NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Friday, December 31, 2010

End of the Year Tally


I'm so excited to be a part of this great new blog and I am humbled by the terrific company I get to keep here! For my first post I totally lucked out and got to hang out here on the last day of the year.

Now as much as I love suspense, I also have a burning desire to know what the future holds for me. I've always been one to look ahead to the coming year on New Year's Eve. It's a brand new start, a shiny new coin waiting to be spent on some wonderful surprise. It's also a time to set goals. For me, that means giving myself a daily calorie maximum, a weekly word count minimum and a monthly spending limit.

But 2010 has been a pretty awesome year for me so I want to look back as well. When I started counting the ebooks I released I was pleasantly shocked to discover there were nine of them. I also signed with a terrific agent and sold a book to Carina Press. It'll be a challenge to outdo 2010 but one of my goals is going to be to do just that -- to make 2011 even better than 2010.

I think it's important to look back from where I came in order to figure out how to get where I want to go. I've seen what works and what doesn't.

So here's my challenge to you: Post your two or three biggest goals for 2011 in the comments. Sometimes saying it aloud -- or in this case, tossing it out into the blogosphere -- puts extra pressure on to get it done. I'll go first.

In 2011 I want to:

1. exceed 7,000 words every week or 350,000 words for the year.

2. lose at lease one pound a week - every week.

3. exceed my 2010 savings goal by $100 per month.

And since I've seen some great recipes here, thought I'd throw in one of my family's favorites, a Wynter original I've never shared before, although I've been asked. (You should feel honored:-)

Wynter's Famous Hummus

1 - 15 ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained
2/3 cup fat free sour cream (can use low fat instead)
3 tablespoons tahini (optional - to make recipe fat free, leave this off)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced (more or less, depending on how spicy you like it)
dash salt (optional)
dash cumin

Put all ingredients in food processor and blend until smooth. Serve with pita chips.


I'm looking forward to blogging with all the talented authors here. My first book with Carina Press, Protective Custody, comes out in May, but I'm not a brand new author. I have many books with Ellora's Cave as well as a couple with Red Sage and Loose Id. You can find me on the web at www.WynterDaniels.com.

16 comments:

Maureen A. Miller said...

Happy New Year to you, Wynter!

2010 was a wonderful year. I got to meet all of you!!!

My goals are simple ones.

Write more.
Read more.
Brighten everyone's life.

ohhh...and cut back on mozarella.

Happy New Year!

Wynter said...

Thanks, Maureen. What admirable goals.

Toni Anderson said...

Wow--I love your goals and congrats for 2010 and best of luck for 2011.

I love Maureen's goals too.

You guys are great :)

Marcelle Dubé said...

Congratulations on a great 2010, Wynter! And I hope you reach your 2011 goals, too. Thanks for the recipe!

My goals are simple -- I want to write at least two novels this year and get more exercise.

I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful 2011.

Karen said...

Ms. Wynter, yet another awesome recipe. Made more of the cranberry nirvana today. Ummm...good stuff. My goals are to be published this year--period...end of sentence.

Wynter said...

Back at you, Toni;-)

Thanks, Marcelle - those are reasonable goals. I'm sure you'll do well.

Karen - I think we will see you published very soon. Can't wait! I haven't made the cranberry chutney yet this year. Now I'm hungry for it!

KC Burn said...

Happy New Year, Wynter! The recipe looks great - I love hummus. And nine books? You were on fire!

As for goals, I'm aiming for 1000 words per day, submitting more projects and exercising more.

Wynter said...

Happy New Year to you, too, KC. I couldn't believe it when I counted up my books. It's going to be tough to beat!
Good luck with your goals.

Julie Moffett said...

Wynter: Love your goals! Do keep us updated on your progress! My goals are to be happy, write more and be a great mom! Happy New Year!!

And Karen, good luck!! :)

Wynter said...

Thanks, Julie. Will do.

Elise Warner said...

Will join you as far as writing and reading. I have to gain a pound or two-I think everyone's recipes will help.

Wynter said...

Good luck, Elise. You can make the hummus recipe with lots of tahini (very fattening) and real sour cream.

Clare London said...

2010 was a struggle for me on some counts but also a marvellous one as my Sons started to spread their wings. I just wish I'd got more writing done! but I find I don't respond to daily word goals, so I have to find different motivation:).

My goals:
* don't try and tick off *every* household repair or decoration job all at once!
* monthly date night with Hubby
* finish one novel. Just one, honest. Anything extra will be a treat...LOL.

Happy New Year to you all!

Wynter said...

Clare - I tend to take on too much at once, too. I think I will add trying for some patience to my goals;-)

Unknown said...

Happy New Year, Wynter!

Congrats on a terrific 2010. I'm aiming for 1,000 words a day too. I want to submit at least two books this year.

Keep us posted!

Wynter said...

Thanks, Shirley.

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