I don’t know about the rest of you, but for me, 2024 was a long and difficult year. I’m honestly glad to see it go. Each year has it’s challenges, but 2024 was like challenges on steroids.
This past spring I took a trip to San Antonio which turned out to be the vacation from h-e-double-hockey-sticks. It was hot, humid, and crowded. As many of you know, I also enjoy photography, and I came to shoot photos. Granted, a few unrecognizable figures in the background can give a photograph a nice sense of scale. Unfortunately, there were simply too many people standing in the way of whatever I wanted to shoot, which was disappointing. All I can say is I can scratch San Antonio off my bucket list. With any luck, I’ll make it to Corpus Christi next year. Hopefully, I’ll get some good photos while I’m there.
This past October I took another trip which turned out much better. I went to my hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, for a high school reunion. It was my first time going to a class reunion, and, unlike Rachel, in my contemporary romance novel, The Stalker, my class reunion went well. I’ve reconnected with many of my old classmates on Facebook, but seeing them face-to-face and talking to them in person was so much better. Most of them have done well. However, there were few who are no longer with us, and the committee put together a nice tribute to them.
This past year brought a few other challenges, including some health issues. I’m doing much better, but a few days in the hospital is never fun. Even so, it had its moments. Several of my nurses love reading romance novels, and they were excited when I told them I’m an author. Hopefully, they’ll look into reading some of my books. I was also grateful not to have a nurse like the nefarious Denise in The Journey. Fortunately, I’m much better now, and I’m looking forward to starting my next novel, The Diversion.
Unlike Rivalry, which was more of a classic romance novel, The Diversion will have a darker, more complex storyline. I was a soap opera junkie when I was younger, and many of my earlier novels had soap opera like twists and turns which kept readers guessing. If all goes as planned, The Diversion will be another one of those page turners that have readers saying they couldn’t put the book down.
Happy holidays,
Marina Martindale
The Stalker is available on Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, and with other online booksellers.
Marina’s Journal does not include AI (artificial intelligence) generated content of any kind. Marina writes and edits her blogs. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244