January is named for the Roman god Janus, a god of doorways, portals, transistions and new beginnings. He is usually depicted with two faces, one looking back and one forward. That is what I am doing right now. Looking back to 2011 and forward to 2012.
2011 was hard, although there were many sunny days, it also held disappointments, sickness and sadness. Luckily I had my best friend with me and we had some good times among the hard. I am fortunate that my best friend is also my husband.
This year though we hope will be better. We are both looking forward to some big changes in both home and working life. We are putting our house on the market, downsizing to something more manageable, seeking pastures new. This will give me time to write without feeling guilty about the lank lawn and weed choked flower beds or the dust that is collecting in the sitting room. A smaller house will give us both the financial space to take life easier - have more fun.
One good thing that happened in 2011 was that I finally became published as a Romance author. With the advent of Kindle I was able to publish in quick succession For One Night Only, a gently erotic romance set within a tired marriage, Vittorio's Virgin, a more complex story about a man's struggle to come to terms with his traumatic upbringing and first marriage and find love and trust with the honest but sharp tongued, Jennifer Trent. Then came The Greek Tycoon's Secret Daughter, which examines the complex relationship between Charlotte Martin and billionaire playboy, Nicholas Barberis Jones.
At first things were quiet, sales were slow, but soon some nice comments and emails began to arrive. 'I've read them all now and want to know when the 'next one' will be out.'
Since I hadn't even begun to write it I published a small booklet of short stories to give myself some time. Something for the Journey is also now being well recieved.
I cannot stress how much these reader's comments mean to me. They really help. The don't just provide a much needed boost to my creative ego but help me discover what my readers really love ... and what they don't. By using a mix of their praise and criticism I am now able to move forward with Come, Dance with Me with more confidence than ever before.
Writers are babies (or is it just me?) In order for them to continue writing they need to know that their work is appreciated. An email, a short comment on a blog or an Amazon review or Facebook of 'I loved it' or 'I told all my friends about it,' can make all the difference. So, if you read a book and love it, let the author know, if you hate it also let her know but gently, please, she is a sensative soul and only wants to please you. I write a lot of reviews but tend to avoid being less than positive. Constructive criticism is the key to helping an author improve. We appreciate that - thank you.
As I said, Come, Dance with Me is coming along nicely. It is set within the world of ballroom dancing competition, a growing interest and armchair sport in both the UK and America. It is a world that I find fascinating and repelling. WRiting in this genre also means that I can sit with a clear conscience and watch re-runs of the hit dancing show, Strictly Come Dancing, all in the name of research.
When Sasha finds herself drawn into the glizty, glamorous world of ballroom and is swept off her feet by the beautiful Russian heart throb, Andrei Kovalevsky, at first she can scarcely believe her luck. But, as ever in the world of romance, the path to true love is not an easy one. When the curtain falls,will they live to dance again?
All four of my current Kindle books can be found on Amazon Kindle, please download a free sample and see if you like them too.
Mary Middleton on Kindle
More details about me and my work can be found on my web page
