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Half Moon Retreat- June 20 to 23

June 22, 2014 by donnamareehanson

warning-there may be typos!

Well we have no internet so that makes me more productive and so I’m writing this blog post wihtout an intenet connection because I’m waiting for the potatoes to bake.

David Dufty from the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild organised this retreat in Braidwood. However, we’re not quite in Braidwood but near it. It’s called Half Moon Retreat and it’s on a big property about 7 kilometers out of Margarlowe, which is about 13 kms from central Braidwood. It is three kms from the gate to the house. We are in deep. The house is large. It’s got a huge living area that could accommodate a country dance.

It is a great writing space with floor to ceiling french doors all around. Matthew and I arrived at night so we caught glimpses of stars, the full Milky Way in all its glory but nothing prepared us for the morning. The house is sitting on a ridge with spectacular views of wooded hills and scrub around us. There is some interenet but you have to sit by the water tank to catch a glimpse of it. And tonight, it is too darn cold and dark to try and get a connection.
There are five bedrooms in the house, three double rooms and two bunk rooms. We are in the room with an ensuite, which is lovely. We’re the only couple so that makes sense to me! There is one huge bathroom that’s the size of a bedsit. It’s huge and I’m guessing that everyone has to share that one. A bit of a disadvantage but it is still a fabulous house. We believe part of it is original and transported there, an old weatherboard place and the huge living area is built on as is the three quarter deck.

Last night and today as we had people coming and leaving we talked about writing goals. David likes to have a bit of structure and as he organised the retreat we are up for that. My goal was to write 10,000 words on my wip and then do some reworking and maybe outline my next novel, which is The Changling Curse, the sequel to The Sorcerer’s Spell. So far I’m on track as I’ve written 10,000 words today and put on the roast lamb!

I took a break in the middle of the day to walk to the river. I explored the property keeping to the graded road as there are mine shafts apparently. I found an old ruin, just the chimney and encountered a kangaroo, a few wombat holes, the river eventually which was amazing. It was still and quiet and the bird calls were amplified in that space that it sounded so loud and surreal. There was was another ruin of a miner’s cottage by the river too. I made my way back, loving the bush around me and day dreaming how much Matthew and I would like a place like this. It.s so quiet and picturesque that we cuddled on the verandah and watched the quiet grey hills and glimpsed the sunset while we were restocking the wood for the fire.
I like retreats because they make me focus. We have gathered to write and the expectation is there and that is great for me because I don’t shirk. I was hoping to be working on my new novel but I’ve been slack so I’m finishing one instead.
The day before  we came here I broke my laptop and the document I was working on is open on that one. I’m hoping that when the repairer looks at it I can retrieve if and then put the two documents together.If not Ill have to rewrite that little section I worked on during my writers date on Tuesday.
So as I have reached my word count, tomorrow will be about rewriting the ms and fixing things. You see I had a flash of insight that I needed to make the relationship between Earl and Nea more than about sex so I’m going to work on that and generally tidy up.

Here is a few selfies of us.

Selfie with some of the gang

Selfie with some of the gang

That's us (ignore scary guy in the middle. Thats the Dweeb)

That’s us (ignore scary guy in the middle. Thats the Dweeb)

 

 
image

The living areas with the windows and sun

The living areas with the windows and sun

Some of the view and the house

image

Posted in Writing retreat, Zombie Apocalypse | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Author spotlight interview-Joanne Anderton

June 10, 2014 by donnamareehanson

I’m pleased today to bring you and interview with the lovely and talented Jo Anderton. Jo is going to tell us about her new book, the follow up from Debris and Suited.

Jo Anderton

Jo Anderton

Hi Jo, can you tell us a bit about your new novel?

Guardian is the third book in the Veiled Worlds Trilogy, and the final step in Tanyana’s journey. The official blurb is:

“The grand city of Movoc-under-Keeper lies in ruins. The sinister puppet men have revealed their true nature, and their plan to tear down the veil between worlds. To have a chance of defeating them, Tanyana must do the impossible, and return to the world where they were created, on the other side of the veil. Her journey will force her into a terrible choice, and test just how much she is willing to sacrifice for the fate of two worlds.”

Unofficially, I’d say Guardian is about sacrifice and love. And the ending still makes me cry.

