Well, here we are–the last day of 2012. My year ended with quite a few inches of snow this past week, and with the promise of a very busy 2013. So as is my custom, I wanted to take today to look back over the year with only a few short hours left in it.
At the end of 2011, I’d just gotten a three-book deal with Harvest House, but I hadn’t signed the contracts yet so hadn’t been able to announce it. Now, of course, we all know that it’s the Culper Ring Series, and Ring of Secrets is only two months out!
Working on this series has been an amazing blessing to me. While I miss having the time to spend on my biblicals (and while I intend to squeeze out the time for another one of those this next year), the Culpers have taught me lessons I didn’t realize I needed to learn. Lessons about waking up each day and asking the Lord, “What can I do for You, for what You’ve called me to, today? How can I help others?”
I’ve so enjoyed working with the team at Harvest House, too. Each and every one of them I’ve talked with is simply amazing, and they’ve thrown their faith onto me, which is both humbling and exhilarating. They’ve uttered phrases about my career with them that I’ve dreamed of for decades. And we have more in the works together that I can’t announce quite yet…but which will keep us working together on other projects after the Culpers are finished. So thrilled about that!
But there were some disappointments in 2012 too, career-wise. I vaguely hinted in my 2011 wrap-up that I’d had other offers too. Which I did…but which fell through. And oh, but those hurt. Stories I had poured sweat and tears into, stories that I so fell in love with…so them languishing in my computer caused me some time of mourning. Three of them–three novels, one finished, one a third finished, one still a beautiful proposal–lay waiting for their turn. And while it isn’t as though I don’t have a ton of books waiting in my computer, these three were special. More, they had been wanted, had been given offers…and then that hope had fallen through.
This being me, though, I raise my chin and say, “Okay, so it wasn’t the time for them. Yet. But I know they’ll have their day.” And in the meantime, I stay so busy with the definite projects that the ache fades. Doesn’t disappear, but it fades.
In 2012, WhiteFire also contracted a banner number of books for us. In 2013 we’ll have a title releasing every month, which is pretty darn amazing for this small press with the big dreams. We have some fabulous authors working with us now, and these books…wow. That’s about all I can say. WOW. I’ve taken over the cover design as well as editing, which has been a ton of fun. And now I’m wondering how to balance all the editing with all my writing, with all our home schooling, LOL. Should be an adventure!
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| There are a few others still awaiting covers, too. =) |
Home schooling has been going really well this year. We’ve found our groove, are loving Sonlight, and Xoe’s getting more independent with a lot of her work. She’s doing amazingly, and regularly amazes me with her questions, insights, and creativity. Gotta say, though, I’m intimidated at adding Rowyn to the schedule in the next year, LOL.
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| Xoe in the party scene of The Nutcracker |
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| Rowyn on my lap, waiting for The Nutcracker to start |
Overall, it was a good year. I took two trips to Texas (within a month–yeah. Wow.), had a great conference, am privileged to work with so many awesome people, and know I’m on the career path the Lord’s been planning for me for years.
It’s been a good, busy year. And as I look toward 2013, I know that I have a lot of work coming my way. Tomorrow I’ll be focusing on the looking-ahead.
So how about you? What have you learned this year? What joys have taken you by surprise? What disappointments did you have to conquer? And what are you looking forward to in 2013?
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
Ooh, I really love the cover for Hopeless! Nice work 🙂
I'm looking forward to a year full of Roseanna M. White releases!
All of those covers look amazing and make me want to read them all now! And you know me, I want to read those books waiting to be published at the right time! I am always excited to learn that you have something new coming out. I can't wait for a new Biblical. Those are my favorites because of how you weave fact in with fiction so beautifully and make it where I can't put the book down for fear of missing something! May 2013 be an awesome year for you, your family, your homeschool adventure, your writing and your publishing company. Be blessed my friend.
Love reading your update, Roseanna. Those kids are ADORABLE – and I can't wait for Ring of Secrets (and those three other books that WILL get published some time.). Happy New Year, my friend.