Rajani LaRocca

Award-winning Children's Book Author

Goodbye, 2020!

Last year, I chose a theme word for 2020 using this word generator and got “infinite.” Here’s what I said looking ahead to 2020:

We are infinite as creators, and as humans. There’s no telling what we can do through courage, hard work, and perseverance.

So that’s what I’d like to do in 2020: embrace the infinite. Set lofty goals and push myself to be the best writer, doctor, mother, wife, and person I can be. My family has a lot of life milestones to celebrate next year, and I’d love to celebrate more publishing milestones as well.

How did I do?

Well, as we all know, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into everything for everyone. As a doctor, it changed my job in ways I couldn’t have imagined. And as an author, things changed as well: after traveling a lot in January through early March, all book events were either canceled or changed to virtual. Book releases were delayed.

But you know what? Despite fear, division, and loneliness, we have persevered, worked together and survived this terrible year. This year proved to me that people are infinitely resilient. My family celebrated our milestones, and I still got to engage in lots of bookish activities.

My debut picture book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, published on October 27, 2020!

I had a fantastic virtual book launch with family and friends from across the country.

This year, I once again got to collaborate with fellow authors, made new friends, and reconnected with old ones. I attended (virtual) workshops and conferences and filled my creative well. I Zoomed, Flip-gridded, and did virtual school visits. Best of all, I got to spend time with my family . . . way more time than I ever expected!

Oh, and I wrote a LOT and sold six books this year!

Here are some photos from this strange yet often strangely wonderful year:

So this year, when I tried the word generator, this is what I got:

And I think that’s fitting. Despite all we’ve been through this year, our stories go on.

So that’s my writing goal for 2021. To keep writing stories—for my readers, of course, but also for myself.

2020 has taught me to be grateful for every moment. And I’m really looking forward to 2021, because I have five books releasing! Here are the first three:

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is a book of my heart, a middle grade novel in verse set in 1983 about 13-year-old Reha, the daughter of Indian immigrants who feels torn between the worlds of her parents and her friends. But then her mother falls ill, and she’s torn in a different way. It involves heritage and fitting in, science and poetry, 80s pop music and Hindu mythology, holding on and letting go. It will release from Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins on February 2, 2021.

BRACELETS FOR BINA’S BROTHERS is a picture book about a girl who wants to make bracelets using patterns using beads for each of her three older brothers for the Indian holiday Raksha Bandhan. Part of Charlesbridge’s Storytelling Math series, it will release on April 20, 2021.

MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL will release from Yellow Jacket/Little Bee Books on June 15, 2021. A companion novel to my debut, MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, it’s about Trish and Ben, 12-year-old math competition rivals who end up on the same summer baseball team and need to work together  to help their team win.

What’s your word for 2021? Maybe give the word generator a try, and let me know! Whatever your word is, I wish you a safe, healthy year full of happiness and love . . . and, if we’re all fortunate, some travel.

In honor of the new year, I’m giving away preorders of RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE, BRACELETS FOR BINA’S BROTHERS, AND MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL! There will be THREE lucky winners—one for each book! Enter below to win, and Happy New Year!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Comments

  1. I think my word for 2021 will be reboot. I need to make some changes in my life and keep positive. Happy New Year!

    Reply

  6. My word for 2021 is gratitude. As difficult as 2020 was, I have so much to be grateful for. I want to be intentional about paying it forward and spreading kindness.

    Reply

  8. Random word generator gave me “Discern.” I kind of like that. I’m not a word-of-the-year kind of person but I might keep that one. 🙂 Cheers to you for your bookish year ahead!

    Reply

  10. My word for 2021 is stewardship. I want to be a better steward of the things I already do have: my family, my time, my energy.

    Reply

  11. DISCIPLINE Thinking we all need this to get us through this together. This year i’ve stayed home and gardened, read, and scrapbooked to no ends. Stayed safe. I’m coming out the other end of this this with my family and friends in tack. That is our collective goal. Keeping each other safe. See you at a library conference , some day in the future. Keep writing.

    Reply

  13. My word generator click gave me “win”, which is okay, but I’d already settled on “joy” for 2021 because I’ve had a lot of reminders recently on how short life is and I want to embrace and enjoy every moment I’m given!

    Reply

    • Oh, yes, let’s remember joy! I’m not sure what winning means, anyway…life isn’t a zero-sum game!

      Reply

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