Jo can tell us a bit about yourself (where you live, how long you’ve been writing, previous publications etc)

I live in Sydney, with my husband and pets, and I’ve always written. Even as a kid I used to tell myself stories, and eventually decided I should try writing them down instead of just keeping them in my head.

Apart from the first two books of the Veiled Worlds Trilogy, Debris and Suited, I’ve also published a short fiction collection The Bone Chime Song and Other Stories, which won the 2013 Aurealis Award for Best Collection.

Tell us a bit about why you write speculative fiction.

Because I can’t help it. Seriously, I’ve tried writing not-speculative fiction and it was so hard. It’s what I love, it’s how I think, and it is definitely how my writing brain works. All my ideas come with unusual worlds and/or magic systems attached to them. I usually blame my Dad for that. He brought me up on a diet of Tolkien and Star Trek and I can’t thank him enough.

Your novel is a third in a trilogy. Are we going to see more of it in future?

No plans at the moment, but there are possibilities. No story ever really ends, does it? And if this story did continue, I know the direction it would go. But for the moment, I’m excited to be working on new projects.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m working on a new book currently called The Bone Gardens. It’s young adult, it’s science-fantasy, and heavily influenced by the movies of Studio Ghibli (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and Princess Mononoke in particular). Flying gardens of bone and toxic flowers, never-ending desert, steampunk cities, genetic engineering. That kind of thing. And I’m loving it!

What is your writing process? (planner, panster, write every day, write sporadically, writers block etc).

I think of myself as somewhere in between a planner and a pantser. Before I start writing I always know the beginning, the end, and a few important plot points in between. I’ve learned that if I know too much of the story before I start writing it, I get bored! The joy in writing is telling myself the story, learning about the characters, and living it all as it happens. This usually means my first drafts are a wreck, and I have to go back and do significant rewriting, but that works for me too. The most important thing is to enjoy the process, and love telling stories!

I make sure I do something every day. Even if it’s not much — if I come home from work exhausted or my lower back can’t handle sitting in a chair anymore, I don’t beat myself up about it. Even a few words, or some blog posting is better than nothing. I have at least one full-time writing day a week, and most of my holidays are actually for writing J

What do you prefer drafting the story or revising and reworking?

Ha, my favourite part of the process is usually NOT the part I’m doing! If I’m writing a draft I long for revision, when I’m revising I long to be writing something new. The grass is always greener, you know?

But my overall favourite part is the planning — when an idea is fresh and new and full of potential and I can get swept away in it.

What part of writing do you find hardest?

Knowing when to stop. I’m terrible at working out when a story is done. If it was up to me, no story would ever be done, and I would probably tinker with them for eternity. This is why we have publishers and deadlines.

What do you plan to work on next?

The sequel to The Bone Gardens. I think it’s called The Fiery Skies and it’s been waiting very impatiently for me to pay attention. Soon, my precious. Soon.

Here is the cover of Guardian followed by some links to where you can find Jo on the web.

Cover image of Guardian by Jo Anderton

Cover image of Guardian by Jo Anderton

 

 

Website: http://joanneanderton.com/

Twitter: joanneanderton

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/joanne.anderton.16

Details on fablecroft website are here: http://fablecroft.com.au/about/publications/guardian

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

Bringing on the boys-Author spotlight with Daniel de Lorne

May 23, 2014 by donnamareehanson

Today I have a fantastic interview with Daniel, who lives in Canada but is from Perth originally. Thank you Daniel for coming along.

Daniel-de-Lorne3

 

I understand you have a gay romance out with Escape Publishing. Can you tell us a bit about it?

 

It’s called Beckoning Blood and is about twin brothers, Olivier and Thierry, who are made into vampires in medieval France. Olivier is obsessed with his brother, while Thierry’s heart belongs to another. Olivier isn’t exactly one to take no for an answer so their path through the centuries is littered with plenty of corpses and misdeeds.

 

Daniel, tell us a bit about yourself (where you live, how long you’ve been writing, previous publications etc.)

 

I’m a Perth boy, born and bred, but at the moment I’m living in Toronto with my soon-to-be-husband. It was while in Canada that Kate Cuthbert from Escape Publishing accepted Beckoning Blood for publication. I wrote the book at the end of 2009 but it’s gone through a number of edits since then, and then took time to find a home. It’s my first published novel so I’m pretty excited about it.

