Saturday, December 31, 2022

Thoughts from the Reds on New Year's Eve.

 RHYS BOWEN:  The last day of 2022. Well, it wasn’t as bad as we had dreaded, was it? We had no insurrections, new Covid variants that killed in minutes. The election we feared passed peacefully showing that moderate and sensible people are still in the majority. But lurking in the background was still the fear of Covid. It hasn’t gone away. And multiple mass-shootings. And the terrible news from Ukraine.It certainly isn’t Peace on Earth, is it?

So a brief year-ending questionnaire:


How are you celebrating tonight?


What was your favorite moment of 2022?


What was your worst moment?


What do you hope for in 2023?  For yourself? For society?


If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?



HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: How are you celebrating tonight?

  >>? Years ago, a group of friends decided that we did not want to battle going to a restaurant on New Year’s Eve—the crowds, the chaos, the prices, you name it. So, for years we have taken turns having a dinner party at our house. One person, the host, makes the main dish, and the rest of us bring assigned dinner elements. This year my assignment is... potatoes. I don’t know what the main dish is, so that is somewhat problematic.


What was your favorite moment of 2022?

 >>>When we realized (knock on wood) that we had fully recovered from Covid.


What was your worst moment?

>>>When we realized we had Covid.


What do you hope for in 2023?  For yourself? For society?

 >>>AH. Too hard. That some people GET SOME COMMON SENSE AND A BRAIN AND UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS ARE NOT TRUE JUST BECAUSE THEY  WANT THEM TO BE.  (ooh, sorry.) 


If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?

>>>Ah. Too hard. What if…greed and envy just disappeared? 


JENN McKINLAY: Where did this year go? I swear I only looked away for a second.


How are you celebrating tonight?


I am preparing for my nephew’s wedding tomorrow and missing my brother. I expect a lot of tears will fall, both happy and sad, but I think as we get older the big events are always bittersweet.


What was your favorite moment of 2022?


Driving the Ring of Kerry and seeing 10 very bright rainbows pop up over Dingle Bay. It felt like the universe was trying to tell me that if you pay attention  life is unexpectedly beautiful in between the rain clouds - repeatedly, until the message really stuck. LOL.


What was your worst moment?


Just the other day, a reader decided to email me directly and tell me that I am an awful writer, boring and stupid and worthless, and that I should quit. I was so shocked by the vitriol that it sent me into a nasty spiral of self doubt. I have since shaken it off but oof when the haters hate, they really hate. 


What do you hope for in 2023?  For yourself? For society?


Common sense is not as common as you’d think so I think a nice injection of empathy into society would be refreshing. I wish everyone was as incredible as Chef Andre of the World Kitchen.


As for me personally, I hope my books are received well, entertain the readers, and that I am able to keep trying to be a better writer. 


If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?


A laser that turns guns or weapons of any kind into pie. I’m tired of all this macho bomb and bullets nonsense. All wars should be fought with pie - like dodgeball - but with pie. 


JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Can it be? It’s already a new year? It’s not like I’ll miss 2022, but… is it just me, or is the sense of time passing broken?


How are you celebrating tonight? Dinner with friends, then home - can’t stay away too long when you’ve got dogs relying on you - and in bed before midnight tolls. 


What was your favorite moment of 2022? Oh, so many. Celebrating my sister’s birthday in New York, when we could actually eat inside restaurants. Being the co-Guest of Honor, with Rhys, at Malice. Youngest’s university graduation (with honors!) My Godson’s wedding.


What was your worst moment? My father died this year. Not unexpectedly, and one of those deaths that feels a bit like a release - but still. My parents and grandparents are all gone now. My sister and brother and I are the oldest generation.


What do you hope for in 2023?  For yourself? For society? For myself, I just want to get the latest book finally done. For society? Gosh. I guess… that our divisions lessen, and that we can see one another as fellow Americans.


If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be? Inexpensive, reliable and side-effect-free birth control… for men.


HALLIE EPHRON:

How are you celebrating tonight?
A quiet house - the kids will have returned to Brooklyn and maybe I’ll watch the sequel to KNIVES OUT on Netflix and eat homemade chocolate turtles.


