What's next?

Becky Boswell Smith -- Home Accents Today, 5/1/2007

As people have heard the news that I'm retiring, the question of what are you going to do now keeps rearing its persistent head.

I don't know.

I've never not worked from high school days selling cheap women's clothes to covering elections to teaching folks how to be better editors and publishers to now: The coolest job in the industry has been mine for seven years and I've loved every moment of it.

OK, not every moment. Sometimes my feet hurt and sometimes it was too hot in Las Vegas or Atlanta and too cold in New York or Chicago. Sometimes people were in bad moods and sometimes products weren't all they should be.

But mostly, it's been great, really great. Thanks in large part to you, dear readers, who have been enthusiastic about Home Accents Today. You've also been friendly and welcoming to me personally. I thank you.

I truly don't know what this next chapter in my life will look like, but I know a couple of things:

No alarm clocks. Don't call before 9 a.m.

More time with my grandsons: "You gonna come to MY house, Nana?" You betcha, Sam.

Another thing I know for sure is how good Home Accents Today is going to be under the direction of Jenny Heinzen York, who takes over as editor in chief. She's smart, knowledgeable and fun, too.

She's been managing editor and also has worked for Furniture Today, SoHo Today and Kids Today. She knows the whole industry and she has some good ideas about ways to make HAT better. You're going to like getting to know her.

One reason she's going to do so well is the terrific staff at HAT. Let me be personal for just a moment, please. I've had the good sense to hire this talented bunch of people (I'll take credit for that), but wow have they made this magazine better and better.

There's no better art director than Wes Kennedy, no sharper eye for design than Tracy Bulla. Retail Editor Susan Dickenson can really write a story and Courtney Mueller has brought good ideas to Garden Decor. Cinde Ingram will no longer be business editor for HAT with her expanded duties for Casual Living, but she has been a big part of our success. Our newest staff member, Lori Lester, is quickly getting up to speed and tackling her projects with enthusiasm.

So, I leave knowing HAT will just keep getting better and better. I will miss everyone. It's been a great time.