Every New Year, I try to post something about my resolutions. Realistic resolutions designed to bring me peace and keep me centered; never resolutions that are self-limiting or self-punishing. This year, I resolve to continue on my current path of trying to walk through life with my eyes, mind, heart, and arms open. Or, as Maurice Sendak said to Terry Gross, “Live your life, live your life, live your life.”

I’ll add one more resolution to that: I would like to blog a bit more than I’ve managed to in the past few months.

By the way, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books has named Bitterblue one of their 2012 Blue Ribbons. One of these days I’m going to take the time to make a page of review excerpts and awards for Bitterblue. I am overwhelmed with the reception my girl has received. It humbles me. How frightened I was this time last year, frightened of letting Bitterblue go. I wrote an e-mail to my sister, codename: Apocalyptica the Flimflammer, telling her that I felt like I was betraying Bitterblue by shoving her out into the scary world. Apocalyptica wrote back that if I didn’t let Bitterblue out into the world, she would just sneak out at night anyway.

Thank you to my loved ones. You hold me up.