Font Facelifts for my Books

 

Font Facelifts for All of my Books        Have you searched on Amazon for my books lately? If so, you probably noticed that the covers have undergone a slight change. The illustrations and the written manuscripts are the same, but each book has undergone what I call a "font facelift."      You will discover now that every book has a bolder, easier to read title on its cover. And my signature name is no longer printed at the bottom; it has been replaced by typed font, which is also easier to read.      Personally, I like the changes. I think the new fonts make my covers more noticeable and unique. Previously, my book titles were all printed in the same font, but no more! These new fonts were chosen for their artistic character and their ability to stand out rather than meld within the illustrations. What do you think?      You can find all of my books with their "font facelifts" on Amazon.com in various formats. Look for them in audible, Kindle, paperback, and hardcover. Just search my name!       Have you read Eena's coming-of-age adventure? The Harrowbethian Saga:       After an unplanned trip to the doctor’s office, Sevenah Williams discovers that her ancestry is not exactly human. This shocking news puts her on a course to find the truth about her birth parents and remember a tragic past that placed her in hiding as a toddler.      Eventually, she takes on her birth name―Eena―and accepts her birthright as the only living heir to the throne of Harrowbeth. But this privilege comes with a price. She learns this during the painful process of physically joining with an heirloom necklace known as the dragon’s soul. From that point on, Queen Eena slowly uncovers powers granted her by the necklace, giving her the ability to manipulate energy—a gift that comes in handy when facing enemies who wish to see her royal line eliminated.      Eena must fight alongside new friends including Derian, the captain of the Kemeniroc; Kira, a Mishmorat with might and spunk; Shanks and his crew of giant Viiduns; and Ian, her best friend and sworn protector. Her greatest challenges, however, turn out to be personal: learning to love, to trust, and to handle adult problems when she simply longs to remain a normal teenager. I recently finished The Women by Kristin Hannah. My Review      I chose to read this book because my father served in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1970. In his graying years, he sat down and wrote about his memories of boot camp, officer training, and a two-year tour in Vietnam. After reading his book of war memories, I felt as if my eyes were opened and I gained a deeper understanding of the man I called Father. I was honestly shocked by the nightmarish events he lived through. His behavior and reluctance to talk much about Vietnam made significantly more sense to me. So when I was presented with this book on the women of the Vietnam war, I was curious to read it.      In truth, this was a difficult book to experience because of the hardships endured by the main character, Frankie, and her family. Nearly every chapter was heartrending. I found it easier to read my father's memories than this dramatic depiction of how the Vietnam War destroyed and broke people. This book follows the life of Frankie from her early twenties to well after the end of the war in Vietnam. She starts as a young nurse who yearns to please her father, hoping to someday have her portrait hung on his Wall of Heroes. She enlists in the Vietnam War as a nurse, and ends out serving two consecutive tours. The war is hell. Suffering the loss of loved ones is even harder. This book does an incredible job of narrating a step-by-step process of fear, loss, anguish, betrayal, and drug use that nearly drive this Vietnam veteran to an early grave. It is a sad story with elements of hope. Be prepared for harsh language and difficult scenes. What am I working on now?      I am still in the process of writing the first draft of a new fictional paranormal adventure with a heroic duo who may just save the world despite their human weaknesses. The title of this book is not yet decided, but I am considering Phantom's Veil or The Phantom Veil as possibilities. This book takes place in the present but involves old Mayan mythology. I am doing some research to help me use Mayan hieroglyphs in the book. It is both fun and educational research! My Official Author Website Keep track of my current writing projects, new releases, book giveaways, what I'm reading, Poem of the Week, book signings, and more! _  _  ________________  _  _    Thanks for subscribing to my periodic newsletter! As always, I ask that you give indie authors a helping hand by taking the time to leave short and kind reviews on Amazon, iTunes, Goodreads, BandN, Kobo, and other online book retailers. Your positive ratings and reviews really do sell more books!

Happy Birthday, America!

Memorial Day and My Dad

       I hope everyone had an enjoyable Memorial Day yesterday. I know some of my family members got together and visited cemeteries. Mom was surely seated beside my dad's gravesite for a portion of the day. My husband and I had friends over for a BBQ. At times throughout the day I thought of my late father. Not because he sacrificed his life in the armed services, but because he served during wartime. My dad (pictured below) sacrificed years as well as a portion of his emotional well-being to the things he witnessed in war. I feel for our servicemen and women, and I thank them all for their sacrifices. They are our protectors and heroes.

