Reflection, Thanks and Looking Ahead

Hello, Mixed-Up Filers!

Happy Holidays!!

It’s been just about three months since my last post and hope all of you are doing well. I was originally going to post about middle grade books about the holidays, but decided to forego it this time. I apologize in advance, since I know I did the same thing last time, and I know it’s frowned upon to deviate from writing about all things middle grade here. And honestly, who can blame them, since we need only look to the name of the site! 🙂 Though, I am very much enjoying, The Naughty List, by Michael Fry and Bradley Jackson. It’s about a girl who tries to help her brother, but inadvertently lands him on Santa’s naughty list. She has to travel to the North Pole to fix things.

Anyway, next time, I promise to spew nothing but middle grade, so hopefully this time, it’ll be okay…

So, since we are nearing the end of another year, I’m naturally filled with a combination of reflection and also since we are in the midst of Chanukah now, and Christmas is only a couple of weeks away, I guess I’m also feeling in the holiday spirit and want to share that with everyone as well. So, if you’ll indulge me one last time…here we go.

Just to start, I want to reflect on the year that’s ending. As I said, I know it’s natural as we reach December, but I sure have been doing a lot of it lately. I hope 2015 was a good year for all of you. Mine was filled with fantastic highs and unbelievable lows. After working hard, for what seemed like forever, I finally got an agent. I’ve heard many people say it’s usually not on the first book you’ve written and they were right. That high was tied into my extreme low, since as I wrote last time, my father passed away, but at least I was able to tell him before he did. I keep thinking back to that moment, how proud he was. I wish I got to tell him more good news in that regard, but unfortunately, it wasn’t to be at that time.

I was reminded again how valuable family and friendship is, both in person and virtually, by all the people who either came to me in person or reached out virtually to drop some kind words. For everyone who did, I thank you.

Shortly after my father passed, my favorite baseball team, the Mets, went on an unbelievable run to reach the World Series. I promise you now, I kept thinking my Dad had something to do with it. That was his little way of letting me know he was okay and doing something for us. I felt it so much, that when they lost, I came crashing back down hard. I guess not even Angel Dad could do enough miracles, where the Mets are concerned. But, several weeks after that, my youngest daughter pitched her team to winning the championship. I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I was and I’d take that over the Mets winning any day.  The first moment alone later that night, I got emotional and shared that one with Dad.

I want to thank this site, FromtheMixedUpFiles, for putting up with me for another year and giving me a place to share my love of Middle Grade. It really is a great site and has anything and everything you could possibly want, even my nonsense.

I want to thank the people who take the time to read my posts. I joke every time about my two regulars, one of whom may or may not be my Mom, but according to the data I received from the focus groups, I have reason to believe my readership is at least double that amount. So, to the four of you, I thank you.

I want to thank all the other contributors on this site, for making it such an incredible stop for anyone who loves middle grade. As I stated above, it really does have everything. New book releases. Author interviews. Book giveaways. Fun information. And even me! But, honestly, the other contributors are just fantastic and whether I was a part of this site or not, I’d be reading it all the time.

For the writing community I’m a part of, I know a writer’s life, by nature, is solitary, but I am grateful to have many friendships where we can support each other and bounce ideas off each other. That is important, because otherwise, doubt can creep in, so I thank you.

To my family, who put up with a lot to give me time to write. I thank you.

For 2016, I want to wish all of you much success and happiness in your endeavors.

For those writers seeking an agent, I hope this is the year you break through and get one.

For those with an agent, I hope this is the year you land that huge sale and get published.

Hope you all receive only good news from your families and your careers.

Hope you find that book that you just can’t put down and want to reread and share it with everyone.

Hope your teams win (unless they’re playing mine! 🙂 )

Hope your kids win their games or make honor roll or excel in whatever activity they like.

If you’re a kid reading this, do your best, try hard, have fun and nothing else matters except that.

Hope above all else, I hope everyone finds at least a little bit of love and happiness this coming year, because we all deserve that.

Thank you again for indulging me. Next time we see each other here, it’ll be on the other side of 2016 and I promise, promise, promise to get back to middle grade posts.

But until then, I wish you all the very happiest of holidays and a very Happy New Year and thank you again, for allowing me to be a part of your lives.

Jonathan

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