It’s another circle around the sun. How did that happen? New Years comes faster each time, and for me provides a time to reflect, remember, savor the “wins” and explore the “not greats” and make plans for the next 12 months. Rather than making New Year resolutions, I make new year goals—and hope that the journey along the way proves equally rewarding.
2025 Recap from Amy Shojai
I’ve continued the trend of healthy eating, and I feel better with more energy (and better fitting clothes!). For 2026, I’ll keep on keeping on. We have many garden projects planned for the coming year, “reinventing” things around the house just as I’ve sometimes had to do with my career. I still think of myself as a 12-year-old ready to play “let’s pretend.” But with the maturity to no longer care so much what other people think. My priority remains my family, including my 98-year’s-young father who last August, finally moved to assisted living and continues to thrive. Our family gathered this past October to celebrate his birthday together.
This past fall, my 9th thriller TRICK OR TREAT released in paperback, hardcover, large print, and audio, and I can’t wait to share the next books in the series. Using a new way to compose, I once again dictated the first draft using DRAGON software, and that seemed to speed up the process, yay! This book included three “hero pets” nominated by you, the readers–a hero dog, hero cat, and a hero horse. What fun!
In February, the cost of sending out newsletters to my 17K subscribers become too expensive–and so I experimented with a new-to-me service called SENDY (that functions using AWS). It takes some techie-know-how (I’ve got a great support at TechSurgeous!) to set it all up. But now I’m able to send nearly unlimited emails to y’all for a fraction of previous cost and use the savings for other fun schtuff. Click one of the links, below to subscribe:
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My writing with Hill’s Pets and others continues, but for 2025, my focus remains on the thrillers. I have basic storylines in mind for the next two books. One was inspired by the new-ish kitty Trinity using one of my stained-glass lamps as a launching pad and breaking said treasure (I fixed it…yes, everything’s material for thrillers). And because writers often have other artistic hobbies that “feed the muse” I’m delighted to now have an actual “shop” we’ve set up for more projects in the future.
Other Appearances
Faithful thriller readers know my main character plays cello–and so do I. Yes, my “real life” sometimes seeps into my fiction. In 2025 I performed with Melody (my cello) several times this year. I’m blessed to play with fellow musicians for church events. This past summer I played Melody in the orchestra for a community theater production of WIZARD OF OZ. Fun brain candy stuff!
I was also cast in two musicals and planned to enjoy performing onstage in some of my favorite theater products–and then life happens. Most recently, my husband injured his back, and I had to step away from performance for a while. He’s doing much better–with more improvements to come, thanks to a great team of doctors.
So I auditioned and was cast as Mrs. Wylie in an upcoming production of the hilarious Ken Ludwig farce, LEND ME A SOPRANO. Our first rehearsal is January 4, and we hit the stage in February–and boy, do I need the laughs! What about you, are you ready for some laughs to start the year? Ticket reservations here!
Life happens, bringing great joy, and sometimes great sorrow. We lost our long-time and much-loved young veterinarian unexpectedly this past summer when he died, and the vet clinic closed. You’ve seen pictures of Dr. Clay over the years with our various pets, and his memory remains a blessing. We’ve found a new practice–because our pets’ health remains a priority. We hope and pray 2026 brings less sadness and more cruisin’ along times with no angst.
The challenges make those cruisin’ times sweeter and help us take stock of how we evaded the rocks and cliffs (or can better dodge ’em in the future). Many things remain outside human control–like my husband’s back injury or losing Dr. Clay–but if you don’t engage with LIFE, shake things up with a bit of new, mixed with tried-and-true, you never know what might be possible. I’m looking for new challenges for 2026, building on the joys of the past with hope for the future.
We have high hopes for 2026—and the hope shines strong despite the uncertainties that surround our world. Our special pets of our past, our present, and sometimes the surprise pets (HELLO TRINITY!) that show up when you need them most.
