December 2008 ::

I just found out that Lucy likes the revisions for my second manuscript! Woohoo!  This is Jack and Liz's story and it's my very favourite.  And of course I've written so-ooo many (tongue firmly in cheek!).  I haven't got a title for it yet but it looks like the release date is October 2009. It's already gone to the copy-editing department.

I'm thrilled to be able to write that one of the boot campers got The Call!   It's Nikki Logan. She's writing for Mills and Boon Sweet and her book is called LOVE ON A ROOFTOP which will be released January 2010.

My friend and new Desire author, Rachel Bailey, mentioned Nikki and I along with two other new authors (Tracie Sommers and Sandra Hyatt ) on the Desirabelles "4th Day of Christmas" blog.

I got my Medical Bear! Lovely Marion Lennox has a tradition of presenting the new downunder medical writers with a "Medical Bear" pin from the Leukaemia Foundation. Mine's a "Doctor Bear" - isn't he gorgeous!

So have I had the best Christmas ever! And there have been all those wonderful Christmas social things. It's been a great time to catch up with friends.  I had lunch with the 2008 Conference crew - so nice to meet them socially without 1001 things to be organised! And there was a very special lunch with a fabulous and talented group of Victorian romance authors.

The family are getting together at our place for Christmas this year.  I think I've got it all planned... since it's 5.30pm on Christmas Eve I hope I'm right!  Luckily, the weather bureau is promising a very mild day for tomorrow. I've made these truffles and decorated them as tiny Christmas puddings. Naturally, I spent ages fiddling with them! (And it's not like there wasn't a million other things I should have been doing!)  First, I had to dip them in dark melted chocolate and then drizzle over some white for "custard".  And then the fun part was painting the holly berries and leaves on the top with food colouring and a toothpick.  I was so pleased with the end result that I couldn't resist taking a picture!

Wherever you are, I hope you have a lovely, lovely day! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.