What was your favorite moment of 2022? 

In February when we were in Florida, my granddaughter gave me a card she’d drawn for me. In it, she’s giving me a “rainbow hat” to replace my “sad grey hat.” And in retrospect it was a turning point in terms of greeting the future and opening myself up to whatever comes next.


What was your worst moment?

I’d rather not think about it. Moving on…


What do you hope for in 2023?  For yourself? For society?

More tolerance, common sense, and generosity.


If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?

A Neuralizer (see MEN IN BLACK) - something I can hold up and flash in your face and make you forget whatever stupid thing I just did.


LUCY BURDETTE: 


How are you celebrating tonight? As I write this earlier in the week, I have no idea! We’ve never been big on NYE parties where you stay up past midnight and drink too much. Key West on New Year’s is insane, but we do like to walk into town earlier in the evening and take a look as festivities ramp up. I’m sure I’ll make something delicious for dinner!


What was your favorite moment of 2022? Seeing family and friends, remembering the past couple of years where that couldn’t happen and cherishing every minute.


What was your worst moment? Yup, Covid here too. We worked so very hard to stay safe for 3 years, that the double red line was a horrible shock. I am only grateful that I got sick after miraculous vaccinations so I didn’t come anywhere near hospitalization!


What do you hope for in 2023?  For yourself? For society? I truly want to get better and better as a writer, and sell more books, for sure:). I would also like to stay balanced, healthy, and optimistic. For society, more sensible, kind, smart people in leadership roles.


If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be? How about some kind of instrument that shuts people off when they are on the edge of saying something harsh or acting mean? A person could open her mouth or her keyboard to say something cruel and find that nothing comes out…


DEBORAH CROMBIE:


How are you celebrating tonight? Staying home! We don't like to tangle with drunk drivers, and the dogs will need looking after with all the fireworks going off. I'm thinking maybe shrimp cocktail and dips, something super easy. And I'd love to watch The Holiday if I can talk hubby into it.


What was your favorite moment of 2022? LONDON LONDON LONDON. It was so wonderful after a three year absence! Getting to spend the first part of the trip with my daughter made it even better. Oh, and right up there with that was finishing my book!


What was your worst moment? We lost one of our cats, who had been suffering from kidney disease. Otherwise, just the constant anxiety over Covid.


What do you hope for in 2023?  For yourself? For society? For myself, a productive writing year (make that deadline!) More time with my granddaughter who is growing up so fast. For society? That's a big one. More empathy. More reading. I think people who read are much better at putting themselves in others' shoes.


If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be? How about a device that would shock people's fingers every time they typed something mean on social media.



RHYS: And my answers to my own questions:


How are you celebrating tonight?

We are very boring. We stopped going out on New Year's Eve. We don't want to meet drunk drivers. We don't like going to restaurants because we get bad service. We may have friends round for an early drink and then bed before midnight.


What was your favorite moment of 2022?

I had several. it's hard to choose. Being nominated for an Edgar Award was high on the list. Also being guest of honor at Malice Domestic and being interviewed by my friend Louise Penny.


Watching my daughter get her masters in clinical psychology, my granddaughter graduate from UC San Diego and the twins graduate from high school were all fabulous. The family all together in San Diego was special. Monet's garden in the rain. Magical.



What was your worst moment?

That one is easy. Testing positive for Covid the day before eleven of my friends were coming from all over UK to meet me in London and having to call them all to say don't come.


What do you hope for in 2023?  For yourself? For society?

to stay healthy, get the most out of life and meet my deadlines (3 of them. Yikes). For society that we morph back into a civil, compassionate, tolerant place where congress works together for the good of the whole country.


If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?

An easily made plant protein to combat world hunger? A machine to redirect clouds to stop floods and droughts?

A poison that killed Vladimir Putin?



So how about you? What are your wishes for 2023?






76 comments:

  1. How are you celebrating tonight?
    Quietly, at home, with John.

    What was your favorite moment of 2022?
    Celebrating with my granddaughter as she graduated from high school.

