the start of a good life

I don’t really know the last time I did an update post. It’s probably been about ten years, honestly. But as I was trying to decide what to share this week, I thought, well, why not give a bit of a life update?

I’ll dive more into how self publishing my first novel is going; what’s up next in regards to my writing and my amigurumi business; the books I’m looking forward to reading this year and more!

As for Amelia, the first installment in the City of Roses Collection, the official release day is February 21st, 2025! From writing this post, that’s only twenty days away!

I’ve been working with Lieve Maas of Bright Light Graphics throughout this process and she has been so wonderful. She’s a wonderful designer – for the cover and interior – and even offers a one-on-one marketing masterclass.

Amelia will be available on Amazon and Ingram Spark. I’m still working to get on local bookstore shelves.

As for what’s next in my writing, it’ll be the next installment of the City of Roses Collection. As a quick explanation – I’m writing these so you, the reader, can read them in any order you want – or read any as a standalone. They aren’t a series, in other words, although you’ll see the character arcs throughout as some characters will, naturally, be in several books. But each book will focus on different characters but it’s all set in the same world.

Anyhow, I’m working steadily away on writing/editing the next installment and am loving it. I have high hopes of publishing it next year, but we’ll really just have to see how this process goes this coming year, as this is all quite new to me.

To move onto another of my hobbies – crocheting. Did you all know that I’ve got an amigurumi business? It’s called Aunt Lolo’s Amigurumi, and I have pages on Facebook and Instagram. I mostly make whatever strikes my fancy and will admit that I post items for sale rather sporadically. But I do take custom orders, and that’s what I’ve been working on this month. I still need to finish the patterns from a crochet-along that I joined back in October… The items are so absolutely adorable! I plan on putting them up for sale once I’ve completed the whole set, so if any of these catch your eye, keep an eye on either of my pages!

One more note on my book and amigurumi, I crocheted my main character, Amelia!

The books I’m wanting to read this year… Mostly I’ll be focusing on my shelf of books that I’ve either bought or been given that I’ve not read. Just a few examples:

original Star Wars books

10 Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

Chaim Potok books

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep (released 2024)

Prequel: The Adamah Series by Nick Michael (re-read)

The Octonumi by Trevor Alan Foris (re-read)

If you’ve been following SGL for several years, you’ll know that I battled Lyme Disease and migraines for almost two decades. I am healthier than I have been in years but there are still the residual issues that come from having had Lyme as well as still dealing with migraines on occasion. These past months have been a bit of a rollercoaster as I’ve been struggling with health limitations again but all in all, I’m still so much better than I was even five years ago.

Other than that, I’m looking forward to visits from friends for my birthday; starting to dream of flowers and vegetable gardens, working on my classic VW come spring and taking a summer trip with just my hubby.

I hope you enjoyed this little look into what I’ve been up to and what I hope to do!

~Laura

Tags: amelia, aunt lolos amigurumi, books, from my desk, laura starr waxman, life update, lyme disease, writing