Birthday celebrations

It was natural to blog about birthdays today as - you guessed it - it's my birthday today. It's also the date my latest US release: SCANDAL: HIS MAJESTY'S LOVE-CHILD is officially available in stores. It seems like serendipity. What a fantastic way to celebrate my birthday! I couldn't have timed it better.

Now, being past my twenties, I suppose I should be less enthusiastic about turning another year older. Believe me, I'm not that thrilled about the aging process. It seems harder than ever to shift that little bit of extra weight which just a little while ago seemed not a problem and now seems semi-permanent.

On the other hand, I've decided that birthdays can't be avoided. I might as well make the most of them. Not necessarily by demanding parties and presents but by treating myself, or planning with my family some sort of treat to celebrate the occasion. As my husband's birthday is the same month as mine, we've sometimes doubled up by having a weekend away with the family in the Hunter Valley vineyards. We don't do too much wine tasting but spend the time unwinding and getting to chat, as well as sampling some terrific food and going for country drives.

I have plans too, one year, to visit Paris on my birthday. I'm not sure I'll ever make it there to celebrate the date, especially as it means high season airfares from Australia, but that doesn't lessen the enjoyment of the dream. One day...just me and my husband...Sigh. It sounds fantastic.

In the past we've had memorable birthday celebrations, often when we had little cash to spare, but managed to organise a romantic celebration anyway. Picnics have featured from time to time. A surprise birthday dinner was another special treat (though at that time we didn't have a dishwasher, so there was a bit of dirty work to be done afterwards). A long leisurely brunch prepared by the family on the barbeque on a sunny day is another great memory, as was having my children bring in a tray of brekkie in bed.

Some of my other favourite birthday memories relate to other people's birthdays. My husband's grandma smiling at the head of the table on her 90th birthday. Making cakes for my children, with their help, in the shape of a rabbits or steam trains or castles. My daughter's 5th birthday visiting Longleat historic house and safari park in the UK. She was one very excited little girl!

I have a feeling this year's birthday will be memorable, especially as I have a soft spot for sheikh stories, and Tahir, my latest hero, is one of the most memorable heroes I've written. I can't wait to see what readers think of him.

Do you have a favourite birthday memory? Or maybe something you've always wanted to do either to mark your birthday or that of someone special?

To celebrate this special occasion, I'll give away a copy of SCANDAL: HIS MAJESTY'S LOVE-CHILD to one person who comments. Just check later to see who the winner is.

To find out more about this new story, pop by my web site. Or, if you want to buy it, (what a grand idea!) you can go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Happy reading! Annie

My First Continuity Story - Annie West

I've discovered a writer's life is full of firsts. The first exciting idea for a story. The first completed manuscript. The first rejection (so long ago I shouldn't be able to recall it but I can). The first contest placing/win. The first writers' group. First conference. First sale! First story in print. First editor. First time seeing your book in the store. First review. First reader mail!! First translation.

Now I've got another first to add to my collection: my first ever continuity story. You know the ones where a common thread weaves through several books, yet each book stands alone as an individual story?

Early last year my editor asked if I'd be interested in being part of a four part Presents continuity with a sheikh theme called DARK HEARTED DESERT MEN. How could I resist? I was particularly excited as it was a small series of books, following on from the Royal House of Karedes continuity. Being part of a small series appealed. Especially when I discovered my fellow continuity writers were some of my faves - Carol Marinelli, Trish Morey and Jennie Lucas. What fabulous company!

Soon I found myself immersed in a wealthy, exotic desert kingdom, with a challenging hero who was weary of the world and even of women, and who dreaded a reunion with his family in the country he'd left behind over a decade ago. But as soon as I began digging I found Tahir's cynicism was rooted in a painful past. Far from being simply a dissolute rake, this hero had perfected the art of hiding his weaknesses from the world and himself. Until he meets a special woman who threatens not only his comfort zone but his carefully constructed world. What happens after that - well you can find out more from SCANDAL: HIS MAJESTY'S LOVE-CHILD.

It's out this month in the UK and in July in North America, Australia and New Zealand. You can also read an excerpt on my website.

To celebrate this release I thought I'd offer a signed copy of my book to someone who leaves a comment. For a little challenge, how about seeing if you can write an interesting sentence or paragraph to hook a potential reader that includes one word from each title in the continuity? The words are: banished, king, forbidden and scandal.

Best of luck,

Annie