Most actively, my goal for this year was to try and read only new books. From long habit, I’m an inveterate rereader, and while this is still a policy I endorse, it’s been my habit for so long and to such an extent that it’s actively prohibited me from trying new authors. I am therefore proud to report that, with one exception, everything I’ve read this year has been virgin territory. All up, including individual volumes of manga comics, I have read ninety-five books since January 1, in an unprecedently broad range of genres: aside from the usual quantity of graphic novels, fantasy, steampunk, manga and YA titles, I’ve ventured into the realms of straight fiction, biography, autobiography, popular science, crime fiction, history, classics, political commentary and philosophy. Which, frankly, is astonishing, and something I am keen to keep up in 2010. I’ll still allow myself the comfort of an occasional reread, of course, but with so many new stories itching to be heard, it will become a very selective treat.

Otherwise: I didn’t take up tennis again, despite my best intentions. My short stories have improved, and though I still didn’t write too many, the important thing is that I’m thinking up more ideas for how they might work, with a stronger sense of my own style. All in all, I’ll call that a win. Undeniably, I have broadened my addiction to awesome TV shows, discovering Dexter, Dollhouse and True Blood all in the past few months. I’m not sure how often I’ve surprised other people this year, but I’ve certainly surprised myself, which should count for something. I have done nothing by the way of anarchism, and though my poetry output has been meagre, I’ve been happy with the results. My life hasn’t overflowed with an abundance of jigsaw puzzles, but more than one new pair of comfortable pants has found its way into my wardrobe, I have certainly delighted in silly hats, I have been caught in the rain more than once, and even if I haven’t always succeeded, I have tried throughout the year to listen more and talk less. I have given thanks to Vizinczey – and, even though it wasn’t on the list, I’ve signed the contract on my first published novel, which is the most exciting thing of all.

Which leads us to my resolutions for 2010, the last year of the noughties decade. They are as follows:

1. I will do everything in my power to ensure that Solace & Grief gets off to the best possible start.

2. I will continue to work on my short stories, and to submit them places. Optimistically, the aim will be to have one published somewhere by the end of the year.

3. In addition to finalising edits on The Key to Starveldt and completing at least a full first draft of Falling Into Midnight – respctively the second and third volumes in the Solace/Rare trilogy – I will complete the Mystery Ambush Novel, currently titled Finding Echoes, shop it around, and start the immediate sequel. Also, seeing as how I have at least three more stories planned for that universe in a sort of loosely linked, sequential-but-separate arc, I will aim to set down my plans for all of them in a vaguely comprehensive manner, and figure out if there are more to come.

4. An oldie but a goodie: I will embark on some form of regular exercise, and try to show a little more restraint in the presence of cheese and chocolate.

5. At some point, I will come back overseas.

6. I will continue to be thankful for the opportunities I’ve had and for all the amazing people who’ve brought me to this point.

Happy 2010, people! It’s going to be awesome. 🙂