Prior to that I worked as a professional writer, amongst other things, and studied creative writing and journalism at university.

Daniel, what draws you to the romance genre?

It’s not so much that I was drawn to the romance genre, just that that’s where I’ve found a home. I love reading paranormal and fantasy novels, but a lot of them have straight romance in them (a lot of the ones I read in high school anyway). The male/male market has boomed so I feel there’s more opportunity to write (and publish) the paranormal stories I like. As a result, they’ve usually got a gay love interest in them, which is integral to the plot.

What are you working on at the moment?

I recently finished writing the first draft of the sequel to Beckoning Blood but it’s nowhere near ready. I have a feeling there’s going to be almost a full rewrite. I’ve already rewritten the opening chapter and showed it to my critique partner. She loved it so I think I’m moving in the right direction.

What is your writing process? (planner, panster, write every day, write sporadically, writers block etc).

I’m more a pantser than a planner. I start with a general idea about what’s going to happen but once I start writing, things can change quite a bit. Often in new and previously unthought of ways. That’s what I love about the writing process: the discovery. Especially when one element at the beginning, that you thought was innocuous, ends up playing a significant role by the end (and saves the plot).

When I’m writing a new book, I try my best to write every day, and I can usually do it. Once it’s done though, the thought of editing it is almost too much. It takes a lot of effort to get into the mindset to edit my own work.

 

What do you prefer: drafting the story or revising and reworking?

Revising and reworking. My first drafts are always hideous, but I treat them like a first sketch of a painting. I’ll then go back and flesh out the detail, or rub sections out. It’s a long process. But like nearly every author, I wish the first draft came out gleaming.

What part of writing do you find hardest?

Not using clichés. When I’m doing the first draft, I’ll put them in as it gets the words down on paper (unless I’m feeling particularly inspired). Then later, I’ll rewrite as many as I can into something a bit more original. It’s hard to overcome the almost subconscious use the first time around.

 

What do you plan to work on next?

After I get the sequel together, I’ve got two more books to edit. The sooner I get them polished and published, the better. I will have to work on something new somewhere in there, otherwise I’ll feel like I’ve forgotten how to write. I have a few ideas (including one new one that has struck me) but I’m keeping them close until I make a decision.

 

Here is the cover and the book blurb.

The cover of Beckoning Blood

The cover of Beckoning Blood

Book Blurb

A gripping, blood‐drenched saga about twin brothers, the men they love, and the enduring truth that true love never dies — no matter how many times you kill it.

Thierry d’Arjou has but one escape from the daily misery of his work at a medieval abattoir — Etienne de Balthas. But keeping their love a secret triggers a bloody chain of events that condemns Thierry to a monstrous immortality. Thierry quickly learns that to survive his timeless exile, he must hide his sensitive heart from the man who both eases and ensures his loneliness…his twin brother.

Shaped by the fists of a brutal father, Olivier d’Arjou cares for only two things: his own pleasure and his twin. But their sadistic path through centuries is littered with old rivals and new foes, and Olivier must fight for what is rightfully his – Thierry, made immortal just for him.

Here are Daniel’s contact details on the web.

 

Beckoning Blood is available on Kindle (http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00JD7EYX0), iBooks (https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/beckoning-blood/id852042874?mt=11) and Kobo (http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/beckoning-blood).

 

For a free short story, introducing the heroes of Beckoning Blood, head to Daniel de Lorne’s website (http://www.danieldelorne.com/the-boys).

 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/danieldelorne

Twitter: www.twitter.com/danieldelorne

Google+: http://plus.google.com/+DanieldeLorne

 

I can’t wait to read this Daniel. Best of luck and thank you for appearing on the blog.

Posted in Gay paranormal, Interviews, Paranormal romance, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

New Orleans post one

May 19, 2014 by donnamareehanson

I’ve been busy and then tired so I haven’t blogged. I’ m going to have to split the blog post up because there’s lots of photos.