Reading With Goodreads

If you are familiar with the Goodreads website, then you are probably aware of their annual personal reading challenge. It amazes me that some readers set their book-reading goals so high. One hundred books in a year? Wow! I suppose it is a doable goal if the pages are few or the books are read by Audible. Still, it seems quite a challenge to get through a hundred books in one year. At least for me it would be.

This year, 2024, I set my Goodreads reading goal small―a total of 10 books in all. So far, I have made it through one and a half. Most of the time I read thicker books because I like a story with substantial character and plot development. I do use Audible on occasion; however, I prefer curling up on the sofa with a tangible book in my hands. Paperback or hardcover, it does not matter so long as I can feel the texture of the pages as my fingers turn them one by one.


After finishing Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, I started Eragon again, written by Christopher Paolini. I first read Eragon about fourteen years ago and loved it. This time around I am finding it even more enjoyable as I note details missed during the first read. I plan to get through all four books in this series, hopefully before the end of 2024. I’ll let you know how it goes.


In the meantime, give Goodreads a try for yourself and make a personal reading goal. It can be as few or as many books as you like; you set the pace. Let me know if you add one of my books to your reading list; I would love that.
​Happy reading, everyone!


―Richelle E. Goodrich

Valentine's Cupid and True Love

You know Cupid. That naked, chubby, smiling cherub who shoots his magic arrows at unsuspecting men and women to make them fall in love. He is a busy little match-maker whose image appears on many Valentine's Day cards. Now, I do not believe in an actual Cupid any more than I believe in the reality of Greek gods, but I do believe in the genuineness of love. True love. Love that equates with service and sacrifices made over time. What is this kind of love? I'll let Derian answer that question for you as he answered it for Eena in the book, Eena, The Return of a Queen. I think he got it spot on.

“Love is so much more than an emotion. True love, Eena, is something that develops over time. It’s not the initial infatuation nor the shivers and butterflies that take your breath away when you’re first attracted to someone. Those things are nice, but they are barely the beginning of what could become true love."

She shook her head. “I don’t quite follow.”

The captain inched closer, fixing her with the sincerest of gazes. His hands cupped as if he were holding his very heart in them.

“True love is a developed and intense appreciation for someone. It’s that perfect awareness you’re finally whole when she’s with you, and that hollow incompleteness you suffer when she’s gone. True love takes time. It’s an earned comfort that tells you she’ll be right there beside you no matter what you do, not necessarily happy with your every action, but faithful to you just the same. Love is knowing someone so deeply, understanding her so completely, you can finish her thoughts without hesitation, confident in reading her face, her body, even her slightest gesture means something to you. Love is years of devotion, sacrifice, commitment, loyalty, trust, faith, and friendship all wrapped up as one. True love does more than cause your heart to flutter. It upholds your heart when the infatuation no longer makes it flutter.”

Life is Like a Lengthy Road Trip

 I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season. I know I did.

My husband and I traveled more over the holidays than we have traveled in ages, spending over two weeks driving and flying from destination to destination. The trip was necessary, occasionally fun, every so often difficult, but definitely worth it. During the last two weeks of December, 2023, we were able to attend one son’s college graduation at Brigham Young University-Idaho as well as participate in three separate Christmas celebrations with family members. 

The last leg of our trip found my husband and I coughing, sneezing, and wheezing due to illness—not a pleasant occurrence because the virus plagued us for over a week afterwards (we have reached the productive coughing stage.) The trip, however, was still absolutely worthwhile.

While driving from Oklahoma to Tennessee to reach our little two-bedroom apartment we presently reside in, I was telling my husband that I felt our trip was a mini model of life. The whole trip was too short in some ways, yet it felt exceptionally long in other ways. We were able to spend precious moments with family members—talking, relaxing, and celebrating. I felt appreciation for the relationships I have with family and friends. We caught up on personal news, feasted on delicious dinners, and hugged each other a lot. There were difficult and disappointing moments too. For instance, I got sick with food poisoning which put me down for a couple of days (an awful way to clean out your system.) My husband felt the onset of cold symptoms on Christmas day; I was right behind him two days later. Luckily, no one else caught the virus, so we managed not to share it. There were other good points and difficult points about the trip. The airports and flights were great. The driving conditions and roads were clear—exceptional conditions for winter months in the Pacific Northwest. There was too much driving overall: one trip from Salt Lake City, Utah to Rexburg, Idaho and then back; one trip from Salt Lake City, Utah to Central Washington and then back; and one trip from Oklahoma to Tennessee. That was about 2,700 miles driven! Not to mention the two plane rides. Yes, the traveling was tiring.

