In this issue, I talk about my upcoming event in the San Fernando Valley, posts to keep you motivated for the rest of the year, and an opportunity to be interviewed for this newsletter.

We're already more than halfway through the first month of 2024, but it feels like it has been years. Plenty of things have been happening in the world and in our personal lives. Any enthusiasm we had at the start of the year has probably faded. We've certainly have long forgotten our New Year's resolutions. 

But cheer up! I have some posts on my website you might find helpful:

• Goals, not resolutions: It's not too late to set goals for this year. Make sure they're SMART—specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-targeted—and follow the other suggestions in my post.
• Create a vision of the life you want - a lesson from 30 years ago: A vision board can be a powerful tool to help you define the changes you want to make in your life and focus on making those changes.
• Why optimism is practical: Not just pie-in-the-sky thinking, optimism opens us to possibilities and keeps us from giving up when things get hard.

It's not too late to have a good start on the new year. You can start making the changes you want today.

Here's information about my next event:

• Saturday, January 27, 1:00 pm–4:00 pm:
  The Open Book, 6316 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Unit 2180, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. 
  I return to the San Fernando Valley (the setting of several of my novels) for a book signing event.

A homeless son and troubled father must reconnect in a novel called a "powerful page-turner" and "a fascinating story about real next-door people." Get The Remainders now on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited and in paperback wherever books are sold.

I recently posted on Threads to praise the positive, supportive nature of the writing community there. That post got more likes and followers than anything else I've posted on that platform. I followed it up with a video on TikTok about how being positive gets more attention. It too got more views in the first two hours than most of my other videos.

Both posts show how being positive and supportive is a better way to get attention than the personal attacks, bad takes, and outlandish material we see on social media. When social media is a desert of rancor and outrage, a positive post is an oasis that draws people and encourages support. Be the light, and you'll get the type of attention you want.

In past newsletters, I've interviewed some amazing authors. I have more interviews coming in the future. One of them could be you! If you are an author, send me an email to admin@matthewarnoldstern.com with the following information:

• Your name.
• A brief bio (100 words or less).
• Your books.
• What you would like to talk about in your interview.

By supporting each other, we can all grow!

I hope you have enjoyed this newsletter. If you have any comments and suggestions, feel free to email me at admin@matthewarnoldstern.com. 

If there is someone who you think would enjoy this newsletter, pass it along and encourage them to subscribe. A simple subscription form is on my website.

I'll be in touch again next month with more news and content.