I’ll be the first to admit that years ago I used to hop on the New Year’s resolution bandwagon. This was the year I was going to lose weight. This was the year I was going to exercise more. This was the year I was going to declutter my closets. You name it, I probably resolved to do it.

About 15 years ago, I let those resolutions go the way of the clutter I was hoping to purge. I credit my husband in large part for that change. He’s a very steady, Zen sort of man who doesn’t tend to get swept up into things like resolutions. He just does things. Quietly. I watched him and learned, until I was able to let go of the idea of New Year’s resolutions entirely.

It’s not that I don’t mark each new year as it arrives. But now I use the holiday to reaffirm my ongoing goals and take stock of where I am. I look at life as an ongoing process. I strive to improve and to reach my goals. But here’s where I’ve broken with New Year’s traditions: I try not to focus on the goal.

The journey is what is important, not the destination.

There are many quotes that embody this idea, probably because we humans recognize it to be one of those unwavering truths of human existence. It’s something we often come to as we grow older and being to face our own mortality. This concept affects my writing, of course, as it does everything else in my life.

When I first starting publishing books six years ago, I set goals, including the goal of writing 2-3 books a year. I worked under deadlines. I still do, because I juggle a full-time legal career and a family as well as my writing and I need the kick in the pants those deadlines provide. Sometimes I meet my goals and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I exceed them. I have learned that not meeting those goals is not failure, it just… is.

I used to sit in judgment of my books. This one wasn’t funny enough. This one not serious enough. This one not long enough. You get the idea. Bottom line: no book is universally loved. Not one. Just take a look at your favorite book on Goodreads and you’ll see one-star reviews and fives. There will always be readers who will love a book and other readers who will hate that same book. I’m getting better at letting go of expectations and focusing on writing the best book I can.

What does that mean? This is where the journey comes in. It means enjoying the journey for what it is. Enjoying plotting a story. Enjoying getting to know and develop characters. Enjoying seeing those characters grow and change. Enjoying the twists and turns that arise despite my best plans. Enjoying the writing process.

So as I look forward at 2016, rather than resolve to do things differently, I’ve resolved to keep moving toward my goals. But instead of looking forward to the goals themselves, I’ve resolved to take stock of the journey itself and to be thankful that I can write books and share them with readers. And I’m thankful and grateful for those readers, and for another year of life ahead. Peace and happiness in 2016! -Shira

Shira has a brand new book coming out this Friday, January 15th, from Dreamspinner Press! First Comes Marriage is part of Dreamspinner’s brand new Dreamspun Desires line of category romances inspired by the classic romance novels your mother might have read (think Harlequins and Silhouettes). Here’s an excerpt from Chapter Six:

Excerpt from Chapter Six:

Now, standing in the conference room of Windview Enterprises’ corporate headquarters near South Ferry in Manhattan, one of the matching platinum bands Jesse had bought for them in his pants pocket, Chris wondered if he’d wake up from the dream. The floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over Wall Street and the East River through the forest of high-rise buildings.

“Do you, Jesse Chase Donovan, take Christopher James Valentine to be your husband, in love and in friendship, until you are parted by death?” the judge asked.

“I do.” As Jesse slipped the ring on Chris’s finger, he met Chris’s gaze with such intensity that for an instant, Chris could almost forget the entire ceremony was a ruse to ensure the future of Windview remained firmly in Jesse’s control. Damn the man for being so attractive. Damn him for being a nice guy, because that was the worst part of it. And the part that had you agreeing.

“And do you, Christopher James Valentine, take Jesse Chase Donovan to be your husband, in love and in friendship, until you are parted by death?”

Chris swallowed hard and prayed he didn’t look as incredibly nervous as he felt. “I do.” His hand shook as he took Jesse’s hand and put the ring on his finger.

“Congratulations, Chris and Jesse,” the judge said.

Chris caught Val’s eye for a split second, and he half expected her to urge him to kiss Jesse. But it was Jesse who took charge and blindsided Chris with a kiss.

It started sweetly enough, just Jesse’s lips against his, but instead of releasing Chris, Jesse pulled him tighter against him and pressed his tongue into his mouth. Jesse tasted fucking amazing. Chris didn’t hesitate—their tongues tangled and danced. This close, Jesse smelled good and felt even better. Chris was barely aware of slipping his hands around Jesse’s back before resting them on lean hips. He didn’t think twice as his body and Jesse’s responded in kind.

Someone giggled—Chris recognized Val’s voice—and Jesse pulled abruptly away. Their eyes met for a split second, and Chris thought he saw a mixture of desire and surprise in Jesse’s deep blue eyes. The next thing Chris knew, Val had thrown her arms around him and only his racing heart and tingling lips told him he hadn’t imagined the entire thing.

“Oh, Chris,” Val cooed. “You really did it!”

“Yeah” was the only response Chris could manage. He was still thinking about Jesse’s mouth.

“I guess I was wrong about him being straight,” she whispered mischievously.

Chris was thrilled when Terry grabbed him in a bear hug, because he had no idea how to respond to Val’s comment. He also wasn’t sure if he should be pissed off with Jesse for the show. He supposed if this was going to work, Jesse needed to make the marriage look real. Still, how difficult would it have been to warn Chris that he had that up his sleeve?

You can preorder First Comes Marriage at Dreamspinner Press or Amazon now.