Regrets, I've had a few....

Oh my days - I have been super crap at updating this haven't I? (Though if you think this is bad, you should check out my Candyretro Tumblr blog.....at least 1 year and counting....)So, what have I been up to? Well, I've increased my obsession with The National to somewhere just a little below stalker level, discovered Spotify, watched some E! red carpets with VS via the Facebook messaging facility and booked flights to Wellington for The Hobbit premiere, even though I don't have tickets to it. Feel Andy is going to be so happy when it's all over! This is all small fry however - here is my top 3 of big things I've done since March 2012.... 1. Went travelling through Indonesia. A very small part of it, but still....Yogjakarta, Gili Isles, Flores and Ubud, Bali. Amazing experience, sometimes challenging, but ultimately so rewarding. Of course, I planned on writing about it - but didn't manage very much. Will post what I have though! Before this we spent a fantastic 5 days in New York that just swelled my desire to live there, and a wonderful month in the UK - family, friends, travel, the Boss and John Simm. 2. Moved back to Auckland. It was a decision that had to made whilst we were away; housing / financial things had happened in Christchurch, and Andy was made an offer and it all seemed a bit too convenient. It also felt to me a little rude to come back and then leave again, but it's what happened. I wasn't sure how I felt about returning to Auckland now my 2 closest friends have left, but I can truly say it feels like coming home. I'm not sure I could ever get bored of that skyline view of the city, or Rangitoto just sitting in the harbour as I drive along Tamaki Drive. 3. Had my book professionally appraised. Wow. So wasn't prepared for that. The critique made me realise though I'd been aiming for a genre I originally wanted nothing to do with. I'd coined Mis-shapes as Chick lit because I'm a woman writer and it's about relationships....but I never wanted romantic heroines, and my heroes are meant to be flawed. Of course, this doesn't fit with the Chick lit model and so when the critique responded saying pretty much that, a light bulb went on and off, and on again.....I'd made my book become something I never wanted it to be to fit into a genre, and to appeal to the masses. It was a bit like having someone you've never met tell you your friends are horrible people. I never realised I would take it so personally! The appraiser gave me lots of great tips, and if I'd wanted to continue along the Chick lit road I could change a few character defects, a few romantic couplings and who knows? But I don't. So I'm starting again, but keeping it in the style I wanted - like Nick Hornby - irrelevant perhaps, but ultimately entertaining book about relationships. What is Nick Hornby's genre anyway? If he was a woman would he be Chick lit? I actually hate that phase, and even more so that women are labelled it just because....Grrrr. I have a few thousand words written - for those who did critique it, thank you so much! I haven't ignored you, and I will retain some of the original in the second (4th?) draft. I have a tighter schedule that I plan on sticking to so published in 2013 may still be a realistic dream! Although, clearly should be doing that instead of this.....