 

The interesting thing to me is how both good and unpleasant moments comprised the trip. We experienced the greatest days as well as miserable days. If I wanted, I could list an abundance of blessings we received, while on the other hand I could list an abundance of hard disappointments. That is why I say it was like a mini model of life. The trick was deciding where to concentrate our attention. If I focused on the food poisoning, the many hours of driving, the friends I was unable to visit, the small and uncomfortable beds, the amount of money spent, the coughing and sneezing on the drive home, etc.—it would be easy to argue that this was a really bad trip. But the thing is, it wasn’t! it was wonderful! Why? Because I focused on the chance to see my kids and my family, the warm hugs I gave and received, the delicious dinners we shared, the gifts we exchanged, the perfect weather we were blessed with for driving, the safe travels, the chance to see my mom and sisters and nieces and nephews, the opportunity to attend a Jazz basketball game, the quick recovery from illness, etc. It is all in what we choose to focus on. Good and bad exist in everything. How we view an event, a trip, a relationship, a lifetime depends on what aspects we choose to focus on. I am truly grateful to know that life honestly feels better when we focus on the good.

Yes, life is like a lengthy road trip, filled with great moments as well as unpleasant moments. It is our focus that determines whether our travels through this life are deemed positive or not. 

My Favorite Things - Author Interview

Richelle, readers have asked a few questions about your favorite things. Thank you for agreeing to answer some of these fun and curious questions. Let's start with a simple one: 

What is your favorite color?
Pink first―a soft pastel pink―and then hazel green. Pink wins out over green.

Why is that?
Because pink is pretty and feminine. I like feminine things,the whole "pretty in pink" image. I like green because my eyes are green, and I have always been pleased with my eye color.


What is your favorite movie?
That is a tough question because I love movies. I will say either Enchanted or Shrek is my favorite movie. I adore the Enchanted story and the actors who starred in the movie. Shrek was just awesome, including all of the sequels. They make me laugh every time. But I also like Tangled, Trolls, Aladdin, and Moana. I enjoy feel-good cartoons. Honestly, I LOVE cartoons; I always have. I enjoy almost any film or tv series with "star" in the title, like Star Trek―love, love, love the new Strange New Worlds Star Trek series with Captain Pike. I am a fan of Star Wars and Stargate as well. And the Avengers, especially the original Avengers. There will never be a group of Avengers to top the original gang. I love the new episodes of Star Wars and Marvel stories they have on Disney now. Those have been fun to watch. I also like Avatar, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit as well as Pirates of the Caribbean, Alice in Wonderland, and First Knight. Sean Connery was my heartthrob when I was young. He and Richard Dean Anderson and Johnny Depp. 


What about your favorite music artist?
Hands down, Rascal Flatts. But as a teenager, I used to listen to Sting almost exclusively. Funny how our tastes change. I also enjoy Jon McLaughlin, Rachel Platten, Justin Timberlake, Forest Blakk, Ed Sheeran, Billy Joel, and the Pentatonix. All of these artists have some excellent music out. And I love listening to anything sung by Idina Menzel. Her voice is captivating! 


Do you have a favorite song?
That is an impossible question too, with an ever-changing answer. Give me a list of Rascal Flatts songs and I'll mark them off for you. I really like Bless the Broken Road and Unstoppable and The Day Before You and I Won't Let Go and Where You Are and Feels Like Today and so on and so on. But I also like If You Love Her by Forest Blakk, Better Place by Rachel Platten, So Close by Jon McLaughlin, The Prayer by Pentatonix, Made You Look by Meghan Trainor, and so many other amazing songs I can't even think of at the moment.


