

The year started out with my first book, Still Falling, moving out of second draft to editing for spelling, grammar and Alpha readers. That was followed by another revision and then it was off to the editor for a final polish. It's about 124,000 words.

It should be ready for submission in a couple weeks.

I started getting more serious about Photography this year. Like this one!

I also wrote the second book in the series, The Broken Cage. That books first draft will finish up this weekend. It should be a quicker edit. It's about 90,000 words.

I am healthier than I was this time last year. My back has healed very well. I am also about 40 pounds lighter than I was this time last year.I watch less TV and spend less time on Facebook. I write almost every day. When I am not writing I am thinking about the story.

--I wonder where I will be this time next year?