What did you do in 2015?
It's that time of year when we look back and wonder what we've done with our time over the last twelve months. Did we spend it wisely, did we achieve what we wanted to achieve, were we kind?
I've had a fantastic year and if anyone has been following my Facebook page and saw the updated cover image then you are already in on the secret, but if not.... then I'll tell you what I've been doing.
I've released a new book - The Girl from County Clare.
I've updated the cover on The Art of Secrets to appeal to a different age group.
I've retitled a book, and given it a new cover and new ISBN - The Disenchanted Soldier (Daniel) – I love this design and hope it will attract the historical fiction audience – and I've created an author brand with 'The PastFinders' logo and my name.
None of that would have been possible without people to help me and I hope I said thank you to all those people along the way, but if not I do it here and now. My friends from Mairangi Writers who listened to my early drafts and help me improve the language - especially Jenny Harrison, Erin McKechnie and Bev Robitai. People who achingly went through every idea for a title, a colour, a logo, a quote and so many other details with me. People who support indie-authors in deeds not just in words.
There are two other people I would like to acknowledge and say a special thank you to: Louise de Varga who organises The Book Festival: Celebrating NZ Indie-Authors and Adrienne Morris of AM Publishing New Zealand.
Louise is an author in her own right, writing children's book (Kapowai the Dragonfly) but more than that, Louise volunteers her time to help other authors showcase their work. The Book Festival has become an annual event thanks to her commitment and I hope we can support her in return.
Adrienne has been my publisher, editor, listener, designer and friend for all of my books – the original versions and the updated versions – and is responsible for the finished product. I hope you like them all.
I hope you can look back on your year with pride knowing you helped people, were kind to someone who needed your kindness and achieved some success in your endeavours.
I wish you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and safe holiday. I'll be back in 2016 with news of my travels.