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The Substance Movie

May 13, 2025 by donnamareehanson

I had an interesting viewing night on Saturday night. I watched Practical Magic, which I’ve never seen. Liked it. I watched Legally Blonde, which was very good, which I also hadn’t seen. Then my partner, whips out The Substance. Now I didn’t know much about this movie except that Demi Moore got a few nods for it. Also, I’m not into horror. Picture me with a blanket over my head, fingers in my ears, going lalalalalala while the graphic gory bits played out. (I did this a few times during the viewing)

Having said all that, there are some interesting pros to this movie and also some cons.

Possible spoliers

The pros

The movie is not subtle at all. This is also a con but I will move on. It is vivid and bright and stylised in a way that keeps you interested visually, which is important for a movie. I don’t think I got visually bored. Appalled at times. Revolted, yes. From the camera angles looking up at palms, to the over the shoulder handicam view of Demi walking along, to the long shot of a gorgeous orange corridor with kind of 1960s themed pattern going on.

The story themes are what is it is most powerful elements. It’s about beauty, aging and youth and society’s views, male gaze, male dominance in the entertainment industry and the lengths a woman would go to, Elisabeth, to keep the youth and her position and status. Dennis Quaid plays Harvey, the studio executive who is repulsive, sexist, asshole and like I said not subtle at all. He eats like a pig, pisses like a pig, talks like shit is flying out of his mouth, and he’s fake and lecherous. You know…mmm. Harvey…Dennis does a great job. He is the main male protagonist, but he has a bunch of cardboard cutout execs following him around.

Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, an ageing, on the verge of being let go, beauty and exercise show host. She looks great btw. Enter The Substance, something that kind of gives her a clone, a younger version of herself. The whole generating this other self was pretty explicitly gory and daunting. The rule is only seven days each, no exceptions. There are a set of rules too, feed that, do this. Only seven days worth of stuff is given at a time and Elisabeth has to fetch more from a deposit box.

Younger Elisabeth called Sue is beautiful, wows the men, gyrates like she’s escaped from a porn movie and is a big hit. Both actresses spend a lot of the time in the movie naked, lying down seeming dead naked. Sue delights in her body, her youth and her success and well wants more time.

I won’t dwell too much more on the actual plot here but this is a rather forthright indictment of our society, of its focus on beauty and the lengths the character, particularly Sue goes to keep that male gaze, to sell her beauty, to be a success. It also looks at the self destructive side of the pursuit of beauty and how to be beautiful woman and girls can harm themselves.

Cons

There are so many plot holes it is like someone took a shotgun to it. My partner says it is meant to be a fable but as a writer the plot holes worried me. Why do the people who make The Substance not charge for it, why are they not extorting Elisabeth for more money, each time. I think that would also highlight a nasty aspect of our world, greed and exploitation. However, the movie is silent on that.

The rules are a bit strange and the application of them is not consistent. Sue is able to steal time and I wasn’t quite clear how she could do that, but it had consquences. Also, toward the end that rule didn’t apply at all.

Some of the body horror stuff, particularly the surgery was not really plausible. Also, Elisabeth is in a horrific car accident and is unharmed. No explanation of that. My SF brain was thinking ‘is she somehow special? Already artificial?’

A few explicit scenes were like being blungeoned and there is a less is more element here. If you see the movie you will know what I mean.

The ending

The ending went on too long. There were a few places it could have ended and been powerful and got the message across. However, it just went on to this over the top blood bath that might have been paying homage to The Elephant Man and some well know horror movies. Yet, I watched as literally everything gets covered in blood, like a symbolic staining, marring of the superficial beauty of the set. Also, the people, the people who promote, support and consume beauty. Having said that I don’t watch horror habitually and it was kid of bizarre at the end and also stylistic.

Summary

I can see why it caught people’s attention. The motives, the commentary are worthy and most of the delivery is visionary and stunning. The acting was good. Demi was brilliant and so was Margaret Qualley. Kudos to Carolie Fargeat for making it. It was an outstanding statement despite its flaws. It is definitely a ‘be careful what you wish for’ story reminiscent of early Twighlight Zone episodes with heaps of colour and pizzaz that ramps it up to 100.

