Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Writing’

Reading, listening and writing update

Posted in A writer's life, am wrinting, authors, Creative passion, Science fiction conventions, World Science Fiction Conventions, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on May 31, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I meant to write this up yesterday but I started down the dark path of changing over my email addresses, as my provider iinet decided it didn’t want to be in the business of emails. After more than 20 years, there’s a lot to do and I ran out of oomph! It will take me months to do so…you know…kills the creativity.

A few weeks ago I found out that T. Kingfisher AKA Ursula Vernon was coming to Canberra and was being interviews by Freya Marske at the Paperchain bookstore. Ignoramus that I am I hadn’t heard of her but she was getting a good wrap from friends. What an interesting author! OMG I was so inspired by her. She writes what she writes. T. Kingfisher is her audit pen name but I read she’s a children’s author, illustrator and more. Multitalented. I bought a couple of the books that were on sale and headed over to Audible to buy a few of her romantic fantasy books. They are gorgeous and sweet and funny. I finished Paladin’s Grace and I’m nearly done with the sequel Paladin’s Strength and I’ve bough Palidin’s Faith so to be listened to pile. Her other books are horror apparently. They are next on my list. I can’t find a link for her but if you google you’ll find her.

So my take away, it’s okay to write lots of things, just write them well. Explore your talent.Don’t give up!

Kaaron Warren, an amazing author and so distinctive and fascinating to read. I’ve always considered her writing style art, due to her process and her work. Art house horror! Her new novel The Underhistory is out in print and Audible so I also listened to that. It held me spellbound. I didn’t know what was going to happen and the main character Pera (short of Temperance) is eccentric, an unreliable narrator and so full of stories that the house where the action takes place seems to be held together by her tales of ghosts, her sheer will. Thoroughly recommend. I believe we are heading the launch next week in Canberra.

Here is a link to Kaaron’s homepage. Link.

On Mother’s Day I picked up The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill. This book is a bit different to her Rowland Sinclair history crime novels, which I love so much. Who knew Australian history between the wars in Sydney was so interesting. I’m half way through this book and loving it. Sulari is doing a talk at the National Library this week so I need to finish it. Set in the USA, with likable characters and some sinister happenings, including a murder of course. Loving it. Her homepage is here. Link.

Recently I finished a kids books called Grandma Neebs Through the Pantry Door. Just like adult books if you are trying to sell you need comps. Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh was recommended by dear Angie as a comparative title so I ordered it and read it and yes this is so. I enjoyed this book and will probably read more.

More recommendations. I first heard about Steffanie Holmes at the Romance Writers of Australia conference last year. She was a guest speaker. Her speech blew me out of the water. A NZ author, she’s legally blind and, yes, reading and writing are hard but she does it anyway. Her tag line: Don’t give up before the miracle happens. After reading a few books in her Nevermore series, I know she’s bloody clever to boot. As soon as she mentioned, enchanted bookshop, staffed by fictional characters such as Heathcliff, Moriarty and Poe’s Raven, cosy murder mystery and ,yes, reverse harem or why choose, I was intrigued and not disappointed. I also bought her how to book and it had some cool stuff about booktok too. I devoured three books over two days. I also ordered a special edition hardcover of a Dead and Stormy Night and it’s beautiful. I would have bought the full set but you know $. Anyway, besides reading the books, I signed up to her newsletter and even that is so well done, professional and interesting. She also has a new kickstarter and rereleased a romantasy series. Anywhere if you were interested I suggest start with a Dead and Stormy Night.

As a reader I thoroughly recommend. As an author, I think I can learn a lot from her approach and professionalism. Here is the link to her homepage.

Next thing I stumbled upon this week was a podcast by Patty Jansen called The Happy Writer. How did I not know about this before. I mean I know Patty and interact with her on socials and I’m even a Patreon supporter. The pandemic really did hit me and I disengaged a lot. Now I’m back baby! Patty says the podcast was a pandemic project and now that the provider she used was sold, she’s releasing new episodes on her Patreon. With about 70 episodes, there is quite a lot of content there. All of it clear and useful, particularly if you self-publish or want to know more about it. Her most recent episode on her Patreon was on writing blurbs. So good. She is also an artist and musician. Patty has also done the covers of my collections, Beneath the Floating City, Through These Eyes and and my latest SF novel Awakening. Her homepage is here. Link.

And that takes me to my accountability post.

Destiny’s Blood-cover ordered, currently just over 30,000 words. Edit booked in. Eep!