2026 Goals from the Pets
It’s a tradition to take stock of the past year from a pets’-eye-view, and the year to come. Throughout the challenges, our pets keep us laughing even through tears. Look for the surprise blessings that bring joy despite the heartache. So here are New Year Pet Goals from Karma-Kat, Shadow-Pup, Trinity-Kitten with commentary by Amy.
2026 New Year Goals—from Karma
Karma-Kat: “I will pester Amy constantly for 3rd, 5th, and 8th breakfast…. And I will paw-thwap Shadow-Pup any time I want because he’s a DAWG and smells funny and tries to steal cat treats. On cold nights, I will claim Amy’s lap and snuggle, hugging her hand so she can’t get away because humans need cat-folk to keep them quiet. Sometimes quiet matters more than anything else. Then when Trinity-Kitty tries to steal my place, I will SIT on her for pancake-cat-time. Trinity makes a warm perch–and chase then wrestle her with paw-boxing because I am the champ. And then doze and dream about treats and breakfast.”
Amy: Karma always loved his dog brothers—and was rescued by Magic. And he used to play “pancake cat” sitting on top of Seren-Kitty and now repeats the game with Trinity-Kitty. Karma learned he can get Shadow riled up by paw-tapping him whle the pup tries to sleep, and then the pair are off and running! With three furry wonders, it’s challenging to give each the one-on-one time they need and deserve. All the pets are in good health physically so keeping them emotionally happy continues to be job one.
2026 New Year Goals–from Trinity
Trinity-Kitten: “I will ZOOM-ZOOM-ZOOM everywhere, all the time. And I will CLIMB-CLIMB-CLIMB and leap HIGH to catch the invisible creature. My favorite sleep-spot under the TV makes a nice warm spot, but even better is under the blanket on Amy’s lap (even if Karma sits on me!). I will eat Shadow’s food anytime he leaves his bowl unattended (he doesn’t really mind), and chase-chase-chase Karma, perch on top of ANYTHING I WANT and BOOM take off like a bird on sprints and and and… cuddle. I love to cuddle, and sleep atop Amy’s legs at nighttime!”
Amy: She’s mostly grown up now but still indulges in zoomies almost every night. Our new routine means the cats get their meal in one room while we eat our dinner–or else we fight tiny paws reaching into our plates. She loves high perches–hence the lampshade debacle–so we’re taking steps to provide her with legal outlets to leap, climb, and perch away from breakables. Oh, and enjoying the snuggle time in the evening (although it’s really hard to move with a 10-pound kitty anchor on your legs all night!).
2026 New Year Goals—from Shadow
Shadow-Pup: “I will bark-bark-bark, snap at Karma to tell him I’m in charge, and steal Trinity-treats anytime I want. I will steal the cat toys (they get the best ones), grab and shake-shake-shake my stuffies until their insides shed fluff everywhere, and help Amy in her new shop. And I will slurp away Amy’s tears when she’s sad, and paw her arm constantly for attention, and do headstands in her lap, and zooooooooom around the house, running laps on the new slick hardwood floor and up and down the stairs. Then I’ll do it again. And again. And …”
Amy: Shadow appeared, a dumped puppy, at our front gate on May 31st ten days after we found out about Bravo’s cancer. This year’s new year pet goal continues updating the landscaping to give Shadow more outdoor safe space to play and run. He’s enjoying the new shop, too, and during warmer months (in between writing books) he’ll hang out with me while we make beautiful creations together.
Some Final 2026 New Year Goals—from Spirit-Pets
Magic-Spirit, Seren-Spirit, Bravo-Spirit: “We will continue to remind Amy that there’s more to nine lives than paw-tapping a keyboard and staring at a boxy computer-thing. Like catnip, and whisker-kisses, lap snuggles and ball-tug games. And we will train Amy that playing with pets is more fun than anything else. AND we will train Amy that there’s no such thing as too many treats—or of love that ever ends. But time together—however long or short the time—is the best thing of all.”
Amy: My ultimate New Year pet goals are to listen to my furry muses. What about you?
PAST NEW YEAR POSTS:
I started to delete these, and then decided to save them here. After all, some of my furry muses commented on these posts.
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Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE! Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
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