I wasn't going to write this post, after reading everyone else's 2009 wrap-ups, but people convinced me.
A lot of people I care about had a crappy 2009. I didn't.
2009 started well, surrounded by my friends in Philip Island. Then Michael came into my life and made everything just that little bit more awesome. I've never felt so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful, inspirational, supportive people.
It's also been a bloody good year for writing. I was a guest at the Edinburgh Book Festival and did about a zillion school visits which I thoroughly enjoyed. I had two books published, Angel Fish and Pink. I'm especially proud of Pink because it's the first book I've written that I wasn't commissioned to write, it was all me. It's been so exciting to see it do well, and I can't wait for it to come out in the US next year and see what they make of it. This year I've also sold books to the UK, Italy, China and Turkey, and I saw my first international editions (the UK and German versions of Scatterheart).
I did NaNoWriMo, which nearly killed me but felt like a pretty awesome achievement. I baked Christmassy things. I learnt how to use a sewing machine. My cat that I'd had since grade 5 died. I visited my senile grandmother and was pretty sure she had no idea who I was. I helped deliver another successful Reading Matters. I turned 28. I fell in love. I joined a writers' group. I walked along Hadrian's Wall for three days. I learnt the six steps of drinking whisky. I read lots of books. I finally started watching Battlestar Galactica.
I've watched people I love be sad this year, and struggle, and make hard decisions. And sometimes I feel guilty, because my life is pretty damn awesome. But guilt is a useless emotion, so my New Year's Resolution is to feel lucky instead of guilty. And take the awesome while it's here, and acknowledge that I've worked damn hard for it.
I'm really looking forward to 2010. I'm looking forward to writing a lot, and getting better at it as I do. I'm looking forward to reading exciting new things. I'm looking forward to all the adventures that life presents (except for the complicated provisional tax thingy the ATO wants me to do). And most of all I'm looking forward to spending time with the people I love, and doing everything I can to make their 2010 as awesome as my 2009 was.
Happy New Year!
5 comments:
Thanks for writing your post.
Lili, you have inspired to feel lucky too! A lot of my friends had bad 2008's and 2009's and I kind of sat on the sidelines going "My life is so good ... it's not fair!"
I guess life's not fair, but you have to appreciate what you've got and be there for the people who need you.
:D
Happy New Year!!
Also ... Old Battlestar Galactica = Win
New Battlestar Galactica = EPIC FAIL
Tatiana
Lovely post, Lili,
It's nice to see someone so positive and appreciative about what has been offered to them. I hope you have an equally great and even better 2010.
Cheers,
Lynn
Lili that was beautiful. I'm so, so, so happy for you. When I read, 'I fell in love', I had a little cry. You deserve it all Lili. You've had your fare share of crap, remember that. xo leens
You were also the guest author on the inaugral Author Tour of the Western Sydney Young People's Literature Project! That's a biggy in my books ;-)
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