A very belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

So … it appears that in 2023 I managed to write just 3 blogs. ☹

Pathetic I know. But I promise to do better this year – as I think I have promised every year since I started the blog. I’m nothing if not consistent.

This year I’m actually secretly planning to do a blog every week. (No, that’s not a threat!) But I’m not saying that plan out loud just in case my next blog is entitled – 2024 Week 52: The Year In Review!

At the very least I’m determined to beat the meagre 3 blog shame that was 2023. And it’s not like things didn’t happen last year. (He said, slyly segueing into 2023 Week 52: The Year In Review!)

Overall in 2023 I achieved 10 of my 23 WRITING RELATED GOALS AND DREAMS. (See this BLOG for a full explanation of what these entail.)

That’s a solid enough result overall. It basically means I achieved most of the ‘GOOD CHANCE IT MIGHT HAPPEN’ goals but few of the ‘IT’S POSSIBLE BUT DOUBTFUL’ and none of the ‘DIVINE INTERVENTION IS DEFINITELY REQUIRED’ goals.

On the BOOKS and WRITING front things were fairly quiet.

• I’ve cut back on talks so I only visited a couple schools both of which went well.
• I have two picture books currently being worked on by two great illustrators. They’re due out in 2025.
• I finally completed that YA novel that’s been on my GOALS list for a few years. It’s still searching for a home and may need a re-look and a re-think.
• As mentioned in a previous blog RODNEY FORGETS IT! was shortlisted for the 2023 Speech Pathology Awards in the 3-5 year category and RODNEY LOSES IT! was shortlisted in the Picture Book category in the 2023 R.E.A.L. Awards (Reading and Enjoying Australian Literature)
• And finally (drumroll please) Reading With A Chance Of Tacos Podcast voted RODNEY FORGETS IT!  as their 2023 Best Picture Book!

My wife and I also did some TRAVELLING/HOLIDAYING – including three visits to Melbourne to see the grand kiddies and lovely stays at Burleigh Heads, Tangalooma and Nanango.

But our big trips were to TASSIE (green photos) …

… and ULURU (brown photos). Both were fantastic.

I also successfully completed my ’23 in 23′ READING CHALLENGE actually making it to 26 books in total.

My favourite fiction book was Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton.

But I also read a lot of fantastic biographies and autobiographies which I highly recommend. Including:

• Scattershot – Bernie Taupin
• Being Henry – Henry Winkler
• Open – Andre Agassi
• A Freewheelin’ Time – Suze Rotolo
• Boys in Trees – Carly Simon
• Just Ignore Him – Alan Davies
• Dying of Politeness – Geena Davis
• And So It Goes – Kurt Vonnegut
• The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner – Grace Tame
• Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X
• Tripping Over Myself – Shaun Micallef
• Me – Elton John

So that’s it for a quick look back on 2023.

CHEERS to an even more blog-filled 2024!

PS: I love to receive comments or feedback or just a cheery hello. So if you feel so inclined, don’t hesitate. Maybe a book recommendation for my ’24 in 24′ Reading Challenge?