How about books and authors?  Which are your best-loved books? 
My favorite book of all time is Les Miserables written by Victor Hugo. He was a master storyteller and a wizard with words. I love how meticulously he describes settings and characters, and how he stirs up deep emotions in readers. Hugo is a genius.  My other favorite authors include C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, masters of fantasy.  The Lord of the Rings is my absolute best-loved saga of all time.  And I appreciated the disturbing truth in The Screwtape Letters.  That book hit a nerve.

Other favorite books include Rumpelstiltskin and all the old fairytales by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Charles Perrault and George MacDonald.  I also adore Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. 

I enjoy Charles Dickens' writing.  He has vibrant personality in his narrative voice.  It is bright and distinctively him.  It was a treat to read A Christmas Carol after watching the hundreds of movies based on the book.  And Oliver Twist―wow!  The model for a classic work. I like reading Shel Silverstein's poetry because his work is creative and fun. I could list hundreds of good books because there are so many. We're spoiled as readers these days. 


If you had a free day to yourself and a choice of doing anything at all, what would you do? 
Easy.  I would curl up in the corner of my sofa with a hot cup of cocoa and work on another book.  I love writing, whether it is poetry or a developing story.  Writing has become my beloved obsession.


Okay, Richelle, here's a string of random questions.  Ready?
Hit it.


What is your magical number?
Ten.  Followed closely by seven and seventeen.


What is your preferred flower?
Lily. Especially a large-petal lily in the shade of pink or maroon.


Your favorite animal?
Cats!  Big, crazy, playful cats.


Favored comic strip?
Ziggy.  He is everything good and adorable.


Your pick of animated characters?
You are probably thinking I will say Shrek, but Winnie the Pooh is my absolute favorite animated character. He and Eeyore. 


Most impressive of all mythical creatures?
Colossal, scaly-skinned, fire-breathing dragons!


Who is your all-time favorite superhero?
It used to be Thor, but Captain America won my heart as the Avengers movies progressed.  I like the whole medieval image and the idea of immortality, but I respect the leadership abilities of Captain America and the fact that he was doggedly firm in standing up for his beliefs, his standards, and his friends. That to me is what a real hero does. 


What supernatural power would you want for yourself as a superhero?
Definitely healing powers.  It would be rewarding to have the ability to heal diseases and illnesses.


What's your favorite food?
Fresh, hot, homemade bread slathered in butter and strawberry preserves.  Mmmmm! 


Sweetest dessert?
Soft chocolate chip cookies with walnuts and hot fudge sundaes and bittersweet dark chocolate.  It is hard to choose between the three, so I just put them all together. Honestly, if I had to choose, it would be ice cream. Either a hot fudge sundae or peanut butter and chocolate ice cream.


What is your preferred restaurant to frequent?
Wendy's was my favorite as a child for fast food. I recently discovered Braum's since moving down south, and they have ice cream to go with their fast food, so that is a huge plus in my book! For a nicer dinner, I enjoy any good Mexican restaurant or Italian restaurant. 


Your favorite holiday?
My birthday, of course!  Actually, Christmas is my favorite holiday.  I have a tradition of unpacking my many copies of A Christmas Carol―a collection that continues to grow―and then I watch the many different versions of Scrooge throughout the month of  December.  It is my crazy tradition―one that makes my family groan.  They can probably recite the entire movie from beginning to end now.


Do you have a best-loved sport?
To play, it would be volleyball.  To watch―football.  Football is never boring.


Besides writing, what else do you like to do for fun?
Go to the movies and eat popcorn. Gotta have popcorn. I also like to strum on the guitar or play the piano. I am not great at it, but playing music is enjoyable. Playing a little pool or bowling a few games is also fun for me―again, not that I am good at either one. 


Do you have a preference in perfumes?
No, but I do have a favorite incense or two.  I love the smell of eucalyptus and myrrh.  You can get them as essential oils.  The smells are unusual; earthy, warm, spicy, exotic, and totally intoxicating.  I love sniffing at myrrh because the fragrance is a rare experience.  To me, it is sort of mystical.  I dab a little oil on my ears or on my neck sometimes just to catch the smell throughout the day.  


Do you have a treasured quote?
Oh dear, many!  I love good quotes.  My favorite quote changes depending on the day and what is happening in my life at the time.  One that has stuck with me consistently was written by Henry David Thoreau.

"If you have built your castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.  Now put foundations under them."

That quote is a motivator for me, one that urges me to keep on with my dreams regardless of how improbable the likelihood is of reaching them.


