Happy new year, one and all! I hope you've had a marvellous Christmas and are geared up for a wonderful year ahead in 2012.

My own holiday season was rather mixed but I'm happy to report Christmas celebrations with family and friends were a delight. There was plenty of goodwill, good food and warm hugs all round, and the peace of the season. Just to prove how well we got into the celebratory spirit, here's a picture of some of the goodies we made to share (clockwise from bottom left) shortbread, German cinnamon stars, gingerbread and fruit mince pies.

But now it's back to work for me, finishing off my current story. Meanwhile you'll find a few new things on my site. Visit my book page and you'll be able to read about my inspiration for GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT which comes out in North America in March. As an aside - thank you to the readers who've contacted me, saying such lovely things about Cassie and Amir's story. One reader reviewer on the UK Mills and Boon site even said after reading it: "Mrs West is without question the mistress of the Sheikh story." Now that sort of comment is guaranteed to make me smile!

Also from my book page you'll find a link to a new page for UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH (UK April, Aus May, Nth America June), with a range of terrific pictures that give you an idea of the setting. Look out in future months when I'll post an excerpt and more behind the scenes information.

I've just learned today that I have another release coming out in the UK soon. Look out for and anthology called GREEK AFFAIRS: TEMPTED BY THE TYCOONS that includes my story THE GREEK TYCOON'S UNEXPECTED WIFE. The book will be out in Kindle edition in February and in paperback in March.

This month too, I've just posted a fabulous new contest. Since it's new year, I'm celebrating by offering a easy contest where three lucky people will win a signed new release book by a terrific Australian romance writer. Paula Roe, Michelle Douglas and Christina Brooke are offering their latest books hot off the press and I'll throw in one of my stories for each winner as well. If you visit my contest page you'll find all the details.

I'm particularly excited as Michelle's new book THE SECRETARY'S SECRET and Christina's new title MAD ABOUT THE EARL are out this month. Michelle writes modern, tender and very satisfying sweet romances. Christina specialises in intense, sexy historical romances that you just can't put down. Plus this month also sees the release of Anne Gracie's BRIDE BY MISTAKE - another luscious historical romance I've been anticipating for months now. I think January is going to be a bumper month for great reading.

This year brings a change in my blogging too. From this month I'll have a regular feature on the Pink Heart Society called 'A Writer's World' on the 4th Tuesday of each month, starting 24 January. I'll touch on a range on topics related to my experiences as a writer, some of the places I get to or perhaps ones my characters might know. If you have any suggestions for topics you'd like to see covered in that monthly piece, let me know by emailing me at annie@annie-west.com

Again, all the best for the new year. I hope it starts with some wonderful reading!

February means Valentine's Day so I'm wishing you all the best for 14th February. I hope you have a lovely day, whether it's spending time with a loved one or curled up with a romance book and a chocolate!

This Valentine's Day I'll be with a group of aspiring romance writers. If you're in or near the Sydney area and are wondering what it's like to write romance, and where to start, I'd love to see you there! Cathleen Ross and I will run a two hour Romance Writing Workshop on Tuesday 14th February. The workshop will be held in the Willoughby Room at Chatswood Library on the Concourse. The event is part of celebrations for the National Year of Reading. The workshop runs from 1.30 - 3.30pm and costs $15 (including afternoon tea). Seats are limited as I understand the room is a perfect size for a medium sized workshop. To book, or find out more, call (02) 99672917 or contact willpark@willoughby.nsw.gov.au  There's no need to bring anything apart from something to write on. If you're interested in romance writing but don't have any experience, or not much, this could be a perfect way to spend Valentine's Day afternoon.

Valentine's Day also marks the close of my current website contest with multiple signed release books to be won from me, Christina Brooke, Paula Roe and Michelle Douglas. Check out my contest page for details before 14th February.

February brings the wonderful Australian Romance Readers' Awards and Dinner, also in Sydney, this time on 11th February. In the lead up to it I've learned that I've been nominated for some awards - in great company with a number of wonderful writers.

Both GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT and PRINCE OF SCANDAL have been nominated for favourite category romance and I've been nominated for favourite Australian romance author. What an absolute thrill!  GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT just scored a 4 star review from Romantic Times too.

In book news I'm thrilled to say my story THE GREEK TYCOON'S UNEXPECTED WIFE is being reissued as part of a UK anthology available in ebook this month and paperback next month. The anthology is called: GREEK AFFAIRS: TEMPTED BY THE TYCOONS. Here's the cover. Isn't it luscious? Yes, I know I posted it last month but I like looking at it. It makes me want to escape to a Greek island.

For those wondering what's coming up later in the year I've just received, hot off the press, the US cover for UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH (UK release April, Australia May and North America June). Click here to see the cover, read the back cover copy or about some of the things that inspired me to write this Beauty and the Beast story.

In blogging news I'm thrilled to tell you I've joined the LoveCats Down Under - a group of Australian category romance authors. Yay! I'll be blogging there from time to time as well as stopping by to chat. If you haven't heard of this group, do check out the LoveCats Down Under blog. It's a talented, warm and friendly bunch of writers and I feel very privileged to be part of the group. We had a lovely party to welcome me and Emmie Dark, a debut Harlequin author, in January. I'll be there on Wednesday 15 February with my first official blog and I'd love to see some friendly faces there.

Also this month I'll be continuing with my monthly column on the 4th Tuesday of the month - 28th February at the Pink Heart Society.

Until next month, happy reading, and happy Valentine's Day.

But now it's back to work for me, finishing off my current story. Meanwhile you'll find a few new things on my site. Visit my book page and you'll be able to read about my inspiration for  which comes out in North America in March. As an aside - thank you to the readers who've contacted me, saying such lovely things about Cassie and Amir's story. One reader reviewer on the UK Mills and Boon site even said after reading it: "Mrs West is without question the mistress of the Sheikh story." Now that sort of comment is guaranteed to make me smile!

Also from my book page you'll find a link to a new page for (UK April, Aus May, Nth America June), with a range of terrific pictures that give you an idea of the setting. Look out in future months when I'll post an excerpt and more behind the scenes information.

I've just learned today that I have another release coming out in the UK soon. Look out for and anthology called GREEK AFFAIRS: TEMPTED BY THE TYCOONS that includes my story . The book will be out in Kindle edition in February and in paperback in March.

This month too, I've just posted a fabulous . Since it's new year, I'm celebrating by offering a easy contest where three lucky people will win a signed new release book by a terrific Australian romance writer. Paula Roe, Michelle Douglas and Christina Brooke are offering their latest books hot off the press and I'll throw in one of my stories for each winner as well. If you visit my contest page you'll find all the details.

I'm particularly excited as Michelle's new book THE SECRETARY'S SECRET and Christina's new title MAD ABOUT THE EARL are out this month. Michelle writes modern, tender and very satisfying sweet romances. Christina specialises in intense, sexy historical romances that you just can't put down. Plus this month also sees the release of Anne Gracie's BRIDE BY MISTAKE - another luscious historical romance I've been anticipating for months now. I think January is going to be a bumper month for great reading.

This year brings a change in my blogging too. From this month I'll have a regular feature on the  called 'A Writer's World' on the 4th Tuesday of each month, starting 24 January. I'll touch on a range on topics related to my experiences as a writer, some of the places I get to or perhaps ones my characters might know. If you have any suggestions for topics you'd like to see covered in that monthly piece, let me know by emailing me at annie@annie-west.com

Again, all the best for the new year. I hope it starts with some wonderful reading!