Happy New Year to all!
As many are wont to do around this time of year, I have been reflecting on 2015 and setting goals for 2016.
2015 was a very busy year for me, though not necessarily in a public way. I did a ton of writing and revising, and visited classrooms both in person and via Skype. I had one public event: an awesome launch at Phoenix Books for the paperback release of No Dawn Without Darkness.
I did not read enough novels in 2015. As far as my records show, I only managed around thirty-five books. Not good. Some of my favorites were In The Night Circus, Bone Gap, Wonder, How It Went Down, and A Tale Dark and Grimm. I was blown away by several graphic novels and comics, including Nimona, Rollergirl, Bandette, the Mr. Pants series, and Saga.
I saw some great TV in 2015. Netflix shows kicked some serious butt last year, including Bojack Horseman, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Jessica Jones. I also loved Jane the Virgin and How To Get Away With Murder.
My favorite films of 2015 skewed to the kids end of things, as I didn’t have many opportunities to see anything not PG or G rated. My favorites were Maleficent and Inside Out. It was so awesome to see such great films taking the emotional lives of girls and women seriously. On the not-kids end, last year was the year of Melissa McCarthy for me, as my favorites were The Heat and Spy, which were just so funny and great. And, finally, The Force Awakens. Oh, The Force Awakens. I saw you twice in the theaters. I will see you again.
Looking forward, I hope to keep on writing and revising in 2016, finishing at least one of the manuscripts I have languishing in revision hell. I want to read at least one book per week, which so far, two weeks in, I have accomplished—go me! Right now I’m reading Lev Grossman’s The Magicians and it is AWESOME. I hope to catch up on all the ALA winners and finalists announced last week in the coming months. Congratulations to all!
I have already seen some kick butt TV this year. I binge-watched Transparent, which was amazing. Now I’m watching, along with the rest of the universe, Making a Murderer. All I can say is WOW and, as an attorney, DOUBLE WOW. I hope to keep finding great shows. Feel free to recommend any of your favorites in the comments!
Film-wise, I want to see The Force Awakens again…and maybe other things. But mostly just Star Wars, over and over, for the awesomeness.
And let’s hope we all survive the election season…
Wishing you a wonderful 2016!