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Thoughts about being 65 years old

May 12, 2025 by donnamareehanson

It may seem kind of weird celebrating 65 years on the planet. The age of 65 is no longer a huge milestone. Before the dark days, lol, retirement in Australia for women was 60 years and then it became 65 and now it is 67 so why am I celebrating? Firstly, I didn’t get to celebrate with my friends on my 60th, which I think is a milestone. That was due to the pandemic. I also wanted to celebrate getting my Phd but that timing did not align to either my 60th or my 65th. Anyway, I think 65 is a milestone and I’m very happy to be here.

I recall that when I was discussing knee replacements, I was told to wait until I was 65 and I said what if I don’t make it to 65? I mean there’s cancer, accidents, decreptitude and so on. However, I am here and I feel good. I don’t take feeling good for granted. Some days I don’t feel great physically and even mentally. If I do too much of the wrong thing, I hurt. These old bones but mostly just oesteoarthritis, which the first signs appeared in my early 40s. I inherited it, just like my migraines. So when I feel good I need to do stuff, you know, write, walk, enjoy the day, see friends and family.

I guess now I’m just thinking about things. Friends and family that have passed. Events that shaped me or even those that I don’t remember all the time that come back out of the blue. The things I forget and feel so bad about. I think back and my memory could be pretty bad even in my forties. I think a lot had to do with stress and paying attention. I still only half listen some of the time. Of course my greatest fear is dementia. Both my parents had dementia but I want to have all my marbles if I can.

Although not officially diagnosed, it is quite clear I have ADHD in many ways. I used to be really good at organising but I’m not so sure I have all it takes these days. To be really efficient, you need energy and at 65 reliance on energy isn’t so easy. I also think my strategies don’t work as well as they used to. I am thinking of doing less craft but I haven’t quite managed that yet or actually do a lot of craft. My craft room is a blackhole in which no light can escape.

I don’t know why I can’t get as much done. During lockdown there seemed to be so much time.

I think about life now and how different and complex life is for kids now. I didn’t really start using a computer at home until 2000 and even then it was my then partner’s. I couldn’t afford one before then. Social media was non-existent. We used email chains and chat rooms. Compared to my childhood, kids don’t have time to themselves, time to think and contemplate, it’s just go, go, go. Learn this, process that, news here, social media bombardments.

Personally I have a panic attack if I haven’t got my phone and if I am participating in some sort of event, like the movies or a play or my 65th birthday party, and I don’t touch my phone for hours, it is a feat of monumental proportions.

I didn’t have a television until I was four years old and even then there was limited programming. We didn’t have streaming. We had vinyl records that got played on the stereogram, which was a piece of furniture that included a TV. TV was black and white and we all sat around as a family and watched the same things. It broke down often. Luckily my dad liked SF because we got Lost in Space, Disney on Sundays and Saturdays were the only early morning cartoons etc, Astro Boy, Prince Planet and live action Phantom Agents and Samurai. A lot of our TV came from Japan and the USA. Godzilla! Mr Squiggle was Australian and other programs began to emerge. There were often news items and articles about how TV was destroying the kids. I think my dad called me square eyes. However, my thoughts were that I was learning stuff and that had to be good.

We played outside. Actually not much choice as children were seen and not heard and we were often locked out. My mother used to leave us alone, if my aunts could be believed and I don’t doubt them. I remember being locked in and I was like 3-4 years old. How things change. It was probably not legal then either. Anyway, we kept occupied. I used to go walkabout all the time. The cops brought me home many times when I was just 3 or 4. Later, I just went visiting people and places. The only time I got in trouble was because I borrowed a friends tricycle. He gave it to me but his parent did not approve and complained. I think I got a hiding. You know I’m glad hidings and thrashings are not the done thing these days. I recall being beaten once, being thrown around and thinking I was going to die. Another time I was hit with the belt buckle and I had imprints and bruises up my thigh. The nuns said I must have been very naughty!

At my birthday party, I talked about my elder brother and sister. I don’t remember Ian too much as he was often trying to get away from me. I have memories of following him and him getting away. He was often lumbered with us younger ones to take to the movies. I was too, which is weird because I was too young to look after them and I recall being thrown out of Kogarah cinema because my younger brothers ran around. My sister though I survived. Don’t get me wrong we are close these days but when we were young we did some risky stuff. She used to take me down into the storm water drains but I baulked at the dark tunnels and fretted when she didn’t come back. One day she and her friend climbed out and left me behind. Then they said the storm water gates were opening and I’d drown. I had to run over to Rockdale where the sides of the drains sloped and I could run out. Once she took me up to the train lines and got me to put my head on the tracks so I could hear the trains coming, you know like in the western movies. However, I was a survivor and got the hell out of there as it was a suburban line and the trains were frequent. She was teaching me to spit and one day I spat on her on the way home from school. She was going to get me so I ran and ran and ran onto the road and was hit by a car. She must have freaked because she saw my small body fly up and then down. I was seven years old. Obviously I survived. Why I survived I have no idea. Perhaps I am a cat in another life.

