Wow. 2005 has been an incredible year of high highs and low lows. I’ve learned a lot about myself and the people in my life and I’ve learned who really loves me. Instead of doing a post about resolutions, I think I’d like to look back a bit and be thankful before I begin to look forward to life in 2006.

Two years ago New Year’s Eve I was pregnant and on bedrest, worried that I was going to lose the pregnancy. I’d decided to give writing a chance. A serious chance and as I would spend the next seven and a half months on bed rest, I certainly had the time.

I look back at those manuscripts and I see how far I’ve come as a writer. My editor at EC, Ann Leveille is really responsible in large part for that. I just want to say publicly that she kicks ass, or rather, kicks my ass and makes me work. Makes me put in the effort to be a better writer. I appreciate that more than I can even begin to explain. So thank you, Ann. Thank you for believing in me and letting me have my own voice. And thank you Raelene, for reading Triad and sending it back to me, telling me that you thought it was great but my dialog tags were a mess and to fix them, LOL. And I did and you bought my baby and it’s now on bookshelves in Borders, how wonderful is that?

But really, all of this started because of my husband (and not just because his super sperm knocked me up through a diaphram, landing me on bedrest). He’s believed in me every day of the last two decades and he’s gotten me through so many times when I wasn’t sure if I could make it. He’s been such a great support and help to me with all of this and I am a very lucky woman. Every morning when I open my eyes and see him there, I count my blessings. I may not always deserve it, but he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

And to my friends who’ve read and critiqued me, who’ve high fived with me when I had good news and helped me be mean and bitchy when I had bad news – your encouragement and love get me through the hard times and keep me bouncy. I’ve heard a hundred times that romance is a cut throat genre and that authors are mean to each other and while I’ve seen a lot of tightassery with regard to erotic romance from other genres, I have to say that I’ve been touched a thousand times more by my fellow romance authors who’ve reached out to do something nice for me. And for my RW who are always there even when I’m busy and I don’t check in as often as I should, I love you all.

My kidlets, who are insanely wild and out of control and a source of blushing at the playground when all of the other kids seem to be so damned well behaved – you are the source of my magic. Because you are filled with love and light and you’re my very best creation. But sweetie, let go of your penis! (god, that boy and his penis!)

And to my readers – what can I say about you that would do justice to what you all mean to me? I still have each and every note I’ve ever been sent about my books and it is my sincere hope that I never become so jaded that each time you send me something like that I am not incredibly touched. How generous you are with me! Thank you for your support and your words of encouragement and praise. I hope that I can continue to write stories that appeal and help to take you away for a little while into another world (where the sex is hot and the men are hotter)

Thank you, all of you. I wish you love, peace, blessings, joy, orgasms and chocolate in great abundance in 2006. And may life bring you a soft pink unicorn.

xxxooo Lauren