Creating Space for Abundance

From book idea to publication and beyond.

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Happy Saturday! In today’s newsletter:

📚 Revisiting my word of the year

📝 Creating physical and mental space

👉 Revisit your resolution or word of the year

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

In January, instead of writing a resolution, I set my word for the year. If you recall, this year I chose “abundance.” I wrote:

I like that word, because it is the opposite of a scarcity mindset. It’s welcoming in abundance and prosperity of all kinds: love, friendships, finances, experiences, books, etc.

It’s a real mindset shift to allow abundance into one’s life without judgement of worthiness. It’s embracing what comes your way, creating space for it, taking risks, and dreaming big.

Now, at the half-way point of the year, I’m embracing abundance, but interestingly, something else has happened. I’m also simplifying.

This past long weekend, I’ve been purging the detritus that has accumulated in the garage. I open one box at a time, investigate the contents and ask myself if they are items that are serving me now, in this time, in this place, in the future. Usually, I can let go of the contents, after thanking them for their service à la Marie Kondo, and feel lighter for it. Sometimes, I sort through and keep a few treasured items, knowing I’ll revisit and reassess them again in the future. I’ve sold items, donated others, and hauled items to the dump. Others, I’ve set aside to give away to friends or family.

Embracing abundance has meant I’ve been able to let go: of things I’ve been holding on to, of previous versions of myself, of who I thought I was, of who I wanted to be. Inviting abundance in means making space for it, both physically and mentally.

Abundance looks like lots of things. This year, I took the plunge and dove head first into learning about self-publishing and marketing, and made connections with individuals and organizations to support my journey. Since January, I’ve published the first three books in the Hygge House Cozy Mystery series, an accomplishment I could never have imagined in the past. I signed a three-book contract with Greystone Publishing for a series of non-fiction books, and I’m preparing my third historical novel for publication in the new year.

In the next six months, I’m planning the next three books in the series, writing the first of the Finnish rituals books, travelling to Bouchercon in Calgary, spending a month at Arteles Creative Centre in Finland, and tackling more cluttered spaces in my house and life.

This year, abundance has arrived in the form time spent with family and friends, and in focussing on my work. But it has also come with the implicit agreement that not only do I need to embrace it, but I need to create space for it. Here’s to creating the life we desire—and deserve—in 2026!

What was your resolution or word of the year for 2026? Is it time to revisit it?

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Happy reading & writing!