When I was young I never thought about being old. I mean you’re too busy living in the now I think to contemplate that. However, the things we do influence how we grow old. A while back I met an 89 year old lady who was so energetic and had done so much she inspired me. I realised if I wanted to be a spritely old lady I needed to work on that now, diet and exercise and look after my health. If you starve yourself when you are young you get shit like heart problems, oesteoporosis and so on. Also, I don’t think I understood a lot about myself when I was young but do now. Also, I was pretty when I was young and I didn’t even know that or think that. Now I see it but well that’s just a memory now. I also have some kind of body dismorphia thing. I look in the mirror and think you’re such an ugly old hag. But then I see a photo from ten years ago and think I didn’t look too bad, but I thought I was an ugly old hag then. These days I’ve changed the narrative. Now I say you’re looking good today or make your hair nice and so on.

When I was young my life was a mess and I made messy decisions. However, I grew up, made better decisions. I studied and got a degree, a good job, climbed out of the poverty hole because I wanted more for my kids. I’ve since done a PHD but I left school at 15. I hated people thinking I was dumb. Hated it. However, everything you do in life teaches you something. For a writer that’s useful.

Also, things change, views change and these culture wars we are having. I never would have thought they were on the cards. Just like I never thought I’d live through a pandemic. It’s really unnerving because the future seems so uncertain. Things might not settle down before I die. What world will my grand kids inherit? As a writer of SF and fantasy these are scary times because my imagination and past reading set me up to imagine some bad shit. However, I am very pleased about the Australian election and that meaning a rejection of Trumpism, and basically hate. There are other reasons for the win too, but that’s a biggie. Why am I a Labor supporter? I wouldn’t be where I am in life without the Hawke/Keating years. I was able to study and get childcare. University was not free unfortunately and that was a set back for me. However, it was cheaper than it is now to pay for a university degree.

Why am I reminiscing? Shrug. I am meant to have some profound thoughts. Being old gives me a license to blather? I am happy to be here. Some of my friends aren’t. I know my life is more than half over. I’m no longer young and pretty but that comes with life. It’s not an easy transition and you know health and death loom larger than they once did. You have the luxury of looking back on your life and loves. Hopefully not to dwell on regrets. Of course there are things I am sorry I did and did not do. I think now though is for me to do what I can, what I want for as long as I can. I enjoy writing and I have a lot more stories in me, I love my life and my partner and my children and grandchildren and my friends both old and new. I’m working part time and that suits me. I’m a boring old fart who watches way too much streaming and listens to too many audio books and doesn’t read enough or do enough craft or catching up with people. Lol. I’ve just transitioned from a middle-aged geek to an old geek. Eep!

I can still write stories though…for now…

Me, with my dyed grey hair. I’m embracing 65 with a vengeance.

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My 65th Birthday bash

May 11, 2025 by donnamareehanson

On returning from New Zealand on my actual birthday, I hung about in Sydney with my daughter and then drove home with Matthew in the evening. I was hyped. I was happy. My birthday bash was on the Saturday (May3rd) and I had a few things to organise. Tuesday was a work day, but from Wednesday it was must get a few things done. I had prepaid the event before I left for NZ, trying to finalise numbers.

While I have organised events before, I’ve not done one for myself and it’s been awhile. So I wasn’t quite getting the bar tab thing. That is you have to pay a minimum amount to have a bar and well you don’t get a refund on that. Anyway, let’s dwell on happy things.

The theme was 1960s so dress up and music too. Many thanks to Cat Sparks for finding my music list and for making it to the party. We had food and drink of course and a photobooth which is always fun.

I had a great time. I think my guests had fun. However, it was blinking cold so my indoor outdoor venue lost some of it’s purpose and space as they closed the shutters and put the heating on. The music was great outside, not so good inside. In the end we used my $67 Karoke speaker and danced to that inside. I brought games for the kids to play. I’m happy to say they did play, despite the cold and my white boots got covered in grass and scuffs after I retrieved the far flung hula hoops and coits and bean bags from the corn hole throw from the lawn in the dark.

