Hi and Welcome to my first-ever author newsletter! It’s taken me about ten years to finally do this, but today’s the day, and this is the year! Welcome! Bien venidos, willkommen, välkommen, byenveni….you get the idea.January always feels like a time of new beginnings and fresh starts (Or a brand-new newsletter in this case!) I plan to send the newsletter out monthly (at least for now but we'll see how that goes; it could turn into a quarterly thing). I’m still working on the structure, but my plan is to focus on travel, adventures and unique holidays. I may throw in a joke or two, or some interesting facts here and there and give you my latest writing/book news. Hopefully, you’ll find the newsletter interesting and entertaining.Not only is January a month of fresh starts, it also holds a moment of deep reflection. On January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, forever changing countless lives. That moment inspired the book “When the Earth Trembled,” a gripping survival story rooted in compassion, courage, and the strength to overcome unimaginable loss. For the month of January, I’m offering When the Earth Trembled as a way to remember the survivors and bring light to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Download your free copy today!Download When the Earth Trembled Some Fun days to celebrate in January January 16 – Appreciate a Dragon DayWhy did the dragon cross the road? He wanted to eat some chicken! (badump bump)You could celebrate this in a kind of normal way, like by watching “How to Train Your Dragon” or “Pete’s Dragon,” but if you’re like my eight-year-old character, Drama Mama, you’ll want to do it with flair! Try eating nitrogen ice cream and watch smoke billow from your mouth like a real dragon!January 17 – Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day -Celebrate that however you want! January 19 – Popcorn DaySo if you missed Appreciate a Dragon Day on the 16th, you still have time. Celebrate it today with some fun dragon movies! And popcorn.January 21 – Squirrel Appreciation DayI love watching squirrel obstacle courses. There are some very funny ones that make me want to spend a few hours making one myself, like these: Backyard Squirrelympics 3.0- The Summer Games and Backyard Squirrel Maze 2.0- The Walnut Heist. If you don’t have that kind of time to build these courses, you could just put up a squirrel-friendly feeder and fill it with nuts and seeds. Or, to make things interesting, you could get a squirrel-proof bird feeder and see how long it takes for squirrels to figure out how to get the seeds. You know they will!Fun fact: Did you know squirrels have accidentally contributed hundreds of trees to our nation’s forests? It’s estimated that 30% of their stored nuts are never found and eventually turn into healthy trees. (from 20 Awesome Facts About Squirrels - Wildlife Informer)January 25 – Opposite DayThe perfect day to eat dessert first! Or breakfast for dinner! Adventures AheadI have lots of goals this year, especially as a writer:Complete edits on books 1-3 of the Drama Mama series and determine the best time to release.Complete final edits on new middle grade STEM mystery MakerSpace Mysteries – Trouble over Turtle Cove (This is my next project)Complete final edits on MG book on service dogs, NorthPaws Academy, Finding Zahra. And re-edit When the River Cried Out, the sequel to When the Earth Trembled and re-release in March release in conjunction with Groundwater Awareness Week, second full week in March)My word this year is organized. I also plan to read/listen to 10 Newbury award books, three motivational/self-help books, and three books on craft.In my personal/non-writing life, my goal is simple – to have one cool adventure every month. Can’t wait to tell you about them! And super excited to hear about yours - what fun and exciting things do you have planned this year? Let me know!Thanks for being part of this storytelling adventure! With curiosity and hope,Angela Hatchwww.Angelahatch.comAdventure with purpose. Stories that spark courage, laughter, and heart.
