Victorian | Donna Maree Hanson, Author, Phd in Creative Writing

Archive for the ‘Victorian’ Category

Procrastawriting or taking care of business

Posted in A writer's life, Australian author, author appearances, Author signing event, Book cover, book signing, Conflux, Creative passion, fantasy, Geeking out, research, revision, Science fiction conventions, Steampunk, Victorian, tagged blog, booknews, books, life, Newsletters, procastination, reading, signings, tiktok, Writing on July 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I did zero work on my current WIP, The Prudential Light. I did not have the excuse of the previous couple of days of recovering from my shingles vaccination, which really did knock me about. I did procrastawriting.

I wrote and sent a newsletter, and prior to that I signed up to Benventi for preorders for Books and Beyond 28 September. That took time. Here is a link to that preorder form. This is evidence and also if you are in the Central Coast and want to check out the event, please do. I’d love to say hi. It’s a first time, small writer event, which I think is free for the public.

I’ll be at the Geekmarkets on the CSFG table in the morning of 19 July with some of my books on offer. Also, free and fun.

I’ve signed up to Gamacon 6 September and I will have another appearance in August to announce soon.

Early October, it’s Conflux in Canberra, where I’ll have a table too. Not sure if I’ll make it onto any panels yet. That’s 3-5 October over the long weekend. A great SF con and a real experience if you have never been. I am hoping to launch The Prudential Light there but if so I need to get cracking.

I have other events later in the year as well but that’s the next few.

I have ordered book covers for The Prudential Light and Edward Huntington Esquire: Gentleman Magician so keep your eye out for those. I’m super excited about those.

While I have mucked about for two days, I actually did do some work this morning on The Prudential Light. It requires some additional structure so I had to write some new bits and one section needs a bit of research. The word count is now 53,000 word and I am not sure if this will reach 70,000 by the time I’m done.

I am in the ‘this is a mess, everyone will hate it, I can’t make it good’ stage. Or trending that way. I am still having fun with Jemima and Aunt Prudence.

Now as you can see I am writing a blog post. Is this procrastawriting? Or a heavy dose of writerly admin? I find it a bit of a diversion and I like blogging. Often I think of things I want to blog about and then don’t get around to it and then forget.

Have I told you I have started a TikTok? I am very much a Noob and the platform has amazing potential but being time poor I don’t have time to explore it and I’m also distracted by all those TikToks. My lastest talk about how hard I find revision. I love drafting novels. The hard work is shaping them into something you can read. Hence, my angst over is it good enough, can I make it better and so on.

I also owe the blog some posts from China, which I will get to.

Now it is time to get another cuppa.

PS my daughter just made me tea, put the heater on, brought me slippers, my hoodie and a cookie. I’m so spoilt.

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Singapore Sojourn Part 3

Posted in A writer's life, am wrinting, asian-centric fantasy, Australian author, Creative passion, Cry Havoc series, fantasy, Feminism, General excitment, magic, research, revision, Victorian, victorian paranormal, tagged books, cats, Chinese, creative writing, Cry Havoc series, drafting, fiction, Networking, publishing, research, revision, Singapore, Writing, writing tips on June 6, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I am a week and a bit in.

I have managed to use the pool every morning. Although this morning it was raining and storming. After dallying on my phone for a bit, there was no thunder and less rain so I did my pool work. Maybe a bit shorter than normal.

In other news, my four weeks in Singapore is going to be less than I thought because we are heading to China for 12 days not 8 so I need to connect with people faster than I had originally thought.

I met up with Dev. No photo sorry but we plan to meet up again and do a writing date. I need to get to the library and art gallery and museum again to research. Although I have found some references on line.

We met with Joyce Chng the other day. She gave me some books of hers that I have started reading about female sword makers. You had me at female and swords! Fireheart is YA fantasy. Here is a local link.

Today though it’s Friday and my daughter-in-law and I are going to have a massage.

On the writing front I have been writing for a week, pretty consistently. There was one day I only tinkered with some words as we went out to meet Joyce. Today though I forced myself to write more than normal. My hands ache a little. The Prudential Light is at 20,000 words. It’s going to need revising because it’s coming out quickly and I’ll need to add bits in as I research them and also craft the story more. Sometimes I just throw down the story, plot, characters etc to see if there is a story with a beginning, middle and end. Then during my revisions, I add things like descriptions, emotions and thoughts. I can usually do something in three run throughs but some take many drafts.

Aunt Prudence is in my ear, telling more and more of her story and the characters are adding bits that my phone notes are filling up. I think I have a nice story arc going. If I can finish this first draft while I’m here then I’ve got something to go on with.

The China trip is going to blow my mind, I know it.

I’m going to miss my writing buddies. Meet Siri.

This cat’s name is hard for me to pin down.

I hear different words, I think it’s Moguai but it’s Siumoguai so I was close and I’m not totally deaf!

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Get your steampunk on!