Most of the photos were taken by Cat Sparks and I’ll try to share the ones of me, rather than other people as I don’t have their permission to post here. Matthew doesn’t get a say! Okay a few others don’t get a say too. Sorry Keri.

Me and Keri on the deck before we needed to leave. I did Keri’s pants.

Me in my go go boots. I made the dress and refurbished a vintage hat.

Matthew really getting into the groove. He appeared at the top of the stairs dressed like that and I screamed.

Traditional pretend drunk shot of me and Keri

Me and the hula hoop. I took out the background. Still it’s okay.

A lovely close up by Cat Sparks. Thanks Ca.

I really want to thank my friends and family for coming. There were those who couldn’t make it, those who I invited last minute when someone dropped out, there were people I didn’t get to invite, mostly due to budget constraints. Thank you to Keri Arthur for driving up from Kilmore to make the party. Thank you Trudi and Paul for flying in for the night from Melbourne. Thank you to my elder brother Ian Hanson for coming by train, my sister Kylie, nephew Jose, niece in law Katrina family for driving down from the Blue Mountains. Also, my ex husband, his wife, some of the kids who came down from Sydney. My daughters one who drove from Sydney. Rangi, step daughter who flew in from NZ. Many heart felt thanks and hugs. Also lots of love to my grandkids, my friends and their families that attended. Much love to Ferdi and Taamati who couldn’t make it from Singapore due to a conflicting event and many thanks for the financial contribution too. See you guys in three weeks.

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Ages of Pages

May 10, 2025 by donnamareehanson

Hamilton is a lovely city. Keri and I stayed close to the venue and did a big long walk to Hamilton Gardens. It was $20 to see the themed gardens and expect to see photos from these pop up here and later. I reckon I could get a mystical door way theme going.

The event was quite big. A lot of authors and cool vendors and well organised. It was well organised. Some authors did fabulously well. Keri Arthur for one. Laura Hunter said she did great. Me, not too great but not bad either considering I am still building a following and I haven’t ever appeared at a NZ event before.

It was lovely to meet readers and also connect with authors who I knew but haven’t seen in a while. Waves to Lee Murray. Or authors I know online such as Mary Brock Jones. We were table buddies being placed next to each other. I met a librarian and also a rep from the NZ Society of Authors. The beauty of this book event is that it is free to readers. Yes, there are VIP tickets I think and raffles but basically it is free. I recall they do an anthology for charity too.

While I wasn’t busy at the table I scoped out a series. I did a lot of writing down of world building, story arc, characters and plot. It’s very weird but I was inspired by Nalini Singh when on panels at the ARRA event. She talked about her 12 book Psy-Changeling series and how she wrote the first book and a scene for the final book at the same time. I haven’t ever tried planning so hugely. Actually I lie, when I first wrote a book, an SF romance with feminist overtones, Relic, I mapped out a six book series, a cross galactic, alien and sex and gods and planet settling thing. However, I never published that book. It was in 2000 and SF romance wasn’t a big thing, I was a new writer, there was no self publishing then and while I had two different agents around that time, it never went anywhere and I wrote other things. I did get feedback from author friend that I should write it later on when I was more experienced. Maybe I will, who knows.

Anyway, I wrote the first scene in that scoped series the other day. However, I have lots of things going on writing wise and need to apply my ADHD post menopause brain to achieve more and faster.

Anyway, take aways from NZ and Ages of Pages. NZ is always worth a visit. Ages of Pages is a great event. Not sure I’ll go again but you never know as I always have a reason to visit NZ so makes sense.

Here is the photo bomb!

Chinese section of Hamilton Gardens

Photo by Keri Arthur. Me in the pagoda thing Hamilton Gardens

Japanese section of Hamilton Gardens. Lovely lamp.

Italian section of the Hamilton Gardens. Romulus and Remus being fed by the wolf.

Egyptian Wall Hamilton Gardens

Small statue in the picturesque section? Not sure. Hamilton Gardens.

Unicorn from Tudor garden section Hamilton Gardens

Egyptian pool, Hamilton Gardens.

Keri taking a photo of me, Chinese section Hamilton Gardens. Some great reflection going on there.

The photo Keri took of me in the Chinese gardens.

This is a shot from leaving the themed gardens. Hamilton Gardens.

This gum was in the Hamilton Gardens, general area. It’s very impressive.

