I know it’s been a while and I know I promised to post more often but life has been extremely busy. It’s only now, on the last day of 2009 that I have a moment to spare! Some of you will know that I’ve been working on improving my health and losing weight. Thought I’d post a before and (almost) after pic. I still have about 2kg to lose, so I’m just about at my goal weight

BEFORE                                                             AFTER

Oh, and just this Christmas eve, we added to our family.

Bella

Max

As you can imagine, they’ve been keeping us on our toes. I’ve never seen so much puppy pee and poop! We’ve got puppy troubles times 2! But it’s all fun and worth it.

So, moving house is a monumental job. I moved in mid-June and I’m still not fully unpacked. This new home has needed some TLC and it has been a task getting used to the extended travel time to and from work but strangely enough, the last couple of months have been fantastic. I’m already in love with the house and the country atmosphere of this town and now that the days are getting longer, life feels good. I can even see me getting back to writing, eventually. Don’t hold your breath just yet, I still have some things to take care of. I have this last 10kg/22lb to lose and I’m finding that I really must focus and commit. Anyone who’s lost weight knows this. And I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a book about it. Corny, I know, but it may not actually be for publication, just for me to fully complete the circle I guess.

I plan on posting here a little more, though it won’t always be about writing, so consider yourself warned that it may go from a romance writer’s blog to more of a personal one. :)  Anyhoo, it is late so I must trundle off to bed.

Okay, so I’m packing the house. It is daunting! I’ve been here 7.5 years and have accumulated a lot of… ah… stuff. Books in particular. But I have come to a cross roads in my packing and sorting. What do I do with books so old they have become obsolete? Old school textbooks, for example, superseded by new information incorporating new technologies. What do I do with these? Books that clearly have no use anymore There’s a part of me screaming that they cannot be thrown away but let’s be honest, who the hell is going to want these? I don’t and I love books! Gah!

I’ve lost count of the number of boxes so far packed with books but there is a method to my packing: Blaze books; historical novels; all contemporary romance not Blaze; self-help books; books on writing; diet books (OMG I have a lot of these and the total sum of help they have offered? Zero. hmmm) reference books; travel books… you get the picture. Here’s the kicker though, I’ve even noted whether they are boxes to store or boxes to open soon after the move. Organised, huh?

Strangely though, sitting here with 10 bookcase shelves empty, I’m only halfway through. It’s quite disheartening. And scary. How on earth do I mix all the his and hers stuff when there is just so much of it?

Eh, I can only laugh and you can only wish me good luck because I haven’t touched the finance section yet

I know what I promised and I haven’t given up hope quite yet, I just can’t seem to find my muse. Has anyone seen her? She’s about 6ft, Russian, built like a German tank and goes by the name Bertha?

I think she bailed on me when I stopped listening but in my defence, I had good reason. Concentrating on my health, family and work has taken priority. For a long time I wrote at the expense of everything else. There was little balance, if any at all. My weight ballooned, family started wondering if they’d ever see me again and work suffered. But then, I met the man of my dreams and really stopped to assess my life.

So while I have much writing to catch up, I haven’t been twiddling my thumbs. I’ve lost 77 pounds (35kg or 5.5 stone), am in the process of selling my house, have bought a new house with my man and work is back on track. I’m not done yet. I have another 15kg to lose (30 pound or thereabouts) and am starting to prepare for the June move. Needless to say, I doubt much writing will get done but let me just say, the new house has inspired me. I’ll have a new writing nook and the techno wizo man that I love will set me up with new equipment I’ll be mobile and creative. Yay.

Of course, lots of work to do between now and then!

What was green is now black,

once teeming with life –

now silent.

Still.

Sad.

The firestorm that swept by-

angry, ferocious, hungry-

took but moments.

Indiscriminate.

Random.

The destruction is inexplicable,

twisted metal hides burnt wood.

Blackened remnants of what was.

Inanimate.

Buried.

My heart weeps for those who perished.

Men, woman and children.

Lives lost too early.

Needless.

Senseless.