Posted in Argenterra, Book cover, Book launch, epic fantasy, fantasy, Fashion, new release, Paranormal romance, Steampunk, Victorian, tagged discount books, discount price, gothic horror, limited time offer on ebooks, new release, special price, Steampunk, steampunk fantasy, steampunk fantasy novels, steampunk novels, Victorian gothic, victorian paranormal, victorian paranormal gore on December 15, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Hi there!

Guess what?

I have put Ruby Heart, Cry Havoc Book 1 up for preorder on Amazon. It is in Kindle Unlimited so it will be free to those who subscribe to that service. I will publish this book to other retailers in 2019. It will also be available in print.

This has been a long time coming. Ruby Heart had an agent. We thought this would sell but alas it did not. After five years waiting, I’m publishing myself. I love it and I’m so excited to share Jemima Hardcastle’s story with you.

Frauke from http://www.crocodesigns.com did the covers. I love what she has done.

RubyHeart-2

Here is the blurb. It is currently being edited so it’s not perfect, but you will get the gist.

Blurb

Paranormal Victorian steampunk fantasy, with Gothic horror and romance.

A book of manners, magic and mayhem.

Jemima Hardcastle has a sad history. After her father was murdered by a secret society of magicians, her guardian and new heir to Willow Park, Edward Huntington, packed her off to boarding school. In the four years she was there, she never saw him again until she escaped from school to a house party and there he was. He did not recognise her and he even flirted with her.

A disastrous kiss, a murder and a stolen jewel herald dire happenings. Jemima is shipped off to Willow Park in the care of Fulton, Edward’s man, to be under the chaperonage of the odious Aunt Prudence and the meek cousin, Milly. While avoiding stitching in the evenings, she discovers Edward’s scientific genius and the artificial leg he made for Fulton. Her esteem for Edward rises and she is actually looking forward to seeing him again when he does not arrive as planned.

When they realise Edward is abducted, Jemima schemes to go in rescue. She has cunning and she has money and with these she plunges herself and her companions into the world of dark sorcery and London shopping.

In London, Jemima and Fulton lead a double life as they search for Edward in the slums, manufactureys and even a bawdy house. When she final discovers Edward, her life is on the line.

While a vicious and bloody fight for survival is going on around him, Edward has to choose between saving her life or unleashing the unholy, vampiric beast Geneck on an unsuspecting London.

Ruby Heart is currently on preorder for $1.99 with a release date of December 22nd. It will be $1.99 until Boxing Day.

Here is the cover of the sequel, due to be published end January 2019. It’s currently with the editor. I can’t tell you how much fun I had with this story. I’ve even got another idea and maybe another, but it depends on how well it goes. If it doesn’t take off I’ll have to work on something else. Anyway I appreciate your support.

EmeraldFire-2

While I have you here, Argenterra is currently $0.99 cents until the 20th of December. A must for epic fantasy lovers.

Check out the new cover from Frauke at Croco Designs.

Argenterra-1000x1500

Here is a link to more information and buy links.

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Tripping around London

Posted in Fashion, Regency, Travel, United Kingdom, Victoria and Albert Museum, Victorian, tagged Cheapside, Eastend, fashion, historical fashion, Jane Austen, Limehouse, London, London Bridge, Pride and Prejudice, regency dresses, regency fashion, Thames, Victorian era fashion on September 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

As a follow on from my Loncon 3 report, I thought I’d do a post on London. We arrived Tuesday 12

September. We were sharing an apartment in Limehouse with Kim and Shauna. It was a lovely place and close to the DLR, which we needed to get on the metro and to the Excel where Loncon 3 was being held.

I thought a self catering apartment would have advantages. We could could meals, wash clothes and hang in the sitting room. This was a good plan except Kim and Shauna discovered the cafe on the corner and once I went there I wasn’t keen on cereal for breakfast. We think it might have been Polish but we don’t really know. We went there everyday and when we left popped in to say goodbye. Limehouse is in the East end of London, closer in to the river from Whitechapel (Jack the Ripper fame). I wanted to walk to Whitechapel, but as it was Matthew and I walked into Gracechurch Street and cheapside on day.

The walk in was interesting because of the ethnic mix of people and the sort of poorer area. We went to a market and had a look around. Along Commercial Road there were numerous direct to public clothing warehouses. I was sorely tempted but I had a goal to walk into the city. We could see the Gerkin for most of our walk.

Gracechurch street is where Lizzie’s uncle lives in P&P. It’s in Cheapside. We also found a patch of river and I picked up some pieces of pottery, which satisfied the archeologist in me. On the way back we got some fab shots of the Tower of London.

Tower of London, exterior, taken August 2014

Banks of the river Thames with bits of the past washing up

Under London Bridge

Gracechurch Street, Cheapside, London, August 2014

During our time in London we went to the Victoria and Albert Museum and we have some lovely photos. We went to the Wedding Dresses exhibition but no photos were allowed. I really enjoyed just walking the streets and soaking up the feel of the place.

You will see from the photos that I concentrated on the Regency and Victorian fashions. Be prepared for a photo fest.