Check out Miss Marmalade in Brunswick (126 Union Street) which is the newest venture of the lovely VT and her hubby. I can vouch for the awesomeness of breakfast but am not a coffee drinker so I'll toss you to the experts who will vouch for the awesomeness of that!
Open 7 days a week and best of all, that awesome breakfast is of the all day variety.
Showing posts with label friends who rock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends who rock. Show all posts
January 17, 2010
March 07, 2009
September 13, 2008
Nostalgia
In my cleaning frenzy, I came across an old photo cube...you know, one of those plastic things that you stuck photos on five sides.
Anyway one of the photos was this (excuse the blurriness, a scanner is still something I don't possess so this is an iPhone pic of the pic - strangely the iphone took a better pic than my actual camera):
This is me and five of my best buddies at school camp circa grade five (which was early eighties). From left to right Helen, Ali, Me, Anita at the back then Sarah and Alicia in front. Man, we look young (well, we were young. Ten or eleven, I can't remember what time of year this was). But happy and kind of like we can do anything. I like the body language, all leaning on each other.
All of these girls have kind of drifted out of my life over the years though I'm happy to say my oldest friend predates this photo by a few years. I hear about some of them from time to time because my folks still live in the same time but haven't seen any of them for years. Tonight most of my current crop of best buddies and closest female friends (and assorted boys) will be coming over to help me celebrate my birthday. Some of them I've known for almost as long as the gals in the pic, some are more recent additions but I wouldn't be who I am, or where I am today if it wasn't for the love and support of my gals, past and present, and I hope we'll all be leaning on each other and smiling for many, many more years to come.
Smooches to all of you in case I forget to tell you enough that you all rock!
Anyway one of the photos was this (excuse the blurriness, a scanner is still something I don't possess so this is an iPhone pic of the pic - strangely the iphone took a better pic than my actual camera):
This is me and five of my best buddies at school camp circa grade five (which was early eighties). From left to right Helen, Ali, Me, Anita at the back then Sarah and Alicia in front. Man, we look young (well, we were young. Ten or eleven, I can't remember what time of year this was). But happy and kind of like we can do anything. I like the body language, all leaning on each other.
All of these girls have kind of drifted out of my life over the years though I'm happy to say my oldest friend predates this photo by a few years. I hear about some of them from time to time because my folks still live in the same time but haven't seen any of them for years. Tonight most of my current crop of best buddies and closest female friends (and assorted boys) will be coming over to help me celebrate my birthday. Some of them I've known for almost as long as the gals in the pic, some are more recent additions but I wouldn't be who I am, or where I am today if it wasn't for the love and support of my gals, past and present, and I hope we'll all be leaning on each other and smiling for many, many more years to come.
Smooches to all of you in case I forget to tell you enough that you all rock!
August 25, 2008
PS
Apparently I need more sleep. Because here is the pic of Chris with her gorgeous hunk (aka the Clendon ; ) ).
August 24, 2008
Back though with little brain
I am home again. Conference was fab and I shall report more later but most importantly big WOOHOO's to my ever more brilliant crit buddies:
Carolyn who took out the Emerald Single Title (and also won the STALI earlier this year) and Chris who took possession of the Clendon and followed it up with a highly commended in the VP.
More once my brain is back online.
Carolyn who took out the Emerald Single Title (and also won the STALI earlier this year) and Chris who took possession of the Clendon and followed it up with a highly commended in the VP.
More once my brain is back online.
August 21, 2008
The sun will come out...sometime
Melbourne has not turned on the greatest weather for our conference weekend. It's cold. And WET. Wet is good but not for sightseeing. But oh well, raincoats and brollys and gumboots for all. My new waterproof hiking boots are looking like a good purchase!
Have pretty much finished all my pre-conference stuff and my case is packed. Today we had a tour of The Costume Place which was great. Beautiful, beautiful clothes...a mix of history and torture (particularly for Chris who is a fabulous sewer/dressmaker/crafty person and wanted to see how it was all done). And the VT may have drooled on the odd book or two. I'll post some pics when I'm more organised.
And tonight was Bron's book launch which was fun and exciting and heaps of people came, so big WOOT for the lovely and talented Bron and may her book baby (and those that follow) find many fans and have many profitable adventures around the world.
More from conference if and when I get back to the internets, now it's time for a little relaxation after several days of much running around.
Have pretty much finished all my pre-conference stuff and my case is packed. Today we had a tour of The Costume Place which was great. Beautiful, beautiful clothes...a mix of history and torture (particularly for Chris who is a fabulous sewer/dressmaker/crafty person and wanted to see how it was all done). And the VT may have drooled on the odd book or two. I'll post some pics when I'm more organised.
