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Posts Tagged ‘travel’

Some Singapore Highlights

Posted in A writer's life, Creative passion, fantasy, geekgirl, Geeking out, retro SF, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Singapore is full of delights. Culinary, in particular, but also cultural. I had an amazing time last year with the 60th anniversary, with the cultural institutions exhibiting early Singapore artifacts that tied directly to the novel I was writing. This year I had a couple of things on my wish list. But, then, something popped up on my Instagram feed, something right up my alley. The Portals Experience. Link here.

Anyway, my son and daughter-in-law liked the idea too, being geeks like me. Portals is in Scots Road, fairly central. What is Portals? Well SF and Fantasy, a whole spectrum of books, book cover art, figurines, dioramas, games, genre discussion. It was truly amazing and I think I needed a season ticket to get the full effect of it. It opens up the whole world of cover art and books. The early SF. The early art. I’m thinking AI is going to kill the future of cover art and I hate that. These covers were amazing, just like the stories were. Amazing and new at the time. The SF, Fantasy and Horror genres reek with creative imagination of the other worldly and it’s not just books and cover art. There are games, game art, figurines, dioramas–whole scenes of imagined worlds. There are archetypes and there is genre growth and evolution and Portals gives more than a glimpse into this.

I thoroughly recommend this event. I asked one of the staff members if the exhibit will travel elsewhere and she thought not. It took the organizer two years to put together and now they will be looking to store the contents when the exhibition ends September 1, I think. So you have all of August to check it out.

The store was amazing too. You could by first edition SF paper backs, art prints (with half the revenue going to the artists), art postcards (same deal) and other geek stuff.

I will share some photos. It is five stars all round. No loos on site so come prepared.

Image 1. Panels of Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazines. There were several panels of different magazines on display.

Image 2 An example of a panel with book, game and figurine and artwork Warcraft

Image 3 Examples of book displays in the first room

Image 4 Film, artifacts and book Planet of the Apes

Image 4 Examples of early SF books

Image 5 An early book that I had not read

Image 6 Figurines–These were done by themes, exploring different cultural origins

Image 7 Eastern tradition

Image 8 Greek inspired figurines

Image 9

Image 10 Map

A short clip of Atlantis Diorama

And a short clip of one of my favorite parts- The book slider loop thing

Obviously I have way more photos and video but this is just a taste. You should get along to see if if in Singapore and if you are heading to Singapore soon, check it out.

Also, we went to Alice Boulangerie and Restaurant. I had an amazing burger. I couldn’t have the prawn pasta or the lobster pasta because they put fish roe in there. (I needed to google the ingredients). Amazing pastries in the display too. Great service.

Otherwise I have stayed at home and worked on book stuff. Like all day. On the weekend we are booked for the Ginger Lily High Tea at the Hilton in Orchard. Stay tuned.

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Still in Singapore

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on July 28, 2026| Leave a Comment »

It’s lovely. The weather is warm, of course, but less humid than on my visit last year. Or so my body thinks.

I have been to the pool every morning so far. Yay me. It is so convenient as the pool is downstairs. At home I have to drive for 20 minutes so it’s an event, rather than every day.

We caught some of the birthday fireworks. It’s not Singapore’s birthday yet but these are the lead up. We are right next to the stadium so the fireworks sounded like bombs going off. Very scary. We caught the last one.

Last hoorah of Singapore’s fireworks on the weekend.

I have started working on the revision to Gentleman Magician. I need to get a move on with that. However, it shouldn’t be too long if I knuckle down.

I’ve also been editing audio files for The Founders’ Legacy. And well that takes a lot of time and some of the errors (pickups) I can’t do here. I tried but the sound quality is different and I hate the sound of my voice so much anyway and the way I stumble over words that I feel that I might start over again, again, again. At least I got the whole book down this time, instead of redoing chapter one over and over again. Practice makes perfect.

But again, I winkled some more typos out so I have updated the files, yet again. I’m going to stop typo hunting now so I can move on. I found the issue was really in Vellum, the program I use to format the books. Somehow I had an option on to automatically correct spelling errors. I didn’t even know that option existed. My novel has a whole lot of made up pronouns, strange names and Vellum changed them and created chaos. All that careful proofreading torn up. However, I believe it is sorted now. But if someone mentions typos I may go up in flames.