I know you have a few quotes of your own.  What's your favorite personal quote?

“Don't ever give up.
 Don't ever give in.
 Don't ever stop trying.
 Don't ever sell out.
 And if you find yourself succumbing to one of the above for a brief moment, pick yourself up, brush yourself off, whisper a prayer, and start where you left off. But never, ever, ever give up.”  

Words I live by.
 

That is inspiring.  Any other words of advice for fellow writers?
Yes.  Please do not take this the wrong way, but my best advice is this:  Don't listen to anyone. I actually mean it.  Do not change your writing to please the world, because you cannot please the whole world.  Do not be swayed by those who would take over your ambitions and see your zeal for writing slowly fade.  Write what makes you happy―just you.  Your story should come from the heart and be written in your words. Your writing should be your own distinct, compiled treasure. Only then will your work be a worthwhile endeavor.  In the end, there will be those who value it.  There is a quote of mine that is appropriate here...

"No matter what you write, no matter how meticulous and painstaking the creation process, someone is going to laugh, scorn, and dissect your work with criticism while another quietly falls in love with it."

~

Author Interview with Awesome Gang

       Recently, I stumbled across an author interview I did a few years back with an administrator from Awesome Gang―"Where awesome book readers meet awesome writers." It was fun to read through the questions/answers again and realize that most of the goals I mentioned during the interview have now been accomplished. It has taken its share of time.      

       Unfortunately, when goals eat up a lengthy amount of work days, any substantial forward progress seems less evident. But while reading over this interview and looking back, I realized how much I have actually accomplished since then. It was a positive boost for me. 

       I am including the interview below for your enjoyment. Go ahead and read it while I continue chipping away at my writing goals. There is still a lot I plan to do!

(You can find the original interview on awesomegang.com)

Richelle E. Goodrich


Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.

I was born in Utah and grew up in Washington State where I presently reside with my husband and three teenage boys. I began writing my first novel around Christmastime, December 2007. The goal was to see if I could complete one novel-length book, believing it would be an impressive accomplishment. Little did I know I would fall in love with the writing process and continue writing at every given opportunity! One book turned into a six-book fantasy-sci-fi-romance-adventure series known as the Harrowbethian Saga. I also write poetry and short stories, but I am most known for my quotes that circulate the internet. You can find many of my quotes on Goodreads linked to my author page. I have two books presently published that include quotes, poetry, and short stories for every day of the year, but my favorite book–the one that challenged me–is a fictional human interest account about a young girl who struggles to endure a life of hard circumstances. I write to entertain myself, and this keeps me happily writing as often as time permits.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

My latest published book is the third in the Harrowbethian Saga titled, Eena, The Curse of Wanyaka Cave. This series was inspired by my tendency to daydream in high school when I was a teenager. What else was there to do with all that extra time in class? This story of Queen Eena was one of my favorite daydreams to visit and revisit when I was bored. I think this series proves I have always possessed an active and creative imagination.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

I use a lot of sticky notes when I write a book, and these sticky notes tend to end up plastered around the screen of my laptop as I type out chapters. The theory is that I keep better track of ideas, character personalities, plot twists, etc. if these reminders stare me in the face. Once a sticky note is no longer needed, I get an odd thrill out of peeling it off my screen and putting it into a big envelope where it is saved as project notes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

I have probably been influenced most by authors of classic literature. They are my favorite writers and include Victor Hugo, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Dickens, C.S. Lewis, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, Mary Shelley, and Homer. My favorite book of all time is Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I enjoy the old children’s fairy tales too, like those written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Lewis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling, and George MacDonald.

What are you working on now?

I am presently working on another book of quotes, poetry, and short stories for every day of the year. It will be titled, Slaying Dragons, and dedicated to my son for his graduation this year. He loves dragons.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?

I have grown fond of Goodreads for promoting my books. I have book giveaways posted there all the time.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

First, if you want to be a writer, then WRITE! Spend less time thinking, studying, researching, learning, worrying about the art and just write. Write a sentence, a paragraph, a page every day of your life—about anything and everything. Scribble out a poem, a quote, a set of instructions, a portion of a developing novel, a letter to a friend, and so on. Read your work over and edit it. Then set it aside for a while before reading and editing it again. The point is, writing and re-writing are the exercises for authors that lead to excellence.

