So 2011 ended in kind of a blur. (Not the alcohol-induced kind, either!) As 2012 begins, I’m not bothering with resolutions that I’ll forget about by the end of the month. But I do have some goals for the year:

Write two novels. For all of you who’ve been waiting for the sequel to Peace, Love, and Murder, this is the year. I’m working on it now, in fact. Also up, of course, is book #5 in my Deadtown series.

Write some short stories and a novella. I’d like to branch out in my writing, and writing shorter pieces would be a great way to try new things.

Get more musical. I took years of piano lessons as a child. For the past couple of years, a keyboard has gathered dust in my office. I’d like to learn how to play again. And the nice thing about an electronic keyboard is I can plug in some headphones and spare my husband the sound of my baby steps as I re-learn.

Cultivate generosity. This one’s a little abstract, so I hope I can explain what I mean. As I get older, I become more and more convinced that the most important thing in life is generosity of spirit. I see this as a way of living openly, rather than defensively, and appreciating others for who they are. How do you do that? I’m going to try a combination of meditation, appreciation, listening, and taking the time to say thank you.

I’ve got other goals—writing weekly book recommendations, taking a vacation (our last was in 2007), getting in my half-hour of exercise each day, blogging more regularly—but if I can manage the four listed above, I’ll consider 2012 a success.

Happy New Year! I hope 2012 will be a happy, meaningful, and successful year for you.

If you can’t make it, you can still make a difference. From 11/20/11 to 11/24/11, visit BN.COM/bookfairs and enter Bookfair ID 10600476 when you check out. It doesn’t cost you any extra, and a  percentage of your purchase will benefit the literacy volunteers.

Books make great gifts–especially when you can give the gift of literacy at the same time!

I’ve got my work cut out for me, though. Even though we have a small back yard, it’s currently ankle-deep in leaves.

And the tree hasn’t finished dropping them yet.

Still, I’m looking forward to grabbing a rake and getting to work. After weeks of spending most of my time sitting in front of a computer, there’s something satisfying about physical work. (Of course, when my shoulders are aching and I’ve got blisters on my hands, I’ll be more than ready to go back to writing.)

Happy fall!

At Paranormal Haven, you can read about trick-or-treat night in my neighborhood (it’s the biggest night of the year!) and enter to win a signed book and this “wicked” mug filled with candy. This giveaway is international!

At The Bookish Brunette, I’m part of Team Zombie in the Trick or Treat for Books event, so I had to share my favorite tips for avoiding a zombie attack while trick-or-treating. The giveaway there (U.S. only) is for a signed book and a bottle of glittery, green-and-gold Zombie Zest nail polish.

Treats with no tricks–what better way to celebrate Halloween? See you there!

If you can’t make it to Albany, you can still enter my giveaway at Romancing the Book. The prize is a bloodstone pendant (like the one Aunt Mab wears in Bloodstone) and a signed copy of the book. It’s open internationally, so everyone can enter. Entry details here.