But from the ashes, hope arises.

Photos spared, keepsakes intact.

Wildlife emerges from the rubble.

Survivors.

Miracles.

Against the tragedy of bushfire –

determined to catch the bug,

we will not surrender.

Brave.

Resolved.

Not all is lost.

Many will rebuild and recover.

What is black will soon be green.

Reborn.

Resilient.

Black Saturday, 7 February 2009.

Touched the hearts of many.

Global citizens band together.

Strong.

United.

The last 5 days have past in a blur. I swear it’s really Christmas eve tonight but alas, after visiting 2 families, a best friend and covering 1000km by car, it’s no wonder I’ve run out of time! So while it is belated Christmas wishes I now send, they are heartfelt. My only consolation is that I’m in time for New Year’s.

Here’s wishing everyone a wonderful, safe and happy 2009. To all my writer buddies, I wish you lots of sales. To all the readers, I thank you for taking the time to support me and I hope you find some golden gems in your TBR piles!

As 2008 draws to a close, I have received 2 more wonderful reviews.

Jambrea over at Joyfully Reviewed thinks that “Glamour Puss rocks the cat walk!” (Thanks to Vivien Dean for alerting me to the review!)

And Night Owl Romance  thought that in Sari, “The rich textures of characters and backdrop pull you into a story that is well-developed.”

With those lovely words, how can one not be motivated to write more?!?! Good thing I’m on holidays and have some time to devote to the next Hybrids book.

I like good news. I suppose everybody does, LOL. But when you get lots of good news at once…

Bitten By Books reviewed Sari:

“I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The twists kept me reading long into the night….I can’t wait for the next book!” Read the rest

And The Romance Studio reviewed Glamour Puss:

“This is a powerful tale both in the eroticism involved and in the thought processes of a killer and those who try to find him.” Read the rest

And Romance Junkies reviewed Payback:

“Rose Middleton has given us a fun short story that never loses pace. Alexis and Lorenzo are so caught up in the thrill of the chase and that pot of gold at the end of the line; they at no point prepared themselves for the feelings that would resurface when they have come face to face or for that little thing called love.” Read the rest

They call it, iPod. OMG, why did I resist for so long? You see, my old MP3  - the sort that held an entire 128mb and cost me an arm and a leg way back when - finally bit the dust and for the longest time, I vowed I would not succumb to the domination of iPod.

But…I caved in and bought a 4th gen iPod nano. I’m addicted to it and to iTunes. My playlist for the gym is 60mins of run-your-ass-off kinda music and I love it. No wonder the weight is coming off, LOL (19.5kgs = 43lbs as of 8 Nov.)

P.S. Yes, I’m back. Properly. No more excuses. I will write. I will blog. I promise.

Yep, that seems to be my writing motto of late, missing in action. Finding time to write is trickier than ever, which is why I’ve had to cut my web time substatially. I can play once I’ve finished working, just don’t ask me when that is going to be! I am making excellent headway on the remaining Hybrid Series books.: Hawk and Tigress and I am excited that SARI has finally hit the shelves!

Sari

By: Rose Middleton | ISBN # 978-1-60202-129-7

Available from Linden Bay Romance
 

Shapeshifting scientific assistant Sari Jones is having trouble controlling the dangerous heat that surges through her blood every time she steps within three feet of her hunky boss, Professor Kai Harrison. But control it she must, or risk losing the one man her heart has come to desire, and the freedom she longs to keep.

It’s a race against time when Kai and Sari are forced to trust one another in the search for truth. The Facility is key, an underground complex where Sari was once imprisoned. Deep in the jungle passions ignite, secrets are revealed, and for Kai the pieces start to fall into place. Sari isn’t human. She’s hybrid. And she’s just what Kai’s been searching for. There’s no such thing as coincidence…

Okay, enough from me. Back to writing…

…but I need to share. Since May, I’ve lost 13kg (about 28 pounds)! Still got plenty left to shed, but woohoo! How much more can I lose by my birthday in 2 weeks?? .

15000 / 50000 words. 30% done!