Drumroll please...

It seems quite crazy to think that this time last year, I wasn't writing romance - I wasn't actually writing my Young Adult story either come to think of it - but then, early in October, the idea for a Cinderella themed story was born and took hold. I plotted it all out, scene by scene, I came up with my characters and their GMC (goals, motivation and conflict) and then figured out that I should probably learn 'how' to write - just a slight hold-up(!) - and then, of course, try to put what I learnt into practice.

Even back in those very early days, I knew I had to start building a support network and an online platform, should I ever actually get anything written, so, on the 18th October 2011, I came up with my pen name and created my Facebook page - the same day that I put pen to paper to plot out my Cinderella tale, in fact. Within a month, I had created this blog as well, to plot the progress of my writing journey and also share my passion for reading. (I've discovered I really love blogging and it's a delight to see my page-views clocking up and repeat visitors coming back so thank you.)

At about the same time as creating this new alter-ego, I stumbled across the new talent competition that Mills & Boon were running, called New Voices, but I'd already missed the cut-off for the first stage so even if I'd managed to get anything written, I was too late. But that didn't stop me from joining the M&B New Voices group on Facebook where I have since met so many talented writers, both published and aspiring, and hope that I can count many as friends. I've also met two fabulous authors, Téa Cooper and Carmen Falcone, who have been invaluable as critique partners. Oddly enough, they are on opposite sides of the world with me in the middle, so a big hooray for the internet!

So why is all of this starting to sound like an acceptance speech for the Oscars, I hear you cry?

Well... you see... in the space of ten months - ish - (and with the support of my husband and the understanding of my friends), I have gone from not writing anything at all, to writing something publishable. Yes, I know there was the contract offer a couple of months ago, but at that point I hadn't even finished a manuscript. Now, not only have I finished a manuscript, last week I submitted it in full to Breathless Press for their Holiday Cheer call-out (see blog post: A Week of Submission).

Breathless Press website

I am delighted to announce that my 40k word novella, Christmas is Cancelled, has been snapped up by Breathless Press. Yes, I am going to be published and can strike the 'aspiring' from my job title and become a fully fledged author. Woo hoo! I was going to wait until the contract was signed but that will be a couple of days and it didn't seem fair to keep you hanging on. I don't have any further details right now, but you can rest assured I will be posting updates as and when I can.

Taking up writing has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, and to think I'm only dabbling when I can at the moment, attempting to hone my skills, until Little Miss starts school full-time next year. It's safe to say I have smashed the writing part of my New Year's Resolutions though and it doesn't actually feel real yet...

(ETA: See blog post: Thank You for an update)