For those of you who listened to the episode of Reader's Rockin' Radio that I was on will remember that one of the hosts, Debra Shiveley Welch - an editor with Saga Books - informed me that Saga Books will be publishing my next book, Missing Flowers.

This means a lot to me and I'll tell you why. I have been writing for years and submitting manuscripts, articles etc to different publishers. With Missing Flowers I was looking for an agent from March 2011 until November 2011. I had a few look at it and most were encouraging even if they weren't going to represent it. But then there were a few that were almost nasty and putting down me and my writing.

I know that professionals will tell you that it isn't the person that an agent or publisher is rejecting but the work yet it still hurts. And it is damaging to a person's self esteem. I started pulling books on how to create characters, how to write mysteries, how to do this and that. I was feeling inadequate and that my talent was useless.

Then Debra said those magic words and suddenly I was transported to the top again. I was able to realize that I do have talent and the stories I tell can be appreciated by someone in an important position. I received validation for my efforts and that is worth more than many people realize.

So thank you Debra and I am sure that this will be a profitable and rewarding relationship for both of us.

 I live in Vancovuer Canada and I wonder why I got a phone call last night from a company in Colorado to confirm whether I received a new yellow pages.

I wonder why the yellow pages gets printed so often - more than once a year - when we are supposed to be cutting down on our use of paper and saving the trees.

I wonder how people who are going nowhere in life can get satisfaction from being unkind to those who are struggling to rise above their situation. It doesn't really bring the achievers down to the level of the losers so what do the losers achieve?

I wonder if people were truly judged on their inner selves and talents rather then their outer appearances how well people would do in this world.

I wonder what my life would be like if I had never gone through the setbacks I have?

I wonder if I had realized how attractive I was in my youth and taken proper care of that how my life would be different now?

I wonder if I had used my outer looks to my advantage when I was young how far I would have gotten in life? I wonder if I would have turned out jaded and bitter?

But I don't wonder too often. I am too busy trying to make things happen now. 

If you happen to be free around 3:30 mountain time on Wednesday January 18 then take a moment to listen to yours truly being interviewed on the radio! Just go over to Readers Rockin' Radio and hear what I have to say.

I'm looking forward to it, I am sure it is going to be a lot of fun.

Did you happen to watch The Firm tonight? Looks like it is going to be a great show. I'm pleased to see Callum Keith Rennie in it, he's one of my favourite actors.

I am working diligently to get some radio or podcast interviews. And to find a publisher for one of my books. I want to make a big stir in the literary world, I am just not sure on how to do it!

Weight loss is not going well but that is okay. Hopefully this next week I will drop pounds like crazy! I can always hope.

Yesterday was a day of extreme exhaustion and I decided I was just going to laze around on the couch all day and watch television. But I got so bored! The next tiime I feel like that I will do ten minute exercises and work on research. Live and learn I guess.

Tomorrow is the start of a new week. And I have a doctor's appointment. I hope it is a great week.

I realize it is only a few days into the new year but some people may have already given up on their New Year's resolutions. I hope not. If I happen to slip on mine I am going to just get right back at it. I refuse to give up on what I want.

Every day I am doing at least one thing to promote or advance my writing career. I know that 2012 is going to be the year that I become very successful.

This is also going to be the year that I lose the weight. I lost .4 pounds this week then gained back .2 but I am not going to get down about it. I am eating healthy, exercising and avoiding processed foods (especially sugar), alcohol and other such harmful things.

I am also going to lower the balances on my credit cards greatly. I intend on being out of debt by mid-2013. I keep repeating my goals to myself so that I don't lose motivation.

So far so good. I will report back to you another time.