Christmas is almost upon us. I have a love/hate relationship with the holidays. First of all … too much food. Too much shopping. Too much traveling. Too much family–that’s right. I said it. Just too much of everything. However, that is exactly what I love about this time of year. Bam, bam, bam, and then it’s over until next year. My favorite part about Tis’in the Season is that it always makes for a great opportunity to be kind. Buy a basket of groceries for the elderly couple standing behind you in line. Adopt a family so those sweet kiddos can have a Christmas they’ll never forget. Spend some time behind the soup bowl at your local outreach. Donate a coat. Need is never ending. You can always find a way to give, even it’s just to visit someone in a nursing home or donating your time to charity. Someone needs you.
That said, Christmas happens to be at the end of the year, and it always forces me to reflect on what has happened over the last twelve months. 2012 has been a crazy, wonderful, amazing, jaw-dropping, life changing year for me. I don’t know anyone who’s had this many huge events happen to them in the span of one year. I finally married my partner and best friend, carried and delivered our son, built and moved into our first home, became a New York Times and USA Today best seller, and became traditionally published through Atria Books. Beautiful Disaster has been translated in over 20 languages from Tagalog to Turkish, and Warner Brothers optioned the film rights.
To say this year has been huge is a gross understatement. I’m not sure there is a word to describe 2012. I never miss an opportunity to thank my readers, but I also never forget that my books could have easily been overlooked and lost in the sea of self-published novels. So many of you read my words and shared your enthusiasm with someone else. You read my book, enjoyed it, took the time to tell even one person, and that is one very big reason good things–and a lot of them–happened in my life this year. From the bottom of my heart, as sincerely as my fingers can type: Thank You. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I will never forget those who reached out and carried me up that mountain to success.
My family and I will take our ski holiday a bit early this year and head out the day after Christmas (thank God for house sitters who don’t mind living amid torn wrapping paper and the remnants of packing). Spring break is our usual ski time, but 2013 will be the year of travel, and we’ll start by spring breaking it with BFF Beth and her family.
Speaking of travel, I am excited to begin the process of planning a book tour with my badass Atria publicist Ariel Fredman for Walking Disaster! Beginning in April, hopefully at a venue near you, I’ll be signing books and meeting readers! To say I’m excited doesn’t cover it, so I will say SQUEE! Bring your books, bring your cameras, bring your selves! I CAN’T WAIT to meet you!
And, more good news: A few new website tweaks coming soon! Fab web designer Lysa will magically conjure up a Beautiful Disaster movie tab where you can find all things BD film related, and all the latest news. Also, I’ll be working on a playlist for Eden and Walking Disaster. Super excited for these! I’m also going to revamp the Requiem playlist. Even though that is the music I listened to while writing, the soundtrack should be balanced out with some songs that give readers a better sense of that time in Jared and Nina’s lives, just like the Providence playlist, so I’m going to work on that as well.
A few points: The *signed* special edition hardback of Beautiful Disaster is being shipped! If you didn’t pre-order, no fear! There are still copies left, but hurry! They won’t last long! These special editions will make great Christmas gifts, for yourself or someone else, and don’t be afraid to stick that puppy on your Christmas list! You can order from any of your favorite online retailers (Amazon, BN, Book Depo, etc) or even Simon&Schuster.com. Just use the search feature. If all else fails, GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND. =)
Beautiful Disaster is available as an audiobook! Emma Galvin has been praised over and over for her narration. Definitely a format to add to any BD fan’s collection.
With the release of Walking Disaster in April, and the progress of the Beautiful Disaster movie, 2013 is definitely set to be memorable as well! I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to topping 2012. That seems a bit impossible at the moment, but I would love to try!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and an amazing New Year!
<3, Jamie
Loading tweets...