Also, we walked around the street and found some amazing trees. I asked Keri to pose with this huge Plane tree so you can see how thick the trunk was.

We did about 18,000 steps that day.

At Ages of Pages

Me and Laura Hunter at Ages of Pages

Keri at her table before she sold out of some of her books.

My table at Ages of Pages

At dinner on the eve of Ages of Pages at The Cook pup. Keri, JO Mantel, assistant to Laura, Laura and me grinning like a ghoul.

Anyhow, I am back home and I’ve done some stuff and will be blogging all that over the next few days.

Posted in A writer's life, Australian author, author appearances, Author signing event, Keri Arthur, New Zealand, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

The Eve of Ages of Pages

April 25, 2025 by donnamareehanson

I have had an enjoyable time in Auckland in the run up to Ages of Pages. The weather has been interesting. Wind, rain and some sun, but compared to nights in Canberra warmish. I associate visiting New Zealand with cold so I packed warm things. Unfortunately I had to buy some summery things to get through. Poor me! I now possess a very pretty blouse and a blue floaty dress.

I spent a windy night up in Warkworth, not in a caravan (see previous post). However, I did get a night in a caravan but the wind had died back by then. Also a nice walk along Martins Bay. It was a really interesting experience in the caravan park. I think it might be my first time and I found it fascinating. I’m sure there is a story idea in there. We did a walk to Whangapaparaoa Pennisula, along Orewa Beach and around Mitre 10 in Silverdale. Interesting that I was in Silverdale when I have a Silverdale in Argenterra! The steps from walking around malls and hardware stores are shopping steps. These can really mount up. My mate Wendy helped me out by taking me on walks, which helped to counteract the food and the wine. (what happened to your diet Donna? Well you see I went to New Zealand and …um..).

Whangapakaraoa Pennisula view

Martins Bay view

Martins Bay view

This is a view from near Manly Beach

This delightful, sprawling Pohutukawa Tree. They have red flowers and look amazing end December and early January, so my friend Wendy tells me. I’ve seen amazing displays driving to Thames.

View from Orewa near the caravan park.

Even with clouds, New Zealand is beautiful and there are so many harbours and bays around Auckland, particularly north that there is wonder for the eye no matter which way you look. I’m very grateful for my long term bestie, Wendy and her hubby Paul for showing me all these beautiful spots.

This sign cracked me up and had my imagination running hot.

This is a locally made cider in Warkworth. It has citrus in it so quick fresh and bitey.

Last night I met up with Keri at Auckland airport and she drove us to Hamilton and we are both in our beds in a hotel on our laptops. Hahaha. And drinking tea. Today is ANZAC day where Australia and New Zealand commemorate the lost lives in two world wars and everything is shut until 1pm.

Liar liar pants on fire! I found a cafe open today so we can have breakfast after all!.

Tomorrow we attend the Ages of Pages book fair. It’s my first time and I am excited. I believe there is going to be about 90 authors and vendors, mostly from NZ but a few of us Aussies there as well. For readers the event is free so come along and check it out. Venue information here.

I’ll have a very limited number of books available so please come say hi.

I cannot see any reviews for Amber Rose yet, but there is a four star rating on Kobo so that’s a relief. Us authors are always keen to see how our book is received. I have most of the plot in my head for A Prudential Light, a novella come memoir of Aunt Prudence. It’s going to be fab.

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Writing to you from the windy city

April 17, 2025 by donnamareehanson

You could say I blew into Auckland last night. However, the Qantas landing was perfect, the decent a little bumpy. Walking to my hotel with my heavy suitcases was indeed a challenge. I was blown backwards and often had to struggle to move forward. Later, I realised I could have caught a bus so didn’t have to work up such a sweat to get to the nearby Ibis hotel. However, the blowing backwards was just leaving the terminal and walking to the car park where the bus was in anycase.

Also, even when we are old we never learn.

Today, the house is being blown about by very strong winds. It’s quite interesting. However, as the weather is a bit shite and will be for the rest of my stay, I can take this time to catch up on my administration. I was supposed to go stay in a caravan but I haven’t heard if that is still the plan. Pray for me.

Speaking of administration, I’ve added Amber Rose to my payhip store. Buying direct means I get a tad more $, less the take from Payhip and Paypal! The book delivery is by Book Funnel so you get the file for your selected reader. My buy direct link is here.