Secondly, READ everything. Read books, articles, recipes, blogs, letters, cereal boxes, and so on. Pay attention to the details that draw you in. Note what causes you to lose interest. Keep a journal of what you learn, and refer to it now and then.

Thirdly, pick up a basic GRAMMAR book and memorize it; put that knowledge to use.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

The best writing advice I have ever heard was a quote by Toni Morrison: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”

What are you reading now?

My son is performing in “Narnia” at the local high school, which got me thinking about those wonderful books. I just started reading The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis. I plan to read through all of the Chronicles of Narnia.

What’s next for you as a writer?

Slowly but surely, I am writing more books and developing a following of readers. I plan to get the last three books of the Harrowbethian Saga published as soon as possible, and then I will work on putting my best poetry together in one book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?

Only 4 books? This is a tough choice. I would probably bring the biggest and best books I have read.
1.) Les Miserables
2.) The Odyssey
3.) Does The Lord of the Rings count as one book?
4.) The Scriptures

Author Websites and Profiles:

Richelle E. Goodrich Website
Richelle E. Goodrich Amazon Profile
Richelle E. Goodrich Author Profile on Smashwords

Richelle E. Goodrich’s Social Media Links:
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

My Wonderful Friends

       I am certain a person can traverse through life with as little social interaction as possible. Believe me as an introvert, this isn't an entirely frightening or unappealing notion. In truth, I find my own company to be rather pleasant and sometimes preferable. Don't think I am entirely a hermit; I do have a social life that most often involves my dearest, closest friends.

       I have never been one to boast an overabundance of friendships. My personal preference is a small group of hand-picked individuals whom I trust and love--friends in whose company I feel relaxed, safe, and appreciated. Though they may be few, they are treasured by me because of their loyalty and goodness... and probably because they have some of my own character quirks.

       I love my friends. They are the posts on which I lean when life throws me harsh trials. They are my confidants when I need a listening ear. They are my cheering section when I need a little more confidence. They are my partners in laughter and fun. They are the trustworthy people on whom I rely. Yes, I do value alone time for moments of self-reflection and to focus on creative endeavors, but when I need a friend, few put a smile on my face or warmth in my heart like those dearest and closest to me. Thank you, my wonderful friends.

Glancing Back, Looking Forward to 2023

 A Decade of Change: Me in 2012 and again in 2022

        At the beginning of a new year, it is traditional to take a good, long look over my shoulder at things I both accomplished and survived in prior years. As I have stated in the past, I prefer to shine a spotlight on my books rather than on my personal life, but 2022 has been one event-filled year for me, so I don't mind sharing a few of the bigger moments. 

        My eldest son graduated in June with a Masters of Science in Software Engineering. Big accomplishment! My middle son was accepted into the mechanical engineering major program at his university. He is working hard to pass those difficult classes. My youngest son returned to school to pursue his degree. He is close to finishing. He also proposed to his girlfriend (now fiancée) on the steps of the Nashville Parthenon. How exciting! My father, unfortunately, suffered some health problems this past year including a case of Covid. He has since healed and is regaining his strength with the aid of physical therapy. 

        The biggest change in 2022 was my own. After three years of dating a wonderful man, I married him in August. My new husband is a kind, gentle, supportive, noble, fun-loving person who enjoys reading. Ours was a long-distance relationship (never an easy way to date) but he won me over by reading books to me over the phone. Not only does he read aloud, he does voices! Yes, I fell for a storyteller. Before the wedding, I spent two months packing up my house, then sold it, and finally moved across the country to live in a new city that has proven to be quite friendly. It certainly has been a year of big personal change and positive growth. 

         What about my writing goals? It is hard to believe a decade has gone by since I published my first book, Eena, The Dawn and Rescue. I love that story. It recounts the adventures of a young girl destined to rule a strange but fascinating nation. It was my debut novel as well as a unique learning opportunity. Since then, I have gained a great deal of knowledge about the writing process, and I have grown markedly as a novelist and poet.

         What began as a challenge to compose a single book became the catalyst for an unanticipated love of storytelling. Eena, The Dawn and Rescue was quickly followed by a second book that continued along the same storyline. Then came book three, followed by yet another. It still amazes me how I was able to write an entire six-book saga within a four-year period! Absolutely not my initial goal!

