Happy New Year, everyone!

 Anne here with Chloe and her Christmas rubber duck.

For those of you who are snowed in or bestormed, warm hugs. Here it's early morning, clear and bright, and rainbow lorikeets are hanging upside down taking bites out of the ripe plums on my plum tree, while out the front of the house the scruffy young magpies are warbling. I am very tempted to raid my worm farm and give them some breakfast. I love magpies, especially the adolescent ones who never quite achieve the dashing svelte magpie look. But instead of feeding gawky, squawky magpies, I've taken a couple of pics of the rainbow lorikeet pirates.  So bold they were. I was only six feet away from this rascal, and he nibbled on a plum, gave me a cheeky look, then calmly wiped his beak before moving on to the next plum.

And so, 2008 has come to an end. It's been a difficult year in many ways for so many of us, I know, but I prefer to leave it thinking about the good things that came out of it. So for me, some highlights from 2008 were my short holiday in England, catching up with my English friend Jenny and meeting some legends of English romance writing; meeting my current and former editor in NY as well as my agent and many wonderful writers while I was at the NINC conference; appearing on a national TV book show in Australia;  being part of a traveling romance writing conference that traveled to some far corners of Australia; becoming a Word Wench;  finishing up as RWAustralia President and seeing the organization surge forward afresh; and realizing how very, very blessed I am in my friends.  And since I can't possibly leave out books, my favorite new-to-me authors of 2008 were Joanna Bourne and C.S. Harris. Another highlight hasn't happened yet, but in a week or two I'm going to be interviewing one of my all-time favorite authors, and I'm so superstitious, I'm not going to say who it is until I've done it. But I'm very excited and I'm really looking forward to 2009.

For me the only way to see out the old year and welcome in the new is to the sounds of pipes and drums, the song Auld Lang Syne and watching the fireworks. The best firework displays ever are those on Sydney harbour -- that setting is just magical. This is last years pic from the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. Stunning, isn't it?

So what was a highlight for you, and what were some of your favorite books in 2008?

Comments

[Mary Jo Putney]

I want to see those fireworks! Not only stunning, but presumably warm enough that you don't freeze your tushie off. :)

As for some book highlights: well, I discovered Sherry Thomas. And as a sort of but not really new author: Yesterday my copy of Barbara O'Neal's LOST RECIPE OF HAPPINESS arrived, 12/30 being the official release date.

I thought about saving it, but self control is not my strong point so I dived in an am loving this romantic women's fiction novel. Which is not a surprise, since Barbara O'Neal is Barbara Samuel, whose books I already love. And this one has a heroine who is a top class chef! Aspen, Colorado! A dog! And of course great characters and a compelling story.

I could continue on the booklist indefinitely, but I need to go and make my own story more compelling....

Mary Jo, who has shivering chickadees istead of thieving lorakeets.

[Linda Banche]

Sounds like you had a good year. Great.

I love birds, and I like your bird pictures. So colorful. We don't have any birds this pretty up here in New England now, except for the all-red cardinal. He really brightens up the snowy landscape(it's snowing pretty hard here right now).

Happy New Year.

[Anne]

Wow! Those fireworks really are spectacular!
I haven't had any major, life-changing events this year, which is probably a good thing. :) It has been a year of blessings, though, and I thank God for it!
As for books: I discovered Patricia Veryan and have thoroughly enjoyed whatever of her offerings I could get my hands on.
Also, Andrea Pickens' "The Spy Wore Silk" was lots of fun.
Oh, and "To Wed a Highland Bride" is right up there.
And "A Lady's Secret" of course.
And...okay, I really must stop somewhere! :)

[Janga]

Wow! I want to see those fireworks too, Anne!

This year was a great reading year for me. I'm blogging tomorrow about twenty-four of my top reads--several Wench books among them. My #1 book of 2008 was Pamela Morsi's Last Dance at the Jitterbug Lounge.

The new year already looks promising. I have new books by Carla Kelly, Anna Cambell, and Lorraine Heath atop my TBR stack, and I just ordered more Jan. releases, including Lost Recipe of Happiness.

[Louis]

The fireworks are spectacular!

Highlite of our year? Sending our youngest Arabian filly off to school...

[Anne Gracie]

Mary Jo, I am so envious. My copy of The Lost Recipe for Happiness hasn't arrived. I, too, love Barbara's writing - so lush and beautiful and textured. Always a feast to be savored.

And I forgot to include in my highlights meeting Barbara O'Neal/Samuel and Jo Beverly at the Australian conference.

I have a teetering pile of books bought last year and not yet read, so I'm sure some wonderful ones are in there. I have much to look forward to.

[Anne Gracie]

Linda, I've never seen a red cardinal (other than the church type so to me, that sounds exotic and wonderful.
Sherrie sent me some pics of a blue tit she's tossed some bread to, and that was also magical for me.

Anne, if you click on the Sydney morning Herald link, you'll get pictures of last night's fireworks on Sydney Harbour-- it's already New Years Day here.

I'm shamelessly gleaning book titles from your list--thank you. I have Jo's A Lady's Secret, but I haven't read it yet. In the next few weeks I plan to wallow in books as I haven't had time to for ages.

[Anne Gracie]

Janga, where are you blogging? I'd love to read your list. I'm always on the lookout for recommendations of good books.

Louis, that sounds so intriguing. Where does one send an Arabian filly to school, and what does she learn there? I'd love to know more.

[Helen]

Happy New Year to everyone
I watched last nights fireworks on the TV both lots one at 9-00pm and the big one at midnight and they were spectacular again, never been into the city to watch them too many people.

I have read some fantastic books this year too many to name but I do thank the authors for writing them for us.

Best thing to happen to me in 2008 the birth of two new grandsons on 13th & 16th Dec and watching them come into the world.

Have Fun
Helen

[Louis]

Ms Anne...

We sent the filly (three year old) to a famous Arabian Ranch several hundred miles away to be broken to ride and training for the Show Ring...also have her up for sale.

[Laura]

Anne, when you said I sent you pics of a blue tit, I had this momentary urge to laugh as a vision of my very cold and very blue boobs came to mind! On this side of the pond, we call those birds bluejays! LOL! So in Australia they're called tits! I didn't know that. And just for the record, I *am* cold-all over. We're dead in the middle of winter here.

Loved your picture of the rainbow lorikeets. Such pretty birds, and they sound just as cheeky as that hungry bluejay. He sat outside my slider, screeching at me until I came out and threw some bread to him.

One thing I'm doing this year is keeping a Gratitude Journal. I've promised myself that each day I will write down things I am grateful for.

[Janga]

Anne asked: "Janga, where are you blogging? I'd love to read your list. I'm always on the lookout for recommendations of good books.

Anne, I have been one of the Romance Vagabonds since last February. I blog most Thursdays at
http://www.romancevagabonds.com/
We'd love for you to drop by.

[Linda Banche]

Sherrie, I have a story where the hero is an ornithologist. As his world falls apart, he glances out the window and sees a bird in the hedge outside. Without even a thought, he identifies it as a blue tit. Since he's English, he knows it's a bird. "tit" as a bird comes from the second usage of "tit" meaning "small animal". Here's the link.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=tit&searchmode=none

[theo]

Favorite books? From just this year? I have way too many to list. Favorite books I revisited more than twice this year? Gideon. *sigh* He really is Perfect.

Other than that, I didn't have any monumental things happen this year. Lots of nice little things though.

Oh, and I have to say, I had a similar reaction to the 'blue tit' comment as Sherrie! LOL

[Alison]

Happy New Year everyone.

I discovered some great YA fiction last year. Mary Hoffman's Stravaganza series for a start and a book called Finnikin of the Rock by Marlena Marchetta which has to be one of the best books I have read in an age.

[Anne Gracie]

Helen what lovely news about your two new grandsons. I good friend of mine has, just a couple of days ago, become a grandmother to twin girls. Apparently as soon as they were washed and weighed etc and were put in the crib together, they held hands. Sooo sweet.

Louis thank you for explaining that. So you're maybe feeling a little sad as your beautiful girl goes off to boarding school and beyond.

[Anne Gracie]

Sherrie said "On this side of the pond, we call those birds bluejays! LOL! So in Australia they're called tits!"

No, we don't have blue jays or blue tits as far as I know (of the ornithological variety -- there may be woad-daubed topless women somewhere here, I suppose, though I've never seen any ;) )

It was just my mistake. As a kid I read a lot of English story books -- did you know the English speaking publishing world was divided between the US and England. The US got Canada, and England got Aust, NZ, Sth Africa etc. so that's still what we see a lot of in our bookshops.

And in those English books people talked about nightingales and blue tits and other birds I've never seen. So, a slip of the mind -- but not Freudian I think ;)

[Anne Gracie]

Sherrie, I forgot to say, I love the idea of the gratitude journal. I loved Susan's post on Thanksgiving, and all the comments - it left me smiling and feeling good about life. Your journal ould be a wonderful thing to pick up and reread when you're feeling blue, too.

Thanks Linda for the blue tit search thingy -- and explaining to everyone what I meant. Appreciate it muchly :).

Theo, you're such a sweetheart -- thanks for loving my Gideon.

Janga, thanks for giving us that address. I've had some fine times with the vagabonds in the past and will certainly drop in to glean some new authors from your list.

Alison, thanks for your suggestions. I used to read a lot of YA when I was a high school teacher and always enjoyed it, but haven't read much in recent years, except for RITA judging. But I bought a Stephanie Meier last week, and I'll try your recommendations, too.