Amber Rose-cover I had years ago, currently hovering around 11,000 words.

Robot Heart-cover achieved, editor achieved, stories compiled into one document with about four being tidied so far. Due to editor by June 15. Proofreader sorted.

A shout out to Keri Arthur who assisted with my sticky, problematic preorder form for Fiction and Friction in Adelaide (12 October at the Adelaide Convention Centre). I’ll be there selling and signing books.

Hardcover version of Vorn and the First Comers achieved.

Hardcover version of Ruby Heart achieved.

Large Print Hardcover version of Ruby Heart achieved.

Just one problem. Amazon have huge prices on these. Which means I really, really need to sort my shop. But then again, the large print was meant for libraries.

The reread of Emerald Fire is half way through. I read aloud to find typos so it takes me time. I’ve found a few things so far but the book is pretty clean, which is good. I’ll be picking up continuity stuff for Amber Rose but so far I have found that I put the characters on the page and shit happens and it sort of writes itself.

As usual it is hard to balance the day job, writing, keeping fit and house maintenance. Lol. Lucky for me, Matthew learned how to cook Chicken Saag this week and it was yummy. We are trying not to snack and are now ordering Youfoodz meals to see if portion control works.

Did I mention I’m heading to the World SF convention in Glasgow in August? Last minute stuff.

Read Full Post »

Back after my dash across the pond

Posted in A writer's life, am wrinting, Australian author, Creative passion, revision, Science fiction conventions, Scotland, World Science Fiction Conventions, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I arrived back from New Zealand on Tuesday evening. Unfortunately, I developed a migraine while I was waiting for my bag to come off the carousel. Annoying because I could hardly see and I was on a tight timeframe to make my flight to Canberra. Anyway, it was straight to bed for me. Luckily I was able to take some panodol when the aura started.

Yesterday was the day job and I was going to write after but took it easy instead.

Today is writing day. First up a bit of admin. I had to upload the updated version of Vorn and the First Comers, which now includes a map and the first chapter of Argenterra. I may as well make the book magnet, a book magnet. I also published for the first time a hardback book. I made this one of Vorn and the First Comers. It looks really flash. It is the first time it is on paper as it has only ever been an ebook.

I have also made two hardcopy versions of Ruby Heart, after my read through and fixing typos. There will be a normal hardcover version and a large print version with special font for Dyslexic readers. The large print is really for libraries as they are expensive to produce and I don’t think people buy them. But I could be wrong. The next one off the rank is Emerald Fire. I’m reading it through for typos and for plot and character because I have started writing Amber Rose, book 3 in the Cry Havoc series. Over 5000 words so far and it’s cracking along. I am not sure why it’s cracking on but it seems to be. I’m over 20,000 words into Lightning Strike as well. I only started writing Amber Rose because I’d left Lightning Strike open on my desktop and had to wait for Matthew to close up for me. That took a couple of days.

However, I can honestly say Keri Arthur’s recommended 1000 words a day will get you a book in three months is pretty solid advice. I wrote 1000 words a day while in NZ. I just haven’t quite managed it since I’ve been back. When I get back from aqua aerobics I will get cracking, perhaps on both of them. I do have another project but I’m happy to keep that on the back burner while I deal with these two.

I have the Regency Romance to revise and a few other WIPs but no rush as they say! Hahaha.

Finally, Awakening has a rating on Amazon. Five star. Thank you to whoever put that there.

I almost forgot. Hot off the press, I’ll be in Glasgow for the World Science Fiction Convention in early August! And I am also going to be an attending author at the Fiction and Friction Signing in October in Adelaide.

I have two books on submission:

Grandma Neebs: Through the Pantry Door, middle grade fantasy

The Founders’ Legacy: Sihem, science fiction, feminist science fiction, SF romance and could be read as a queer YA

It’s highly competitive and tough to get into traditional publishing. Nevertherless, I’m giving it another go.

Wish me luck!

Read Full Post »

Progress report

Posted in A writer's life, Australian author, Book cover, cover reveal, Creative passion, Querying agents, tagged , , , , , , , on May 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

A few things on the boil.

Here is the cover for the robot-themed short story collection that I’ll put out this year. I was going to call it by a different name but that old name did not suit the cover. Matthew suggested Robot Hearts. Last week I drafted two of the stories and the rest I have are already written. What do you think? I’m in a quandary about an editor.

