Hello 2022
You better behave yourself.
David
In the Greek tradition, they bake a cake with a coin in it and cut it at the start of the new year. One slice goes to God and one to the house, then the rest goes to everyone in the room. If your slice gets the coin, you’ll have good fortune.
Last year, at the start of 2021, I got the coin—but, unfortunately, it wasn’t my best year.
Finishing Book 4 was a slog, and I’ve been going through a quiet existential crisis with my career (some might call it a midlife crisis). As well, I’ve been adjusting to the change that comes with old age and poor health for the older people around me.
It’s felt like a lot, and I know I’m not out of it…
But, also I'm grateful. COVID-19 really hasn’t affected my work or health or the people close to me. My wife, kids, and sister continue to be supportive and help out, and Angie has been patient with me finishing the book.
I probably should be more grateful—but I’m happy to leave 2021 behind.
More changes and challenges will come (as I said, I’m still in the midst of it), but I’ll eventually find my way through it.
And Counios & Gane hope to finish Wolfe’s Blood, the final book in the Shepherd & Wolfe series, and maybe move on to an exciting new chapter. We also expect Book 4, Shepherd’s Call (readers of Book 3, did you see what we did there?) to be released early this spring.
But most importantly—I never got the coin (phew!) in the New Year's cake, so things must be turning around.
Thank you for reading and see you soon.
Angie
The story of 2021 has ended, and as we turn the page on a new chapter, I’m reflecting on the past 12 months and the milestones of this year. (And no, I’m not apologizing for the obvious metaphor.)
The past year wasn’t awful. I had to shift gears in the teaching world, and I had to cancel a few trips. In the grand scheme of life and everyone around me, it wasn’t a huge sacrifice.
The past year was a gentle reboot—especially compared to 2020. David and I pushed through Shepherd’s Call in the spring, working daily—a nice call back to the early days. It felt good having a creative gym buddy.
And now it’s finally coming out! (I’m so excited about that.)
I am eager to begin a new story in 2022. Quite literally. David and I have dug our teeth into Wolfe’s Blood, the final chapter of the Shepherd and Wolfe series. It’s going to be an exciting time.
The process of building a new story with the responsibility of holding this to the standard of the previous four books is part of the challenge, but I’ve never been one to say no to a challenge.
(Hello, Mount Olympus. Hello, 20 km hike into the woods alone. Hello, snorkel gear, Arctic sea, and Beluga whales.)
And now hello New Year and greetings to another chapter in the partnership of Counios and Gane. I look forward to turning the pages and finding exciting new adventures.
(I mean, has optimism ever killed anyone? Please let me know if it has.)
Happy New Year!