Happy New Year 2024! What's In Store for Escape With a Writer?

 

Happy 2024!!

I, for one, am happy to turn the page on the calendar to a whole New Year and hope for many great opportunities to come my way! 

This past year has seen too much heartache and a crazy rollercoaster ride in both my personal and career lives:

• ·       I left a relationship and job that were not working and moved across Canada with 2 cats and my worldly possessions - in a new car I hoped I wouldn’t have to buy but love.
• ·       I published All That Shimmers in May 2024, and was part of 3 Aconite Café Anthologies where I created a new character named Dash Allman, a beach bum PI who adores the late Jimmy Buffett.
• ·       I was thrilled when the publisher I’d worked with for 10 years suggested I train with her and take over publisher duties since she turned 80 last year. After getting every password she used and access to EVERYTHING, as well as getting my own business cards proclaiming me Associate Publisher…she first suggested I get a part-time job. A month later, after getting a part-time job, she told me to get a full-time job and that she had never offered me a job. 
• ·      I began plans to build my own publishing imprint to release my newest books on my own terms and control. Lucky for me, I have some great self-published authors who were thrilled to give advice and help me out.
• ·       Thing One – my oldest – had a friend create a logo that I LOVE!
• ·       I already had a name thanks to my blog:  Escape With a Writer.
• ·       I had a book in a shelf that I’ve been editing and having Beta readers help out with so I can launch it February 14, 2024. Personally, Valentine’s Day hasn’t meant much for me in a very long time. I’m bringing back the love!
• ·       My contract with my current publisher ends at the end of April 2024. Where things go from there, we’ll see.

The short version of it all, is that I’m taking back my life and creating the career I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid. Reaching for the stars! Whether that takes me to new heights, or crashes and burns, remains to be seen.

Either way, I’m focusing on doing what I love.

I hope you spend 2024 doing the same - Following your passions!

Lots more to come!!

Diane Bator

https://www.dianebator.ca/

Join my newsletter @ https://dianebator.substack.com/

The Drama Llama Escaped December 9! Did you get your copy?

 

Happy New Year 2023!

 

Happy New Year to you all!

I have to say 2022 for me has been every bit a rollercoaster as the previous two years!

Family stuff.

Personal stuff.

New books ~ I launched The Conned Lady and Dead Man's Doll! Check them out!

                   

New projects ~ I started creating essential oil products under the name Lavender Moon... My witch name. Yup. I'm one of those! I don't do well with perfumes but love the smells of essential oils. I'm also loving upgrading my Reiki to go along with it!

  

So with all these great things, what's coming up in 2023?

More great classes and becoming a Reiki Teacher!

A new Glitter Bay Mystery in June called All That Shimmers - Laken, Sage, and Quinn are back with a whole new mystery!

Many more interviews, podcast appearances, and book reviews!

Maybe...just maybe...another new book in time for Christmas 2023. More details to come!

Oh and a great new book coming in November 2024! A Canadian Historical Mystery from my publisher BWL Publishing called Jesse James' Gold. https://bwlpublishing.ca/authors/canadian-historical-mysteries/  

Believe it or not, there is a local legend here in Southern Ontario that Jesse James rode and buried gold here. I'll be taking a road trip in the spring to find the area where he's rumoured to have buried it. In the meantime, I'm planning a book around the legend.

As you can see, lots of great things coming in 2023! Even a couple things on the back burner that I haven't shared yet.

Have a wonderful year!

Diane

Come find out more on my website:  https://dianebator.ca/

Happy New Year 2022!

 

If the past two years have taught us anything it is that life is short and we shouldn’t take anything for granted. 

We’ve all lost loved ones, had our jobs change in ways we could never have imagined, and learned more about ourselves and those close to us than ever.

Personally, I've accomplished a few things in 2021:

• took a playwrighting workshop with Norm Foster.
• published All That Shines.
• published Dead without Remorse.
• continued my relationship with BWL Publishing.
• became a book coach!
• returned to the office in July - albeit not my usual office.
• took a trip in September with my honey to see my family.
• was finally able to get back into my usual office in November.
• worked with a few amazing authors to edit their books and help them get one step closer to publishing.
• volunteering to work on a writers' conference with WCYR.
• writing with WCYR group once or twice a week.
• moved in with my honey, two cats, and a dog!
• dealt with some very serious family issues that we've come through with amazing strength.
• finally got a car I don't have to share.
• continuing my Escape with a Writer blog and working with Creative Edge Publicity to add even more great authors.
• made some great new friends.
• becoming a board member for the Crime Writers of Canada!

I may have forgotten a few. It was one of those years where the days ran into each other. 

The worst part of the whole year was how hard I was on myself despite the many accomplishments! Imagine publishing two books and working with a publicity agency to promote other authors...I felt the pressure that it still wasn't enough.

I wasn't enough.

Which brings us into 2022.

I've given up on making those resolutions about losing weight and achieving my dreams. To be honest, I've already achieved far more than I'd ever expected. This year has been a challenge both mentally and physically, yet I'm still hard on myself. As if I expect I should be one of those authors who publish a book a month or become a best seller.

My goal for 2022 is to be kinder and more gentle with myself.

To cut myself slack every time I think "I should be doing more."

Already on my calendar are a few things that I'm looking forward to:

• publishing The Conned Lady in April.
• publishing Dead Man's Doll in September.
• continuing Escape with a Writer and my liaison with Creative Edge Publishing.
• hosting a monthly Coffee Talk for Author Accelerator and talking writing.
• continuing to write with WCYR.
• settling into my new role as a board member with Crime Writers of Canada.
• writing a couple short stories for anthologies.
• and so many more!

AND doing something just for me. Getting back into yoga and walking.

Things to ease the mental burden that the past few years have taken on me.

Things that will help me to cut myself some slack by looking after ME.

If you'd like a little something fun to pass the time, check out the puzzle I created with my book covers! https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=3cbdd2e385dd

Let me know what your New Year's goals are! 

Leave a comment below...

All the best to you and yours in the coming year,

Diane

Happy 2018!

 

January 4 2018

I've been really bad at keeping up this blog. Life has taken so many twists and turns over the past couple of years. I am happy to report things are calm and life is good :)

After a fun Christmas and New Years with friends, I've been able to spend some time working on a couple of projects.

One is a new series idea that came from a chat with a friend. Before the book is even written, my agent and I have pitched it to a publisher. I have my fingers, toes, legs, everything crossed!

The second is me.

Okay, I'm an ongoing project. But my goal this year is to get back to walking like I did over the past year and - thanks to a little encouragement from an outside source - run a 5km this fall.

I've done a lot of sitting over the past two months between work and the holidays and I'm feeling the pain once more. Time to get back on track. At least I've lost a couple pounds over the holidays (how did that one work?) and not gained over Christmas which helps motivate me even more!

One more goal I have for the year is to post on my blog once a week. I'm thinking Mondays.
What the heck, everyone needs something to put them to sleep at night, right? LOL!!

May 2018 fill your hearts with love, fill your souls with adventure, and may you all take a little time each day just for you.

Love

Diane