By Jennie Griffin
It’s a brisk 35° in Texas this morning, and I have two large furry dogs snuggled next to me, keeping me warm. The Christmas tree is glowing in the corner, and our house sits in near silence as no one else is awake. It’s just me, a hot cup of coffee, and the quiet hum of my computer. In other words, it’s the perfect time to think.
Perhaps, like me, you’ve already seen the tweets and Facebook posts about New Year’s Resolutions and whether people are making them. So far, the stories have ranged from great successes like “I gave up smoking” to abject failures like “I broke my resolution on the first day.” In case you’re wondering, I typically fall into the latter group, which is why I no longer even bother. However, I grow reflective around this time of year as I look back on the past and forward into the future.
The past two years have been exceptionally challenging for so many of us as we have experienced massive changes in the way we live our lives. We’ve fought an illness that is shrouded in mystery. We’ve lost friends and family. Many have seen significant changes in their employment and how and where their work is completed. Even personal relationships are strained as people take different stances on the best way to move forward as a nation. During this time, I discovered that the one way I could temporarily forget about everything going on around me was by picking up a book. The stories I read over the past two years became a place of refuge from the noise and stress around me.
And that brings me to The Redhead Notes, which was just a vague idea I was playing with in my spare time a few months ago. See, it all started when my husband, K.A. Griffin, self-published The Accidental World, the first book in a six-book series. Suddenly, I found myself learning about the editing process, publishing through Amazon, and book promotion. The journey could have been utterly overwhelming, but I was most surprised by the support I found within the indie author community. Not only were these authors pursuing their own dreams, but they were also supporting the dreams of their colleagues. I’ve personally witnessed the sharing of industry knowledge. I’ve seen authors offer kind and encouraging words to one another when the dreaded moments of doubt creep in. I’ve even seen authors buying each other’s books when there is a slump in sales.
So, the question became, “What can I do to help this community?” It started with the idea that I would buy and read more indie books, and then it morphed into leaving well-thought-out reviews. But it still didn’t feel like enough, so now we have arrived at an entire website devoted to indie authors and their creations. My goal for 2022 is to highlight one author each month through a thoughtful book review, author interview, and guest post. I may find these books on my own, through author requests, or even one author recommending another. But let me be clear on one point. I will not accept money in exchange for a review. This is my personal investment of my time and money into you…the indie author.
Since this is a new venture, changes may occur over the next year as I better learn how to navigate the world of being a book reviewer. But here is my promise to you…the foundation will remain the same. You keep writing great stories, and I will do my best to thoughtfully review all that I can. With that in mind, here’s to 2022! May your creativity flow so that readers experience the passion of your words, and may your dreams become a reality.
