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Wednesday, 5 January 2022

#IWSG January 2022 - Regrets, I Have a Few, But Then Again, Too Few to Mention ... (let's get this musical year underway!)

Hello all!

Let's get this new year underway with our first IWSG post. I didn't have a break from writing as I had a pre-order up for The Dark Side, second in my Renaissance vampire romance series, for 8th January and I hadn't polished the manuscript. But despite everything else needing my attention, I got it back to Amazon yesterday, 20 hours ahead of schedule. What fun! Not! My heart rate is still coming down!


Alex's awesome co-hosts for the January 5 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe, Olga Godim, Sandra Cox, Sarah Foster, and Chemist Ken!



So, thanks, Alex J Cavanaugh for this platform to whinge, whine or hoot and holler. Hmm. Which brings me to the January 5 question - What's the one thing about your writing career you regret the most? Were you able to overcome it?

So, I guess my biggest regret is waiting so long to publish, but there was always something calling on my time, namely my children and my teaching career. But hey, I've overcome by writing a rather large backlist and am now able to keep publishing on a regular basis. I'm having fun.

Here's to a great 2022!


Had to show off my cover for The Dark Side. Groovy!

WEP is on a holiday schedule. We've chosen the shortlist, refined it and sent it to Nick Wilford. We're all a-twitter waiting for his decision in a day or so. So, if you entered WEP's December challenge, Narcissus, you'll soon learn if you won a prize!

And soon it'll be February! We are soooo excited to be entering The Year of Music. We love our music, so choosing six songs out of the millions of songs out there was our biggest challenge! We kick off with ...


Wow! Can't wait to write to this one!
How about you?


For those who indulge, here's to endless coffee and cake for 2022 - countered by lots of exercise! (Had to spoil it, didn't I?)

I hope 2022 goes well for each of you. I started off with a covid scare in the family, which thankfully ended up being a negative result. Like in many countries, Omicron is raging, and we've never seen such high numbers in Australia. I'm fully vaxxed and boosted. Not much else you can do except stay out of the public as much as possible and mask up.




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61 comments:

  1. Alex J. Cavanaugh5 January 2022 at 11:40

    Not raging like we are here. And it is zapping everybody, vaxed, boosted, or not. Glad your scare was a negative.
    I also wish I'd started sooner, but hey, like you, I did finally start!

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    1. Denise Covey 5 January 2022 at 11:47

      True, Alex, we see the US figures and shudder. Yep. We're on our way at last.

      Delete
  2. Michael Di Gesu5 January 2022 at 12:19

    Hi Denise! Happy New Year...again! You have been BUSY! Happy to hear you are ahead of schedule. Love the DARK SIDE cover. Wishing you all the best with your preorders and release! SO EXCITING!!!! 2022 is certainly up to an exciting start.

    Here in NW IL we had about seven inches of SNOW on New Years Day. FUN, shoveling all that frosty white stuff... NOT! SLOWLY taking down the TONS of Christmas decorations I put up. I plan to leave the entry tree up until after the Epiphany and I'll leave the Lower Level tree up indefinitely. I looks great on the brick wall and I can decorate for whatever holiday... Valentine's next. LOL

    Great song pick for the WEP February challenge. Another gushy love thing... ACK! LOL Perhaps I can find something that will work. I'm looking forward the announcement of the Narcissus winners...Nick's going to have a tough time.

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    1. Denise Covey 5 January 2022 at 15:00

      Your Christmas/New Year couldn't be more different to ours, Michael. So hot and humid here. A bit of that white stuff would be very welcome, but not too much LOL.

      Enough of the ACK! You can be as cynical as you like. 'All you need it love? Right!'

      Yeah, Nick always has a tough time. The WEP writers are so good!

      Delete
  3. L. Diane Wolfe5 January 2022 at 12:43

    Now that I see everything else you have going, I am super-duper impressed.

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  4. Elephant's Child5 January 2022 at 16:01

    Huge congratulations that once you started to took off at a run. And are still running.
    And hooray for the negative covid news.

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  5. Pat Garcia5 January 2022 at 20:59

    Hi,
    Happy to hear you finished book two of your vampire series. It also looks like the year of music will have great prompts for 2022.
    Take care and all the best.

    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

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    1. Denise Covey 6 January 2022 at 08:58

      Thanks Pat. It was a mission and now to get back to my next contemporary to follow Paris Dreams. Never a dull moment. Looking forward to the WEP music challenges!

      Delete
  6. Natalie Aguirre5 January 2022 at 21:08

    That's great that you were able to focus on your writing after you finished your teaching career and your chldren grew up. Love your cover!

