Happy New Year!!

(Original title, I know.)

Well, this is officially my last post in 2015 (can't cut it any closer than that!) I spent this last day of 2015 at home, alone with my boyfriend and my cat. No party, no celebration because I have a major case of the bronchitis... So yep. A bit sad and boring, but it's also a perfect closure to the year I now have come to see as a sabbatical one. In 2015, I have not published anything, not finished a single story... Career-wise, it's been a quiet year (but jam-packed with emotions: my mom visited the emergency room this year; my sister got pregnant; my boyfriend went back to his homeland as a surprise for his parents' 35th anniversary; I got sick, still am and still don't know what's going on since I'm awaiting tests results... but career-wise, it's been quiet.) It feels a bit like... like I'm planning my next move! I found myself a pen name; started making a website; read into Smashwords and Createspace and created accounts; etc.

So, for the fun of it, here's a bullet-point summary of my year 2015:

- I had my first job in years when I worked for a theater company during a couple of months;
- I had my first go at Camp NaNoWriMo (and almost finished Nellie IV...);
- I opened Smashwords, Createspace, Instagram and Society6 accounts;
- I went to Disney alone again, this time during Xmas time over there;
- I got diagnosed with high blood pressure and now have to take pills for it (no fun);
- I started painting for myself images I had in my mind (no more copies);
- I planned my first novel ever (well, half of it anyway, but it didn't get written...);
- I visited the Montreal book fair for the first time in years as a reader and nothing else;
- I embarked on a crazy countdown to Xmas illustration calendar where I drew a picture per day almost until Xmas;
- and of course, I learned some new songs, played some new games, saw some new movies, read some new books...

(Surely, there are other things but that's all that comes to mind right now...)

A couple of days ago, I was re-reading the post I had written for New Year last year... Some things I said are true, like, no matter the year, we all sigh a sigh of relief when the clock chimes 12 and we get to have a fresh start as if the passing of those last 60 seconds was any different than all the 60 seconds that preceded it that year... When you think about it, it's pretty silly, but then again, humans need this. We need to believe in such things (I know I do) if we're to keep sane in this world...

And so, in the spirit of a fresh start, I'm gonna perpetuate this little thing I did last year where, instead of resolutions (which always sound kinda like work), I'm gonna make wishes. Wishes for myself for the new year to come.
So, in 2016, I wish:

- to be healthy (that's what I'm lacking and missing the most right now and for the past few months...);
- to lose weight (it's a cliché, I know, but now my health asks for it so...);
- to be done with Nellie once and for all;
- to write and publish my first English ebook (and thus unveil my Ravenscroft website);
- to stock my Society6 store with paintings and drawings I'm real proud of (and maybe make a buck, yeah);

...and that's it! :) (For me, anyway :P I've got about a dozen more wishes I make for the people I love hihi)
And, well, if you follow this blog, you'll know soon enough what works and what doesn't.
Oh! And btw, for those of you wondering, this blog will move to its new address on January 6th so write it down, bookmark it, post-it it: the new address will be www.valerielartEN.blogspot.ca

Until then, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!!!! ^_^

Have a pen?

Hey everyone!

Just a quick message to let you know that this blog (and many other things in my life) is undergoing some changes.
For one, the new address will be : www.valerielartEN.blogspot.ca
Take it down because I hope to hear from you again in my "new" home! ^_^

More news to come later but if you keep an eye on here, you'll see the changes as they appear :P
Sorry for the inconvenience...

Take care!
And a very happy holiday season to you all! :)