Year of books!

I listened to my first audiobook in January and fell in love! Listening to books while driving all over town made traffic a non-issue (unless I was hungry or stressed or late, okay traffic is always an issue).

I started with Storm Front by Jim Butcher read by the best narrator ever! James Marsters was Harry Dresdren all the way. There is no one like Harry. He's good to the core except for his arrogance that can run amuck and his bad attitude that often quadruples his enemy tally every time he hunts bad guys.

Darynda Jones' Charlie Davidson also starred in my audiobook addiction this year. Narrator Lorelei King rocks the planet. She can do any voice in any genre. Despite the steam factor in this series, and oh boy, the best of the best has to be the friendship between Charlie and Cookie. I love those girls.

There was a bit of indie author love with Jana Aston, Katie Mettner, Michelle Mankin, and Dannika Dark. I reconnected with forever favorites, Kristen Ashley, team Ilona Andrews, Katie McGarry, and Patricia Briggs. And found a new favorite, Julie Garwood (historical romance with awesomely hilarious heroines). 

There were a couple nonfiction reads in there to add a little legitimacy to my book fervor. I loved loved loved Stephen King's On Writing memoir. He narrates the audio version and it feels like a weekend long seminar on writing, life, passion, you name it. Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing made the favorites list because the woman made me laugh about grammar.

Here are a few top favorites:

Pinterest Quote Time! December Pep

"This is the beginning of anything you want."

"radiate love" (illustrated in a big flaming sun, how cool is that?)

"celebrate every tiny victory"

"TRIAL AND ERROR, BUT MOSTLY ERROR. LIKE, A SHITLOAD OF ERROR."

"thou shall not take shit"

"you're pretty special. just saying."

Take it easy during this last push to visit with everyone you're supposed to visit with and to shop for everyone you're supposed to lavish with gifts. A smile goes a long way and that includes the ones you give to yourself. This advice is for me too. I'll try to growl less on the road. Really try. I mean it. That's like my very last 2016 New Year's Resolution. You can make them anytime. There's no rule on that. I'm sure of it.