First of all, I want to wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!  If you’re going to be on the road tonight, please drive carefully and watch out for others who may not be doing that.  My wife and I will be curled up at home watching one of our favorite movies “HOLIDAY” with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn.  Yes, it’s an old B and W but the message it shares is very powerful and personal to us.  That message is simply “Chase your dreams.  Don’t wait for things to happen, make them happen.  Even if it means taking risks instead of playing it safe all the time.  Hold onto each other as you go along because there might be pitfalls and you may have to go back to selling peanuts, but believe in those peanuts and each other.  This way after you’ve analyzed what went wrong, you can try again and again until you succeed in making it that dream a reality!”

All of this is easier said than done.  But remember this…. UNLESS YOU TRY, THAT DREAM HAS NO CHANCE OF EVER HAVING A CHANCE OF COMING TRUE!

This is what I’ve told myself time and again as I’ve worked on my writing.  And I’ve taken risks.  I tried the traditional publishing route and it didn’t quite work out.  But during those few years I tried it, I learned a lot.  The industry changed, e-books have evolved and the face of the publishing world changed beyond what anyone thought it could.

So as 2012 comes to a close, I continue to work on the finishing touches of “THE BRIDGE”.  Originally I had hoped to unveil it first by Christmas, then New Year’s Day.  Unfortunately, I won’t be able to do that.  Every time I think I’ve finished the formatting I discover a new problem and have to work on it some more.  But I don’t mind.  This simply means that my book is going to be in the best possible shape I can get it in.  And since it is my debut novel, my introduction to the world of writing, I’ll take that time to make it perfect.  I want’ to make a great impression with this novel, because “YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION!”  Take the time to make it a good one folks.

So, once more I wish you all a HAPPY and SAFE NEW YEAR!  And I close this year with what is now the final version of my book cover. I know I said that before, but people pointed out “Hey I don’t see your name on the cover…” So here it is.  See you all next year!

Final Version of the cover.

Final Version of the cover.