I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! Your support of my writing in 2012 has been wonderful. I grew up in a grim, rural household where I was discouraged from writing, so your encouragement has meant everything to me. I really do appreciate it.

I’d like to start the New Year with a message of encouragement. You may be saying: “A message of encouragement — from a horror writer?” Yep! I may write about horrors, but that doesn’t make me a horrible person! I have lots of friends, like to have fun … I don’t wander around in a moss-draped ancient castle all day.

Here’s that message of encouragement: Friends, be sure you have a plan in life (I’m sure most of you do!). Remember this: If you don’t have a plan, someone else will just inflict THEIR plan on YOU. When I was young, my folks did everything possible to try to keep me on the farm, but that wasn’t going to happen. I wanted to be in advertising and also write scary stories, and that’s what I’ve been doing ever since I left the nest, so many years ago.

Basically, if I can live my dreams — so can you. So go out there and achieve the goals near and dear to you in 2013! 🙂