An irresolute new year - with Kate Walker

January 1^st – New Year’s Day – that’s quite an auspicious date,  a date filled with meaning and portent, on which to write my very first blog of 2012.   It’s a little bit scary – as all New Year Days tend to be.

But that’s not why I’m irresolute - Well no – I don ‘t really mean irresolute do I? That means I can’t make up my mind  and  this morning I feel very resolute – quite determined in fact.  What I mean is that I’m here on the first day of the new year, with not a resolution in sight – no  ‘I will do this . . .’ and ‘I must do that . . .’   No, I’m just starting the New Year as I mean to go on  - and talking to friends. Friends, readers, people who matter to me.  And  that’s because people are what matter.

Personally, I was quite glad to see that back of 2011. It was not an easy year – or a fun one,  My family has a tradition that as midnight approaches we write a list on one sheet of paper of all the bad things in the past 12 months that we want to get rid of. And another list of the good things we want to  remember. As  midnight strikes, we put the list of bad things into the flame of a candle and burn them all up – gone –  out of our lives. And we keep the list of good tings the stay forever and remember what really matters.

2011 was a year   in which I dealt with bereavement  - my dear mother in law, two  beloved  cats. .  . There was  illness – my own, that of several people very dear to me those cats. There was the worry of two friends who were fighting with very real health problems,   things that went wrong unexpectedly,  and amongst all that problems in writing  through all the  ups and downs. As a result I’m  way behind on a deadline and  I’m going to have to run like mad even to keep still, never mind catch up.
So you’d think I would be resolving to work harder, faster, smarter  - to do more, plan more,  write more . . .

No – because if this year has taught me one thing it’s that it‘s people who matter. People (and cats and such ) that you care about,  who fill your life with warmth and friendships and caring. Someone once, someone very wise, said that on their deathbed he doubted that anyone wold ever say they wish they had spent more time at the office. And this year has taught me that spending time with people and sharing with them is so important.  If you’re not careful you can find that one day, suddenly and unexpectedly, they’re not there any more  - I had that happen this year, and came close to it a couple of more times too.

So my only resolve – not resolution -  for this year   is to make sure that the people who are important in my life know that they matter to me.  Because after all, love is what really matters, loving the people we who matter, and letting them know.   That’s one  of the reasons I write romance – and one of the reasons that I  value it and get angry when people mock  ‘those little love books’. Because after all, what’s more important than love?

So on this  January 1^st 2012, I’m putting that resolve into action – but thanking all my readers, everyone who’s  ever bought one of my books,  and all of you who’ve taken the time and trouble to write to me and let me know how much you’ve enjoyed them  - Thank you – you’re very special to me because without you I couldn’t keep on doing this job that I love  if there was no one out there interested in what I write.

For the coming new year I wish you health, happiness – but most of all I wish you love and the joy of people who love you in your life. I hope you’ll take the time to tell those people how important they are to you – and  to listen when they say the same back to you. It’s worth it, believe me!

Happy New Year! I hope 2012 is a wonderful year for you.

Kate Walker’s next title  -  The Devil and Miss  Jones - is out in the UK  in March and published on April 3rd in Presents Extra in America or Sexy Romance in Australia. You can find out more details over on Kate's Web site – with all the most up to date news on her blog.