The Ends and the Beginnings
Wrapping up a Covid year
 |
Miss Hazel didn’t want to go outside in all the freezing rain and who would blame her? Instead, she watched the squirrel, we named Fred, from the window and she chattered at him in the language she usually reserves for birds. And you can also see, my son and I picked up a little noble after Thanksgiving. We certainly enjoyed our time together and hope that those of you in the United States, had a lovely Thanksgiving as well.
Isn’t it strange how fast they grow? He’s 27 now and to me, two weeks ago, he was four and stood on my feet while we danced in the kitchen. Now he towers over me as a grown man, sharing recipes, running marathons…brewing his own beer. That happened so quickly. But I’m grateful for the man and son he’s become.
Tomorrow begins the last month of this year, signaling the end of the second Covid year and the beginning of a third, though I’m hopeful its result is less than the previous. I’m hopeful we’ll get through this…soon.
It’s time to shake off the shackles of 2021, but there’s still things to accomplish before the year’s wrapped up and I’m busily writing The Drone Keeper, researching In the Meantime, setting up new things better for my readers, making travel plans, trying to figure out what to get the son for Christmas, and remembering my Dad. (He’s always on my mind.)
December has always had a lot of challenges. And we have just a little more time to make the year better before we close the door completely. I’d like to say I left it better than the year before but the bar is low on that one. Still, I’d like to make 2021 something that will challenge 2022. Something better to live up to. And I think I have. So far so good.
Especially setting up a better relationship with my readers before it all ends.
This will take a lot of time and effort but I believe it will be the best thing for both of us in the end. Showing the middle man the door is in our best interest.
In an upcoming post to my subscribers, you’ll find the 8th installment of The Drone Keeper and I love where this story is going. It’s so unlike anything I’ve written before. And though the last few years have been rough, I feel my writing improving. I’m also busy recording the first chapter of The Long Goodbye, and subscribers will be able to listen to me tell the story soon. All readers will be able to purchase the backlist everywhere as well. No more exclusivity for ebooks. But I will also be giving away free books to my subscriber list weekly too. This way I can accommodate as many readers as possible.
Holiday gift idea: You can even give a Gift Subscription to someone you think will enjoy this newsletter. Or put it on your own list.
However, if you’d prefer to remain a traditional reader, fear not. News of sales and new releases will still be here, as well as posts of things I think you’ll find interesting.
If at any time you want to read the past newsletters or the previous entries of The Drone Keeper, you can find them with other posts here: ARShawBooks.substack.com
For those of you that have already subscribed…Thank You! I’m excited to see where this goes, just as I’m excited to read the next page as I write and open a new year armed with the lessons from the past and surrounded by friends like you.
Let’s finish strong and begin again.
What is a noble?