I’ve also updated my book page which as buyer links there too. Link to the Cry Havoc page. You will notice I am sure that I have been rather abyssmal on the links to Emerald Fire. I’ll add that to my to do list.

I’m drafting a newletter and participating in a Book Funnel giveaway. I have been rather slack on that side of things of late. (You might say a year or so).

I was thinking of making this post about Amber Rose (and it mostly is) and I wondered if I could share an excerpt. Let me go have a gander. Not easy as my files are on my IMac at home. Okay, round about way but I managed to download the epub and do sections of copy and paste as the epub limits the amount of copying.

This is part way into the story and there has been general chaos at the inn and more to follow, plus a copious amount of baked goods, scones, bread rolls, baps, sweet buns…and lots of tea.

With a low mood, Jemima made her way to the upstairs parlour to partake of some breakfast. Aunt Prudence was at table when she entered. “Good morning, Aunt. I hope you slept well.”
“Good morning. I had a passing night. Aly woke three times to be fed. Otherwise he caused no trouble. Have your friends set out?”
“Yes,” Jemima replied taking a seat. She reached for some bacon, which was most likely cold and eyed the scrambled eggs. Perhaps her stomach was not up to cold eggs. She cut into the bacon and nodded when the aunt lifted the tea pot.
“Thank you. I am starving.”
“You mean are hungry, dear. You are certainly not starving. That is a state of being you might never experience.”
“I stand corrected. I am very hungry. Is that a bread roll peeking out of the napkin?”
“Yes.” She passed it over.
Jemima buttered it quickly and cut it in halves.
“Why did you not say that your Uncle Ferdinand was coming to visit? I would have taken greater care with my hair and my toilette this morning.”
Jemima dropped a spoon of jam on the tablecloth. “Uncle Ferdy? He is here?” She grabbed a napkin to clean off the offending stain.
“Yes, that is what I said. I bumped into him in the hall and he complimented me on my gown and complexion before he went to see my nephew.” She preened as she conveyed this. “I am so pleased I chose this particular gown as it does wonders for my complexion.” The gown in question was a deep maroon and did look well on her. With only fine lace at the collar and cuffs, it was remarkably unadorned. Her curls looped nicely around her ears, offset by a lace cap with trailing ribbons.
“That is good news, Aunt. I was hoping he could come. I must have missed him in all the noise of departure. Thank you for telling me.”
Jemima thought Uncle Ferdy must have popped in. The innkeeper was wily so she did not know how she was going to explain the new arrival, who was likely not seen arriving in a conventional fashion. Had he walked up plain as day, she would have noticed him. She did some mental calculations. If they consolidated Fulton and Milly, the sick room would accommodate him or there was the room the Heatons had vacated. She frowned as she thought it through. Or he could just pop off again and go home but the questions, the questions. No, he would have to play the part of guest.
Standing up suddenly, she gulped the last of her tea. “Forgive me, I must see Uncle Ferdy and check on Edward.”
“Has there been no improvement?” The aunt asked, turning in her chair as Jemima made for the door.
“Not just yet, Aunt.”
“Very concerning. Do tell Mr White that I can procure fresh tea for him if he is in need.”
Aunt Prudence inclined her head, turned back to the table, and as if she was the queen, lifted the teapot to pour herself another cup of tea.
Bursting into her room and rubbing the crumbs from her lips, she found Uncle Ferdy bent over her husband. “Thank heavens you heard me.”
Uncle Ferdy stood up straight and turned to her. “There you are. I was wondering what you were about. Sorry to not come sooner but I was in the middle of something.” He peered at her. “Have I interrupted your breakfast?”
She waved him off. “No, but Aunt Prudence is keeping the kettle warm for you.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “I see, how thoughtful of her.”
Hands clasping each other in turn, she asked, “How is he? Can you help him? Is it a hex?”
Uncle Ferdy met her gaze. He had stripped off the bedcovers, leaving Edward in a night shirt, and sock-adorned feet. “The same. Perhaps and, yes, I believe so. A nasty one.”
Jemima went to the other side of the bed, not sure whether to be relieved or not about Uncle Ferdy’s answer. At least he was better equipped to help. “He looks so pale. He is breathing, but it is slow and shallow.”
A sharp knock on the door interrupted their conversation. “Mrs Huntington? It is Sir Giles, the Magistrate. I need to speak with you urgently.”
Alarmed, Jemima stared at Uncle Ferdy. How was she going to explain him to the magistrate on top of the innkeeper? “Go away now.” she whispered urgently.
“It is not that easy to pop in and out,” he whispered back. “I need to rest between.”
“Mrs Huntington?” The magistrate repeated.
“Coming!” She turned to Uncle Ferdy. “Hide then.”

