HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!

I was reading about Susanna Leonard Hill's four year blog anniversary earlier this week and was actually surprised she had been blogging for such a short amount of time compared to how long her lovely writing career has been. Then I realized I had a blog anniversary coming up myself.

I have to give credit to Tara Lazar for starting me on this blogging journey. Way back on December 6th, 2011, I was just catching my breath from participating in my first PiBoIdMo event. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the love and support I was receiving from this new writing community I had just joined so I thought I would post a blog about my first PiBo. If you want to read it, go here.

So much has happened since then. I had been writing professionally for almost a year when I started my blog and I've seen it grow from a small handful of loyal followers to a blog that is now read in more than 20 countries around the globe. I've written 692 posts in those three years which has had more than 339,000 page views. And I've made many, many lasting friendships along the way.

I've posted tons of writing analogies which most of my readers seemed to like. I've spotlighted the best of the best in children's picture books through my BOOK NOOK REVIEWS, I've shared my colleagues' pearls of wisdom through my WRITERLY WISDOM series, and I've challenged my readers with my story telling skill in my FLASH FICTION FRIDAY. I even teased people with a few pages of my early reader chapter book, THE WARRIORS THREE; my young adult mystery, LACEY'S BRIDGE; and my young adult fantasy, LUNADAR: HOMEWARD BOUND. My latest series, TALES FROM THE BAYOU, shared a glimpse into my childhood growing up in southern Louisiana.

So what's next? I plan to keep my Monday Motivational posts and will continue my BOOK NOOK REVIEWS, but have a few changes in mind for my Friday posts. I sent out an open invitation to Illustrators who are interested in receiving some FREE spotlight promotion on their work to get with me as a guest blogger. Many people have replied to my invitation and I hope to roll out the first PICTURE PROMPT blog post next Friday, December 12th. My wish is to have 52 weeks of different Illustrators sharing their work with us, but should I have some openings along the way, I will probably post a random "picture prompt" I find interesting and create a flash fiction piece to go with it.

Through these past three years I've tried to remain true to the type of writer I've always wanted to be...one who writes to visually connect my readers to my stories in such a way they feel a wee bit better after having read them. I hope I have accomplished that with my debut picture book, THE STORY CATCHER, but only time will tell.

But even beyond my stories, I pray my blog entertains, enlightens, and encourages others to dare to dream. To challenge themselves to grow beyond their comfort zone. To commit fully to the idea they will one day achieve great things. I know in my heart they will! And when that day comes, in the not too distant future, I will be there to cheer them on...with tidings of great joy and a happy dance thrown in...because there is nowhere else I'd rather be and no one else I'd rather be sharing my blogging adventures with than YOU!

Let's lift a glass and celebrate to many more years together...