Want to help an author out? I'd be so grateful if you could vote for Magpie's Bend, Bottlebrush Creek or Wildflower Ridge in the Dymocks Top 101 books of 2021. It's super simple and only takes a moment. The voting link is HERE. Books that make lists like this are featured in special catalogues and are more likely to be stocked in stores around Australia AND you'll go into the draw to win a gift card to spend on books - everyone's a winner. Thanks a million!

So much to be thankful for

Although it’s been another rocky year for many, there were loads of things to be thankful for in 2021. For me, it was good health in our little household of five, the joy of raising orphan lambs again, the beach at the bottom of our paddock, the pleasure of books and this fantastic bookish community, and my garden. It was also a joy to be reunited with my whole family in SA for Christmas, for the first time since last Christmas.

In my December book giveaway, I asked what you were grateful for in 2021. Here are a few of the lovely answers to make you smile:

April - Still having mum and dad with us. After losing my brother at 46 two years ago to cancer, you realize just how precious life is.

Dianne - That I live in such a beautiful area with a very supportive community full of amazing people. Community and our fabulous environment helped get us all through this tough year.

Kelsey - I was grateful to keep working in 2021. Also to my husband and my mother’s group who kept me sane while all our extended families (who we haven’t seen for a year) were interstate.

Judi - I have spent much of 2021 acknowledging that I am grateful to own a home, have a fortnightly wage deposited. I am aware that this is a place of privilege.

Tanya - I am grateful for the amazing humans I've met in the Bookstagram community.

Tracy - I'm grateful that my family, dogs included are all happy and healthy and that I've been able to read so many wonderful books in 2021.

Brenda - Our daughter had major surgery early in the year and it was discovered a couple of hours later, after her BP dropped dramatically, that she was bleeding internally. An emergency surgery followed late at night - we thought we'd lost her; and are exceedingly grateful for the care she received and the recovery which followed.

I loved reading all your answers, thank you for sending them through.

Finals in RWA awards

What a fantastic surprise to discover I was nominated for a ROMA award with Romance Writers Australia. These awards recognise outstanding reporting of romance, with the nominees and winner announced at the annual RWA conference. It was only after the conference mid-December that I learned I’d been nominated by fellow writer, journalist and magazine editor Sara Hartland for my piece in The Owner Builder Magazine.

The article, titled ‘After the hand-crafted country coastal home’, summarised our journey as owner builders and how our ambitious project inspired my second novel, Bottlebrush Creek. While I didn’t win the award, I was delighted to have been nominated. If you're curious about the article, and the similarities between building and writing a romance novel, you can read my article HERE (on page 110).

In a neat parallel, I was also tickled pink to see Brisbane writer, Michelle Beesley, was also in the finals for this award, for her article about Magpie’s Bend.

January author spotlight

There were so many laughs within the pages of my January feature books. Fancy Meeting You Here by Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus was a ripper of a romantic comedy, and Happy Hour by Jacquie Byron was one of my favourite debuts of the year, full of wit and warmth. Both books will be perfect additions to your summer reading pile. Head across to read the interviews with Jacquie and Michelle and Ali HERE, then jump across to the WIN page for your chance to win a copy, thanks to Allen & Unwin.

Magpie's Bend making a few favourites lists

It really is a treat to see Magpie’s Bend popping up in lists like these. As I mentioned last newsletter, I find it super hard to narrow down my favourite reads for the year, and know these lists aren’t made lightly. Big thanks to Cassie Hamer, Michelle Beesley, Nikki @inMumsGoodBooks, Brooke at One Woman’s Brief Book Reviews, Tanya @Read.By.The.Librarian and Tania Farrelly for featuring Lara’s story in their favourite reads of 2021 lists.

Around the property...

The last of the poppies are hanging in there, we've got sunflowers shooting up, cosmos and cornflowers going brilliantly and the first of the dahlias and zinnias are coming through. After an abundance of delicious baking in early December (hello gingerbread, pudding, cakes and rum balls), I'm determined to eat more from the garden this month (perfect timing with all the fresh tomatoes, mulberries, snow peas and apricots currently in season or not far away). With warm weather coming our way, our sprinklers will be in good use throughout January to keep everything alive and we are all on the lookout for snakes, having spotted several in the paddock and neighbouring yards during December.

Now's also an excellent time to think about seed saving. In the month ahead, I'll be harvesting my cosmos, sweet peas, coriander, beetroot, poppies, broccoli, zinnias and snow peas seeds to use later down the track. They dry well on north-facing window-sills, or in brown paper bags in the garden shed. If you're doing the same too, remember to label the bags!

From my writing desk

Writing-wise, I'm back into drafting book five between school holiday activities and outings. Soon I'll be receiving the copy edits for my 2022 release. There's been a change to the title and I'm currently deliberating over several suggestions from my publisher. Later in January I expect to see the first incarnations of my 2022 book cover too. Again, it will be another nerve-wracking wait to see which model they choose for Diana. I'll be sure to share the cover, new title and pre-order links as soon as they are ready.

I also did a little tally up of my events for Magpie's Bend, and felt very fortunate to have completed 17 author events (live and virtual), plus 11 radio and podcast interviews, to help spread the word about Lara's story. And while I'm on the subject, big thanks to everyone who shared photos, recommended my books and gifted it to their friends and family. I couldn't keep writing books without your support!

Fantastic reads of 2021

How was your year in books? I enjoyed 64 fantastic books in 2021 and have a great TBR pile on my bedside table of novels eagerly waiting for 2022. I love shining a spotlight on fellow writers, and in 2021 I featured 28 author Q&As on my blog, gave away 35 books via newsletters and social media, hosted eight events for other authors and interviewed five authors on writing podcasts throughout the year.

It is such an honour to connect and collaborate with so many writers, publishers and readers, and I look forward to bringing you the inside scoop on plenty more great books and lovely authors in 2022.

In this month's mailbox

How great are hand-picked bouquets? Fellow green-thumb and keen reader, Leeann from Goulburn sent me the beautiful photo of my books with her dahlias (left) - thanks Leeann. It was also great to see my poppy seeds blooming well in Canberra for book blogger, Bookish Bron. Speaking of Bron's blog, I had a nice time chatting about gifts for writers on her Christmas blog HERE. And just in case you missed it, there was a really lovely review of Magpie's Bend in the CWA Ruth Magazine, who wrote 'Immersing yourself in the country characters and spirit of Bridgefield is a delight. Just the thing to while away some summer hours.' What a lovely wrap up! 

Sending extra cheerful New Year wishes from our home to yours, I hope you get a chance to relax by the beach, lake or pool these summer holidays. And again, if you get a chance, it would be fab if you could cast your vote in the Dymocks Top 101 HERE. Love, Maya

Until next month...