For Russell Kirkpatrick’s memorial, which I’ll miss in person, is on Friday. Kylie kindly asked me to talk about Russell’s writing and links to the writing community. I have sent that video off but damn that was hard. In the end I just had to run with it, be as natural as I could, even though I hated listening and looking at me and I didn’t want to become emotional.

In other news, The Founders’ Legacy is for free on Kobo for a little bit. Hopefully this universal link will work. Barnes and Noble is inaccessible from Singapore for some reason. Link for The Founders’ Legacy. Here.

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I’m in Singapore (for a bit)

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on July 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

I arrived on Thursday evening and I’m adjusting to the slight time difference. I’m not quite there yet. I am here mostly to chill and be with my son and my daughter-in-law. There are a couple of things I’d like to do. Maybe visit the science museum on recommendation from a writing buddy. Also, a Portal exhibition of SF and fantasy miniatures came up on instagram so we will go to that. And catching up with a couple of friends.

I usually set some goals when I come for a long visit. Five weeks is a long visit. Enough to get a break and settle my mind. First goal is to get to the pool to walk everyday, usually early morning. Two days in and I’ve done that. This is to help keep me fit. Something I have been neglecting. To eat good food but to be food smart because I have gained 5 kilos since I was here last year and that’s not good. I am meant to be losing kilos not gaining them!

Writing wise, I have a few things on. My original plan was to start drafting Amethyst Way, the next Cry Havoc novel. However, I need to revise Gentleman Magician first and I have booked it in for an edit so best get going.

The other thing was edit the audio book of The Founders’ Legacy. I’ve recorded it but not edited and mastered it. I did a bit of that yesterday but I may switch to Gentleman Magician as that’s more pressing (and less frustrating).

The audio book recording is such a challenge. Sometimes your mouth does not obey your commands and you mumble or say the wrong word. Eep. Then there are words you can write but not easily say. For example, self-congratulatory which I can say but not when I’m recording myself etc. There are other tongue twisters like ignominy, preliminary and many others. And dealing with non-gendered invented pronouns! Oh well, hopefully I will learn from this.

Anyway, the only picture I have taken is of the pool and noodles from last night oh and the delightful meal my daughter-in-law cooked when I arrived. Did I mention that noodles are my friend? My daughter-in-law and I bond over noodles.

Next post is a tribute to Russell Kirkpatrick, who passed away fairly suddenly.

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This is where my excuses are lined up

Posted in A writer's life, Australian author, Querying agents, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , on March 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »

I had plans.

I disregarded plans.

I am guilty…but…I’ve been travelling and I’m not good with writing while traveling. I maybe wrote a sentence. First trip was NZ, north island, and then work, and then travelling locally with a visiting relative. We had a fab time, Sydney Opera House, Wildlife Retreat, Newport, Tea Gardens and then a steam train ride in Canberra.

However, I’m now at home for a little bit, except I’ll be in Sydney on Sunday for the ARRA Romantic Rendezvous event at Rydges Central in Albion street. More information here. Tickets will be at the door now. There are panels as well as book sales. Do come along and meet some great authors. I’ll be on a panel too.

April 12 I’ll be in Ourimbah for Books and Beyond.

With the state of the world as it is, wars, particularly Iran, it’s not easy to stop doom scrolling and think happy thoughts. Book sales plummet, naturally. Uncertainty hits book sales hard, I believe. Cost of living increases and so on. On the other hand, writing (and reading) can take your mind off things or in other words let you escape. So now I’m home and settled in my brain, I shall get back onto Gentleman Magician and stop dilly dallying around. I know I can finish it quickly as I’ve had the story in my head for weeks, working out the kinks.

I have a bit of personal admin too. Boob squashing appointment -booked, spa afternoon-Thursday, screen door installation tomorrow etc. A newsletter to write, books to read…

I dabbled with TikTok but I’m going to delete my account. I can’t do it justice. I think it’s a great tool but I want my creativity focus to be on writing. Besides most of my followers are dodgy blokes who tell me I’m beautiful or bots or scammers and there are a few genuine people there and some great advice and stuff with book tok. I can still experience all that but my content sucks!

