Each new year begins with toasts, kisses and parties. Shivers, colds and tests of our newly-made resolutions quickly follow.

Here in frost-kissed North Carolina, I met yet another year with renewed dedication to my writing. While the road to publication is full of bumps and detours, it is a road I am determined to travel until I reach my destination. I have begun a new book and resolved to give the just-finished one a good polish. Then will come the part requiring real resolve: submitting.

Anyone who submits to agents and editors knows the end result will be a mailbox (or e-mail box) full of rejections. However, this year there may be a single “yes”, the most welcome syllable in the English language. So, plan to hear more on this rocky part of the journey as the year progresses.

Meanwhile, I will be playing as usual over at Romance Bandits. We are a bit fatigued from our two-week guest blogging stint at Romance Novel TV, but are having as much fun as always. On February 5, I will be interviewing Deb Marlowe on the release of her US debut novel, “Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss” in the Bandit Lair. Do not miss this opportunity to learn more about this rising star.

When not blogging, I will be working on my writing. I know publication will simply be the start of a new journey, equally full of potholes, poorly-marked intersections and unplanned pit stops. That is a journey I am well-prepared to take!