Looking forward to the New Year

As 2012 draws to a close, some might take a quiet moment to reflect on the good and the bad of the year about to pass.

 

As a writer, I have been saddened to hear of the deaths of some fantastic and much loved authors this past year. Nina Bawden, who wrote one of my favourite childhood books, Carries War, the story of Carrie and her brother who were evacuated during World War 2. Others we have lost are the author of many popular Irish-set novels, Maeve Binchy, Helen Nicholl who wrote the classic childrens series, Meg and Mog and also the Booker Prizewinner Barry Unsworth who penned The Sacred Hunger.

 

But having said that, 2012 has also been a great year for many people, myself included and I hope that carries on into the next year.

 

2012 has been the first for a long time for me with no personal tragedies or traumas which in itself is a major bonus. I won a competition in April with my first proper attempt at a short story so I am very proud of that achievement. I have also written quite a few more and I am just waiting for the right outlet to send them to. My NaNoWriMo wasn’t a great success as I just didn’t have the time to complete it, but I feel strong about the story so I am going to continue with it and try and sell it to a short story magazine of some sort. That is my main priority for next year – to get my stuff sold!!!

 

January 2013 will see the release to Malavita’s sequel, Too Close to the Sun in which we read what the Delvecchios are up to twenty years or so into the future, with Giorgio about to celebrate his 21^st birthday. Needless to say, there are more tense moments, a bit of blood and a couple of sex scenes but hopefully, the story will be enjoyable and may see the end of the story for them…..

 

So I wish you all a great Christmas and a very happy, healthy and successful New Year xxx