* Signing with Writers House literary agency in New York. Eighteen months of querying sure paid off.
* My wonderful critique partners, who've all had a hand in polishing my work and propping me up whenever I needed it. Thank you, Janette, Stephanie, Annie and Anna!
* Seeing debut books by friends and acquaintances hit the bookstores. I bought 'em all. Congrats to Annie West, Anna Campbell, Christine Wells, Sara Hantz, Amanda Ashby, Tina Ferraro, Kelly Parra, Elizabeth Scott, Paula Roe, Robyn Grady, Stephanie Hale. (Thanks for the dedications, Annie and Anna - way cool!)
* Kinokuniya bookstore in Sydney.
* San Churro chocolateria.
* Bizarre exercise equipment bought over the Internet by my coworker Ann H. She gets them delivered to our office. The best was the iGallop, which is meant to simulate horse riding. You'd think it'd resemble a rocking horse, right? Well, it has four legs, but that's where the similarity ends. It's like something out of Futurama. And it isn't something you can fold up and store under the bed. You'll laugh so much when riding that thing, your stomach muscles will get toned in no time.
* YouTube
* Most vivid reading experience: Reading Stephenie Meyer's 'Twilight' whilst recovering from wisdom tooth extractions. Honestly, there was so much blood I felt like a vampire.
* Exotic tea. I've visited T2 almost every week. Who says tea's boring? Best blends include choc chip chai, rose petals mixed with vanilla tea, genmaicha, red fancy fruit, creme brulee, and Turkish apple (which is fabulous as an iced tea with mint and chopped apple).
* The book that blew me away: 'Speak' by Laurie Halse Anderson. I'm in awe of her work.
* Spirituality. I learned there are four patron saints for writers: Saint Lucy of Syracuse, Saint Francis de Sales, Saint John the Apostle, Saint Paul the Apostle.
* Reaching the finals in RWAustralia's Selling Synopsis and First Kiss competitions, and in the YA category of Spacecoast Authors of Romance's Launching a Star comp.
* Most of all, my husband, family, friends and cats. Awwww.
What made you happy in 2007?
6 comments:
Gorgeous kittykat, V!!! So glad you like your dedication. You deserve it! And congratulations on all your successes this year. Actually one of the things that's made me really happy this year is the number of people who have contacted me to say how much they've enjoyed a book I've written. Strangely, it never occurred to me that writing a book, I'd make a whole stack of new friends! And obviously people with EXCELLENT taste ;-) Happy Holidays, everyone!
Anna, how lovely to get so much feedback from your readers! You deserve it.
Glad to see that Kinokuniya was in your favourite things of 2007. Hopefully we will make it into your favourite things of 2008.
Happy writing.
Steve Jones
Books Kinokuniya
Hi, Steve. Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm sure I'll be a frequent shopper at Kinokuniya next year.
2007 has been an amazing year - new book, new country and new house. Actually, I'm starting to feel a bit dizzy at how busy I've been. I think I might need to retire to the couch with something cold and bubbly!!! And speaking of bubbly, I hope I'll be popping a cork for you very soon!!!!
Wow, Amanda! You have been busy! Congratulations on being nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award too.
Thanks for your good wishes. There's a bottle of bubbles in the fridge on standby!
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