I always enjoy the start of a new year. It’s like what’s said in Anne of Green Gables – “there’s no mistakes in it – yet.” I’m not really one for making New Year’s resolutions, although in The Breakup Project I wrote about a woman who does, which includes (among other things) the resolution to not date a hockey player (that’s never been my problem- lol!), and the hilarious and painful results of that decision.
But while I, like Bree in The Breakup Project, feel like resolutions can be only a matter of time before I fail, I do like how we can start the new year with intentions to do different things. Which is why I’ve put my hand up for a few different projects this year. One of them is another multi-author series (more deets about that in a future post). Another is a new reader magnet, a freebie book for readers who subscribe to my newsletter. My Christmas novella Originally Yours has been a fabulous newsletter builder, and was designed to feed readers into my Original Six hockey romance series, but it’s time to add a new one, and I’m tossing up whether it will be another contemporary or whether I should venture back into Regency world and write one to feed into a new Regency series. And the other new thing is the opportunity to be part of an international reading challenge.
Now I have to admit, I’m not super awesome at reading challenges. I read lots, but (probably like most people) tend to (re)read my favourite authors / genres / settings, and even then I move on to reading the next book and don’t update my Goodreads shelves, etc. Reading challenges also usually require reading books outside of our comfort zones, which can feel a little daunting if you, like me, enjoy reading primarily as a way to relax.
But when an opportunity arose to be part of an international reading challenge I leapt at it. Partly because I have books set in different countries, and this would give opportunity to showcase some of those places (like Muskoka, Canada, and the small town of Trinity Lakes, Washington) and partly because I’ve always enjoyed travel and finding out about different countries. So with books set in Australia, various parts of the UK, Europe, Africa, North America and more, it’s going to be fun to explore the world via books. I’ll be kicking things off in the Around the World in Fifty Books (minus one) group next week with the various international settings that are featured in Love on Ice, which includes settings from Toronto to Detroit to Wollongong, Australia, Taipei, Seoul, and many more, and I can’t wait to introduce readers to this action-packed book!
It’s good to try new things, and to expand beyond the usual books, both as a reader, but also as a writer, as it helps to keep the reading / writing palate ‘fresh.’ After years of writing historical books I’ve loved writing contemporary, and now enjoy writing the occasional historical as a ‘refresher’ for my brain. I still have a romantic suspense locked in my computer (which actually won some awards!) so getting back into writing those types of books will be another good challenge for me one day.
Starting the new year is a good chance to refresh and refine and look forward to new things – including new books! And if you’re looking for something new to read, then you could try The Love Penalty, out later this month, or catch up on the Trinity Lakes series, so you’re ready for the next brand new book which comes out next month, with a new book each month after that. Heard about this hockey romance craze and want to try a Christian version? Then check out the Original Six or Northwest Ice series, and enjoy some books that might be a little out of your normal reading space, but which you may just enjoy. Whatever you choose, I hope that 2024 brings plenty of fabulous reading to you. Happy new books to you!
Let’s chat: what is a genre outside of your comfort zone? What parts of the world would you like to see a book set in? Have you done reading challenges? Do you do New Year’s resolutions? What new books are you looking forward to reading in 2024?
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency and contemporary novels are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Koorong, etc
I’m not great at reading challenges either – like you say, I dona lot of rereading my favourites (especially if i’m busy or tired) so inreally vary with how many new books I read. I love the idea of intentionally reading books with locations around the world – I’ve never really traveld but I love finding out about different locations from the books I read.
My new year’s resolution is about getting more active, I would really like to end 2024 stronger and fitter.
Good luck to all with their reputations and challenges!
Happy New Year Carolyn! Greetings from SW Michigan.
1. What is a genre outside of your comfort zone? This retired high school German and English teacher belongs to the Lake Bluff Book Club sponsored by the local library. We meet 11 times a year and most books are out of my comfort zone. I prefer reading contemporary and historical romances or cozy mysteries. Many of the women’s fiction have a dark side. Life has enough sorrows without spending time dwelling on them for entertainment. That is why I enjoy Hallmark movies. The happily ever after.
2. What parts of the world would you like to see a book set in? As a retiree, I enjoy traveling the world through books. I have read books with international settings, but Africa, Asia and South American have few books.
3. Have you done reading challenges? Since retirement I have done a few reading challenges – the Decades challenge. The Book Girls’ Guide has reading challenges: Decades, Around the World (even a kid’s challenge), and Read Around the US.
4. Do you do New Year’s resolutions? No I do not make New Year’s resolutions. Not good at keeping them. I often choose a Word of the Year, but haven’t decided on one this year. I am a list maker and am working on a list: 24 Things to Look Forward to in 2024.
5. What new books are you looking forward to reading in 2024? A new series that I am looking forward to is Shanna Hatfield’s Christmas Letters. Enjoy the mailbox featured covers and the premise of letter writing. In the digital world, so sad not to receive Christmas cards and letters from friends and relatives.
Best wishes to readers and authors as we look forward to a NEW YEAR – new resolutions and challenges.
