A Look Back & A Look Ahead #WickedWednesday

Tomorrow’s kind of a big deal for me, so Wicked Wednesday, which technically falls on New Year’s Day, is a little early this week. This week’s theme focuses on goals or resolutions for 2014.

Let me first say, Happy (early) New Year! I am living proof that one year can change everything. This time last year, I was doing my best to keep myself together and pick up the pieces of a shattered heart. Now, I’m about to release my next publication, this time a small collection of short stories, and I’m happily in love as a masochistic babygirl with a sadistic Daddy.

I know the holidays are hard for a lot of people. I’m fortunate that I have the boys who, simply by virtue of their age, never allowed me the time or space to sink too far down when I was at my lowest. But I also know that not everyone has that. If you feel low and alone during this time of the year, or any other time, you truly aren’t alone. Sometimes you have to reach out first, make that first contact, but you may soon find that there are plenty of people waiting to connect. That’s how I met Daddy. I was lonely, and he made me laugh. I truly had no intentions of a relationship, but with one simple email (and a lot of patience from him), and our lives are different.

Ok, I’m done being mushy on you. Promise!

Before I can talk about the year ahead, I need to look back at 2013.

I never got a new job or moved, like I wanted to at the end of 2012. But I also believe everything happens for a reason. For the record, I still don’t love my current job, but I tolerate it much better now.

I published two short stories this year – The Visitor and The Big Game. Both are for sale on Amazon and free on Smashwords. If I could make them free on Amazon, I’d do that, too. If you notice, I don’t promote the Amazon links anymore because I want people to get a free copy instead. If you buy your copy, though, I don’t mind!

Here’s the thing I don’t see authors doing too much online – let’s talk numbers:

• I sold 48 copies of The Visitor and 33 copies of The Big Game.
• I gave away 2036 copies of The Visitor and 363 copies of The Big Game.

Holy sheep shit. These two stories were my experiments – I used them as a way to learn what self-publishing is about and how to make it work. I think with every book I release, I’ll get better at it – at least I hope so!

As you can see, I’m not exactly making a fortune from writing – but that’s not why I write. Yes, I’d love to become a full-time writer who supports my family on my earnings from book sales. But everyone has to start somewhere. In 2013, my writing netted me about $25.00.

But now, it’s time to look ahead to 2014.

The goal is easy – surpass $25 in sales, sell more books, publish more books, and maybe take writing to a new level – whatever that may be.

I’m also going to start my own digital marketing business so that I can quit my job and work for myself – as hard as that will be. Digital marketing includes everything from creating website content to helping someone with their social media marketing to blogging for a company or individual. I’m terrified, but I know I can do it.

And, last but not least, Daddy and I plan to move in together by the summer. My boys adore him. I adore him. I have no doubt we can make it work, even with the natural bumps that will crop up along the way. The plan is to move down to where Daddy lives because of the very thriving BDSM community in his area. The idea of taking Kayla Lords from just being online into a local BDSM community is scary, yet thrilling.

My goals aren’t easy, but nothing worth having is ever easy. If I don’t meet my goals in 2014, it won’t be for lack of trying.

To all my followers, Happy New Year’s Eve. If you have plans, be safe and hand your keys to someone sober. If you don’t have plans, join the club. My plan is to celebrate the release of my next book (The Adventures of Sir and Babygirl) and enjoy my time with Daddy.

Make sure to watch for my post on New Year’s Day with the links to purchase your copy of The Adventures of Sir and Babygirl. For New Year’s Day only, the price will be $1.99! After that, the price goes up to $2.99!!