I’ve been reading through Ruby Heart, mostly to refresh my mind about the characters and story so I can write the next book. However, I’m repairing typos as well. Reading slowly out loud takes time, but it’s good at detecting missing words etc. Pity it was proofread too. I’m almost done. Then I need to read Emerald Fire so I can start on Amber Rose. I dug out the cover for inspiration.

I’m very excited to be working on this. I did start a while ago but life just went off in a big kaboom.

Yesterday was meant to be a full on writing day. However, after aqua aerobics I was wasted and starving. So we had lunch at the club as planned. Too many good options to choose from in the pensioner lunch category. And then I flaked. I felt dizzy and sleepy. We put it down to the medication I’m on. No trip to the National Library for me.

In bed, after a nap, I managed about 1000 words on The Lightning Strike on my lap top and had a cool idea where to from there. Yes, I’m seat of the pantsing this one. Eventually I’ll have to plan it, but I like to see where the story, characters and mystery goes. I’m really liking Gene and Lily but have decided to bring in Wolf and Abbie to create some huge sparks.

Today I stumbled across a review on Kobo for Oathbound, the middle book of the Silverlands series. It completely blew me away. It was nice, of course, so nice blown away and not jaw dropping to the ground appalling blown away. Link here.

Amazon put the price of Vorn and the First Comers to free and then changed it back up again. This means that this weekend I will try to get my book store live so anyone can get it free. I’ve also decided to do a hardcover of Vorn and the First Comers, which will be its first time in print.

I’ve two books on submission. And you know it is very disheartening when you know some award winning writers can’t place their books with publishers and or agents. I will try to brazen in out until I give up hope.

That’s it from me until next time.

Read Full Post »

Trying to balance all the things

Posted in A writer's life, All the things, am wrinting, Australian author, Being organised, Creative passion, Trying to focus, tagged , , , , on May 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I’m sure everyone has issues trying to do all the things.

I was saying to Matthew how hard I was finding working, writing and exercising and balancing between them. That doesn’t include all the other things such as social activities, reading, housekeeping and well thinking. Matthew said he was finding it hard as well.

I currently work three days a week. Lately, I’ve been a bit tired after work. I think it’s the cold. I am doing writing related stuff but not drafting so much. That I do on Thursdays and Fridays and on the weekend when I get some time.

I should say our house currently resembles a tip. We have been focussing on writing etc. I think we need to correct this on the weekend as I find chaos stressful.

I have to say while I am still feeling very energetic and enthusiastic I am struggling with balance. This week has been a bit unusual though. The kitten bit my foot and because I have metal in my knees I have to be careful of infection. And as I’m allergic to penicillin-based antibiotics and there wasn’t much to choose from I had to take sulphur-based ones that make me feel ill. Headache, nausea and tiredness mostly. I’m still on Flagyl. Grrr to the kitten. Both cats are now banned from the bedroom.

A typical Thursday for us is I get up and do some writing (I get up way earlier than Matthew) and then we go to the pool. I do aqua aerobics, Matthew does laps. Then we do the pensioner lunch thing at our local club before we head to the National Library to write. On Thursdays the reading room stays open until 8. We usually leave around 5 or 6 but that’s it. Light dinner afterwards. Friday I write and maybe socialise.

I’m also in a novel crit group, so I’m reading a draft novel a month. I get this month off as my novel is being critted in June. I listen to books, currently The Underhistory by the amazing Kaaron Warren. I’m reading through Ruby Heart to pick up typos and refresh myself on the characters etc. I’ve started a file for Amber Rose, the third book in the series, in Scriviner. I’m reading it aloud so that takes time. I’m nearly done and then I’ll start on Emerald Fire. I drafted two short stories in the last week for my Robot Heart collection. They need more work. I’ll need to pull all the stories together and get moving. I think I’ll relegate short stories to the weekend.

Today, I’m going to write fresh words on a couple of WIPs, Lightning Strike, the next magical/werewolf story following from The Changeling’s Curse and another project I’m not too sure about which I’m 10,000 words in.

Theoretically I know there’s this concept called pacing but I never understood it.

Read Full Post »

Getting on with business

Posted in A writer's life, All the things, am wrinting, Creative passion, revision, tagged , , , , on April 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I’m writing this post because the story I’m working on won’t open on my Mac. I’ve decided to take a breather before getting upset about it.

I’m really pleased with how my reengagement with writing is going. I’m spending part of every day in my office. A big hurdle.

