The Year That Was and the Year That Is

I’m sitting here in a holiday unit by the beach in Queensland. The sun is a scorching 36 degrees centigrade, the sea is an impossibly clear blue, and I’m sitting inside at my laptop, peering through the window at the wide world outside.

Yeah, I’m a writer. How did you guess?

It’s time for me to do the annual post. 2019 the year that was, and my writing goals for 2020.

[image error]2019  saw the release of my seventh novel, A Heart This Big. It’s also, I think, my most successful novel to date, which to a struggling writer is a wonderful thing. Nina the farmer, Leigh the lawyer, and the kids, animals, and volunteers that make up the ramshackle community of Banksia Farm were also some of my favourite characters to write.

2019 also saw my first two audiobooks released: Code of Conduct and A Heart This Big. I admit that until I listened to my own two, I’d never listened to an audiobook in my life! But Claire Alain’s wonderful narration in her creamy Aussie accent has made me a convert. I’m particularly in awe of how well she did the multiple foreign accents in Code of Conduct plus the kids in A Heart This Big. I had a few editing projects as well this year. While editing is not my major thrust, I always enjoy the projects that come my way. This year, as well as multiple projects for Harper Bliss and Clare Lydon, I edited a new-to-me author, Becky Bohan, and I’m very excited to see her novel released, hopefully soon.

2020 is already shaping up to be big and busy. My next novel, All at Sea, will be out in April from Ylva Publishing. It’s with the proofreader at the moment, and I’ll be able to share the cover with you soon. In the meantime, I’ll tell you it’s the story of Stevie who escapes her parents’ terrible party and falls asleep on a stranger’s yacht. She wakes to find herself far out to sea with only the yacht’s skipper, Kaz, and the ship’s cat, Sinbad, for company.  I’m very excited for this book and can’t wait for you to meet Stevie, Kaz, and of course Sinbad. My editor said that Sinbad was her favourite character. I’m still not quite sure what to make of that comment!

And yes, All at Sea will be out as an audiobook as well. As a little aside, my first “sailing consultant” for the story was my long-time mate, Bazza. Bazza is a 74-year-old straight man. He taught me about sailing, and when I sent him the first draft to check, I taught him about… well, you can guess.