Alice Duncan's Newsletter

The Mayhem and Magic of 2012

Truth to tell, 2012 was the most mayhem-filled year I’ve endured in my life, although there were a few bright spots.

It began with me half-blind from having surgery to correct a detached retina in December of 2011. Then I had to go around with a gas bubble in my eye. When that went away and the eye healed, a cataract developed, so I was still half-blind. Then I had to have the cataract removed. Then I had to have a back surgery that was supposed to last four or five hours, but became a ten-hour nightmare when the neurosurgeon discovered a bunch of lumbar discs had fused together, and she had to get out a hacksaw and jackhammer to bust ‘em apart so she could put spacers in. Recovery has been . . . painful. Then I FINALLY got new glasses two weeks after my back surgery, so I can see again! The year ended with the funeral of a friend’s brother. Besides all that, my two darling dogs, Daisy and Rosie died, Rosie from a brutal and mysterious accident (I had to have her put down).

I tell you 2013 HAS to be better than that!

On the magical side, I got to attend my younger daughter’s wedding to a wonderful man (even if he is a Republican) and see my grandson Riki and a whole bunch of old friends in Pasadena in June. That was mega-fun.

I published my very first book on Create Space, ANGELS OF MERCY. So far, this has NOT been a smashing success. Sigh. But two of my books were finalists in the New Mexico-Arizona Book of the Year Awards. GENTEEL SPIRITS didn’t win in the historical novel category, but FALLEN ANGELS tied for first place with AN AMERICAN CAFÉ, by Sara Sue Hoklotubbe. That was nice.

Um . . . I can’t think of anything else good that happened in 2012, actually.

However, here’s hoping 2013 is kind and gentle to all of us. On the book front, PECOS VALLEY RAINBOW will be published in March of 2013. I’m also giving away copies of ANCIENT SPIRITS in my January contest. If you’d like to enter, please send me your name and home address via email at alice@aliceduncan.net . Also, please visit my web site: www.aliceduncan.net and my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/alice.duncan.925

Thanks! Happy New Year!