         After completing the Harrowbethian Saga, I branched out to try my hand at comprising original quotes, thoughts, and poetry for every day of the year. Smile Anyway was the result, and it turned out to be a bigger success than expected. The shocking surprise was finding my book quotes reprinted in news articles as well as in various other books. And not just a few! It has been a thrill to see my quotes scroll by on websites, reprinted in an Oxford Philosophy: Being Human course book and in seven different Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and even shared on a tv episode of Alone. What a treat! 

         With the success of Smile Anyway, I went on to write three additional quote/poetry/short-story books for my sons as high school graduation gifts: Making Wishes, Slaying Dragons, and Being Bold. Part of the gift included 50% of the royalties from the sale of every book. Not a bad way to help out struggling college students.

         As much as I love fantasy and science fiction, I have always admired the great novelists, my personal favorite being Victor Hugo. It stood to reason that I would challenge myself to write a stand-alone novel with both dramatic and tragic elements. Dandelions: The Disappearance of Annabelle Fancher was the result of this endeavor. Composing Annabelle's story caused me many tearful moments; her story was not easy to tell. I doubt it can be read with a dry eye or a callous heart. The book was designed to stir up feelings of shock, anger, and dismay for the cruel and unjust situations so often overlooked in society. Writing Dandelions was an emotional trial as much as it was a writing challenge, which is why I wrote a lighthearted tale to accompany the novel. Secrets of a Noble Key Keeper is a short, fun fairy tale all ages will enjoy.

         Last year, I published my thirteenth book, entirely unique from my previous writings. The Tarishe Curse was originally meant to be a simple short story for a friend who loves All Hallows Eve. But as my friend asked questions about what happens next, I was obliged to come up with a new chapter every Halloween. After so many years of adding chapters, one by one, it became apparent that a book was ready and waiting to be completed. The hardest part was devising an ending that wrapped up the whole crazy ordeal! It took some creativity, but it gave me an idea for a backstory about one formidable character in the book. Something to look forward to in the future!

         Another thing I like to do every New Years is compare my starting numbers on social media with any growth. It motivates me to see improvement. Be it slow or small, progress is progress! Increases in followers, book sales, ratings & reviews, internet posts, and/or loyal readers is forward movement toward my goals.  

THEN	NOW
Ten years ago, 8 people considered my writing inspiring enough to call themselves a fan or follower on Goodreads.	Today, 250 people now follow me on Goodreads. Thank you!
Ten years ago, 40 people liked my most popular book quote on Goodreads out of thirty quotes posted at the time.	Today, my most popular quote on Goodreads has 409 likes out of the 1,678 original quotes posted. Wow! I guess I have a lot to say.
Ten years ago, I started with 3 Twitter followers.	Today, I have 2,295. Thank you too!
Six years ago, my author website had 13,552 visits.	Today, my author website has had 27,232 visits (and counting.) Nice!
Six years ago, 441 people followed my Facebook author page.	Today, 921 people follow my Facebook author page.
Six years ago, 397 followed my Instagram.	Today, 596 follow my Instagram page.
Six years ago, 41 followed me on Tumblr.	Today, 124 follow me on Tumbler. Slow and steady progress.

 

     As I have said many times, I am indeed grateful for my readers and supporters. Thank you for purchasing my books. Thank you for leaving kind reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and other websites where my books are sold; it helps more than you know. Thank you for telling friends and acquaintances about my written works. I am grateful to live in a day and place where I have the privilege of educational opportunities, writing opportunities, and self-publishing opportunities. What a magnificent blessing! No matter how slow or fast the progress, I am accomplishing my goals, and that makes me happy.

Happy New Year 2023! 

I am looking forward to greater accomplishments.

Oh, and if you feel so inclined, follow me on my social sites:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RichelleEGoodrich/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/REGoodrich

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richellegoodrich/

Author Website – https://www.richellegoodrich.com

Author Blog - https://regoodrichnews.blogspot.com/

LibraryThing - https://www.librarything.com/profile/REGoodrich

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/regoodrich/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/regoodrich/

Tumblr - https://richellegoodrich.tumblr.com/

Goodreads Profile -https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5082833.Richelle_E_Goodrich

Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Richelle-E.-Goodrich/e/B008A6A5W4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu00_tkin_p1_i9