On the book writing front, I’ve been working on The Tainted Lady, a Regency romance, and I think I worked out what to do about Richard. He needed more, he needed an impediment to his own happiness. I had some great feedback on the beginning from a Romance Writers of Australia contest. That one is nearly there and as my target markets have closed, this might end up being self published.

I’ve been shopping my PhD novel. A couple of rejections so far. However, I think all the work I needed to do for that one is done.

I have two more things on the back burner, a YA portal fantasy, Into the Dark Glass, I need to finish the restructure of that one and may add more world building and characters. The other was a reverse harem regency romance, called Louisa’s Choice, which is also all in my head, but not all on paper. If only my body was as productive as my brain!

Anyway, it’s time for me to leave you to it. Below is a not very good photo of me on the deck at the Wildlife Retreat Hotel at Taronga. I think my seven year old granddaughter snapped me.

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I had a really good idea for a blog post

Posted in A writer's life, Travel, tagged , , , , , on February 26, 2026| Leave a Comment »

But time caught up with me!

Instead of something thoughtful, you get the ‘hello I’m back from New Zealand’ and no I haven’t written any more Gentleman Magician.

Rather than a trip of my own, I was driving my sister around to her relatives and then to some places she wanted to go. Bonus for me was that my friend Wendy came for the sightseeing part.

It was nice for me too to see Kylie’s family. She lost her husband just over a year ago to lung cancer and it’s been hard on her. So seeing everyone again was nice as it wasn’t with a palliative care and funeral attached to it.

We visited Kaeo, which I’ve never been to before and that farm we stayed in was very picturesque and comfortable. I met a friend in Mangonui, nearby and that was a treat for company and location. Sightseeing consisted of Hamilton-for the must see Hamilton Gardens. I pushed Kylie around in a wheel chair so I got a work out. My sister has COPD so doing all that walking wasn’t going to be fun. Hobbiton was booked out for most of February so we couldn’t get there. We think there might have been filming…who knows. Next we popped down the road to Rotorua. I did a bit of walking looking for free bubbling mud pits but to not avail.

The big thing we did there was a Maori Culture evening at Te Paa Tuu Here (it’s written differently but my keyboard is not cooperating.) This was really good. What is fascinating is that this it the third time I’ve been there. Previously it was called Tamaki Maori Village. And that was the Pophiri (welcome), village tour looking at Maori crafts, passtimes etc, Kapa Haka (Maori singing and dancing traditional songs) and then the feed, a big hangi, with dessert etc. I went the first time 23 years ago, after a recommendation from a Maori in law. Then I took Matthew about 12 years ago. My son went about two years ago and he told me it was different now. The food is high end, Maori food inspired canapes, entrees and mains. And that is what we found. It’s quite pricey but we all thought it was worth it when you factor in all the people and the amazing food. When we got to the village part, we got some tea made from native Kawakawa I think, and a canape or two. Then we did mini workshops, poi, sticks, history, haka. And more canapes. The last one was a kumuar crisp, with venison and blueberry chutney on it. So good.

The entertainment was really good too, some great singing. Then we went for the feed. There were green lip mussels, and as I don’t eat fish I got a substitute for the white bait. The mains had hangi vegetables and stuffing, some lamb, we had waygu beef rib, and roast duck and hangi lamb. Then dessert. On the bus home I was quite full. I ate way too much!

Anyhow, it is great to see this venue still operating and being taken over by young people. Well done guys.

We booked a boat trip on Lake Taupo but unfortunately when we got there, it was too windy and it was cancelled so we headed back to Rotorua. We stayed in and drank wine and ate cheese. Wendy and I had a great feed in EAT STREET too.

Now I’m at my desk, intending to so some writing. Earlier I cleaned out the pantry due to a weevil infestation. And I practiced some bookbinding. One of them ended up in the bin! However, there is sewing to do and other craft things.

