I wanted to start 2012 with a series of posts from people who MIGHT just inspire you to be a bit brave. This is the second in the series. Let me introduce you to Natalie Wills, as she talks about ‘Believe in Yourself and You Will Not Fail’:

There are things we know in life and things we choose to believe in. Caroline’s sign-off message at Christmas time got me thinking about the word ‘believe’ so I asked a few friends what the word meant to them?

Replies were varied and included a seasonal reference to Santa, talk of fairies and angels and the goal of Premiership survival for an avid football supporter. A strong belief in the holy trinity and life eternal and a cinematic Field of Dreams reference to the whisper of ‘If you build it, he will come’ were also mentioned.

One friend commented that believing means, ‘having confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, without absolute proof that one is right to do so‘.

One asked for proof in order to believe and another felt believing doesn’t always make things turn out the way you want them to.

So, what happened to us lot growing up? None of them mentioned self-belief and that really surprised me. We encourage children to believe in themselves to rounds of applause no matter what their singing or dancing is like. We tell them ‘of course you can do it, just try’. If they fall at the first hurdle we reassure them that practice makes perfect. My children ooze self-confidence because underlying self-belief, ‘USB’ as I like to call it, is repeatedly instilled in them. As adults we don’t receive as much reassurance or as many compliments, least of all in business, hence we lose some of that ‘USB’. We shrug it off for fear of appearing cocky or arrogant.

Don’t get me wrong, I falter where ‘USB’ is concerned, as I’m sure we all do from time to time. However, I fully believe – there’s that word again – in the need for ‘USB’. When I falter I try my best to pick myself up again. When my self-belief is restored I won’t be told by anyone that something is beyond my reach. I must, from the outset, believe I can reach my aim or realise an ambition otherwise I will fail.

During 2011, my role at work was made redundant at a point in my life where I felt I could least cope with further upheaval. I was struggling to accept the sudden and unexpected death of my mother, my compass in life, six months prior to redundancy and was petrified that more enforced change would shatter my world.

So, I spent the summer with my children before my eldest started school. What should have been precious time was, in fact, a very confusing time – grieving, playing, worrying about the future. I clung on to the belief that all would be ok. I have to believe because it has to be true. I have to believe I can accommodate grief into my life and I do believe I will succeed in my new business venture. My new business began on a memorable day, the day my son started school. I know it might not be be plain sailing but I believe I will get there and I’m prepared to give it my all.

With Vivian Greene’s words in mind I’m hoping and believing 2012 is not going to be, ‘about waiting for the storm to pass’. It’s going to be about ‘learning to dance in the rain’.

I hope the new year sees me believing in myself more consistently whilst I strive towards my goals. If I believe a little more and doubt a little less I know 2012 will be a better year.

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About Natalie: Natalie Wills is a Publishing Consultant and Writer with over 15 years of experience in the publishing industry. Having forged a successful career in international sales & marketing, including product development, she started her own business in 2011.

NSW Consulting is her business consultancy which specialises in flexible, focused and affordable project management support to book publishers.

For more information and to contact Natalie details are:

Natalie Wills

Publishing Consultant & Writer

NSW Consulting

Tel: +44 (0) 7957 198967

Email: natalie@nswconsulting.co.uk

Website: www.nswconsulting.co.uk

You can follow Natalie on Twitter (@nswconsulting) and Facebook.

I wanted to start 2012 with a series of posts from people who have ‘taken the plunge’ or ‘followed their dreams’ or had a ‘now or never’ moment, because it MIGHT just inspire you to be a bit brave too…

First up, the delightful Talli Roland:

I tried for five minutes (at least) to come up with a cliché-free title for this post . . .  and failed. Because ‘following your dreams’ is such a cliché, isn’t it? Just uttering the phrase aloud is enough to ensure a eye-roll from anyone within earshot. In fact, I usually employ a pre-emptive eye-roll myself.

But for all the nausea-inducing triteness it conjures up, there’s nothing more satisfying than making a start at something you truly love. Four years ago, I left behind my corporate life and made the jump to full-time writing, with the goal of becoming a novelist. And not just a novelist: a published one.

