Happy New Year!
I don’t know about you, but January 1st is always my tabula rasa, my opportunity to start anew. Of course that always involves reading and writing.
I expect my debut novel to be published later this year, although I still do not have a firm date. No matter – I am already working on its sequel, as well as the second draft of the book I began before the holidays. I am excited about both projects, as well as my debut novel!
I am also excited about all the good things I will read this year! And there are so many!!!! I am absolutely obsessed with Goodreads – I use it to track what I’ve read and what I want to read. As with all things in my life, my “want to read” list is the reading equivalent of my eyes being too big for my stomach, but a person has to dream, mustn’t they?
While I am excited about some of my favourite authors coming out with new books this year, I also want to support fellow debuts. I belong to a wonderful group of middle grade and young adult writers called The Sweet Sixteens. To date, there are over 170 of us with debut novels this year. We live all over the world and we have become a real support system for one another, which is grand, because trust me when I tell you: the whole publishing process is VERY confusing. Luckily, I am later in the process than many and I am learning by watching them!
Over the coming year, I will share some reviews of their books as well as just a heads up that they are out there in the world. To date, I have had the pleasure of reading 7 of the authors’ works and I can tell you they are writing great stuff. But debuts need your support, so I hope you will consider showing them a little love when you are at the bookstore or the library!
The first five were launched yesterday and include:
I’ve read two of these books already and cannot wait to read the others!
Feel free to follow along on our journey on the Sweet Sixteens blog, or on twitter @TheSweet16s.
And by all means, follow me on Goodreads and let me know what you’re reading as well! It will give me more to add to my “want to read” list!
Have a great week!