That Was the Year, That Was.

RHYS BOWEN: As the year draws to a close I always find myself in reflective mood. The holiday celebrations are winding down. I've located the last pieces of wrapping paper and mince pie crumbs and slipping into that transition mood, like Janus looking back and looking forward.

I promise not to make this a dreaded holiday letter--we all get them, I'm sure--one I had this year literally gave a day by day recital of everything the family had done. (On Thursday Feb 2nd Freddie had a dentist appointment but he was very brave and we were proud of him!!) My daughter Jane threatened to send out a spoof letter : "Oh and we were thrilled when Lizzie won the Olympics and the national spelling bee in the same month..."

So I'm limiting my reflections to three highlights of the year. What were three things that happened this year that you will treasure and remember for the rest of your lives?
My first one is easy because it's still happening--it is having my whole family together to celebrate the holidays, my own children and grandchildren and also my brother and his wife from Australia. Sixteen people in the house for a week--chaos, endless cooking and washing up but so great. Bocce ball tournament, charades, Taboo and musical evenings with everyone playing the guitar and singing. What a blessing and who knows when,if ever, we'll get everyone together again?

My second highlight was our trip to Spain, Morocco and Portugal. It's the first time we've ever taken a tour and I loved having every detail being taken care of by someone else. Bags up to the room, meals provided, evening entertainment and interesting people to travel with.

My career highlight? I think it would have to be the Love is Murder conference, at which I was one of the featured speakers. It was in Chicago, the day after that awful snow storm. We were about the first plane to land and drove along one cleared lane of the freeway with towering snowbanks on either side. I was driven to speak at a library and was sure nobody would come out in such awful weather. Instead the room was full. Amazing. And the conference ended with my winning the Readers' Choice award for best mystery series.

I am so grateful that I've been able to make my writing a career all my life and that the mystery world has not only given me an income and some accolades but some really good friends.

So who would like to share their highlights of the year? On Saturday I'll be looking ahead and finding out our resolutions and dreams for 2012.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: AH, Rhys, having to think back over the last year makes me realize I have NO IDEA what happened half the time. Was it this year that Jonathan had his operation? If so, his health is my number one item--but now, I think that might have been the year before.

Hmm. Clearly I'm not good at the reflection stuff. But certainly, THE OTHER WOMAN. And the two book deal beginning is about as life-changing as it comes. The cover is perfect and gorgeous and I get goosebumps every time I look at it. Who'd a thought?

Second, I won't exactly "treasure" it, but in the remembrance reel, my mother's death at 84 must take its rightful place. She was amazing, hilarious, and ALWAYS RIGHT (just ask her) and I'm completely who I am because of her. My family has a tradition of think of each other when the clock says 11:11. SO, I continue to do that. And I will treasure her memory.

Vacations? Nope, worked all the time. Fun? Yup, but let me think. I see my grandchildren growing and flourishing..Eli can read, can you imagine? And Josh is a big Batman fan--little boys are so funny. What could be better than that?

And I am so grateful for all of you blog sisters. Brilliant authors whose faces I first just knew from book jackets. And now, pals. And all you dear Reds readers. We've learned so much from each other! Happiest of New Years...

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Three things? Gosh. Rhys, you're brutal... Joining Jungle Red is certainly on the list! I've been so lucky in my writing career to have made so many friends and enjoyed such a sense of community, but this year with my fellow Reds seems to have multiplied that exponentially. And it's been such fun!

And in September I was asked to speak on a panel at the very prestigious Henley Literary Festival, as No Mark Upon Her (Feb. 7th, 2012!) is set in Henley. That was brilliant, but the best thing was being asked to introduce Felix Francis, the late Dick Francis's son. I'm a huge fan of Felix's, as I was of his dad--and as writers we are still fans--but there was an enormous sentimental element for me because Dick Francis was MY father's favorite author, so there was a sense of coming full circle. (And Felix is lovely...)

Oh, so hard to choose one more! A starred review in PW for No Mark Upon Her, hopefully a harbinger of things to come in 2012!

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: The first thing that pops to mind is professional: ONE WAS A SOLDIER made the New York Times list in April. That was wonderful, thrilling, exciting, but I also treasure the silly family celebration we had - iced champagne (a surprise from Ross) and take out pizza and watching THE KING'S SPEECH. That sort of encompasses the high life here at chateau Hugo-Vidal.

The second thing is not one event, but a season: summer. Short and oh-so-sweet in Maine, especially now our oldest is away for much of the rest of the year. We saw great musicals and Shakespeare in the park, we went to the beach and to the Independence Day pops concert, we ate fried clams and home-grilled burgers. I felt as if we really took advantage of every moment and made wonderful memories as a family.

Finally, it was just about a year ago that I was invited to be part of Jungle Red Writers. It's been a wonderful, hectic, sometimes-frantic, always funny trip. I'm so glad you all asked me to be part of the club!

RHYS: Anyone else want to share memorable moments from 2011?