New Orleans is awesome. It’s different, multi-cultural, lively and heaps of fun. I hate long plane trips but I love travel. I’m here to attend my first RT convention (formerly  Romantic Times Convention) and it being in New Orleans was what sealed the deal for me. I came early so I did some tours and I met up with the wonderful Keri Arthur for serious retail therapy. The conference itself is huge.

I am staying at a bed and breakfast near mid town  on Canal Street. That’s the same street as the conference hotel but a cable car ride away. So there are pros and cons, but I think there are mostly pros. I’m forced to take the   cable car everyday and that allows me to see real life around me and I’m meeting people over breakfast and Monica is the best Innkeeper ever so it’s all good.

Here is a pick of the house. It has a raised basement, which is where my room is.  It was built early 1900s. Below is a shot of the parlour, and a lovely ornate fireplace.

 

Canal Street Inn, New Orleans, the parlour

Canal Street Inn, New Orleans,

The Canal Street Inn, The Parlour

The Canal Street Inn, The Parlour

Then I did some touring around so there’l be more photos.

So I have done a few  short tours. The City and Cemeteries, with an educated and informative guide. The tours are quick so I think they are more like an introduction if you want to focus on a particular spot. I’ve also done a tour of two plantations, Laura Plantation and Oak Alley, both very different but haunting and sad  in the slavery side. I think it’s important that we don’t forget how these people (stolen from Africa) were treated. I also did a ghost and vampire tour and the stories were scary.

Joan of Arc Statue,

Joan of Arc Statue,

New paper boxes. Who said print media is dead.

New paper boxes. Who said print media is dead.

street view French Quarter

street view French Quarter

Poker machine cubicles, Flannagan's Pub, French Quarter

Poker machine cubicles, Flannagan’s Pub, French Quarter

The architecture in the French Quarter is very European, most Spanish than French.  The French houses were destroyed by fire and rebuilt in brick. It’s quite reminiscent of Europe.

Note. I was in the pub to take a tour. The cubicles fascinated me. They were  better fitting that the toilet doors.

And my keyboard died so limited typing for me.

 

 

 

 

Posted in New Orleans, RT Convention | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Bringing on the boys-Author spotlight interview Alan Baxter

May 18, 2014 by donnamareehanson

Ah finally I get to drag Alan to my blog. I hear rejoicing!

Thank you Alan for answering some questions about your new book coming out with Harper Voyager.

Alan Baxter

Alan Baxter

Your new novel is coming out, Bound, the first novel in your new trilogy. Can you tell us a bit about it?

 

It’s the story of Alex Caine, a martial artist fighting in illegal cage matches. His powerful secret weapon is an unnatural vision that allows him to see his opponents’ moves before they know their intentions themselves.

 

An enigmatic Englishman, Patrick Welby, approaches Alex after a fight and reveals, ‘I know your secret.’ Welby shows Alex how to unleash a breathtaking realm of magic and power, drawing him into a mind-bending adventure beyond his control. And control is something Alex values above all else.

 

A cursed grimoire binds Alex to Uthentia, a chaotic Fey godling, who leads him towards chaos and murder, an urge Alex finds harder and harder to resist. Befriended by Silhouette, a monstrous Kin beauty, Alex sets out to recover the only things that will free him – the shards of the Darak. But that powerful stone also has the potential to unleash a catastrophe which could mean the end of the world as we know it.

The cover of Bound by Alan Baxter

The cover of Bound by Alan Baxter

 

Alan tell us a bit about yourself

 

I live on the south coast of NSW, among rolling dairy country. It’s beautiful, we’re very lucky to live here. I’ve been writing since forever, even as a kid I would make up stories and write them down. I’ve got three novels out now, a dark fantasy duology, RealmShift and MagesSign, and a short horror novel called Dark Rite, co-written with David Wood. My new trilogy is coming out from Voyager soon – Bound, Obsidian and Abduction. Bound is out in July. As for other work, I’ve had over 50 short stories published all over the place. I recently sold a story to Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine, which is like the holy grail for me. I’ve been trying to sell the for a decade and it’s always been top of my short fiction wish list. My full bibliography is here:

 

Alan what do you find so attractive about the fantasy genre? In what ways do you find it fulfilling?

 

I like the total freedom it gives us to explore any ideas we like. We can expand any concept well beyond the boundaries of the real world and that makes it much more exciting for me.

