On New Year’s Eve my family and I will be traveling home from Cape Cod.  It’s been a great vacation:  days spent with family, we went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie (loved it) and found a great pizza place up here called Wicked that has gluten-free pizza.

But on the last day of the year I thought I’d leave you with a Top Ten list—kind of eclectic because it’s not any one things (books, authors, movies, etc)—but the Top Ten highlights of my 2011.

10.  Jenna’s Journal.  This blog, actually started in December 2010, has been my passion throughout 2011.  I’ve learned so much both from writing/researching posts and from all the feedback and advice regarding writing and blogging that it’s been one of the best writer’s educational tools at my disposal this year.  I get obsessive about it sometimes—I feel bad when I don’t blog every day, but if I do I may not have time to write anything else! LOL  Moderation may be one of my New Year’s Resolutions.

9.  Writer’s Retreat.  I attended my first Writer’s Retreat in June and would love to have one every weekend!  I got more writing done in four days than in most months.  It was sponsored by my local RWA chapter, so I got to know my fellow members better as well.  Except we really did spend most of our time writing.  Looking forward to going again in 2012.

8.  Outlander.  I was told repeatedly by a great writer friend to read this.  I finally got it for Christmas and have been captivated by it ever since.  I plan on reading it on the ride home tomorrow—might just finish it!  Great book!

7.  Breaking Dawn, Part 1.  It was a fantastic movie, but the reason it made my top ten list is that it continued my tradition of attending the midnight movie presentation with my two daughters.  We’ve been to every midnight premiere of the Twilight series since the original movie.  So it’s a bonding thing as well.  Truly a highlight of the year.

6.  Les Miserables.  One of my favorite musicals, attending the touring company production of Les Mise with one of my daughters was certainly a moving experience.  The story and above all the music is a romanticist’s dream.  Just thinking about the music gives me chills.  And inspiration.  I have a story to write inspired by one of the love sub-plots.  That gives me chills too.

5.   Self-Publishing All Wrapped Up.  I had toyed with the idea of self-publishing for much of the year and my foray into that world was overall a good experience.  It was not as difficult, technologically, as I anticipated and the sales, while not best seller status, were encouraging for a 16 page book of Christmas short stories.  And having the freedoms that self-publishing brings was rewarding as well.  I’m already planning a second venture.

4.  Heart of Deception and Hog Wild Published.  Having your first works published has to be a highlight in any author’s year.  My two short stories were released within days of each other and I could not have been prouder of them if I had published the Great American Novel.  The will always have a special place in my heart.