    And I'm staying in more too because of COVID again.

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    1. Natalie Aguirre5 January 2022 at 23:08

      And a big congrats on winning the anthology contest!

      Delete
  7. H. R. Sinclair6 January 2022 at 00:21

    That is a beautiful book cover! And, whew, you got in the update. Stressful, but it's done. Congrats.

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  8. Michael Di Gesu6 January 2022 at 00:31

    CONGRATS on your submission being accepted!!!! How exciting that we are BOTH in the IWSG Anthology. As for the snow... LOL, I do love it, but HATE to spend over three hours shoveling it. Today we are in the minus temps. FREEZING. A typical Mid-west winter.

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    1. Denise Covey 6 January 2022 at 09:04

      I think it's great Michael! Boy, I'm still sweltering!

      Delete
  9. Nick Wilford6 January 2022 at 00:50

    Congrats on your release, as well as placing in the IWSG anthology. Exciting times!

    I have checked out all finalists and will finalise my choices today. It's always hard with the fantastic standard of entries, but a fun job! Looking forward to our year of music.

    Glad your scare was negative. We're all vaxxed and boosted but still being ultra careful. Omicron is causing record hospital cases in the UK. Stay safe this year.

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    1. Denise Covey 6 January 2022 at 09:07

      Thanks Nick. We're up and away. Had to do it quickly with February looming! Great choices!

      Delete
  10. Jemi Fraser6 January 2022 at 01:41

    Congrats on the release and the story in the anthology! YAY!
    Very glad the COVID scare was negative - we went through the same and it's terrifying.

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    1. Denise Covey 6 January 2022 at 09:32

      Thanks Jemi! Where was yours, hmmm? Yes, that is terrifying for sure.

      Delete
  11. cleemckenzie6 January 2022 at 03:01

    You've got so much going on for this year! A story in the next IWSG anthology, a great WEP for February, and The Dark Side. Huge congratulations.

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    1. Denise Covey 6 January 2022 at 09:38

      Thanks Lee. It's going to be a busy year, then I can just sit back and market!

      Delete
  12. Victoria Marie Lees6 January 2022 at 04:07

    Happy New Year, Denise! Congratulations on being included in the next IWSG anthology with your romance. Bravo! Great cover on your Dark Side novel. I wish you health and success in 2022!

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    1. Denise Covey 6 January 2022 at 09:40

      Thanks Victoria. It's a busy start to the year, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

      Delete
    2. Denise Covey 6 January 2022 at 09:47

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  13. Erika Beebe6 January 2022 at 04:44

    Hi Denise,
    I love the cover! Nice font choice too! Congrats on meeting your deadline with more than a few hours to spare. It sounds like you’re right where you should be :)

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  14. Anonymous6 January 2022 at 05:20

    Glad to see I'm not the only Sinatra fan! No matter how long it took, if you're having fun, you've done it the right way! Congrats on the upcoming release!

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    1. Denise Covey 6 January 2022 at 09:52

      Old Cranky Frankie, eh. What a voice! Glad someone commented! Thanks Lee.

      Delete
  15. Melissa6 January 2022 at 07:19

    We writers with day jobs need to stick together.
    Congratulations on being chosen for the anthology!

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    1. Denise Covey 6 January 2022 at 09:48

      We do. Thanks. I think you, too, are a fellow traveler in the anthology! Congrats!

      Delete
  16. Rosemary Johnson6 January 2022 at 07:50

    Hope you get a bit of time off in 2022.

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    1. Denise Covey 6 January 2022 at 09:39

      Now wouldn't that be nice...oh, another song.

      Delete
  17. Olga Godim6 January 2022 at 10:27

    Great cover, Denise.
    And congrats on your anthology story.
    The photo of the cake looks yummy. I want it too.

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    1. Denise Covey 7 January 2022 at 13:02

      Thanks Olga. Yep. I could go for French patisserie every day!

      Delete
  18. Botanist6 January 2022 at 10:43

    Happy New Year, Denise. My family is all down with colds at the moment, but thankfully tests for COVID remain negative. It's hitting everywhere hard now, though mercifully without the same severity as the earlier variants.

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    1. Denise Covey 7 January 2022 at 13:03

      Happy New Year, Ian! I'm sorry to hear your family isn't well atm, but colds are better than covid.

      Delete
  19. S.E. White Books6 January 2022 at 11:42

    I'll thank you for the wish for endless coffee and cake, and even the exercise bit of it because both are such a good idea. And congratulations on being chosen for the anthology! I'm really looking forward to reading it.

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    1. Denise Covey 7 January 2022 at 13:04

      Hello! You're my style! Eat/exercise, great combo. Thanks for the congrats. I hope you enjoy my story!

      Delete
  20. kjmckendry6 January 2022 at 11:49

    The Dark Side cover is gorgeous!!! Congrats on all the projects you're getting out and working on! Sounds like you're keeping super busy!

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    1. Denise Covey 7 January 2022 at 13:06

      Thanks Kathy! I'm sure you're just as super busy as I am!

      Delete
  21. Kalpana6 January 2022 at 17:16

    I loved your first post of the year. The cover of The Dark side is fabulous. Yes, to lots of coffee and cake this year.

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    1. Denise Covey 7 January 2022 at 13:13

      Thanks Kalpana, you're very generous. Here's to coffee and cake and, ahem, exercise!

      Delete
  22. Shannon Lawrence6 January 2022 at 18:08

    (Hopefully I don't post twice, but something glitched and my comment disappeared while I was still writing it!)

    Woo, cutting it close! Glad you got it in on time and congratulations on your new release!

    The Warrior Muse

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    1. Denise Covey 7 January 2022 at 13:27

      Only posted once Shannon. Thanks for the congratulations. Thanks for writing a great story for WEP. The quality of the writing is so high these days. You were on the shortlist, but ... Hope we see you again!

      Delete
  23. Michelle Wallace6 January 2022 at 23:26

    Happy New Year, Denise!

    Double Congratulations is in order - on the new release and on your story acceptance in the IWSG anthology!

    I had a chance to read most of the WEP Renaissance stories - what a great batch of entries. I really enjoyed them!
    Endless coffee? I say, bring it on.

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    1. Denise Covey 7 January 2022 at 13:28

      Thanks Michelle. I saw you on the rounds of the WEP entries. The standard has hit a new high! So I need endless coffee for that shortlist!

      Delete
  24. Hilary Melton-Butcher6 January 2022 at 23:58

    Hi Denise - good for you for being sensible - the wisest decision ... I'm doing as little as I can, yet if there's something on then I'm joining in - but sensibly. Just glad I don't live in London.

    Congratulations on the publication - good timing I'd say.

    Thanks for all you do for WEP - I thought I'd struggle with them, but I enjoy taking myself out of my box and putting a different touch paper to my entry. Cheers and all the best for 2022 - Hilary

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    1. Denise Covey 7 January 2022 at 13:30

      Thanks Hilary! Appreciate your comments. Great how you've tackled the WEP prompts and come up with such great entries. We always enjoy them! Happy writing in 2022. Yes, London would not be a place I wish to visit atm. Stay in that fresh sea air!

      Delete
  25. Lynda Dietz7 January 2022 at 00:07

    Congratulations on your inclusion in the anthology! I'm looking forward to reading your story.

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    1. Denise Covey 7 January 2022 at 13:31

      Thanks Lynda. I hope you enjoy it when you read it! It was fun to write!

      Delete
  26. Chrys Fey7 January 2022 at 02:25

    That is a really neat cover. Wishing you all the best for 2022!

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    1. Denise Covey 7 January 2022 at 13:33

      Thanks Chrys. Yes, I do love that cover. All the best for 2022! May it be successful in every way!

      Delete
  27. Rebecca M. Douglass8 January 2022 at 04:47

    Congrats on the new book--love the cover! Also congrats on your story in the new IWSG Anthology! Woot!

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  28. Steph W.8 January 2022 at 12:49

    Well done! I'm excited to read them both!

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    1. Denise Covey 10 January 2022 at 15:42

      Thanks Steph. Hope you do get to read them both!

      Delete
  29. Anstice Brown9 January 2022 at 22:15

    Well done on meeting that deadline. That sounds really stressful! Sorry to hear that the Covid-19 situation in Australia has gotten worse. It's the same here in England. I hope you and your family continue to stay safe.

    The end of 2021 was very turbulent for me so all of my writing and blogging plans went out of the window. I'm hoping to get back on the horse again this year. I would like to join in with the WEP challenges again as I love the musical theme.

    Take care and good luck with your goals for this year.

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    1. Denise Covey 10 January 2022 at 15:41

      Hello Anstice, lovely to hear from you. I hope you get your writing/blogging back on track for 2022. I think the musical themes at WEP are going to be awesome. Hope you can join in!

      Delete
  30. Toi Thomas11 January 2022 at 02:41

    There was a glitch with the first comment I tried to post, so I hope this one works. Congratulations on entry into the next IWSG anthology. I'm glad you are able to publish on a regular basis moving forward.

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