 

I know you have had a new addition to the household. How does having a baby affect your writing time?

 

It makes it much more precious! I wrote my first novel during my lunch hours at a 9 to 5 office job, so I trained myself early to make time whenever I could to write. Having a baby means I’m drawing on those experiences again.

 

What are you working on at the moment?

 

I’ve got a new novel under way – a standalone horror novel that’s a kind of organised crime/Lovecraftian thing with other stuff mixed in. It’s slow going with the baby, but I’m working on it while also doing edits and final proofs of the Alex Caine books.

 

What is your writing process? (planner, panster, write every day, write sporadically, writers block etc).

 

My process is to make time to write whenever I can. No one can find time to write, so you have to make it. I also run a martial arts academy, so I can’t write every day, nor do I think people need to. But you do meed to be a writer every day – that means always thinking about writing and stories and characters even when you can’t be writing. Always look at the world with a writer’s eye. I’m a bit of a hybrid pantser/planner. I make loose plans and outlines, then wing it from there. I’m always happy to throw the plan out the window and go wherever the story takes me though.

What do you prefer drafting the story or revising and reworking?

 

Drafting. Get that first draft down no matter how shitty it is. Get it finished. I make notes along the way of things I think will need looking at later. Then edit and polish and edit and polish and edit again until it shines.

 

What part of writing do you find hardest?

 

The middle of books. I hate middles!

 

 

What do you plan to work on next?

 

Not sure. I want to get this standalone novel finished and hope the Alex Caine books go well. Beyond that, I’m not sure!

Thank you Alan. Here is Alan’s contact details on the web.

Website – http://www.warriorscribe.com

Twitter – @AlanBaxter

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alan-Baxter/115972625096325

 

Book cover and mugshot attached.

 

 

Posted in fantasy, Interviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

Off to New Orleans

May 9, 2014 by donnamareehanson

So my bags aren’t quite packed, but my darling man bought a keyboard cover for the iPad Air so I can take it instead of the heavy laptop. I’m so excited by that. He is awesome. I didn’t have time today to go shopping but Matthew went after work.

Tonight my children cooked me a late birthday/early mother’s day dinner, with prezzies. Homemade lasagne and flourless chocolate cake with coconut cream/chocolate frosting. It was great to see them and I’ll miss them while I’m away. Matthew is staying here holding the fort, having horror movie nights, hopefully not eating too badly and enjoying the cold. I understand that New Orleans is warm. Yay, I had to totally rethink my wardrobe, but I’m quite prepared to shop!

I’ve printed out the stuff I need, now I just need to organise what I’m taking with me. Not easy to do when you’re on the computer.

I injured my knee in the move in November and have a torn tendon. Everything had been going fairly well, not hurting, able to walk, except these last couple of days it’s flared up. Now I have to get on a plane for 15 hours with a bad knee. I’ve bought a knee support and just hope I won’t need to buy a walking stick. Eek!

I’m looking forward to the RT Convention and the shopping and eating, except I believe I’m now allergic to fish so I have to be careful. I love fish so you can imagine not being able to eat it is going to be tough. The other night we had chips from the local takeaway and I reacted to them. I’m getting more and more sensitive.

I’m taking Invoked, my current WIP with me to work on. I’ve not done much in recent weeks except on writing dates, with  my mother being deadly ill over Easter and then family coming down to say their goodbyes, but mum rallied, but is still exiting this life, just more slowly. I really thought she was leaving and I went through all the saying goodbyes, the crying, the grieving and now I have to adjust to her being still here, but also with a different personality. It’s just plain odd, but the brain injuries do weird things.

Anyway, it’s time to cuddle my man and leave this computer be. I may blog while I’m away, it depends on how well wordpress and ipad get one.

Waves!

A shot of me and Cat Sparks

A shot of me and Cat Sparks

Posted in General excitment, New Orleans, RT Convention, Travel | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments »

Bringing on the boys-Author spotlight interview-Craig Cormick

May 7, 2014 by donnamareehanson

Today I’m lucky enough to have Craig Cormick as our interviewee on the blog. Craig is a Canberra local, well he has been since I’ve known him.

craig head and shoulders

 

So Craig, your new novel is coming out, The Shadow Master. Can you tell us a bit about it?

It is a kick-arse tale of alternative history, love and conflict, madness and magic. It has everything except a car chase. (see link below)

So imagine a city something like Florence. A walled city, to protect it from the plague that is ravaging the countryside. Then imagine two waring houses, the Medicis and the Lorraines – both battling for control of the city. And next imagine each house has in its employ a learned man – Galileo and Leonardo, who are versed in the arcane arts of science, that can control time and space and the very laws of nature. So science works like magic in this world.

Then imagine two lovers – Lorenzo and Lucia, who discover that together they too can change the natural laws of the world. But each belongs to a different waring house that refuse to let them be together.

And amongst all this there is a mysterious stranger – the shadow master. He is a hooded man that carries technologies not known in this world. He seems to understand all the mysteries of the Walled City, and even the long-lost secrets of the ancients, who built the walled city. And he possesses the knowledge as to how Lorenzo can save Lucia – and save all of civilisation while he is at it.

Sword fights and mad clerics and bombs and magical shape-changing people and an army of plague victims and fire and water and a wise-arse mystery figure. Gee – I’d read it.

 

Craig can you tell us a bit about yourself (where you live, how long you’ve been writing, previous publications etc)

I live in Canberra, Australia. I have always been writing since – well, since I could make up stories. I have published over 100 short stories and 20 books (including fiction, non-fiction, children’s and adult books. (Well, when I say ‘adult books’ – you know what I mean!!)

My writing awards include the ACT Book of the Year Award (1999) for Unwritten Histories (Aboriginal Studies Press, 1998) and a Queensland Premier’s Literary Award (2006) for A Funny Thing Happened at 27,000 Feet… (Mockingbird Press, 2005). I was a former Chair of the ACT Writers Centre and have taught creative writing at both university and community level.

What else is worth sharing?

Well, in 2006 I was lucky enough to be writer in residence at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, and in 2008 I was even more lucky to receive an Antarctic Arts Fellowship to travel to Antarctica, which I recounted in my 2011 book In Bed with Douglas Mawson. Link here.

My day job is as a science communicator and I’m fairly well published in academic journals on the social psychology of public reactions to new technologies. I’ve written two ‘outside-the-box’ reports for government agencies on this, Everything you always wanted to know about GM foods (2005) and Cloning Goes to the Movies (2006), (http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-59702006000500011) and have also done a lot of talks and articles on Why Clever People Believe Silly Things . (http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/features/a-scientific-view-non-science-beliefs/)

I have been lucky enough to have travelled to all seven continents for work, and it was at a science communication conference in Florence, while walking around the Galileo museum that I got the idea for the Shadow Master.

I have had a varied and interesting life and hope it is reflected in my work.

 

Craig what do you find so attractive about the science fiction and fantasy genres? In what ways do you find it fulfilling?

I like to write across many different genres and styles, from fiction to non-fiction and literary fiction to speculative fiction – and to mix them up as well – but I really enjoy the freedom that spec-fiction allows, to set your own boundaries and styles. I was at a conference where people were talking about spec-fiction styles: steam-punk and clock-punk and traditional sci-fi and speculative sci-fi – and I just put my hands on my ears and zoned out. I think getting too lost in styles or genres can get in the way of things.

I just write ‘stuff’ I really enjoy writing.

Though I must say I really, really like the spec-fiction community. Very supportive, a lot of fun to hang with and not so black-turtle-neck-wearingly-earnest and self-obsessed as the more literary community.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m currently working on the Sequel to the Shadow Master– the Shadow Master meets Godzilla. Oops – I meant the Shadow Master in the Floating City, which is a city something like Venice, that is kept afloat by the magic of four pairs of seers, who are being killed by monsters in the canals. And I am using the original Italian stories that Shakespeare adapted into Othello, the Merchant of Venice and Romeo and Juliet throughout the novel too. It also doesn’t have a car chase.

What is your writing process? (planner, panster, write every day, write sporadically, writers block etc).

Each different book I write seems to have a different path to completion. Some I’ve just sat down and started toying with ideas and seen where they take me, and others I’ve meticulously planned and plotted out. I had a rough idea where I was going with the Shadow Master and let it take me aon a bit of a voyage, but the sequel has been more carefully plotted out.

My plan it to just get the words down first. Novels are written by doing a few pages a day. And when I’ve got them there I can roll up my sleeves and go to work on rewriting them. When things are really ticking the first draft I write is really quite good and needs little work, but of course some days things don’t come easily and the draft later needs a looooooot of work!

What do you prefer drafting the story or revising and reworking?

All of the above. The biggest buzz is when I’m working on a draft and say to myself, ‘Damn that was good!’ As if I’ve surprised myself I could have actually written that.

What part of writing do you find hardest?

Finding time to write amongst all the non-writing things: Job. Wife. Children. Eating. Children. Wife. Cleaning. Sleeping. Did I mention Children and Wife? Etc… Though I was once on an Australia Council grant and had the freedom to write all day every day and I found that after two weeks of bashing at the keyboard I couldn’t sustain the pace. As if I needed a lot of time away from the keyboard for ideas to germinate and work themself up so I could then put them down when I had free time.

What do you plan to work on next?

I’m finishing up a book on the science of the Australian Bushranger Ned Kelly. I’m editing a collection of pieces from all the different scientists who have worked on identifying Ned Kelly’s bones and remains that were recently located at Pentridge Prison in Melbourne. It involves forensic pathology and DNA testing and archaeology and detective work through the records and is absolutely fascinating. Watch this space!

(http://angryrobotbooks.com/books/the-shadow-master-by-craig-cormick/)

The cover of The Shadow Master

The cover of The Shadow Master

 

www.craigcormick.com

https://www.facebook.com/craig.cormick

Here is a bookmark version with the blurb.sm front bookmark copy

 

 

Posted in Interviews, Writing | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments »

Interview spotlight with SE Gilchrist

May 1, 2014 by donnamareehanson

Today I have great pleasure in bringing an interview to you with SE Gilchrist. Suzanne is an Escape Publishing author buddy, who writes steamy science fiction. Thank you for being here today.

SE Gilchrist

SE Gilchrist

Star Pirate’s Justice is your new SF romance novel out with Escape Publishing. Can you tell us a bit about it?

 

Set in Earth’s future, Star Pirate’s Justice is the second single title story about a group of women who volunteered to terra form a new earth only to find themselves ‘sold’ into ‘slavery’ in an alien world. Only the traders who sold them know the way back to Earth. And to make their lives more difficult there is a war going on for control of an amazing energy source which can not only be used to power intergalactic space travel but can be harnessed to form space/time travel vortexes. (I can hear my youngest son who studies physics yelling at me right about now!)

In this story, Carly is on a mission to find a Darkon warrior turned star pirate and return him to Darkos to face justice. She also believes the star pirate has gate way maps in his possession. But she arrests him at the moment when he is about to make a deal with a smuggler which will give him the evidence he needs to clear his name and reveal the identity of the true traitor. There’s space battles, bounty hunters and a ‘gun’ fight in a market place so this story has more ‘action’ than Legend Beyond the Stars.

Tell us about yourself.

I live in the Hunter Valley of NSW with my three adult children and two dogs and have recently added a rescue cat to our family. I was raised as a Novacastrian then spent quite a few years travelling, mainly around outback Australia. Like many, I’ve been writing off and on for like, forever, however have only taken my ‘muse’ seriously since 2008. My first publication was an erotic, post-apocalyptic short story, Paying the Forfeit, in the Hot Down Under series with Momentum Books on 1st Dec 2012. My next publication was with Escape Publishing, who released my single title and the first book in my sci fi romance series, Legend Beyond the Stars on 10th Jan 2013. Since then I’ve had two novellas published with Escape (also in the same series) and have indie published, two erotic historical/fantasy novellas, one erotic, post-apocalyptic novella and one sweet rural romance short novel. And now of course, Star Pirate’s Justice is out with Escape since 1st Feb 2014.

Tell us a bit about why you write SF romance?

I love it. I love the scope it provides, the ability to make up your own world with its own culture and laws. I love how it gives the opportunity to combine adventure action and romance all in the one package. I also love how a writer can explore controversial subjects, such as: climate change, cloning, genetic dna modelling etc. Plus I cant help myself where alpha warrior type heroes are concerned.

Star Pirate’s Justice is part of an epic saga. Are we going to see more of it in the future?

Definitely. The next single title (fingers crossed) may be out later this year, When Stars Collide. I also have another two novellas in the works (one is Elise’s story and the other introduces some new characters) and the first single title book in the follow on series when some of the women return to Earth, Beyond Aquarius, is also almost completed. Actually, Paying the Forfeit and Storm of Fire are set in this ‘new’ world.

What are you working on at the moment?

Two stories in my sci fi series (as per above) and another rural romance.

What is your writing process? (planner, panster, write every day, write sporadically, writers block etc).

I start with an idea, usually a situation or an event for example for Star Pirate’s Justice my idea was the search for the gate way maps to Earth and a traitor who has been framed. From there my characters evolve, still very much shadowy creatures in my mind. I usually write up to three to five chapters before I sit down and do a story outline and do a fairly indepth study on the characters’ world. I also do a lot of character background / history writing and sometimes I can get new ideas from working on their past that I add into the story. Working on their backstories also helps me with writers block. I would love to say I’m so disciplined I write every day but I’d be lying! I have a full time job and sometimes there is like zero creativity in me some nights. Any leave days and the weekends I try to squeeze in as many writing hours as I can manage.

What do you prefer drafting the story or revising and reworking?

Drafting the story is the bomb for me. I do a lot of revising and re-writing as I go so my first draft is usually fairly ‘clean’. Its a slower process but it works for me.

What part of writing do you find the hardest?

I would have to say writing the love / sex scenes in a fresh way. Sometimes I say ‘insert love scene in .X’s POV say 250 words’ and come back to it later.

What do you plan to work on next?

I have a list. (I know, so anal but I just love spreadsheets) So, after the stories referred to above, I’ve got a New Adult sci fi / futuristic novel I’m also keen to get out there and another fantasy erotic novella in my Bound series.

 

Thank you so much for your time today, Suzanne. Next interview I’m bringing on the boys!

Star Pirates Justice

Star Pirates Justice

 

Posted in Digital Publishing, Interviews, Romance, Science Fiction Romance | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

Graduation day

April 14, 2014 by donnamareehanson

I’ve done it!

I’ve collected my degree in a graduation ceremony.

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What a hectic day it was. So crowded and so long, but it was awesome just the same. It was held in the Great Hall at Parliament House and there was a string quartet playing and all the pomp you’d expect.

I think I was a bit teary when I was putting the robes on. I remember what a big achievement it was for me to graduate in Economics at Sydney University in 1992. Something that I thought I’d never achieve at all.

Now twenty or so years later with a Masters in Creative Writing I’m so pleased and excited and wowed out.

I was accompanied by my daughter Shireen and my partner Matthew.

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Here are my graduation buddies. Jennifer Curry and Wendy Banham.

Then I met up with Tony Eaton, the course convener and all round nice guy (He’s tall). I figured if a lecturer can wear Tardis Damask T-shirt, he had to be ace (and he is).

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Here is a distance shot of Matthew and Shireen in the main foyer of Parliament House. Love all that marble.

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I have official photos but I’ve just looked them up. OMG! I’ll have to sell my soul for them and I already paid a sitting fee. I will consult with Matthew and see what I can afford. Expensive business graduating.

Edit. And here is me tossing my hat. The camera was too slow so we filmed it.

 

Posted in Masters of Creative Writing studies | Tagged , , | 4 Comments »

A break and enter interview with Ainslie Paton

April 11, 2014 by donnamareehanson

I thought I’d share this over here because it’s sadly overlooked over there. Sorry Dani.

donnamareehanson's avatarDani Kristoff author page

Consider this interview a break and enter.


I break in and steal your know how. Consider this a hit and run. I want what you have. So put up.

 

Ainslie I’ve read ( I almost wrote stolen) Floored, which floored me utterly. Sorry bad pun.

Floored 

Like with Grease Monkey Jive you really get into the characters’ heads, make them so three dimensional I think about them afterwards and wonder  how they are doing. The only other time that’s happened to me was when I read IT by Stephen King.

 

So spill. How do you do it? I’m not leaving here until you give me a hint, the low down, the how to, the…well how the bloody hell do you do it?

I wish I could give you satisfaction in a Rolling Stones kind of way. I fear I’m going to disappoint.

I assume I only do what…

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