Happy New Year!

It hardly seems possible but yet another year has flown by! I'm looking forward to 2012 and although I don't make resolutions I do like to reassess where I am and what I hope to achieve in the coming twelve months. So, urged on by fabulous Carina Press author Rachael Johns, I'm making a list of my goals. The reasoning behind this is if they're out there, then I'm accountable!

So here we go:

Finish the revisions on the first book in my new Berkley series (I have an end of January deadline for this one)

Edit and polish my Highland Warrior book

Finish writing book 2 in my new series (I have about 25k left to go on this one)

Finish writing book 3 in the Forbidden series (I've only written 30k on this one, so have a long way to go!!)

Either - start the second book in my Highland Warrior series ~or~ start book 3 in my new series. 

Keep the mess on my desk under control. Not at ALL sure about this goal, sounds like an impossible ask! Because once I start on my desk it shows up how untidy my bookshelves are, which in turn makes me realise how cluttered the entire floor is as well!!!

Now for the dreams, because we all need to have our dreams!

Would love to make the Gold Coast conference in 2012 *keeping every available digit crossed* I couldn't make the conference this year, although it was huge fun texting with the gorgeous Alli Sinclair from Novel Adventurers on Awards Night!

Attend a weekend writers retreat with my awesome CPs, Amanda Ashby and Sara Hantz.. I'm not convinced we'd get a great deal of writing done but we'd certainly knock back a lot of bubbly and... brainstorm! (because that sounds more writerly than gossiping, heh heh)

What are your goals/resolutions and/or dreams for 2012?

New Look for the New Year

I know I'm a couple of weeks early for celebrating the arrival of 2012 but I thought I'd do a bit of spring cleaning on my blog (despite it being summer here in Oz and winter in my mind!) I'd had the old template for a while and thought it was time for a change.

And I'm so happy that two of my writer friends have releases this week! First of all congrats to fellow West Australian, Rachael Johns, whose debut romance from Carina Press, One Perfect Night is out now!

 
Here's the blurb!

Peppa Grant's fellow employees may call their new CEO Mr. McSexy, but she's also heard that he's aloof and distant. Cameron McCormac certainly seems cold toward Christmas when she meets him at the company's annual party...but he's also the sexiest man Peppa has ever seen. And when he offers to forgive the damage she accidentally caused to his expensive car in exchange for accompanying him to his family's holiday get-together, she agrees.

Cameron needs a date to the family party to get his matchmaking relatives off his back. Their chemistry is instant and undeniable, leading to an incredible one-night stand. But Peppa wants love and family, while Cameron's only interested in temporary pleasure. When their relationship takes an unexpectedly serious turn, will he run the other way—or will he give love a second chance?

And also big congrats to Kaye Manro who has a Medieval Christmas story out with Red Rose Publishing!

Here's the blurb!

A fortnight ago she left him.

Marcus of Windom stood alone in an empty castle without Lady Liana by his side. The frigid winds brought forth by the Yule Season pressed upon him. He pulled the parchment from whence he carried it and read her chilling parting words once again. I can no longer live as your lady-wife… If ever she returned would her sensual warmth be enough to melt the ice she had caused to form around his broken heart?

Deep in the Revision Cave

Things have been a tad frantic here over the last few weeks, and show no sign of letting up anytime soon - and I'm not complaining!!! It's all good and I hope to be able to share soon :-)

The revisions for my next book landed over the weekend and all I can say is my editor is a goddess. She pointed out things that had completely escaped me but which are vital to understanding the world. All I can put forward in my defense is that I've lived in this world, to a greater and lesser degree, for almost five years and what seemed clear to me in my head absolutely wasn't once it hit the screen. The revs are pretty intense and will keep me well and truly glued to the computer for the next month but I know they're going to make the book so much stronger. I'll be able to share more details about this book very soon, so stay tuned!!!

Behind the Scenes Insights & Giveaways!!

Today I'm over at Magical Musings with my good friend, historical author Michelle Diener. Michelle is another ex-pat Brit who lives in WA and when deadlines and school terms and the planets align we love meeting up for a lovely gossipy lunch!!

Michelle and I are discussing scenes from our books where our heroine first admits her deep attraction to her hero. I chose a scene from Captive and Michelle picked at scene from her paranormal short story, BREAKING OUT, which is included in the charity anthology, Entangled, for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. There are giveaways!! Love to see you over there!!