And tonight was Bron's book launch which was fun and exciting and heaps of people came, so big WOOT for the lovely and talented Bron and may her book baby (and those that follow) find many fans and have many profitable adventures around the world.
More from conference if and when I get back to the internets, now it's time for a little relaxation after several days of much running around.
August 17, 2008
Woot!
Big huge mega congratulations to my brilliant and talent crit buddy Chris who won the Romance Writers of New Zealand Clendon Award last night!
Mucho champagne and choccies for her!!
Mucho champagne and choccies for her!!
July 30, 2008
Another 48 hours
Yesterday I shopped. Oh boy, did I shop. This place is dangerous for an aussie with a good exchange rate and a credit card : ) San Francisco, my wardrobe thanks you, my visa bill does not.
Then to halt the shopping process, I went out to Oakland to visit my friend Christy, who I haven't seen for ten years. There's nothing better than seeing an old friend and just being able to pick up where you left off and talk and laugh and feel like really, she's just been down the hall a little all this time. I tried to convince her to move back to Oz and she tried to convince me to move over here....maybe we should agree to meet in Hawaii occasionally. Oakland was pretty and much warmer than the city. I even managed to stay awake until almost midnight so I think I'm over the worst of the jetlag/trip recovery.
This morning there was maybe a leetle more shopping then I rendezvoused with Bron and Valerie and Louise and Carol for a trip on the ferry to Sausalito. Where it was also much warmer than the city (though SF has turned on a gorgeous day today until a little while ago until the fog started to roll in). Sausalito is picturesque and crafty and it was probably lucky we didn't have more time there or someone would've spent serious money...
I left them at the Marriott (which is starting to fill with romance writers at a rapid rate and I've run into several others of the aussie contingent already (waves to AA and Denise and Joanne and Catherine and Tracey). It's hard to believe I've been here four days already and tomorrow I change hotels and the conference begins.
Tonight I'm kicking back, eating very good rice paper rolls (which here they call, somewhat confusingly, spring rolls. The crispy ones we call spring rolls are 'crispy imperial rolls') from Out the Door which is the downtown outpost of The Slanted Door. So thanks for the recommendation from Aviva via Char : ) They really are good, they might have to feature again for a quick lunch or dinner at some point. I'm washing them down with MetroMint Peppermint Water which Christy introduced me to yesterday and is something I'm going to miss when I leave.
After dinner, maybe some (just to be crazy) of that writing stuff. Oh and repacking...good thing I brought an extra bag : )
Then to halt the shopping process, I went out to Oakland to visit my friend Christy, who I haven't seen for ten years. There's nothing better than seeing an old friend and just being able to pick up where you left off and talk and laugh and feel like really, she's just been down the hall a little all this time. I tried to convince her to move back to Oz and she tried to convince me to move over here....maybe we should agree to meet in Hawaii occasionally. Oakland was pretty and much warmer than the city. I even managed to stay awake until almost midnight so I think I'm over the worst of the jetlag/trip recovery.
This morning there was maybe a leetle more shopping then I rendezvoused with Bron and Valerie and Louise and Carol for a trip on the ferry to Sausalito. Where it was also much warmer than the city (though SF has turned on a gorgeous day today until a little while ago until the fog started to roll in). Sausalito is picturesque and crafty and it was probably lucky we didn't have more time there or someone would've spent serious money...
I left them at the Marriott (which is starting to fill with romance writers at a rapid rate and I've run into several others of the aussie contingent already (waves to AA and Denise and Joanne and Catherine and Tracey). It's hard to believe I've been here four days already and tomorrow I change hotels and the conference begins.
Tonight I'm kicking back, eating very good rice paper rolls (which here they call, somewhat confusingly, spring rolls. The crispy ones we call spring rolls are 'crispy imperial rolls') from Out the Door which is the downtown outpost of The Slanted Door. So thanks for the recommendation from Aviva via Char : ) They really are good, they might have to feature again for a quick lunch or dinner at some point. I'm washing them down with MetroMint Peppermint Water which Christy introduced me to yesterday and is something I'm going to miss when I leave.
After dinner, maybe some (just to be crazy) of that writing stuff. Oh and repacking...good thing I brought an extra bag : )
June 27, 2008
Stop press
VT crit partners rock.
Plus, I now have a first scene that isn't boring me.
Yippeeeeeeeee!
Message ends.
Plus, I now have a first scene that isn't boring me.
Yippeeeeeeeee!
Message ends.
March 26, 2008
Clever friends
A big woooooohooooooooooooooooooooo!!! to my extra clever friends.
