HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello, hello, hello Dear Readers - and a very happy 2013 to you all!

2012 was a fun, frightening, challenging and really exciting year. I had lots of firsts. My first author event in London - at Foyles - where so many of you lovely Dear Readers turned up and made my day despite all my travel trevails. My first - and second! - award ceremonies, the Leeds Book Award and the Lancashire Book of the Year Award. I didn't win anything at either, but both events were so amazing to be part of that it hardly mattered. My first time meeting a Huge Big Time Author - the delightful Cassandra Clare - and actually *interviewing* them for this blog. I recieved my first foreign edition of one of my books, the Polish translation of Shadows on the Moon, and the first audio-book version, again of Shadows.

This year was also very busy writing-wise. We did an awesomeness overhall of the first The Name of the Blade book, The Night Itself, which involved extensive re-writes and revisions. At the beginning of the year I started work on the second book of the trilogy (title to be announced) and I managed to finish it (phew!) just before the end.

I've had a truly wonderful 2012, and I hope that you all did too.

2013 is going to be a special year because this is when my baby, my precious, The Night Itself, will finally be unleashed on the world after nearly three years of planning and scheming and keeping everything about my Big Secret Project, well, *secret*. We've got the cover reveal to come, and hopefully other fun things associated with the release on the 4th of July. I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks about the story, which is such a huge change of direction for me as a writer. I, along with many other people, have fingers crossed that the first book of The Name of the Blade will be a hit. I'm feeling equal parts terror and elation over this!

Between October 31st and December the 3rd of this year I'll be travelling to Brighton to attend the World Fantasy Convention. This will be my very first con, and I'm not on any panels - I'm just going as a reader and a fan. There are going to be some really amazing people there, including members of my writers group The Furtive Scribblers, some of whom are travelling from as far afield as Canada. I'm feeling about equal parts terror and elation over this, too.

I don't know what other things might be to come in 2013. I'm hoping that I get to hit London again, and maybe meet a few more of my Dear Readers in the process. I've got the final book of my trilogy to write, and a couple of other projects lined up that I want to give some attention to. Whatever happens, I hope that I'll continue to be blessed by the support of all the talented, dedicated and brilliant people who made my 2012 so wonderful. Hannah The PR Person, aka Lovely Lass. Annalie, otherwise known as Wonder Editor. Nancy, my Super Agent. The rest of the great team at Walker Books, and at The Miles Stott Children's Literary Agency. All the geniuses of The Furtive Scribblers. And you, my Dear Readers, who make every bit of struggle, stress and strife worthwhile.

I love you guys! Have a great year :)