It's already New Year's Eve here in New Zealand. Unfortunately, even though it's summer, we are experiencing bucketing down rain, with flooding around much of the country, including my backyard, which is under about a foot of water. But all and all, 2011 was a great year for me professionally, not quite as much on the personal  front. I'm looking forward to a better 2012 for New Zealand and the world.

2011 has been a HUGE year for me with the release in March of my debut book, INVITATION TO RUIN. My world changed when my book came out. I don't know what I was expecting, but when I read the wonderful reviews from Publishers Weekly and RT Book Review I think I finally believed that I could deliver a great story.

I kept pinching myself. I was suddenly a published author. I'm still pinching myself. I have had fun learning all about social media - twitter, facebook, blogging and updating my website. I have made some really fabulous friends and contacts. It still humbles me how helpful and giving the romance community is.

I only managed to write two new books in 2011 due to illness. In the middle of the year, finally all the doctors worked out what was wrong with me, and an operation in late August saw me well on the road to recovery. I intend to fix my output level in 2012.

2012 will be an even bigger year for me. Here are my plans for 2012: 

January - launch of my new website and blog www.bronwenevans.com with have a new face.

February - release of my first Novella, To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield. A two-hundred page Regency romp.

March - I shall be participating in Ashley March's, March Madness Event

April - Look out for the release of INVITATION TO SCANDAL and the accompanying blog tour with amazing prizes...

May - the release of my second novella, To Wager the Marquis of Wolverstone

June - the release of my first contemporary, The Reluctant Wife.

The advent and rise of the eBook has been as fast as I'd predicted. If music went digital then it was obvious other forms of entertainment would too. And that is what an author's job is - to entertain. We compete for people's valuable time. Everyone has so much choice now, with downloadable music, TV and film, and obviously books.

As you can probably tell by my list of releases, this is unlikely to be solely through traditional publishers. I've researched what I want out of my career and I'm happy to work with traditional publishers but I’d also like to fill their scheduling gaps with releases of my own. I want to write as a career and one book a year won't do that, nor will it build me a robust fan base. I would like more control over my career - control on distribution, price and promotion.

For other authors, I hope 2012 fulfills your dreams and your creative juices flow. For my readers, I hope you'll stick with me as I straddle both traditional and self-publishing worlds.

And finally, Good Bye 2011. I hope you have a safe and happy New Year and that 2012 sees all your dreams come true. Remember - The future is what we wish to make it....

Let me know your plans for 2012 and be in to win a signed copy of INVITATION TO RUIN. (Open internationally)