A couple of days until my half century and I’ve been reflecting on some things, specifically, what I want to change and what I want to keep in my life. I’ll keep refining them as the year progresses. Have also jotted down a bit of a wish list.

What do I want to keep?

My work ethic which I think is pretty good.

Keep building on seeing the positives in things

Keep looking for the humourous – stay in touch with the child

Keeping helping people where I can – but increase

Keep anxiety at bay

Stay as physically fit as my body will let me.

What do I want to change?

My propensity to sit at home. I want to see and do more things. I’d like to be somewhere else on New Years Eve next year – Moscow or London or Madrid. I want to make the effort!

I want to be braver with opportunities.

My reprehensible tendency to not ring people back. Get over my phone phobia!

Not let pessimism and defeatist attitudes EVER get a hold of me!

Things I’d Like to Do (aka The Bucket List)

Write an episode/episodes for a quality TV series (like Spooks or Fringe) and have it produced – This is a BIG one for me!

Go to WNBA and NBA games – another big one

Travel (specific destinations in mind but won’t bore you)

Sing in a choir (but only one that does my kind of music – not something stodgy)

Have one of my books adapted for film or TV and actually produced!

It’s all happening over at the sister site today.  www.burnbright.com.au is launched and featuring giveaways and an exciting press release about my collaboration with unique singer/songwriter, Yunyu.

This collaboration actually began two or three years ago and has been slowly coming together bit by bit. I’m so happy to finally be able to talk about it openly. Yunyu, is a friend and an artist for who I have huge respect. She was ‘unearthed’ in Perth the same year as Missy Higgins, and is as talented and unique a performer. Think Kate Bush but darker, more contemporary and with huge depth.

The song, Angel Arias, she has written for the novel is simply stunning.

Lenore’s Song by Yunyu

Today there is a very amusing guest blog up at my Burn Bright YA site by Belinda Hamilton, entitled When Cool Loses its Cool. Meanwhile, over at the Marianne Delacourt site you can grab some Tara Sharp wallpaper or badges for your blog.

Here, things are quiet on the surface but underneath this calm exterior I’m plotting my next MDP adult project. What will it be? Though I’m still nursing a hankering for my cowpunk series, it will have to wait until someone loves the idea as much as me. Soooo… I’m thinking strip clubs, demons and a protagonist that can use her voice as a weapon.