Excerpt From
Amber Rose: Cry Havoc Book 3
Donna Maree Hanson
This material is protected by copyright.

And of course after all the proof reading, I found a typo. I swear they are god’s curse. I hope you enjoy the excerpt. Now to write myself a note to fix that typo.

I am at the Ages of Pages book signing event on the 26th of April in Hamilton. It’s a free event. Details are here.

Talk again soon.

.

Posted in A writer's life, Amber Rose, book signing, Cry Havoc series, New Zealand, Steampunk, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Amber Rose is out there

April 11, 2025 by donnamareehanson

That sounds like a tag line from the Xfiles! Hahaha.

Now all I have to do is wait in case some one likes it enough to give me a review. Taps fingers on the desk.

On launch day, yesterday, I had my hair done. I don’t think I mentioned this story. I was feeling a bit down, a bit anxious around the middle of March. I decided I wanted to dye my hair grey, steel grey. I did not do any research. Rocked up to a random new salon and asked for that. I was shown a colour and that looked ash grey to me. However, I walked out of there with medium ash brown hair. Matthew blinked when he saw me. That’s not what I was expecting, he said. I was miserable about it. My mates were great and told me the new colour looked great. It made me look younger, which is true. Yesterday, I got it fixed. Previous posts you will see a different hair colour.

I like my new hair. It’s not steel grey yet. I put a lighter champangne type rinse in it. After the last shock colour I wanted to be careful. I have planned a bit birthday bash for my 65th birthday in early May. For the birthday party, I will do steel grey. However, I am very happy and it made launch day special. Bonus is that today my order arrived so I have some print copies.

New hair!

New hair. New Book.

I’m hosting a birthday dinner for a friend tomorrow. And I’m making a cake today. I’m going to try for a black forest cake. My first time. If it sucks of course I’ll duck out and buy a cake instead.

I pop off to New Zealand next week. I’ll be in Hamilton at the Ages of Pages book signing event on the 26th of April. Back just in time for my party!

PS I forgot to mention. Did you all see the Murderbot trailer dropped? I’m so excited. I loved the books.

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It’s all happening!!!

April 3, 2025 by donnamareehanson

Amber Rose is up for pre order at major e retailers! !!

Amber Rose is up at Ingrams for a paperback, a hard back and a large print hard pack, with accessible font.

Phew!

I’m currently working on the universal links. Books2Read this time. Here is the link.

Get your pre-order! Date of release is April 10, 2025. All the files are up so it’s just waiting.

I’ve got to send a newsletter as well today and I have a release day blog post to prepare for the ARRA website.

I’ve also been dictating/narrating one of my Dani Kristoff books because I think I should narrate them myself. Aussie accent and all that. And, gee, Amazon and others offering AI readers. I’d rather have a human.

I also have ideas burning out of my brain for A Prudential Light, a short novel about Aunt Prudence Wainwright. This ‘memoir’ is foreshadowed at the end of Amber Rose and I think it’s going to be a beautiful and poignant story, some of which will be set in Singapore (colonial times). I am heading to Singapore in June so I was hoping to wait until then but I’ll have to make notes as the ideas are rushing out of my brain.

Here’s the cover and the blurb for Amber Rose again in case you missed it. Many thanks to the awesome Maxine McArthur of editing and proofreading and also feedback during drafting.

Also, if anyone ones a review copy please contact me on my contacts page.

Blurb Amber Rose

A book of manners, magic and mayhem…and, perhaps, a tad too many scones

All Ambrose Fulton wants is to enjoy his idyllic life at Hatfield, helping his wife Milly raise their little son, tolerating Aunt Prudence and entertaining their friends.

What he gets is a ferocious assault from a violet-eyed automaton that devastates the estate and makes off with his enchanted clockwork arm, brutally ripped from his shoulder. To the rescue, barely in time to save his life, come friends Edward Huntington, gentleman magician, and his wife, the monster-slayer Jemima.

Whoever sent the machine can only have wanted one thing: to glean the secrets of Huntington’s magical mechanical designs for purposes clearly nefarious. Now as well as wrangling an anxious innkeeper, a fake heir, interfering magistrates, odd magicians and some thoroughly unexpected visitors, they must uncover their mysterious enemy’s identity and stop them or who knows what evil ends Huntington’s inventions will be put to?