Yesterday, I lobbed a children’s book manuscript at a publisher who had open submissions. Yay! And about two weeks ago I lobbed a 100,000 word manuscript to another publisher. That’s two manuscripts that had a lot of work put into them. I arrived home on February 29 and today is April 29. So that’s two months and a lot of work. I’m so proud of myself and I’m so happy that I enjoyed it. I work 3 in my day job days a week.

I thought I’d use this evening to write some new words. Alas I can’t. But I probably need to check I don’t have the document opened on my laptop. Hehe before I start doomsaying about lost documents.

It is really interesting that I’m starting to trust myself again. Instead of thinking -that rewrite/revision is going to take months…a year- I decided that I was kidding myself. I could do it much faster than that if I just got on with it. I had one goal, which was the novel crit group that Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild is running. I needed to get the bigger novel polished and ready. I had a structural edit on that already so I had been putting off tackling that.

With the children’s book, I had such lovely encouragement from my friend, Angie, that I just knuckled down again and concentrated on it. Being shorter it didn’t take as long. The read through was tougher though because I kept tinkering.

On my agenda is also writing a strategy and plan.

Projects

I have several/many other projects in progress either on paper or in my brain.

The Lightening Strike. I’m writing a new novel in the Cursed Ones/Spellbound world. Uniting them in Sydney. It should be fun. I’ve started that one. That document does open and is currently 15,000 words.

A Choice for Louisa (using another pen name). A kind of Regency novel/series/ not quite sure I can nail it project. If I could open the document I’d tell you how far along I am. About 5000 words maybe.

The Tainted Lady is a Regency romance. I have two lots of beta reader feedback and at 90,000 odd words it’s a big job to get stuck into that. I’d thought I’d start on that in May and see how I go. That will be the final revision I think before I decide what to do with that.

Robot Hearts SF short story collection. I have one maybe two more stories to write. One has been drafted. The rest are written. Part time project. I think.

Amber Rose is in the planning stage. I did write the first chapter long hand and lost the note book. I’m currently rereading Ruby Heart and then Emerald Fire to get reacquainted with the characters, their descriptions while at the same time fixing typos. I am using Scrivener for this one so it’s set up in there.

Into the Dark Glass is a YAish/steampunkish portal fantasy/that I have started to restructure. The sequel Dark Lady Rises is just a twinkle in my eye. My agent at the time didn’t like Into the Dark Glass and couldn’t tell me why. I have spent about eight years mulling it over. (There was a PhD in the middle of that). I don’t have an agent atm.

I have an SF novella that is is feminist SF but I need to get that out and dust it off. I might publish that this year.

I also have a crime novel I want to write but I need to do more thinking on that. Once I’ve cleared my plate a bit I think. There is also ideas for prequels and sequels to series I have already published.

Administration wise

I’ve got a newsletter and I’m not afraid to use it in May.

I’m still setting up the shop on this website. Slacker that I am.

I’ve put Awakening on special and listed it on a newsletter.

And am keeping my accounts up to date.

Travel

I’ll be popping of to NZ in May for five days for family reason.

I’m going to RWA in August in Adelaide (just need to get my ticket)

I’ll be at Fiction and Friction in Adelaide in October (after I get back from Rarotonga and NZ). I’m currently working on my preorder form.

I’d like to visit Perth in November if I can.

Mental State

I fear the above might make you think I’m a freak. I’m sure there are other people who are much more productive than me or who have more project in the offing or stuff on their mind.

Also it was my birthday yesterday. Yay me!

Read Full Post »

A home: feels like a whirlwind

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »

We’ve been home exactly one week.

I was telling Matthew that I haven’t found my groove yet. I’m currently grooveless.

Last post was from London. I don’t think I’ve ever walked so much in my life. Even using the tube and so on, there’s always a walk and those steps add up. This was a good thing because it helped with the weight gain. Lot’s of nice but expensive food to be had in London.

We also discovered the river bus (ferry), expensive but so much better than being crammed into a tube train. And there was coffee.

Biggest takeaway was how to ordinary people live-it’s so expensive. And why are there so many obviously wealthy people.

After two weeks in London we went to Malta for about five days. Why Malta? It was on a list of the possibles (Spain, Ireland, Italy) but what it had in it’s favour was one flight direct, warmer and dryer than the UK, cheapish flight and lots of accommodation to choose from. We loved Malta. We stayed in Sliema, with views of the beach (St Julian’s Bay I think) and we did tours as you do. Not quite warm enough for a swim for me. We even took a day trip to Sicily, which was awesome. It’s only 52 Nautical miles from Malta. Next time, more Sicily and Malta. Also, did my fan girl, Montalbano, visit to his police station. I didn’t pay to go in, just took photos.