    What was your worst moment?
    Too horrible . . . I’m still crying.

    What do you hope for in 2023? For yourself? For society?
    For myself: lots of time with my children and my grandbabies.
    For society: to be kind, to end cruelty; to do the right things just because they are right.

    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?
    A way to eliminate meanness, selfishness, and vindictiveness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joan, your comments are wonderful! Love that you could celebrate with your granddaughter as she graduated from high school.

      Diana

      Delete
  2. How are you celebrating tonight?
    Staying home and trying to stay up for 2023

    What was your favorite moment of 2022?
    Being declared cancer-free and being Fan Guest of Honor at Malice Domestic

    What was your worst moment?
    The one-year anniversary of my mom's death

    What do you hope for in 2023? For yourself? For society?
    For myself: to be mobile
    For society: to stop the anger, the hate and the divisiveness

    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?
    A device that brings back common sense and respect

    ReplyDelete
  3. I wish for all of your positive wishes and hopes to come true!

    How are you celebrating tonight? Sipping bubbly alone after Hugh goes to bed early and reading A World of Curiosities.

    What was your favorite moment of 2022?
    Learning son #2 is marrying his beloved Alexandra. Such joy in those two! Also being back at Malice and Bouchercon and seeing and hugging friends.

    What was your worst moment?
    Bringing COVID home from Malice. Also, Hugh testing positive just in time to cancel Christmas. But, in both cases, being grateful for vaccinations and boosters so we didn't get super sick.

    What do you hope for in 2023? For yourself? For society?
    I hope that I meet my deadlines. That my agent sells my new historical. That my new series makes a big splash in the fall. And that I lose five or ten pounds. For society - be kind, people, be sane, and tell the truth. Also, I love Jenn's idea of exchanging guns for pies!

    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?
    I agree with Deb's and Lucy's Mean/Cruel Blocker, but let's add a Stupid Blocking feature to it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Edith, thanks for the reminder regarding A World of Curiosities! I have a copy and maybe I will get a chance to read it tonight!

      Diana

      Delete
  4. How are you celebrating tonight?
    Quietly at home. No fuss. I like to start the New Year with a clear head!

    What was your favorite moment of 2022?
    Visiting my mum for the first time in a long time.

    What was your worst moment?
    Wondering if my partner was facing a cancer recurrence; she wasn't. Phew.

    What do you hope for in 2023? For yourself? For society?
    For me, more teaching opportunities and a steady writing routine. For society, peace for all. Wretched wars of every kind must end.

    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?
    A pill that every newly elected politician must swallow and that would make them smart and kind and generous in their governing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amanda, I agree with you about spending NYE quietly at home. Not a fan of NYE myself. I wrote a long response in response to Rhys' questions.

      Diana

      Delete
  5. How are you celebrating tonight?
    Staying home, making a yummy dinner.

    What was your favourite moment of 2022?
    Going to ABQ LCC and Minneapolis Bouchercon, meeting crime writer friends in person.

    What was your worst moment?
    Seven months of losing my reading mojo, thanks to getting Omicron in December 2021.

    What do you hope for in 2023? For yourself? For society?
    For myself: to stay healthy and have a more normal, fun retirement year.
    For society: to be kind, peaceful and work towards making the world a better place.

    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?
    Fire a globe-enclosing beam from the ISS that would restore the Earth's atmosphere and rid the world of climate change and its devastating impacts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GRACE: What are you cooking for dinner? I am having black eyed peas. Diana

      Delete
    2. DIANA: Beef stew & mashed potatoes for dinner. But I'm also eating a NYE's Japanese tradition closer to midnight for good luck & prosperity: buckwheat (soba) noodles with hot dashi broth & scallions.

      Delete
  6. I just want to wish you all a very healthy , happy and productive year ahead. Reds and fellow commenters, you have provided much joy, food for thought and more!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judy, wishing you all a very healthy, happy and productive year ahead! Diana

      Delete
  7. Coralee looking both waysDecember 31, 2022 at 7:58 AM

    1. continuing my 12th Night Feast - menu; yellow chowder, Mexican cocoa, gingerbread, Turkish pull-apart. Provide comfort to the clowder from the noise and bed b4 midnight
    2. October: Parallax Press accepted the manuscript - Darling I am here for you (anthology) should be published soon
    3. Ron De Satan attacking LGBTQ+ i.e me. It is no longer safe again
    4. Hope a.. Me = being Ordained. The 2 year journey has become a 3 year journey b. Society: less shouting more listening
    5. A portable pollution scrubber / capable of transforming toxic to healthy stuff. Works on minerals, plants, animals, and hairless apes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coralee, your 12th Night Feast sounds yummy! Diana

      Delete
  8. From Celia:- First, a very Happy 2023 with good health, and lots of lovely books for all of us to enjoy.
    How are you celebrating tonight?
    A dear friend and her dogs are coming to eat but we’ll throw them out around 9:30. Perhaps we will watch the tape of this years Revels.

    What was your favorite moment of 2022?
    Sitting n my son in laws car as we drove from our house to theirs when the power failed. I felt as if a huge weight from the last 3 years had fallen off. So Christmas 2022 getting hugs from our huge G’sons
    What was your worst moment?
    I didn’t have a worst, but the daily worry has taken a toll and I’ve just been diagnosed with Afib. My Dr. says 1 in 10 people of my age have it.

    What do you hope for in 2023?  For yourself? For society?
    For myself: work to control my Afib. Workout, diet changes, etc.
    For society: less general hatred, political division, more cooperation

    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?
    I’m with Jenn - get rid of guns, particularly in the US. Work cooperatively on climate fixes and food shortages, oh let’s throw in open our arms to immigrants.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia, I quite agree about getting rid of guns! Hate guns! Diana

      Delete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Tonight: I'm getting together with a friend for a meal and a glass of champagne, but will be in bed well before midnight.

    Best moment: My son got accepted into the PhD program for Germanic Studies at the University of Chicago. It felt like a great weight of worry about the future had lifted.

    Worst moment: Death of my son's grandma in January.

    I hope to be less anxious and more loving in 2023 and continue in good health and that our resident red tail hawks raise more babies.

    I hope society can turn towards democracy, equality and the common good and that we can work together to solve the problems we face.

    My invention would be the ability to add gratitude to the water supply--it would make people thankful both individually and collectively. If we realized that everything is a gift, we would be eager to share with each other and to care for our beautiful world.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jenn, I was deeply disturbed that a reader would send you such a hateful email. Your stories are delightful and they bring me joy. I am sure your many fans feel the same way! Don't allow someone who is obviously coo-coo to get into your head. Social media is a magnet for crazy. Enjoy your nephew's wedding 💑 tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I heartily agree with what Judy said! Don't let the turkeys get you down! (That was a quote on a mug I once had, maybe even said by John Wayne. But Jenn, you and I both know the word he was thinking!

      Delete
    2. Me, too! Me, too! Jenn, you'll keep writing, you'll get better and better, and you will meet all those deadlines, because, well, that's what Jenn does! Take a deep breath and breathe in all the love surrounding you, then breathe out the nastiness of that ijuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu sorry, but Jimmy the ginger cat says I can't use that word to describe the idiot who wrote to you.

      Delete
    3. Totally agree! Love your mysteries. As a rule, I don't read rom-com, but yours are so delightful that I devour them on release. Their positive vibe makes the world a better place and has helped me through some bad spots!

      Delete
    4. Count me in, Jenn, as loving your books and being stunned that anyone would actually send such a horrible message. Please ignore that hateful message-sender and remember that there are many, many, many readers who love you and the stories you write.

      Delete
    5. What Judi said! We have to be careful out there on social media, Diana

      Delete
  12. Happy New Year to all! My hope for society is the same as Hank's and for myself I just hope for the good health to survive!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jenn McKinlay, I don't know why you would let some idiot emailer send you into a spiral of self-doubt. If I was in your position, I'd just look at the bookshelf where copies of ALL my books would be displayed and remember that each won marks a win. How many books have you had published now? You win, period.

    Julia, you do know that reliable inexpensive birth control for men exists already, right? It's called when the woman says, "yes but never with you". I have extensive experience with this form of birth control. LOL!

    As for my answers:

    How am I celebrating? - Truth be told, I'm not. I've never been much for parties to begin with but I definitely do not go out and celebrate on "drinking" holidays. Dokken drummer "Wild" Mick Brown, a notorious partier back in the day was once asked how he would celebrate the new year and he said that he stays home because he was a "professional" partier and on these days there are too many amateurs out there. The difference between the professionals and the amateurs being that the amateurs usually end the night wrapped around a tree. The only way I mark the new year is at midnight (assuming I stay awake), I pop in a CD from my favorite band Savatage and hit play. That way they are the first music I hear every year.

    Best moment - This is a good question. Considering the last three months have kind of stunk dealing with being hurt and trying to rehab said injury, I have to go back before the end of September. Maybe when my friend Ann and I went to see Edith Maxwell in her town for lunch, the somewhat delayed Xmas present Ann had arranged for me. Any time I get to sit down and talk books with Edith is great but this particular time was the first time Ann had gotten to meet her after I'd gotten her into reading the Country Store mysteries.

    Worst moment - September 30th, 2022 at 2am. I woke up in absolute agony with what turned out to be a slipped disc. And it's been a complete pain in the butt (literally and figuratively) as I've had to deal with the pain, the rehab, having to use a cane and trying to keep going so I can work. And making matters worse, I don't even have an interesting story for how I got hurt. When I tell people I was simply sleeping, the more wiseass among them always ask, "With who?" and I respond, "I WISH it was that interesting".

    What do I wish for in 2023 for myself? - I hope to continue writing my reviews for KNAC.COM and Limelight Magazine.com, make a return to going to concerts (I've got tickets to a couple of shows already), get and stay healthy, read lots of books and win the lottery. Hey, I'm not asking for a billion dollars, I'd like enough to pay off the house to remove that one worry off my list. Oh, and maybe see about carving out time to see if I can start that story I keep threatening to write.

    For society? Well, I've long since given up hope on society as a whole so I don't have a desire to control them. But for the sake of argument, my hope is that people just grow the F*** up! I mean enough already! I've known some almost impossibly stupid people in my lifetime but it's like they've all been some part of a breeding cult as of late and keep reproducing and destroying the gene pool these days.

    My invention? How about an affordable pill that cures all ills, or is that just too much crazy talk?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Speedy and full recovery, Jay. Slipped discs are a literal and figurative pain. Ain't it amazing how they can just - go out.

      Delete
    2. Jay, wishing you a speedy and full recovery!

      You are blessed to have lunch with Edith! I remember when I had tea with Rhys at a writing conference. I felt blessed to have that with Rhys and writer friends.

      Quite agree about staying home on NYE.

      And quite agree about that hater! I suspect that hater was on social media. I wrote a long response to today's questions including my solution to the haters. I blocked the haters on social media. I do not always agree with people I admire and if I see anyone say mean or cruel things about people I admire, I block them, And unfortunately there were few times when I found it necessary to defriend someone for saying repulsive things about several people I've admired.

      Diana

      Delete
    3. We had a lovely lunch! Wishing you ever increasing healing, Jay, and lots of reading time in 2023. See you next time I'm on the Cape, possibly.

      Delete
  14. 2023 is less than seven hours away here in Eastern Africa. I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous year to come.


    How are you celebrating tonight?
    Our daughter's neighbor is having a party so we will walk down the street to her home. And probably be in bed early, since I have a bit of traveler's tummy. We decided to wish one another happy New Year at midnight EST when we wake up at 8 AM local time.


    What was your favorite moment of 2022?
    Having Christmas with two of three daughters at a fancy dinner on safari. With Christmas crackers.

    What was your worst moment?
    When we both had Covid at the same time as Steve was also having two other medical problems. That was a challenge.

    What do you hope for in 2023? For yourself? For society?
    Health and better fitness for myself. Climate healing for the world, which seems the most urgent crisis of all time.


    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?
    Jenn's pie laser sounds awesome. How could I improve on that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen in Ohio, Happy New Year!

      Would love to see your guest post here on JRW with photos from your safari! Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Years!

      Diana

      Delete
  15. You all are such treasures! What an honor and a joy to know you… Happy new year, everyone. This is such an incredible community.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HANK: Always a joy to read everyone's comments and quite agree that this is such an incredible community!!!

      Diana

      Delete
  16. How are you celebrating tonight?
    Quietly, at home. Maybe with my grandnephew--he's a killer at Parchesi!

    What was your favorite moment of 2022?
    Jenn, it's like your rainbows--too many moments to capture just one! In the spaces between the rain there are always moments of beauty if I remember to look.

    What was your worst moment?
    Too much 'rain'--too many horrors in the world right now and almost all of them caused by people with a distorted sense of power, truth, and the ability to use that to inflict their idiocies upon the rest of the world.

    What do you hope for in 2023? For yourself? For society?
    For myself? I'm going to come out of the closet. Yep, folks, I'm a writer. There. I've admitted it. I have some books that want to come out into the world, and one way or another, I'm going to see that it happens in the coming year.
    For society?
    I wish for two-second delays. Two seconds before someone opens their mouth to say something hateful or to do something stupid. Time enough that their brain could actually engage and say, maybe that's not such a great idea to say/do whatever. And above all, specifically for America, I want the sane voices to pass gun control, and to block all the minority laws that are restricting our freedoms for our bodies, our schools, jeez, I'm drowning in the rain again.

    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?
    Everyone here has great ideas! I'd like something really selective, so that any time some idiot (especially in Congress, you know who you are!) opens their mouth, all the cameras and microphones immediately malfunction and refuse to work until said idiot goes away. Go away, you know who you are, permanently! Slink back into the hole from which you came and pull the hole in after you. Thanks, I'm done now.

    ReplyDelete
  17. And specially for you all, moments of joy that splash and grow like fountains in your life all this year!

    ReplyDelete
  18. So funny (and want this to be possible) I just have to quote it! Thanks to Jenn:
    "A laser that turns guns or weapons of any kind into pie. I’m tired of all this macho bomb and bullets nonsense. All wars should be fought with pie - like dodgeball - but with pie. "

    ReplyDelete
  19. Aren’t we a bunch of party animals! Everyone staying home!

    How are you celebrating tonight?
    Home is where to heart is. And the dogs and cat. And no drunks

    What was your favorite moment of 2022?
    Ah, meeting my great grandson for the first time. He now can say “Grandmommie.”
    And Julie’s two knee replacements, seeing her recuperate so fast

    What was your worst moment?
    Julie’s two knee replacements, waiting for her to be out of the OR.

    What do you hope for in 2023? For yourself? For society?
    For me? Decent health and the Bills win the Super Bowl
    For society? I’m with Rhys on that poison thing. Or whatever it takes

    ReplyDelete
  20. How are you celebrating tonight?
    —I’ve been in the hospital since 1:45 Friday morning, thanks to a whopper of a stomach virus. I hope to be asleep before midnight! ;And I hope I can go home tomorrow.)

    What was your favorite moment of 2022?
    —Attending Lucy/Roberta’s book signing in August, seeing her again, AND meeting Judy!

    What was your worst moment?
    — The morning when my sister in NJ called to tell me she had just been informed that her husband collapsed and died at work. Our family was still reeling from having lost our brother a few months earlier, also to a heart attack.

    What do you hope for in 2023? For yourself? For society?
    — I would like to finally finish decluttering. Finally! I would like to go through the whole year without needing any sort of surgery. I would like my remaining family members to stay healthy. I would also like my sense of humor to remain intact! It’s what has gotten me through all of the craziness of this past year. ( There is SO much that I didn’t mention.) For society: I would like people to become kind and compassionate and positive.

    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?
    —It’s hard to come up with something. Perhaps a machine that can prevent drought conditions from developing, thus putting an end to wildfires around the world.

    DebRo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Deb, I wish you a speedy recovery! Feel better fast! Sending wishes for a healthy year ahead!

      Delete
    2. So sorry, Deb. Sending healing vibes! Rhys

      Delete
    3. lighting incense / sending healing towards you/ hope you like sandalwood/ and home ye gets

      Delete
    4. Oh, Deb, best wishes for a speedy recovery and going home tomorrow! As for your worst moments. Words fail. My deepest condolences.

      Delete
    5. DebRo, here's hoping you get your wish to go home--a great beginning for a new year!

      Delete
    6. Feel better and get home soon, Deb!

      Delete
    7. DEB RO: Hopes for a speedy recovery!

      Delete
  21. Jenn, I cannot believe someone would send you an email like that! You are one of my favorite authors... I love your voice, humor, fun characters, stories. Your stories have gotten me through good and tough times -- thank you for all you do!! I love reading the first paragraph of one of your new books, knowing all of the fun that is to come. THANK YOU!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Colleen, I cannot believe anyone would send Jenn such an hateful email!

      Jenn, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your novels! In my mind, I threw that hater into the garbage bin and sending it to the dump!

      Diana

      Delete
  22. Rhys: how I’ve loved reading your thoughts and hopes. You are all treasures!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I read ALL the answers and all the comments and loved them. As for me,

    We'll be going to my son's place for dinner, and probably doing an "East Coast" celebration--which means toasting at 9PM here and being home well before midnight.

    Favorite moment of 2022 was getting my dear little kitty Max. My DIL called to ask if I'd foster the orange kitten she found in a truck engine. I said, no, but I'll adopt him. I also loved going to Bouchercon and getting to hug many old friends. Getting Covid seemed like a small price to pay. (it was a ridiculously mild case.)

    Least favorite: Too many. When I knew the invasion of Ukraine was really happening. Recognizing again and again the breathtakingly stupid mistakes we'd made in the last year. Being notified that our dear little dog Sparky didn't have "just an upset stomach," but a ruptured gall bladder and had to be put down immediately--on the day we were moving.

    Hope for my future: finding a publishing home for my new series and FINALLY finishing the domestic thriller I've been futzing with for too long.

    Hope for society: That somehow enough politicians will realize that their best selves should prevail and they will want to do things to help people; not hurt them. Also, that a couple of so-called Supreme Court justices will be retired, one way or another.

    As for an invention, I can't improve on Jenn's. Pies in place of weapons! Banana cream? Blueberry? Lemon? I'm not picky.



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terry, hugs for the loss of Sparky. And congratulations on the adoption of Max! We have a ginger boy here and he has given us so much love and joy--can't imagine life without him.

      Delete
    2. Terry, you have my condolences on your loss of Sparky. And congratulations on your adopting Max. I am rooting for you regarding the publishing house and look forward to reading your novel!

      Diana

      Delete
    3. So sorry about Sparky, Terry. Love and hugs.

      Delete
  24. I love reading everyone's year end comments! May all your hopes come true. As for me:

    How are you celebrating tonight? Staying home as usual and probably in bed and asleep well before the ball drops in Times Square.
    What was your favorite moment of 2022?: Getting the rights back to my book and getting it up on Amazon for pre-order!
    What was your worst moment? Discovering that a friend had been murdered by her son last week.
    What do you hope for in 2023? For myself - success at self-publishing and an agent
    For society - that common sense will become common and sanity and kindness will prevail.
    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be? Jenn's pies, for sure!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yikes! I am so sorry about your friend. Diana

      Delete

    2. Oh Kait, what a tragedy to lose your friend so horribly! Sending hugs from afar. And cheering you on in your self-publishing and efforts to find an agent!

      Delete
    3. OMG, Kait. I am SO sorry about your friend. Much curiosity about the son - homicidal, mentally ill, or? I'm sure all that is too soon for you.

      Delete
  25. Loved reading everyone's comments, including the JRW's plans.

    Here are my answers:


    How are you celebrating tonight?

    NOT A FAN OF NYE. For me, it will be a quiet evening at home reading good books under cozy blankets and eating black eyed peas.

    What was your favorite moment of 2022?

    <> Several favorite moments of 2022.....being able to see relatives for the first time since the pandemic and seeing friends for the first time since the pandemic. Feeling gratitude for what we still have despite the chaos. Grateful that my friend was re-elected.


    What was your worst moment?

    DO NOT GET ME STARTED! There were several scary moments when I thought it was my last day on earth! 'Nuff said!


    What do you hope for in 2023? For yourself? For society?

    WHAT do I hope for 2023...for myself...everything I could wish for....for society? return to civility and kindness in society. No more homeless please. Every working person will have a decent and safe place to live, every working family will have paid family leave, that we honor our natural resources by taking good care and NOT destroy the environment. Still thinking about Greta Thunberg and we need to address climate change. Stop the hate. I have BLOCKED the haters on social media. Yes, I have defriended people who said mean cruel things about people I like. I may not always agree with the person and I think we need to show respect. I Refuse to say anything mean or cruel even if I dislike someone.

    If you could invent something to make the world a better place, what would it be?

    Too many things. I loved what someone said about inventing a machine that would cause nothing to come out if someone is about to say or type something mean. Would love to invent something that would spread kindness in everyone. No more wars. No more greedy. No more poverty. No more cancer. No more air pollution. No more health problems related to climate change (my grandmother was barely 60 when she died as a result of living in a city with lots of smog )

    What I may see as making the world a better place may be someone else's idea of a nightmare?

    Sorry this was soooo long!

    Wishing everyone a happy and SAFE Happy New Year Eve!

    Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. never too long when the post is wise/ heartfelt/ happiest new year my friend

      Delete
  26. First, let me agree with what the others have said to Jenn regarding the nasty person’s email. Jenn, it’s because of loving your books that I eventually found JRW, for which I’m grateful!!
    I don’t think I can list any better wishes for the world than have already been written above and more eloquently than I ever could. I’m going to be attending Bouchercon 2023 and hope to meet many of you Reds, which is exciting. Thanks for your questions, Rhys. Happy, healthy, loving and sane 2023 everyone!!
    —Pat S.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I had to run out and do errands, in the rain. Bah. I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!

    We're staying home, drinking cava to toast the New Year. We'll probably do that early as I don't see Frank staying awake until midnight!

    Favorite moments? Finding this house to buy and our offer being accepted. Getting a good offer on our Houston house and closing yesterday. My Astros winning the World Series. Our granddaughter graduating from culinary school.

    Worst moments? I've been incredibly lucky and can't really think of anything. I do cringe seeing Frank being an old man temporarily with sciatic nerve pain. He swears he will find a doctor when he returns to Houston. Enough is enough.

    Hopes for the future? Me getting into decent shape. Some home improvement projects being started and completed. For society? Good manners, common sense, and civility making a comeback.

    I wish I had a mind-controlled device that would splat bright paint all over cars being driven dangerously or stupidly. Or possibly deflate their tires. I'll have to refine that when I invent it.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I have loved reading everyone's comments today. What a lovely bunch of folks we have in this community, and I am grateful to be a part of it every single day.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Seconding what Deb said...
    And I have a new "best" moment of the year... my daughter just adopted two of the sweetest black cats auguring scads of good luck for her in the new year. The moment they went from hissing and scratching at each other to licking and preening... all the while purring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Hallie - black cats are the best - what a wonderful way to begin the New Year!

      Delete
  30. 1. We are celebrating quietly in a cabin in a state park. We’re about 2/3 of the way through our quest to visit every state park in Georgia.
    2. Favorite moment was probably attending the National Figure Skating Championships in January where the Olympic team was selected.
    3. The worst moment by far was saying goodbye to our beloved Maine Coon Tubby. She was the best cat ever and we were blessed that she lived such a long life. We all really missed her this Christmas season. She adored the lights and decorations.
    4. I hope for stability and good health for my family. Actually that would be good for the world in general.
    5.Hmmm, something to make people to be decent to one another.

    Jenn, I am furious that someone would attack you like that. Clearly he or she has no taste, manners or sense of humor. You are my favorite author and I don’t hand out that description lightly.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks to all of you for making the world a better place! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete