Tuesday, December 30, 2008

2008: My year in review

The other day, I saw my friend Debby who just had surgery for lung cancer. They seem to have got all the cancer, and she might not even have to have chemo-glory be! My friend Wuanda is making her transition with breast cancer after being told 20 years ago that she only had a few years left if she didn't follow their treatment orders. She said no thanks to chemo and radiation, went macrobiotic, has lived a good and full life, and faces death with grace.

The time of year and thinking about them and Jihan (who just had a heart transplant) put me in a reflective mood. This has been a big year for me. Some of the highs and lows:

Released my 1st novel.

Threw a fabulous release party for about 150 of my closest friends and relatives.

Travelled coast to coast promoting first novel.

Met Nikki Giovanni (and in October even hosted a dinner in her honor!), Walter Mosely, Stacy Hawkins Adams, Therese Fowler, Judy Merrill Larsen, Kris Radish, Donna Hill, Donna Grant and Virginia DeBerry to name a few of the cool authors I met.

Made it to #1 on the Denver Post best-seller list and #4 on the Amazon list of novels about mothers & children.

Sold TV-movie rights to 1st novel.

Heard Barack Obama speak in person (in the VIP section no less)!

Won an award.

Watched my cat experience a miraculous turnaround when I thought she was going to die soon(her kidney levels have actually improved! i credit the wet food).

Planted a peace garden.


Took my 1st ride in an ambulance.

Spent my 1st night in an ICU (1st night in a hospital period).

Had my 1st hospital "procedure."

Lived to tell the tale (one day).

Finally met Lou Gossett (who's been a great supporter) in person. We watched Joe Biden's acceptance speech in Lou's room at the Brown Palace.

Finished my 2nd novel.

Started my 3rd novel.

Attempted and failed NaNoWriMo.

Caucused and voted for Barack Obama!

Launched a new blog.

Made my 1st viral video (which was so fun I want to do another).

Published an essay in the Washington Post (which went on their news service to 600 other newspapers).

Joined Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook.

What were some of your 2008 highlights? Happy New Year! I hope 2009 brings us all better health and finances and more reasons to hope and believe.

10 comments:

LadyLee said...

What a wonderful year you had, Carleen...

Here's to an even greater 2009.

LarramieG said...

A truly great year for you, Carleen. Onward and upward for 2009!

Lisa said...

It has been an incredible honor to follow this journey. Here's to good health and much happiness in 2009!

(Clink) ;)

Carleen Brice said...

Thanks and best wishes for a healthy, happy 09 to all of you!
Cheers!

Sustenance Scout said...

Cheers to you, Carleen! K.

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic year! I'm hopeful that 2009 will be equally as fruitful for you.

Shauna Roberts said...

A lot of ups and downs for you this year, but overall it sounds like a great year.

This sounds like a good idea for me to do on my blog next week.

Hope Debby doesn't mind my butting into her business, but I've heard many stories about surgeons who cut out cancers and tell the patients that they got it all and they won't need followup treatments—but those surgeons turned out to be wrong. Lung cancer spreads early and insidiously. Please ask Debby for my sake to get a second or even a third opinion from oncologists (not surgeons) about having chemo and/or radiation.

bettye griffin said...

What a great year you've had, Carleen! I wish you many, many more. And all the best to your friends.

Judy Merrill Larsen said...

Hey Carleen--So glad I could be one little part of your highlights! Here's to a 2009 full of all good things.

jamey said...

Carleen!!! What a wonderful year. Finished the second book? On to the third? Where have I been? Fabulous girl, simply fabulous!