A final word as this is topical. I love technology and I think AI can be a useful tool for many things. However, I don’t think it’s good for creative things personally. I don’t use AI in my writing and my covers. As I haven’t bought a cover recently, I don’t think my cover artists use it either. I will, however, keep an eye out for it. This is a personal choice for me.

I am a bit of a geek. When I first used Skype and I was over the moon. This is Star Trek come to life. We have moved on from that. I had an Ericksson flip out phone back in the day. Yes, because it was like a communicator from Star Trek. I read science fiction and have loved it ever since I can remember. I have hope for the Human race, although that hope, that belief has been sorely tested of late. I’ve had an iPhone since the early days. Back then people criticised me for staring into my phone, playing with my phone. Now I watch other people do it while I look at the view or what’s going on around me. I still spend way too much time on my phone. I do Duolingo, puzzles, read books, listen to books, read the news, social media (no longer X) and communicate with people via email and text. I love my iPhone and I love tech, but I guess we must have boundaries.

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Publication update-Amber Rose

March 24, 2025 by donnamareehanson

Oh the excitement! Amber Rose is all laid out and off for a proof read.

It’s a milestone and I’m pleased with it. A bit more admin to do before I can put preorder links up. That’s a job for superman….no, actually, I’ll do it tomorrow as I’m a bit tired now.

I went to the ARRA events in Brisbane and Sydney on the weekend and met some lovely readers. Even readers who had some of my books and came back for more. That’s fabulous and I’m so grateful. I will be travelling to Melbourne for the book signing event at the Jasper Hotel on Saturday. Tickets at the door for the signing event.

What was fun about these events was that I got to be on panels, talking about bookboyfriends, talking about tropes. The feedback after was really positive. I also hosted a lunch in Sydney with four readers. I know what I write isn’t for everyone but it is lovely to meet people who read widely as well as people who write in your genres. In Melbourne I’ll be moderating a panel on Paranormal romance versus Urban Fantasy with Nalini Singh, HH Hodgson, and M J Scott (Melanie Scott) and that’s going to be fun and interesting too.

Interestingly I think I sold more SF in Sydney than I would at an SF con. Go figure! Rayessa and the Space Pirates, Awakening, Robot Hearts and my other short story collections. Brisbane I sold more Dani Kristoff paranormal romance books.

Don’t forget I do have a book store for ebooks and print books. If a print book isn’t up there and you want it just drop me a line and I’ll get back to you.

Me and my half table at ARRA Brisbane

Matthew and me at ARRA event in Sydney. Photo by Jenny Kew

Me with the headdress I bought at Sydney ARRA.

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Amber Rose Blurb

March 19, 2025 by donnamareehanson

Amber Rose is currently having a second round of edits but we are getting closer.

Launch date is set for April 10 2025.

We have a blurb

Amber Rose

A book of manners, magic and mayhem…and, perhaps, a tad too many scones

All Ambrose Fulton wants is to enjoy his idyllic life at Hatfield, helping his wife Milly raise their little son, tolerating Aunt Prudence and entertaining their friends.

What he gets is a ferocious assault from a violet-eyed automaton that devastates the estate and makes off with his enchanted clockwork arm, brutally ripped from his shoulder. To the rescue, barely in time to save his life, come friends Edward Huntington, gentleman magician, and his wife, the monster-slayer Jemima. 

Whoever sent the machine can only have wanted one thing: to glean the secrets of Huntington’s magical mechanical designs for purposes clearly nefarious. Now as well as wrangling an anxious innkeeper, a fake heir, interfering magistrates, odd magicians and some thoroughly unexpected visitors, they must uncover their mysterious enemy’s identity and stop them or who knows what evil ends Huntington’s inventions will be put to?

Next is to register ISBNs, put up pre order links etc.

I’m off to Brisbane and Sydney over the weekend just when I’m expecting my edit back. However, we shall solider on. Don’t forget tickets are now at the door. I believe panels are in the morning and the signing/book selling is from lunch time.

While I was waiting for the edits of Amber Rose, I managed to polish up a Regency Romance I drafted way back in 2016. I’ve lobbed it at a trad publisher. The reason I mention this is that I am very proud of my productivity and have been thoroughly enjoying writing in February and March.

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