Happy New Year!! 🎉It’s funny to think today marks the beginning of a new decade as well as the first day of the year. The past ten years have been a wild ride in many ways. Long post ahead alert…
My father passed away at age 64 in 2010. He was a professor and a writer. When he got sick, it happened pretty fast and it was clear he didn’t have much time so I made an effort to see him as often as possible. One day he asked me what I wanted to do. I was 41 at the time and I kind of loved that he didn’t assume I’d grown up. LOL I told him I still had to figure it out, but that I wanted to do something I loved that didn’t feel like work and I spend more time in NYC. My dad passed away in August 2010. Almost two years to the day, my son came out at age 18. And a week later, I began writing my first book, Better Than Good.
Losing my father was one of the hardest things I’d ever been through. But it gave me the sense of strength and purpose I think I needed to be an advocate for my son (all my children actually) and ultimately for myself. I wanted to lead by example, test myself, and try something new. Ten years and almost 30 books later, I can honestly say, I love this journey so far. I’ve learned more in my 40s than in any other decade of my life. I’ve learned to listen, to be more compassionate, to be kinder, to be open to change and more than anything…I’ve learned that grace and gratitude matter.
In a way, it’s very fitting to begin the new year with the set of shorts from my Better Than Good. It’s a meaningful touchstone piece for me and it makes me incredibly happy to know how much Matt and Aaron’s story have resonated for so many people. I may have more planned for that series in 2020. I’ll keep you posted! 😉In the meantime…Better Than Beginnings Cover/Blurb Reveal is coming up January 3rd! Stay tuned for details!
I’m also looking forward to releasing Out on the Ice, Book 5 in Out in College, late Feb/early March and Book 3 in Starting From in late April/early May. And that’s just the first part of 2020! More than anything, I’m excited to see my oldest son graduate this spring with a journalism masters degree in NYC. I think my father would be incredibly proud.
Thank you for your continued love, support, and readership. I’m so glad you love this genre as much as I do and honored that you choose to read my stories. May 2020 bring happiness, good health, love, hope, and joy…and lots of books!
Happy New Year and Happy Reading, Lane xo
Awwww….. beautiful!
Penelope
Sent from my iPhone
Thank you. Happy New Year!