Another year bites the dust, and like most years, 2017 had its ups and downs. Here are a few of mine:
Best decision – turning some of my old magazine stories into a charity anthology for a year. All profits made by The Saturday Secret up until mid-February will go to Doctors without Borders.
Worst breakage – I dropped a glass bowl on a stone floor a couple of months ago. Tiny splinters flew for miles (almost). We’re still finding them…
Most important signature – the one I put on my contract with Bloodhound Books, for Baby Dear. Closely followed by the one on the Death Wish contract.
Second best decision – to stop buying house plants. I love them, but my fingers are any colour but green. So now I buy other things instead. Like tall metal cats.
Most unusual search term that brought someone to my website – Swiss house cellars. I’m still working that one out…
Biggest regret – I didn’t manage to sit on a beach and stare at the ocean this year. Lakeside beaches in Switzerland are lovely, but it’s not the same. Must do better.
Best business trip – that was to Bedford and Cambridge. It also gave me the opportunity to have my first ‘lunch with my publisher’ – thank you Betsy and Fred at Bloodhound Books!
Biggest surprise – meeting lovely Georgia Rose for the first time in real life during the same trip, and seeing how tall she is. I’d been picturing a wee soul, but there she was, tall and elegant!
Most overdue meeting – for three years plus now, Jane Isaac and I have been supporting each other as we went through the ups and downs of the writing life – and in October, we finally managed lunch together in downtown Bedford. It was A.MAZ.ING. (Meeting Jane, not having lunch in Bedford, though that was pretty good too…)
Best purchase – my Paperwhite kindle. ❤❤❤
Favourite read – tricky, but I think I’ll go for Terry Tyler’s Tipping Point. I was totally immersed. Death by social media… it couldn’t really happen… could it?
Biggest aha moment – working out how to use Instagram. I did it all by myself, too. Now I just need to use it more regularly…
And I wonder what 2018 will bring? Thank you everyone, for sticking with the blog this year – and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
linda huber 
I need to learn about Instagram too, there has to be more to it…
Hope 2018 is as good for you as 2017!
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I’m not convinced I’ve completely conquered Intagram either – next year!
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Hahahaha… ah lovely Linda, I had no idea I was your biggest (literally!) surprise and that you had pictured me as wee, but I am delighted we got to meet at long last 😀 And, elegant??? I’ll take that 😀 This has been a great year for you and I wish you all the best for 2018!! Happy New Year xx
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I once knew someone who looked quite like your profile pic there – she was little and round! It was so lovely chatting in real life – we’ll try very hard to that in 2018, too! xx
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OMG, as Lottie would say! What a lovely surprise – Tipping Point was your favourite book of 2017????!! I am overwhelmed with overwhelmedness – thank you!!!!
Aside from this, I totally get the splintered glass thing, love the tall cat, and hadn’t noticed that Georgia was that tall when I met her!!!! But we were sitting down, lots of us, and I perhaps didn’t notice! You ought to meet Carol Hedges – that was a big surprise, she towered over me! It’s lovely to meet online writer friends, isn’t it? And I envy you those lakeside beaches….. you ought to try living in Tyne and Wear, NE England!
Thank you again, SO much xxx
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TP was totally fab – really looking forward to the next instalment! I think Georgia’s probably around the same height as I am – about 5.4 or 5 – but I was expecting someone a whole lot smaller! xx 🙂
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Yes, Georgia Rose is tall, isn’t she! I’ve once been in the same room as Jane Isaac, at a book launch, but didn’t realise until the next day – darn. I’d love to see you if you’re ever near Bedford or Cambridge again, I can get there easily. Thank you for an entertaining blog post with lovely pictures, and for introducing me to Bloodhound Books, who are indeed charming people, and whom I also hope to meet in person next year. A very happy 2018 to you, Linda.
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To you too, Julia – and thanks for all your help and support this year – I’ll be back! Yes, Betsy and Fred are lovely people. Here’s to a fab 2018 for us all!
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That is my ‘height’, too, but I always wear flats, so probably seem a bit on the short side!
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Me too, can’t get on with heels at all!
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Sounds like you had a good year, overall, Linda. Wishing you all the best for 2018! x
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Thanks, Helen – same to you! I could have done without the glass splinters, but most of the rest was good!
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You’ve had a fabulous year, Linda. Here’s to an even better 2018. Happy New Year xx
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You’ve had a fabulous year too, Sharon – here’s to 2018! xx
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Sounds like you had a great year. Glass breaking is a nightmare. Instagram is one of those platforms that is great but takes effort and time. Have a great 2018.
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Thanks, Stacey – you too! I’ll do more Instagram-ing next year!
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Loved the rundown on favourite things and best decisions. And I’m with you on the Kindle Paperwhite. Mark bought me one last Christmas and I continue to be thrilled with it (and him!). Happy 2018, Linda. xx
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Thanks, Moira, and a very happy 2018 to you, too! 🎆
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