Best wishes of the season to those who celebrate it, and I wish you all the very best for 2019.

As it’s December, I figured I’d spend this post looking back over the year that is very swiftly drawing to a close.

Writing wise, I didn’t achieve as much as I would have liked this year. Real life got in the way a lot, and I spent far too much time sitting around hospitals—stressful and draining all around. It’s difficult as parents get older, and there were several instances this year when I wondered whether I’d have to say goodbye to my mother. My dad passed away six years ago, and he’s never too far from my thoughts.

I did have to say goodbye to my beloved cat, Fraps, in July. I still ‘see’ her out of the corner of my eye, and miss her terribly. My tortie, Kaylee, has got a lot more demanding since then, and I can’t sit down without her on my lap wanting attention. She gets most peeved if I spend a lot of time on my computer, as it’s time I should be spending with her.

Prelude to Love came out in January, and it is a story dear to my heart, as it’s set locally, and is one I’ve had mulling over for years. It’s wonderful to finally see it in print. I also had a flash fiction—Moutoa—published in Queer SF’s Impact Anthology.

My WIPs are advancing, although not as quickly as I’d hoped. Lou Sylvre and I have three chapters to write, and the first draft of The Harp and the Sea will be finished! Although we already have a co-written story published—Sunset at Pencarrow—this was our first co-writing experience. RL has been evil all round, which is why we’ve only been able to get back to writing it in earnest this year. I love the story, which is set in 1745 on Skye, and our Scots lads.

My other WIP is Forgotten in Fire, the conclusion to my fantasy Dragons of Astria series. I’m on chapter six of that one, and enjoying continuing Aric and Denys’ adventures. There’s a lot more world building in this part of the series, and as there’s been far too long between books, I’m viewing the first book—A Knight to Remember as the prequel/set up story to this one.

I’m very happy with the other parts of my writing life. I finally started a newsletter this year, and although I haven’t managed to get as many out as I’d like, I think it’s off to a good start. You can sign up here if you haven’t already. I’m aiming for a mix of news, book recs, and the occasional short story.

Which reminds me that I need to finish editing A Case of Misdirection, a short newsletter story that introduces Danny Sullivan, a 1920s Irish detective living in London. In this story, he crosses paths with a very British vampire, which my readers should recognise.

I also joined the Romance Writers of New Zealand, and attended my first conference in August. I loved it, and wondered why I hadn’t joined them sooner. They’re such a friendly, supportive community, and I’m now their contest coordinator, and share one of my reviews in the monthly newsletter Heart to Heart.

Our New Zealand Rainbow Romance Writers group has taken off as well. When Gillian St. Kevern and I started the group there was just the two of us for several months. Now we have twenty-four members, and I love our lively discussions, and the support network within the group.

One of my other highlights this year was a long time online friend visiting from Canada. We’d been chatting online for eighteen years, and never met. We had a lovely visit, and explored a lot of Wellington. Some of the fun was watching What We Do in the Shadows after seeing some of the locations in the movie.

While she was here we designed my business card as making one was something long overdue. I’m very happy with the results.

Thanks for reading my posts through this year, and also to Dani for hosting me.

See you in 2019.