Feeling Grateful

Hello Mixed-Up Filers!

How are you all? It’s been a loooooong time since I was last here. I sure as heck missed all of you!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love that it’s not a religious holiday, and anyone can celebrate. For me, it’s always time to just reflect and take a moment to enjoy the good in your life. Family, friends, the good things that have happened to you.

Success is something that can be subjective. For some, it’s never enough, and for others, even a little bit is something that is appreciated.

This year, has been a whirlwind, for many reasons, but I realize that there are many things to be grateful for, so with this being my probable last post of 2017, here is what I am grateful for. Writing edition:

I am grateful that I have a supportive family which lets me have time to write. It’s a huge sacrifice, and I am fortunate that my family gives me the opportunity to do it.

I am grateful to my kids, who loved hearing my story, over and over, and it was delightful to see their expressions as I was reading to them.

I am grateful to be surrounded by talented writers, here in South Florida, who get it. Who can relate to what I am going through, and I can relate to what they are. It’s great to have a support group.

And by extension, I am grateful to be in a safe and warm critique group, where they help me refine my work to get it to the point where it needs to be.

I am grateful to my agent, Nicole Resciniti, who made my dream come true this year, by being able to sell one of my books. It completed a lifelong dream for me, and made me thrilled and relieved, after years of trying.

I’m grateful to SkyPony Press, for taking a shot on me, and showing love and enthusiasm for my work.

I’m grateful to the 2017 Debut Group, which was kind and supportive. It was helpful to be able to go through it with other people experiencing the exact same thing, and always encouraging each other. I’ve said it before, but bears repeating. There are tons of books which come out every year, but I’ll always remember the authors and books from my year, since there was a bond forged.

I am grateful people who buy my book, or take it out from the library, and I’m especially grateful to kids who read it. It still boggles my mind that kids everywhere, are able to read and enjoy something that I wrote.

I’m grateful to this Mixed-Up Files blog, which is still one of the best sites for discussing kidlit, and I’m happy to still be a part of them.

I’m grateful for all the readers of this site, who help make it such a wonderful place to be.

And that means, I’m grateful for every single person in this writing community. and also SCBWI for being a great resource to writers of children’s books.

I’ve rarely had bad experiences during all the years I’ve been involved in kidlit. When I have, it’s the exception, not the norm.

So, thanks to all of you.

Know it means a lot, and know that I am grateful.

Happy Holidays, Mixed-Up Filers, and I’ll see you next year!

Jonathan Rosen is a transplanted New Yorker, who now lives with his family in sunny South Florida. He spends his “free” time being a volunteer coach and chauffeur for his three kids. Some of Jonathan’s fondest childhood memories are of discovering a really good book to dive into. His favorite of all time is Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. He currently writes middle-grade, because his sense of humor is stuck in that age. Jonathan is proud too be of Mexican-American descent, although neither country is really willing to accept responsibility. His MG debut, Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies, is out now from SkyPony Press. He can be found at www.HouseofRosen.com.

JROSEN

Jonathan Rosen is a transplanted New Yorker, who now lives with his family in sunny, South Florida. He spends his “free” time chauffeuring around his three kids. Some of Jonathan’s fondest childhood memories are of discovering a really good book to dive into, in particular the Choose Your Own Adventure Series, and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Jonathan is proud to be of Mexican-American descent, although neither country has been really willing to accept responsibility. He is the author of Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies, which is out now, and its sequel, From Sunset Till Sunrise. He is the co-host of the YouTube channels, Pop Culture Retro, Comics and Pop. You can find him on Twitter, Facebook, FromtheMixedUpFiles.Com, SpookyMiddleGrade.com, and his own website, WWW.HouseofRosen.com