Happy New Year! I hope you’ve had a lovely, relaxing (!?) Christmas holiday and a good start to the new decade?
New Year Not Skiing
The Englishman and I spent Christmas with family and New Year in the stunningly beautiful Swedish ski resort, Åre, where one of my books, The Christmas Heart, is set. It was a wonderfully relaxing break, although the weather conspired against us a little. Strong winds and high temperatures prevented us from going up the slopes to enjoy some thrilling downhill skiing. Instead, we walked a lot, had a sauna every day and ate good food. We drank excellent wines, beers, and a lot of champagne on New Year’s Eve! And most importantly, we spent some quality time with good friends.
Productivity for Authors
Back at my desk in London, still tired from travel but mentally rested, I am looking forward to the New Year – and a New Decade.
Even though social media is full of posts about January Blues, I am raring to go! I am, as my good friend and self-publishing guru, Joanna Penn says, a January person. During the New Year’s break, I listened to her nonfiction book called, Productivity for Authors. In it, Joanna lists several methods to get your writing done. Her tips on making your working days and weeks more productive go from the correct mindset to organizing files and passwords. (This book would be useful for anyone who’s running their own business, not just indie authors.)
New Year’s Resolutions
But back to my New Year’s resolutions. I am planning to write and publish four more titles this year. The first will be the third book in the Love on the Island -series, set in the Finnish Åland Islands. There’ll be a new story set again in Åre, Sweden, and one a non-fiction title about writing a romance series. The fourth book I am not yet decided on. I have a few ideas, but I’ll wait until the latter part of 2020 to see which one of them becomes irresistible. I may revisit Åland Islands again, or I might write a book set in Tampere. Since publishing Coffee and Vodka, a Nordic family saga, I haven’t really written about my home town.
Four new books may sound like a lot to you, but both the 3rd (yet unnamed) novel in the current Åland Island series, as well as the nonfiction title, are well underway already, and I have an extensive outline for the new winter story set in Åre. So wish me luck and lots of productive writing days in 2020!
New Formats
In addition to writing more books, I also plan to make this decade all about adding as many new formats to my current set of books as possible. (As advised by Joanna Penn in the above book).
At the moment all my 12 titles are available in Ebook and paperback, but I’d love to offer all of these books also in audio, large print and in translation. I’ve been approached by a Turkish publisher, but I am keen to first get my books out in the Nordic languages (prioritizing Finnish and Swedish). I’ve lost count of how many times I’m asked if my books are available in my two other languages, so I think it’s time.
I also think the German market would be interested in my books, so to sell my rights to a German publisher is also a priority for 2020.
New Freebies!
But I do want to start the New Year with new freebies! I’ve joined a group of other authors to bring you a set of free books. This is a delightful selection of new stories by bestselling writers. These books are available for free for a limited time and require you to sign up to a mailing list. (Naturally, you can unsubscribe at any time.)
This promotion includes my Nordic family drama, Coffee and Vodka, set in my home town of Tampere. It’s a story of Eva, who left her home town some thirty years ago. Estranged from her father, she now lives and works as a language teacher in Stockholm. Going back to Tampere to visit her grandmother for the final time brings memories of her dramatic childhood flooding back and Eva has to finally confront her past.
Just tap here get your free books now!
