A Toast to 2010 and 2011

2010 was not an easy year in our library system.  We had too many losses - beginning with the loss of staff due to cutbacks, followed by the loss of hours, cutting our hours open to the public almost in half.  But, our greatest losses were personal.  My husband, Jim, died on February 15.  Another manager lost her father.  One of our librarians lost her mother.  A number of friends suffered from the loss of beloved pets.  And, one of my staff members has had a terrible last few months personally, including a tragic loss.  So, that's a bittersweet toast to 2010.  We're all ready to move on, with hope.

I'm looking forward to 2011 with hope.  I have plans to attend Left Coast Crime in Santa Fe in March.   Janet Rudolph, editor of Mystery Readers' Journal, is one of the attendees, and I can't wait to meet her.  And, I've never been to Santa Fe, so I'm going a few days early to see the city.  I'm also planning a couple trips to Ohio in the course of the year, if things work out right.

I'm excited about the authors I've already scheduled for Authors @ The Teague, knowing there will be ones added to the schedule.  Poisoned Pen Bookstore is always a bright spot in my life, and I look forward to enjoyable evenings there.  And Desert Sleuths Chapter of Sisters in Crime.  What can I say about this wonderful group of authors and future authors?  They're fun and interesting, and I'm looking forward to monthly meetings, and casual meetings at the Poisoned Pen. 

I've mentioned before that I worked on a chapter for a reference book.  I'm hoping the new edition of Genreflecting will be out this year.  I wrote the chapter on mysteries.  And, I did a short (very short!) interview for Women's World magazine as part of the January 31 issue.  I was one of the people interviewed for an article about mysteries.  I'll be watching for that.

So many of my hopes and wishes for 2011 revolve around books and friends.  I want to continue to read wonderful blogs by friends such as Jen Forbus at Jen's Book Thoughts, and Kaye Barley at Meanderings and Muses.  I hope to read what authors, publishers, and friends are doing on Twitter (www.twitter.com/LesaHolstine).  And, I know there are terrific books coming out in 2011, since I already have stacks of them in my closet.

So, for 2011, I wish you a year filled with good books and good reading.  And, for all of us, I hope it's a peaceful year, less stressful, with fewer losses in our life.  We're going to miss all the loved ones we lost, family members, friends, and wonderful authors.  But, I'm hopeful that 2011 will bring happiness, the love of family and friends, and, of course, stacks of good books, and the time to enjoy them.

So, here's to 2011, with hope.