I would love to read a book set in Japan because it seems like there could be some interesting things for the characters to do/try. I can’t think of any fiction books I’ve read that have been set anywhere in Asia, so a book with Japan as the setting would be very different.
what is a genre outside of your comfort zone? reading about witches and paranormal type stuff. What parts of the world would you like to see a book set in? I love to read westerns – so books set out west or midwest / I like to read cozies – so sweet books. Have you done reading challenges? Yes and I really didnt enjoy them because I read when I can or when things come up. Do you do New Year’s resolutions? No, but I do set goals every four months What new books are you looking forward to reading in 2024? not sure right now
Wow! A genre outside of your comfort zone is the bully romance, I don’t find bullying or stalking etc appealing and given stalking is actually a crime I avoid that and any author who beckons readers to stalk them, even if it is in est. I’ve not really read books set in the Scandinavian countries much and I am fascinated by them, so they would be a great place to start for me. Not into reading challenges, too prescriptive for this rebel. New Year’s resolutions – yes, but only if they are realistic, measurable and achievable, for example one I often bring back is to read an authors work which is new to me each calendar month. To try a new experience/craft/task or visit a new location once a month. What new books are you looking forward to reading in 2024 – any books, I am so ready to be able to read again (post surgery) without giving myself eyestrain – thank goodness for decades of typing so I can type with my eyes closed, read with eyes closed not so much :D Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Jessica! In 2008, I spent 3 weeks in Japan. Japan is in my prayers. On New Year’s Day the Ishikawa prefecture (North of Tokyo) had a massive earthquakes (7.6) with continuing after shocks. The death toll is 48. Japan is a fascinating country. In September for the local library book club we read Daughters of the Samurai by Janice Nimura. In 1871, five young girls were sent by the Japanese government to the United States. Their mission: learn Western ways and return to help nurture a new generation of enlightened men to lead Japan. Fascinating read. But not aware of any CCR stories set in Japan.
As long as it’s CF, I read any genre! Mostly, I read historicals or contemporaries, though, as that’s what most of the author’s I edit/proof for write, and I read a lot of ARC’s and most of those are in those genre’s, too. I do read Fantasy/SciFi ARC’s, though, for one author. I don’t do challenges, though, as that takes the fun out of reading for me. Plus, it’s hard to know why I’m going to have time to read for a challenge when I’m busy reading books to edit and reading ARC’s.
Oh, Ruthie – I hear you with the getting healthier thing, too! One of my biggest challenges in writing so much is that I end up sitting down a LOT! I used to teach high school English, and didn’t realise just how much of that involved moving that doesn’t happen now. That’s another of my goals this year – walk the dog every day and get some extra exercise in too. Praying that you succeed!
I love all of this Renate! I agree that I like books to be an escape and offer hope, not contribute to more heaviness.
Here’s to more good books and new things of God!
Ooh, I feel like I’ve seen CCR set in Japan. That could be a great reason to join the Around the World group! You could also ask at Avid Readers of Christian fiction.
Happy 2024 reading to you!
Thanks for commenting Lori!
Yes, there are some books ‘outside my comfort zone’ I have zero plans to read – and witches, horror, paranormal is definitely in that category! And like you, forced reading challenges can be tricky when it feels like an achievement to actually read anything!
Happy 2024 reading to you!
Oh, a much happier 2024 to you without eye strain!
And yes, books set in Scandinavia would be fascinating!
(And personally, in this age of #MeToo, and as a Christian, I don’t know how bully romance etc etc can be considered okay as, like you say, it can lead to crimes, and that’s not romantic to my way of thinking!)
Right? It’s nice to have a plan, but it’s also nice to not have to feel forced to do something. I think that’s one of the reasons I like this Around the World reading challenge in that it allows us to dip in and out of books as much as we like, so we can pick a country we’re interested in, and just may find some new authors to enjoy along the way!
Ooh, and I just checked, and the Around the World challenge has a number of books set in Africa (from African authors) so that’s fun!
I will not read horror or psychological thrillers.
If the book is in a genre I like, I’m not that particular about what part of the world the book is set in.
I do the reading challenge in Goodreads every year. I also do the reading challenge at our local library twice a year.
I don’t do resolutions, but I do set goals for myself. I want to walk more, drink more water, and eat healthier.
I have read the first two books in Shanna Hatfield’s Christmas Letters series as ARCs. They are great!
I have read the first two books in Shanna Hatfield’s Christmas Letters as ARCs. They are great!
Here’s to getting healthier and reading more good books in 2024!
Sci-fy and fantasy are outside my genres that I enjoy reading. I have made reading goals. Actually, my goal for this year is 55 books. I do not make resolutions, but I have a word of the year. It is trust. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I have never participated in a reading challenge (other than counting my books read on Goodreads), but over the last year I’ve watched others do so in a few Facebook groups I’m in & it looked like fun so I’ve decided to jump in with both feet this year by participating in three different challenges! One is the Around the World in 50 books that you mentioned, so the next book that I’m starting is yours! I actually plan to read the whole series 😊
Trust is such a good word for the year. Thank YOU for sharing!
Ooh, yay! I think travelling around the world via books will prove fascinating, I do hope you enjoy the series!
Hi Diane K and Carolyn! Marion Ueckermann (RIP) a former IR author has 2 books in the Passport to Romance series set in Scandinavia: Helsinki Sunrise and Oslo Overtures. Plus R. J. Griffith’s Stockholm Hero. An excellent series for the 50 Books around the world challenge.
“Curvy Girls Can’t Date Bullies” by Kelsie SteltingIt is a good foray into that topic. The author herself hated bully romances because they were unhealthy as well as obsessive, so she had no references to something sweet, so she tried incorporating the concept into her saga of curvy girls.
I suffered from bullying so I don’t usually like the topic but this is a fun YA and the protagonist is more of a rich boy being an idiot than a real potential criminal and really he and the heroine are more enemies to lovers than a bully and victim.