It's hard to believe that we are already in December. It was just a year ago, that Chris and I decided to take a big step that would impact the rest of our lives or at least our sanity. Chris' ever-creative mind had an idea for a story and after much discussion, we decided to take a chance and write it. But not just write it, but also play it out in a role-playing environment as a litmus test to see if, in the world of weres and vampires, two contemporary characters could cut it and hold the attention of avid paranormal fans.

To Russia with Love was born and to our pleasant surprise, it was well received and we were constantly hounded for more of the story. It also caught the attention of a publishing house, XOXO Publishing, and lead to the publication of two erotic short stories—The Hottest Chapter and Dream Instruction—which we had written at the same time.

As To Russia with Love unfolded, we realized that Trevor and Cassandra's personal story was screaming to be told and from To Russia with Love bloomed Countermeasure, the first book of the series.

Because we never do things easy (just not our style), we also decided to submit Countermeasure into the RWA Gold Heart Contest. "What the Hell?"

We are manic, crazy, certifiable, and who know what else because while editing and polishing Countermeasure, we decided to challenge ourselves and participate in the National Novel Writing Month. "Come on, we can do it. Test to see is we have what it takes." Halfway through we could only laugh everyday or we would have lost it. In fact, to finish editing we had six days of no NaNo, which then had to be made up in the last three-day stretch to the end.

In the middle of it all, we have been researching the industry, attending workshops, and getting our hands around telling vs. showing, voice, craft, and publicity. It is crazy the amount of work that goes into being an author and a published one at that.

The writing community has been nothing but supportive answering our many questions (and there are MANY) via forums, twitter, facebook, blog comments, and more. Writers groups like Romance Writers of America, RWA Toronto Chapter, and Passionate Ink have been a great source of information, a wealth of knowledge really, with writers who are willing to answer questions, critique query letters, synopsis, and chapters with a straightforward gentle touch.

Is it all worth it? A question we kept asking ourselves as we scrambled to edit Countermeasure, meet the criteria for the Gold Heart —which also included writing a 4 page synopsis—promote our short novels, participate in blog interviews, attend workshops, and log our allotted 1,667 words or more a day on each of our individual stories in NaNoWrimo. Our answer, "Hell Yes!" We are proud NaNoWrimo Winners (WooHoo) and owners of two future works in progress—one paranormal and one time travel.

For some this may not seem like much but to us it has been a year of writing and a crazy month of November. I am proud of what Chris and I have accomplished in so short a time but that's not all folks.

We are working on our next themed novella, a contest for the fans with a special unheard of prize for the winner, and To Russia with Love is calling—very loud screaming more like it. Through it all, we are also waiting with fingers crossed to hear that Countermeasure will indeed be published.