Happy New Year, faithful blog readers and friends.

2012 was the year my world ended, in a manner of speaking, of course. I was further laid low by my ailing health, and I’m often bed ridden for days at a time now because of the bronchitis, the fatigue, the GI issues, and the deer in the headlights dread borne from a crippling bout of depression that started when I stopped going outside my house in 2008. I lost my job, (a dream job by any measure) in 2010, but it was really in 2012 that it hit home. I lost my faith in universal karma when the Tsunami and Earthquakes of 2011 hit Tohoku, though that took time too, to truly fester into the wart blossom it has become. I formally closed up my art business  this year—my hands shake too much now to even do anything on a computer without a Charles Schultz look, to be crude. 

And yet. I’m almost down with novel #2 ‘s first draft, the TAN project.  I’m combing Novel #1 in the editing room, and preparing the query letter. Novel 2.5, the sequel to the N1, is percolating in my brain pan. I’ve started a new short fiction story. Most importantly, even though I temporarily lost faith in myself as a writer, an artist, my wife did not. She recently read the latest draft of the TAN novel, and urges me to finish it, as soon as possible, which is hugely encouraging. So I will press on and start looking for an agent. Lets hope the one I choose chooses me! 

I’ve also been reading more, which is something i can’t believe I stopped doing (Last year I only read a book a month, this year I want to read  at least 3 a month) and have joined Good Reads.

I’ve lost followers and credibility on Twitter as a “major voice,” but have found a solid group of superhero allies to be my friends through thick and thin. (That’s you, FYI.) The thoughts, prayers, good will and more tangible help have kept me going where I thought I could not go on my own. I’m learning that social media is no replacement for solid friends, even though I’ve never met most of my friends in person. 

And even though I’ve lost my faith in universal, spiritual karma, I think human karma, the sense of paying it forward, of helping each other was bolstered this year more than ever. I’m continually humbled by your kindness and lent strength, even through my absurdist remarks on twitter. 2012 was the year of the dragon. 2013 looks to be the year of the Snake, which was also the sign of the year I was born. 

So here’s hoping that 2013 is the year where things coil around me like an anacond- you know what? This metaphor isn’t quite working. Lets hope instead that this is the year of You. My friends, readers, allies, and critics. You’ve done so much for me, I can’t help but wonder what I can do for you. Don’t be shy about it either, contact me using the comments below, at my Facebook, or on Twitter. Ask me for help, and if I can give it, I will. I may ask you for help as well. So I hope you have a great new year. 

Old friends and New friends
Marching through to New Year’s rise
hands clasped to the End.

Thank you so much for being with me through this rough time. I appreciate it.