Not only didn’t I write during my trip I didn’t walk as much so I’ve trying to walk everyday since I’ve been back. However, more social events might interrupt these good intentions.

I am also trying to read more and I’m keeping a log. I’m currently reading Pictures of You by Emma Grey.

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Just a quick note from Guangzhou

Posted in A writer's life, China, Creative passion, Free book, revision, Steampunk, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Hi there

We arrived last night via train from Xi’an. We went Business Class, which was a godsend because we could lay the seat flat and we had space with just five chair and food. Great food. It was expensive and took 9 hours but an enjoyable ride.

(This post never got posted so it’s not last night!) So I’ll cut straight to photos.

On the platform

Below are the business class seats.

The gang!

Writing on the train

A shot of the view

Another bullet train

Railway food!

The hotel lobby

The view from the hotel room

Urgent yum cha!

These prawn dumplings are coloured and different flavours

This is my son’s favourite type of yumcha. They were so good, crunchy!

I’ve been back in Australia for a few days now. I’m still in Sydney and there are perks. I get to spend time with my daughter and it’s warmer than Canberra. However, my partner misses me. I really miss my Singapore life and the China trip was awesome. However, it’s back to real life.

On the writing side, I have a draft of The Prudential Light and now have to edit/revise and restructure it as well as find an editor. Today I have written to the cover designer for a cover. I’m very excited about this book. There was so much more to Aunt Prudence than I first thought.

Don’t forget

Ruby Heart is currently free and it’s been getting a good lot of downloads. It is soon to be promoted on Apple Books. The link to my store is here. So if you don’t have your copy get it now.

Or check out My books with buy links here.

I’m so excited about The Prudential Light, which I am going to call Book 4 because I have two layers of story, one is Aunt Prudence’s memoir and the other is what is going on in Aunt Prudence’s now with Jemima, Milly, Fulton and Edward.

There will be another book, Edward Huntington Esquire: Gentleman Magician, covering Edward’s story between sending Jemima to school and meeting her again at Primrose Manor. Basically, the story of Heaton and Edward meeting and then healing Fulton. No romance I think in this one. This may just been a series novel rather than a numbered book in the series. It’s a not quite sequel.

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Singapore Sojourn Part 5

Posted in A writer's life, am wrinting, China, Creative passion, Cry Havoc series, research, Singapore, Steampunk, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I have been here three weeks and one day. Wow, time has flown. And on Saturday we fly out to Beijing for 12 days in China. What I thought might be a short side trip has become the big China trip and I feel the excitement building.

I made a few goals for my time in Singapore. Pool walking every morning. I have done this, sometimes with more enthusiasm and a few days with less. I am sleeping a bit longer than those initial days where I woke up at 5am. However, I can’t seem to sleep in past 7.30am. But I am reaching sleep goals according to my Apple watch. I’ve also road tested these two last days taking my Apple watch into the pool. It is a much better way of keeping track than lap counting. When I count laps I lose count because I starting thinking about Aunt Prudence.

My other goal was writing 30,000 words of the novella The Prudential Light, which is Aunt Prudence’s memoir in the Cry Havoc series. Well I am at 44,000 words so I should at least make 45,000 words today but you know there’s a lot going on in this story and it may be a novel after all. I blame the condo’s swimming pool for that because many of my ideas came to me while pool walking and losing track of how many laps I did. The reason I think this is that I have written so many scenes and I think the plot might come together at 50,000 words but all the restructuring, back filling skipped scenes etc is going to bring it up in word count. Anyway, I’m very happy about that.

Next steps is to commission a cover and also a cover for the next installment, Edward Huntington Esquire, Gentleman Magician. This will cover the period of Edward finding out he was a magician and his meeting with Dr Heaton and Fulton. I probably have another story in the series, which would be a novella (god I hope so!) about Wilbur Hardcastle and Jemima’s mother. It will be a love story but not a romance because we all know that Jemima’s mother died young.

Then I might start on my spin off series.