Looking back, it was a definite leap of faith – but when is following your dreams ever practical? I’d trained as a journalist, so I knew I had the mechanics of writing somewhat conquered. But could I write fiction, a completely different kettle of fish? I’d never written a full-length ‘adult’ novel. In fact, the last oeuvre I’d penned was at age thirteen. Eep!

Motivated by fear, I sat at my desk and started writing. Eighty thousand words and a few months later, and my first novel was complete. Cue copious rejections! And repeat for novel number two and three and four… and five.

Thankfully, along the way, I met a publisher who contracted me to write a London travel guide, 24 Hours London. Although it wasn’t fiction – and not my dream – I was thrilled to finally tell people that YES! I had something published! My book was in the shops, I got the Mayor of London’s endorsement, and things were finally moving.

And move they did! Since that first London book, I’ve published four others (including three novels): 24 Hours Paris, The Hating Game, Watching Willow Watts, and Build A Man. From a standing start four years ago, sometimes I can’t believe what the past few years have brought – and I couldn’t be more thankful.

So has ‘taking the plunge’ paid off? I think you know my answer!

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About Talli: Talli Roland has three loves in her life: chick lit, coffee and wine. Born and raised in Canada, Talli now lives in London, where she savours the great cultural life (coffee and wine). Her debut novel, The Hating Game, was an Amazon Top 100 bestseller and shortlisted for Best Romantic Read at the UK’s Festival of Romance, and her second, Watching Willow Watts, was selected as a 2011 Amazon Customer Favourite. Build A Man is her latest release. Talli blogs here and can be found on Twitter here.

Yesterday I finished the first draft of novel 4, let’s call him The Drowning of Arthur Braxton. I told Twitter, I told Facebook, and everyone was amazingly supportive, so many got that it was a big deal for me.

You see. Fifteen months ago, I had a conversation with a friend. I’d stopped writing, I was all set to give up. It was a real ‘should I stop this dream’ moment. That friend helped me to write again, short story writing was magic.

And now. Today, somewhere, in amongst my utterly emotional head, there’s a tiny shrill of euphoria dancing alongside an echo of ‘I told you so’.

Regardless of what happens next: This is what it feels to be happy.

My fellow (and most freaky) partner in crime, Mr Perring, has blogged about collaborating and the front cover for ‘FREAKS!’. And me? Well, I’m NOT blogging about that new front cover, mainly because I’m RUBBISH at keeping cover-secrets and want to show you NOW.

More, soon, promise.

A few days ago I received my royalty cheque for the e-pub editions of Black Boxes and In Search of Adam and for a brief moment I was speechless.

I’ve blogged elsewhere about the reason for the low e-book pricing and about how reaching a new audience hasn’t always been positive, but I don’t think that I’d ever really considered just how many people had bought the electronic versions of my novels. Over the last few days I’ve seen that it’s thousands of people and that’s absolutely mind-blowing.

I have such difficulty writing these posts because I still can’t believe how lucky I’ve been to be published, but thank you! To everyone who has taken the time to buy, for those who read to the end and especially to those who tweeted or facebooked or blogged me a positive response.

(Note to readers: There’s a chance for a handful of people to receive freebies from Appliances Online and all details can be found at the end of this post)

OK, so an update about my broken oven and my concern about how the turkey would be cooked this year (because clearly you’re all anxious and full of concern and probably haven’t slept since that blog post…)

As of today, I have a NEW oven. Hip, hip hooray! (It is currently in the middle of my kitchen and waiting for an electrician to do things to it to make it come to life (as if by magic))

For those who like to know these things, the oven came via Appliances Online who are the UK’s largest appliance retailer, so we’re talking ovens, fridge freezers, washing machines and cookers.

I would also like to add that my new (shiny) oven was delivered at 7:20am this morning and I was wearing my new birthday nightie, slippers and dressing gown, which didn’t at all phase the rather nice delivery man.

But, I hear you cry, why are you blatantly and unapologetically plugging Appliances Online on your blog?

Well, after my oven died and I was stressing about how I’d (you read that as G, yes?) cook the Christmas turkey to anyone who’d listen, I read this post by the fabulous notSupermum about Appliances Online giving out surprises to a few lucky folk. I checked out their website and prices and liked what I saw. I left a comment on notSupermum’s post and a lovely man called Ben really DID contact me with a delicious offer. He also said yes to my ridiculously cheeky request to run a competition for my blog readers to grab a festive freebie. (Thank you Ben and thank you notSupermum!)

So, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post (I’d advise you to link to your blog, leave an email address or mention your twitter name in the comment) and a HANDFUL of people really WILL be contacted and receive freebies from Appliances Online. This is a UK only competition.

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Something like small print: It’s not a gimmick, it’s not an empty marketing ploy – this is simply a company utilising social media with class, generosity and Christmas spirit. I really can’t praise Appliances Online enough, especially as they DIDN’T ASK ME to blog about any of the things I am now going to blog about (if that makes sense!).  They are simply spreading goodwill around blogs and on twitter. (I think they might actually be based in the North Pole and be a group of elves, but I don’t think I’m supposed to blog that either!). I’m utterly impressed with this company and want to help spread the word about them. So here’s some top points that I especially liked about Appliances Online:

• 7 day, next day delivery when you order before 7pm .
• Free delivery if you’re willing to wait a couple of days (although to be fair next day delivery is only £10 anyway).
• 10 day free returns guarantee – the statutory minimum is 7 days and the consumer has to pay for the return. With Appliances Online it’s 10 days and they come to pick the appliance up for free.
• Text messages to confirm delivery slot.
• All packaging is taken away with the delivery men.
• Price match promise – if you find one of their major competitors (there’s a list here) selling an appliance for more than a pound cheaper they’ll match their price.

If all of this tickles your Christmas fancy, then be sure to leave a comment. Good good luck to those who do! (Ho, ho, ho!)

An amazing gift, from the super talented Darren Craske:

Did you even miss me or even realise that I was gone?

I am back from what was the most amazing trip, as in the trip of a lifetime to Los Angeles! (Yes, you read that right! LA, yes me! And yes, the kiddies and G came along too!). I still honestly can’t believe that we were invited or that it all happened! Things like this/like that don’t happen to us (although clearly they do because they did… oh you know what I mean!)

Today I’m struggling with jet lag and it’s Littlest’s birthday and Eldest has gone to France with his school and I’ve done an event (hope I wasn’t rubbish!) and I’ve SO MUCH to tell you… so do bear with me over the next few days.

For now, I just need to say thank you, thank you, thank you Xbox, for inviting us to attend the launch of Kinect as part of our role as an Xbox Ambassador (along with 4 other amazing bloggers and their families). And another heartfelt thank you to the very beautiful Kerry at Digital Outlook, because she is the maker of dreams-coming-true.

More soon.

You all know just how overwhelmed and grateful I am with the amazing support that people have given so far. You lot are utterly fabulous but… (and believe me I’ve struggled with myself about whether or not to write this blog post, but I also know that I get one shot at this, so…)

Like Bees to Honey is officially published TODAY and this blog post is all about me asking for your help. I’m trying not to cringe, honest, because asking for help isn’t something I like to do (some say proud, others say foolish). But I also know that this time I need and want to reach new readers. So, if you will, I’d really and truly appreciate your help…

Ways you could help:

- Review Like Bees to Honey on Amazon, as well as Waterstones.com, Facebook or anywhere else you have accounts. The more buzz,  the better the chance of the book getting noticed.

- Ask in your local bookshop if they have the book in stock. You don’t actually need to buy it, but a regular stream of people asking will keep it high in the minds of booksellers.

- Tweet as you’re reading it (there is a #likebeestohoney tag). This would let your followers know you’re enjoying it (assuming you are!).

- Spread the word. Word of mouth is more important than anything. Read the book in public, on the bus, on the tube, tell strangers on the street… you never know, it might just reach the right person (although I’m not sure who that might be!)

- Buy Like Bees to Honey (with free overseas postage here). I know it’s an obvious one, but you might possibly enjoy it. I’d happily send out a signed or personalised postcard to anyone who hasn’t had the chance to get me to sign a book.

I know that this blog post and today’s tweets will mean that some of you will get cross and stop following me on twitter or here on this blog (oh yes, I’ve lost quite a few followers this week!), but others will embrace this for what it is and understand that I’m just trying to build a buzz and give Like Bees to Honey wings (oh yes, the puns are flowing!).

(And for those new to this blog (hello!), here’s why I wrote about Malta and also a little bit more about Like Bees to Honey)