I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the years'. – Henry Moore (1898 – 1986)
Having a predisposition toward over-analysis and
self-flagellating internal monologues I generally avoid the siren call of
reflecting upon the year that has been. Having
a personality that is hard-wired for more ups and downs than a hooker at a
blowjob convention, I tend to like to leave the past in the past and run like
buggary from it. However I am going to
break all my own rules (because I don’t like rules, even my own) and have a wee
look back because it’s been a good year.
October 2012 saw the publication of my first novel Creepy & Maud (Fremantle Press 2012),
whilst 2013 saw it Shortlisted in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book
of the Year Awards, Older Reader’s Category.
Well, that’s good news! No problem having a look back at that. It received (mostly) good reviews and came
out in audio format thanks to the Association for the Blind. It was also listed in Australian Book Review “Books of the Year”. A lot of people were involved in bringing Creepy & Maud into being, and they
took more risks than I did (I just had to write it). Extraordinarily, they’re all still talking to
me, too!
I got to talk to lots of nice people. From my very first “Author Talk” at
Christchurch Grammar School (mouth so dry tongue kept sticking to roof of
mouth) all the way through to breaking into ‘The Lady is a Tramp’ in a session
at the Kimberley Writers Festival, I've met a slew of gorgeous people and made
some really good new friends. That’s
worth dragging this year into the next.
And income. Coming
from a place of excitement and gratitude for the opportunity alone, my response
to my first royalty cheque was an email to my publicist which read: “I forgot
this shit pays!” And pay it did. 2013 was the first year ever I was able to
nonchalantly take one of my babies to the vet without checking my bank balance
first. And for those of you who consider
it gauche for me to talk about money – I am gauche.
I also received an unparalleled amount of support at my day
job, a job I will never leave because I love the construction industry. I just love it. It fulfills me. (She’s probably reading this). I have taken a lot of time off this year for
appearances and festivals. This would
have been impossible without my employer, Jacqui Croon-Hargrave, being as
excited as I was. You don’t take that
for granted.
So thank you, all of you, who made 2013 nice to look back
on. You know who you are. Now give me a moment to recover my cynical,
moody center before the schmaltz police turn up. And watch this space for some BIG news
January 2014.
Post Script: A special
shout out to my best friend, Joscelyn Evans, who once booked a hotel room for
the weekend just to read one of my manuscripts.
She who has believed in me since the dawn of time must be acknowledged.
