One Reason I LOVE Writing! Annie West

There are so many great aspects to being a writer. Reading for a start. I couldn’t be a writer if I wasn’t an avid reader and I have to admit that settling down with a good book is one of my great joys in life. What else? Creating your own stories and then seeing them in print. Hearing from readers that they enjoyed your book. That’s fabulous, guaranteed to put a huge grin on my face. Being able to work in sloppy old clothes or even PJs. That’s a definite plus. In fact, waking on a cold rainy day to the sound of a downpour and the knowledge that you have a great scene to write and don’t have to stir out of the house is an absolute luxury. Reading about spectacular heroes and knowing that it’s vital market research (he, he) I love it! Going to writers’ conferences and talking books for a whole weekend is wonderful.

For me, one of the best things about being a writer, and specifically a romance writer, is getting to know so many other fabulous women who write romance. Some of my best friends are people I’ve met through writing and that’s very precious.

And of course, when you have friends who write you also have reason to CELEBRATE from time to time. Another one of my favourite activities. Writing has its ups and downs. For all the fun side of things there are also the rejections, the writer’s block, the major revisions and the pressure of deadlines. So when the news is good it’s natural to want to celebrate.

This month is a perfect one for celebrating. Three (count them!) of my writing friends from Australia have their debut books released this month. How’s that for amazing? They’re excited and so am I. There’s something so thrilling about that first book actually on the shelves that’s breathtaking.

The books and authors in question are:

'Scandal's Daughter' by Christine Wells (Berkley Sensation DEBUT novel),
'Forgotten Marriage' by Paula Roe (Silhouette Desire DEBUT novel),
'Dream Job, Hot Boss!' by Robyn Grady (Harlequin Modern Extra DEBUT Novel)

So raise your glasses please, or your boxes of fine chocolate, or your best festive food and join the cyber celebrations. As you can imagine, there was some rather noisy partying Down Under recently in honor of these successes.

To mark the occasion, Robyn, Christine, Paula and I have got together to devise a contest in which signed copies of these three debut novels and my current release 'For the Sheikh's Pleasure' can be won. If you’re interested, pop over to my website http://www.annie-west.com/ and check out the contest page. You have until 31 October to enter.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear what things you like to celebrate. Birthdays or name days? Special holidays or personal achievements? What do you and your friends enjoy celebrating most?

Annie