Next stop was one night in London and the Hilton Heathrow Terminal 4 and then Singapore. We stayed with my son and his wife and my grandson in their apartment. We ate crab! Thanks Taamo! and did the Night Safari and the Amazon experience. Again more walking. We also did the Gardens by the Bay, which was lovely but Singapore is humid and hot. We caught up with some writing friends, Dev and Joyce and ate lots of yummy food and swam in the condo pool, well I walked in the pool, which was lovely and huge.

Sadly, all good things come to an end. We came home. For a few weeks we had started thinking about home, what we wanted to do, changes in our habits we wanted to make and thinking about our lovely granddaughter who started school while we were away. Nothing hurts more than those heart strings and she sent us messages that made us almost weep.

I started work on Monday (Day job) and today was meant to be a writing day. Alas, dr appointment, tradie, pool walking, Genius appointment because my phone is chucking a wobbly, and then meeting friends tonight, I can’t see where I’m going to slot even a solid hour in.

I am doing a novel crit group thing so I have at least finished this month’s novel and just need to write up my feedback. I guess that’s what I’ll be doing today because that’s not hard.

Jetlag I’ve been okay. I think the stop over in Singapore helped me adjust to Australia again, although I do zone out and get fatigued.

Weight I’ve lost 2.5 kilos since I’ve been back. Most of that would be fluid retention from the flight. But I found this neat and free calorie food diary thing and that’s helping me keep track.

I’ve also am trying a new self mantra. Instead of looking in the mirror and criticising myself, I’m going to say “Hey gorgeous. You look fantastic. You’re awesome.” I’ve read about two celebrities that I really admire and both have talked about how they have hated their bodies (Winslet and Thompson) and how every woman is unhappy with her body. I think this is mostly the body norms that are thrust at us constantly. For years I’ve had body dismorphia and I’ve hated how I looked. Now I’m going to accept it. That doesn’t mean I’m letting myself go. I get sick if I put on too much weight so I’ll keep my goals but I’m going to stop the negative self talk. Try to at least. Not easy.

Next post I’ll put up some photos. I’m currently backing up the phone so can’t right now.

Read Full Post »

Back from the long holiday

Posted in A writer's life, Burn out, Creative passion, feminism and romance, phd, Trying to focus, tagged , , , , on November 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

We’ve been to Bali, Singapore and drove through Victoria and spent a number of weeks in Tasmania. We tested positive for Covid on arriving in Hobart. Luckily we were still able to do our Terror Australis Writers Retreat because they let us, and we had a sefl-contained unit and our meals could be delivered. I got out of isolation in time to have my fan girl moment with Ann Cleeves.

This is not a detailed travelogue. Something even more exciting to me!

You see for nearly a year now I have not wanted to be in my office. Instead of finding it hard to get me out of there and off my computer, I just didn’t want to go in there. I thought perhaps I had burn out from the PhD. I’ve dabbled and so on. I got a few things done but the joy wasn’t there…just little glimpses of hope when I achieved something.

On Thursday, I decided I was going to work on an academic article based on my research. This has been on my to do list for about 2 years…and it kept getting pushed down the list so far down it wasn’t even on my radar. Along with my PhD novel I might add. I started doing some preliminary work. Reading some articles, checking out the formatting requirements for the journal I want to submit to etc. Today, Sunday, I started on it. I haven’t put a lot into it yet. What I felt, though ,is what amazed me. I felt joy. Absolute joy. And well that surprised me.

This is why only now looking back to I see that it was most likely burn out, now that it has lifted. I think the holiday helped because you know 6 weeks of being away from home, a free routine mostly. We got Bali Belly, I had a cough sore throat (non-covid) before I left and then go Covid for reals and now I’m coming good. I feel really good physically and mentally. I’m so grateful for that.

I’ve got a short window to focus on the article and the novel to be honest as we head overseas to the UK in December for 2.5 months and there’s a lot to do before we go and not as much time as you’d think to write while away.

Read Full Post »

Keeping on keeping on

Posted in A writer's life, am wrinting, Creative passion, revision, Trying to focus, tagged , , , on September 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »

This is a follow up to my accountability post.

