The Burrow is EXPECTING!!!

Jess, Leanne, me, Tara, Mari: Cardiff 2008

The Burrow, as some of you may know, is my writing group. We are CALLED the Burrow because we were originally a band of writers who met through the now defunct Harry Potter forum HPANA. I've known several of these women since 2005 and MOST by 2006 when I first dived into fan fiction for my training ground as a writer.

And TARA, was my very first ever random reader—the reader who wandered in and read even though she didn't know me from a hole in the internets. She was encouraging, enthusiastic, and fabulous.

Our actual writing group formed initially in 2007... I had written four chapters at that point of what would eventually be my first 204,000 word (I know, right?) first original book. (I was still writing my second long fan fiction—and there would be a 3rd before I sort of let that fall away).

preparing for a French taunting at Cardiff Castle

That group has done several writing related projects, mostly drabble-related. We even convinced an art gallery in Cardiff to display our drabbles with their artwork for an event (that is where we got together—Cardiff). And we've critiqued the books we've worked on for each other. As we've gone, I've sometimes felt guilty. Being me, I do something obsessively or not at all, and I have been on a full-scale writing train since I started—7.5 years now, I've done something writing related almost daily. This means there was a lot of 'read me, read me' from ME and less from other folks. But we HAVE produced other books besides mine.

And FINALLY, one of my writing family members has been offered a well-deserved publishing contract!!!

Working cover, designed by our friend Ana

Tara wrote Cardiffella in a WriMo, and then has spent some good time polishing, adding, revising, getting feedback--all those things a person needs to do... and now it is set for eBook publication in April (to be followed by print on demand availability a few months later).

As the title implies, it is a twist on Cinderella, set in modern day Cardiff, and is funnier than funny. You will definitely want to keep your eyes peeled for this. (does anybody else have eyes that water when you hear 'eyes peeled'? Just me then?)

Anyway, I'm THRILLED for Tara, and excited for the Burrow, and a little giddy because that's how I roll.

And here are a few more gratuitous pictures of us...

Sassing at the Taff (the river that swears a lot)

And here we are, in touch with our roots (note Hogwarts scarves-knitted by Leanne on the left)

It's probably apparent from these what a shrinking violet I am *shifty*  In my defense, I AM trying to take over the world.