Kiwi purrs forth with InknBeans Press

Today is Christmas Eve, so first off let me say a big Happy Christmas to everyone and good wishes for a fabulous New Year. I also hope that 2012 brings you health, happiness and the sort of riches you need!

Looking back, 2011 has been a crazy year. It has been a year of ups and downs, like any. But, for me, it has been my best writing year so far. This year, I took a book that I wrote in 2002, edited it, and self-published it on Amazon and Smashwords. That book was Kiwi in Cat City. I also published a book of poetry, written since I was a teenager. Kiwi was followed this year by Kiwi and the missing Magic and Kiwi and the Living Nightmare. Then in November I took up the NaNoWrimo challenge and surprised my normally lazy ass by actually finishing it. All in all, I have never written so much in one year. Ever. And I've enjoyed it so much.

This year I have met some brilliant people through the writer/reader groups Book Junkies on Facebook and the Indie Author Group. Recently, I have joined some other groups too, but these two are the ones that I've been popping in and out of since the start of this year. They've been a great help and good fun. I'm not sure if I would have written so much this year if it hadn't been for the help, inspiration, brilliance, fun and comradeship in these groups. So many people... Annarita Guarnieri, Sue Palmer, Stephen Hise, Kristina Jackson, Nicole Storey, Donna Brown, Valerie Douglas, Cathy Speight, Kai Wilson, Alex Canton, Helmy Parlente Kusuma, Grace Guerra, Kim Wistfulskimmie ... the list goes on and on, and with my memory it's impossible to remember everyone. Book Junkies is a bit like Cheers without the draught, stale nuts, smelly toilets (I imagine) and flirty barman. Yep everyone in there knows your name and as soon as you stumble in you'll find a greeting, a wisecrack and lots more.

If I hadn't been a member of Book Junkies I also would not have come across US publisher InknBeans Press. I was lucky enough to be offered a contract with them to publish my books. To say I was gobsmacked is an understatement, but the only word that fits, along with yay! So now I'm a happy Beanie! I join talented writers such as Kitty Sutton, Annarita Guarnieri, Kristina Jackson, Susan Bennett and Nicole Storey. I would like to thank the amazing Jo, Boss Bean, for her help, inspiration and patience.

I'm thrilled to announce that on Monday, Kiwi in Cat City will be republished by InknBeans, complete with a new cover and some amazing illustrations by the talented Nikki McBroom. The book will also be available in colourful paperback for the first time. Kiwi readers will be getting an improved product, which I hope they will enjoy. I'm hoping to bring you Kiwi 4 early in the new year.

All that remains for me to say is to wish you happy holidays - don't eat and drink too much... oooh go on then... and happy reading and writing in 2012. Good luck, Vickie