I am still writing, regularly and rediscovering my joy in writing. It feels great.

No huge new project just yet. I’ve been revising drafts of works I started a while ago. I’ve sent Tainted Lady, my Regency romance novel off to a beta reader. I think it needs more work but beta reader comments help with that.

I’m currently revising a middle school kids book, called Grandma Neebs through the pantry door. It’s fun but also new learning for me. I do read kid’s books to research but writing them is an art. I have a beta reader lined up for that one, I just need to put my shoulder to the wheel. It’s relatively short so I hope I can knock it over before we travel.

I’ve also been writing short stories-I received a rejection this week. This means looking for a new market. I entered a contest and I have another story submitted. I don’t write a lot of short stories generally only I have found they help get the buzz going. Finishing a short story is great. Sending it out is great. Rejections not so much but I tell myself at least I’m writing regularly.

Even if it is only 30 mins in the morning before I start work or 30 mins when I finish work, it’s something. Today I’ve been at it a few hours and have now detoured to the blog.

That’s the challenge with writing, striking a balance between family, social outings, work and writing. To write a lot, you have to sacrifice, unless you can find a balance. I’m searching for that balance.

We have also found making time with ourselves to write at the National Library really useful and productive. Unfortunately, I’ll be working full time and then travelling so I’ll have to rebalance again. I’m hoping it will be easier this time because I’ve found some joy.

Best

Read Full Post »

Accountability post

Posted in A writer's life, Creative passion, Trying to focus, tagged , , on August 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Just so you know I’m not just slacking off, particularly after the RWA conference in Sydney, where I swore to myself I would be more professionally focussed and writer centred.

  • I’m in my office with the heater on–tick
  • I’ve been reading, thinking and researching (all kind of run together)–tick
  • I have been writing (Yesterday at the National Library)–tick
  • I finished a draft of a crime short story and sent it to be read again–tick (thank you Matthew and Lily)
  • I wrote a bit more on my paranormal romance. Not much so half a tick.
  • I’m in my office to work on anything. I have a white board on the wardrobe doors with a raft of writing and administrative tasks and I told myself-one hour on anything — tick

Evidence of said white board in the pic below but be aware that it needs a complete rewrite…still a bit bad that the to do list needs rewriting! I had the doors installed for this purpose. Matthew has one too.

I’m trying to make myself comfortable in my office again and have it associated as a place where I work. Long story but I moved out to make room for a foster daughter (which didn’t end well) and it’s taken me a long while to get settled in here and I got rid of all the shelves and stuff so it’s still not mine yet. I did buy a new fantastical rug. Still more office furniture to go.

And lucky for me we have an amazing view and when I’m lost for inspiration I can look out over the ranges, I can sit on the deck if I have some manuscript reading to do and I can chill. The sky and the ranges are always changing so it’s enjoyable and affirming to look outside.

Read Full Post »

Writing day

Posted in A writer's life, Creative passion, tagged , , , , on August 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Matthew and I try to get to the National Library of Australia to write, once or twice a week. I’m still trying to get my writing mojo back and it’s coming slowly. Today we got here a tad later than planned because I was on the hunt for sparkle boots. Why sparkle boots? Well tomorrow we head up to Sydney on the train as I’m going to the Romance Writers of Australia Conference with a theme of ‘all that glitters’. Hence, the boots.

I haven’t been to a conference for a while, standard reason, Covid. The RWA have always been for me the most professionally focussed of conventions, there to network, inspire and share knowledge. Also, lots of opportunities if you take them to pitch novels to editors and agents and so on. I decided to go because I want to feel I’m back in the writing scene again and yes I want inspiration and example to guide me back to where I was.

We have also booked to got to Terror Australis in Tasmania in October on what we think is a once in a life time occasion. We have booked a writers retreat, workshops and the festival itself, with some fabulous guests, such as Ann Cleeves and Gary Disher. I think I’ve mentioned this before. Link is here.

My first foray into crime fiction is writing a short story which I want to enter into The Scarlett Stiletto Award. Link here. Today I revised the draft I wrote last week. It needs more but it’s shaping up.

I love genre and I write horror, SF, fantasy, dark fantasy, paranormal romance and now I’m dabbling in romance and I really want to try crime too. I love watching crime shows and I read it as well, not as much as I write speculative type fiction though.

Anyway, speaking of…I should get back to the other revisions on the novel I’m working on.

Anyway, here is a pic from the NLA of the lake from last week.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »