2012

Happy New Year, Minions!

There are fireworks outside my window. Not directly outside, because that would be noisy. But over there, in the distance, over the town that I live beside. It's one hour into 2012 and someone is still letting off fireworks.

As you can tell, I stayed in this New Year's Eve- as I do every year. I stayed in and wrote, because I like to start the year as I mean to continue, by writing. So that's what I did. I was working on the Australia/New Zealand short story because I've pretty much figured out which characters won that little competition. Before it's announced, I just have to check with Josie about who came up with Tane Aiavao, because that's my favourite male character so far. So, Josie, if you could let me know in the Comments section, that'd be just super.


So... 2011, eh? What did it bring you?

It brought me great sales for Death Bringer- the best yet, to be honest. It brought me a flood that ruined my car, refurbishments that swallowed three months of my time, and a trip to London to see the new Twilight. Ahem. It also brought me a brand new niece to add to the collection (yay!) and so much joy as all four of them entertained my entire family (by falling over a lot).

2011 was the first year I had to stay for any length of time in hospital, so that's a new year's resolution right there: "Don't do that again." It sent me away on tour, nearly robbed me of my voice halfway through said tour, and got me meeting a whole bunch of you guys.

It brought us the last Harry Potter movie, which I thought was really well done. It brought us the uncannily good X-Men: First Class, and Thor, which was superb- and much better than Captain America (though even that was streets ahead of the abysmal Green Lantern). I thought Attack The Block was good fun, Rise of the Planet of the Apes was surprisingly great, and The Adjustment Bureau gets my vote for best romance. Plus it made me fall in love with Emily Blunt. Which is a good thing.

2011 brought me a load of great books that I tore through far too quickly, and quite a few dreadful books that I couldn't make myself finish. One of the best new YA authors of 2011, I reckon, has to be Veronica Roth, who emerged with Divergent. And no, I don't just like her because she's pretty. That's just, like, a coincidence, or something.

All in all, it was a good year for me. Nothing terrible happened to my family or my friends. The world faced so much upheaval during 2011, from financial crises to revolutions and rebellions and earthquakes and floods- but my friends and family are safe and well and happy, and that's what I reckon to be a good year. I know that not all of you can say the same. I know that some of you lost loved ones, or suffered through whatever hardships the year threw at you. For those who had a bad 2011, I hope 2012 is better. And for those who had a good 2011, I hope 2012 is better still.

Nothing wrong with being a little greedy every now and then.