Taking a break from the Christmas Eve dash for some eggnog lattes. YUM. Here's the recipe if you want to try. Have a fabulous holiday everyone!!!

I never make New Year’s Resolutions, mostly because I’m bad at it. It’s hard for me to tell the difference between what I want and what I can actually achieve on my own. (Resolution 1: Sell a new book this year.)

And though I thrive on writing deadlines, life deadlines just make me anxious. (Resolution 2: Get to 2 miles on the walky-steppy thing at the gym.) Instead of chopping my life up into specific things to do this year (Resolution 3: figure out Grandma’s fried chicken recipe once and for all,) I keep an everyday resolution, which is:

Keep going.

It applies to everything. To writing, to family, to hard times, to the walky-steppy thing at the gym- I’m okay as long as I keep going. And there are some years when this is harder than others. But I find it encouraging when things are going great- all right, yeah, this is awesome! Keep going! and inspirational when things suck- I may well die from all this, but glar, to spite the universe, I’m going to keep going!

Everything else is dreaming- I want to sell another book, I want to find out what that thing at the gym is really called, I want to actually make my Wee’s Halloween costume this year- and if dreams come true, it’s fantastic. But if they don’t, I haven’t failed. I’m disappointed, but it’s okay- I just keep going.

So this December, I wish you all the best of luck on your resolutions. I can’t wait to see you guys mark them off! And until you can mark them off, I wish you good luck and hope that no matter what, you’ll also keep going.

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

It’s a pleasure to be part of Cynthia Leitich Smith’s debut author series, NEW VOICES, today! Find out where Shadowed Summer came from, what books I loved growing up, and how I approach marketing for my own novels! It’s all right here.

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

I’m pleased to announce that the winner of a signed copy of Rhonda Stapleton’s STUPID CUPID is:

Ari from Teens Actually Read

Drop me a note at saundra AT saundramitchell DOT com, Ari, with your mailing address, and we’ll get your prize in the mail! Thank you so much for van touring with us!

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

It's the LAST Debsness ever! Kinda makes me sad that the year is almost over. It's been a fun one though. Go enter-- hope you win!

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

There’s a chance that one of us *coughrhondacough* thought that the town name was a suggestion. Mandy and I signed for five hours at the truck stop, while one of us *coughrhondacough* brushed her teeth for hours. Well, at least she’ll be minty fresh in the van later.

I know this pic looks like Rhonda and I are abandoning Mandy again. But actually, Mandy and I are playing keep away. This one-eyed guy took a liking to Rhonda at hour FOUR of our signing and just wouldn’t leave her alone! I mean, look you guys- I know Rhonda’s cute, and her new tattoo is totally bangin’, but this is a professional tour! We’re not here to fall in love! (PLEASE COME BACK PAOLO – Love, Rhonda)

Anyway, it was obvious we had to do something to save Rhonda from this stiff. Since I swallowed all my jewelry in New York, I couldn’t defend her with violence. Mandy threw soap at the guy, but he just kept coming back! Finally, Mandy and I were forced to lob Rhonda gently into the air, back and forth between us until Willie got the idea and left.

I can’t believe the tour is almost over. We’re heading to Wilkes Barre, PA tomorrow, and then finish in San Jose, CA on Friday. I’m excited- this means a hot meal and clean socks- not necessarily in that order! But before my socks OR meal, I’m giving YOU a chance to win Rhonda’s brand new, not even debuted yet novel, STUPID CUPID. Just leave a comment here to enter! And stay tuned through the rest of the tour- because we’ve got another surprise for you!

Join Us on Our Van Tour!

Wednesday, December 16th- Giant Cow at Wilkes Barre, PA (Mandy Blogs)
Friday, December 18th – Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, CA (Rhonda Blogs)

Read Saundra Mitchell’s recap of day 1 HERE.
Read Mandy Hubbard’s recap of day 2 HERE.
Read Rhonda Stapleton’s recap of day 3 HERE.
Read Saundra Mitchell’s recap of day 4 HERE.
Read Mandy Hubbard’s recap of day 5 HERE.
Read Rhonda Stapleton’s recap of day 6 HERE.

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.