Meanwhile in Singapore I have caught up with my mate Dev and we have hung out. Yesterday, we had a marathon Orchard Road experience yesterday from 12pm to about 7pm, including most importantly a trip to Kinokuniya. We started at Pizza Express which is fine dining in Singapore. Then we had tea and something naughty in Paul’s, which is outside Kinokuniya and then later I had a kind of Hawker Centre experience in the Food Republic, which is sort of the same thing except in a mall and airconditioned. I had some fried prawn noodles and oyster omelette. I’m not keen on oysters, I can eat them, but I really liked the egg part, which was crispy and tasty. Dev tells me it is eggs with water and tapioca starch.

Me and Dev and Kinokuniya

Lychee Fanta and Cream Soda flavoured Fanta. They were a $1 each and interesting.

To get back on the research track on Monday we went to the National Museum of Singapore to see their Once Upon a Tide special exhibition, about the history of Singapore. Well worth the visit. We also did a quick walk through of the permanent exhibition on level one. Lucky I did because I found out Rickshaws were invented in Japan later than I thought and where popular from 1880s until 1930s.

Below is an early map of Singapore in the period that I’m interested in.

I also got some good photos of things that will help in my story of Aunt Prudence and that’s the main focus of my visit to the museum.

I have really enjoyed hanging out with my son and daughter-in-law. On Tuesday we went to the island of Sentosa to check it out. We mostly did things like the free shuttle bus to check out the beaches and we did a skylift up and back to look around and at at the Shake Shack. We don’t have Shake Shack in Australia. The chips are good but this time they weren’t as hot as they should have been. The Shake Shack in Gardens By the Bay were so good! The cheese burger I had was real and yummy.

On the skyride

Today is going to be an at home day. I need to do some writer admin, hang out my washing so I can pack for the trip and write. I really need to do something with my hair but that remains to be seen if I have the energy. I thought a pink rinse would go down well in China, except I didn’t bring any with me so my hair is very blonde and curly. However, apparently Beijing will be hot but not as humid so my hair could remain straight.

My Kinokuniya purchases. Thea Guanzon is from the Philippines and Sue Lynn Tan is Chinese from Hong Kong.

Above is the emotionally needy Siumoguai who had snuck into my room and perched next to my swimmers.

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The Eve of Ages of Pages

Posted in A writer's life, book signing, Steampunk, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on April 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

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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Amber Rose is out there

Posted in A writer's life, Amber Rose, Book launch, book signing, Cry Havoc series, new release, victorian paranormal, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

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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Calm down a little

Posted in A writer's life, tagged , , , on November 6, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I’ve just checked and my last post was October 17. Where did the time go? I’ve been to Adelaide, tick. Then, we had family visiting from the UK so lots of stuff to do, food to eat (oh dear my gut bulge) and things to do.

Highlights for me were Matthew’s sister took us to the Taronga Park Wildlife Retreat. It is an amazing hotel, purpose built, tastefully fitted out and you wake up to koalas outside your window and you can do an evening tour after the zoo closes. And the view across the harbour was amazing. Our UK guest was very impressed. I thoroughly recommend if you are visiting Sydney and want a nice hotel, probably pricey but great as a special treat. Then some of us took the ferry over to Circular Quay and walked around the Sydney Opera House, had lunch on a street side cafe and then walked to the Rocks until we headed back to our new hotel, the Sofitel Wentworth, newly reopened after a grand refurbishment. I was too tired to go out but the gang went to Chinatown and had dinner. Then it was a visit to Coaster’s Retreat before heading back to Canberra with our guests. There were visits to the zoo and aquarium, National Museum and other things. Too soon our guests were off again to return to Sydney then home.

Life feels a bit like a roller coaster. Writing tasks long neglected, tiredness and so on. At the moment, I’m doing the final read through of Destiny’s Blood (much delayed due to the above) and then life might decouple a bit from writing. I’ll be drafting Amber Rose again, but also assembling deck furniture and doing house related things in the lead up to Christmas. I honestly don’t know how I fit it all in, but I always feel like I’m not doing enough.

I am really looking forward to going nowhere in particular, except Matthew is taking me to Sydney for a concert on Sunday but we will be back Monday so not quite the big expedition.

Two manuscripts on submission reach their useby day on the weekend so I’ll be looking to review them and send them out again. Sigh.

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