Kelly Hunter with a RITA final in short contemporary (or whatever they're calling that now) for Sleeping Partner (a fabulous book).
Anna Campbell with a DOUBLE RITA final for Untouched and Claiming the Courtesan.
Anne Gracie with another RITA final for The Perfect Kiss
Tracey O'Hara for a GH final in paranormal with Night's Cold Kiss.
And several of my fellow 07 finalists have been extra clever and finalled again so big yays to Kelly Ann Riley, Melissa James, Theresa Ragan (another double), Kristina McMorris (and her mom), Shelley Corriell and Kim Howe!!
Kelly Hunter with a RITA final in short contemporary (or whatever they're calling that now) for Sleeping Partner (a fabulous book).
Anna Campbell with a DOUBLE RITA final for Untouched and Claiming the Courtesan.
Anne Gracie with another RITA final for The Perfect Kiss
Tracey O'Hara for a GH final in paranormal with Night's Cold Kiss.
And several of my fellow 07 finalists have been extra clever and finalled again so big yays to Kelly Ann Riley, Melissa James, Theresa Ragan (another double), Kristina McMorris (and her mom), Shelley Corriell and Kim Howe!!
February 17, 2008
Unavoidable
I love having dinner with my high school buddies. I love that we're still friends and that we're a bunch of happy, clever, strong, successful women. I love that in some ways we haven't changed much since we met apart from being older and wiser and no longer required to wear hideous green and grey uniforms or abide by eighties fashion rules.
However, two things are unavoidable when you get together with people you've known since year seven:
1. Mental arithmetic regarding just how long it's been since we met as twelve and thirteen year olds (with resultant 'oh god, we're old' and 'man, we've known each other two thirds of our lives).
2. Even further "oh god, we're soooo old and something is wrong with time" when we realise that the oldest of the offspring produced by the group is now thirteen and in year seven just like we were when we met!!!!
I hope she's meeting some gals she'll still be hanging out with many, many years after and who'll stick by her.
However, two things are unavoidable when you get together with people you've known since year seven:
1. Mental arithmetic regarding just how long it's been since we met as twelve and thirteen year olds (with resultant 'oh god, we're old' and 'man, we've known each other two thirds of our lives).
2. Even further "oh god, we're soooo old and something is wrong with time" when we realise that the oldest of the offspring produced by the group is now thirteen and in year seven just like we were when we met!!!!
I hope she's meeting some gals she'll still be hanging out with many, many years after and who'll stick by her.
January 05, 2008
A good start
The lulus are starting the year well with Carolyn scoring an agent (yipppeeeeee!) and Keri scoring a RT nomination for career achievement, so all is good.
In other yay news, the grey cat has put on 600g since her operation (which would be like me putting on 15kg or something) and I think I have a bit better idea about the mystery hero for one of my wips. If only I knew his name and the heroine's name, all would be good! It's odd for me as names are usually one of the first things I get. I guess it's off to the trusty naming sites for me.
In other yay news, the grey cat has put on 600g since her operation (which would be like me putting on 15kg or something) and I think I have a bit better idea about the mystery hero for one of my wips. If only I knew his name and the heroine's name, all would be good! It's odd for me as names are usually one of the first things I get. I guess it's off to the trusty naming sites for me.
October 07, 2007
Also
Everyone in Australia who loves great romance should dash out and buy Kelly Hunter's latest book Sleeping Partner.
Because it rocks. Much like Kelly herself!
Because it rocks. Much like Kelly herself!
September 29, 2007
Warning - likely randomness
Brain status - still pretty much broken. So this may be a little scattered.
But first a big WOOOOHOOOOOOOO!! to the uber-talented Bron for selling her GH winning manuscript. She is clever! You must all buy her book when it comes out next year.
Other good things:
Not having to watch the Grand Final this afternoon (due to interest, none)!
It is the weekend!
Miss Doxie (funny, funny, funny).
Lemon cheesecake chocolate (though now that my mother has signed me up for some sort of wardrobe advice/style makeover thingy jiggy at the end of October chocolate consumption needs to cease and desist to give Operation Make Pants Less Tight a fighting chance).
Other things (may be symptoms of brain brokeness):
My hand is bruised. Method of bruising, you ask? Why, I stuck my hand in my letterbox to grab mail, then started to walk towards front door without performing essential step of removing hand from slot before moving feet. Net result, whack hand good on metal mailbox rim. Owie.
Losing ability to identify objects correctly. Proof - yesterday told orange cat quite sternly to stop sniffing the washing machine. Which would be fine except he was sniffing the sewing machine. Apparently they both do something with cloth and that is good enough for my brain.
Misinterpreting the word "September" as "Spend spend spend like a spendy thing-tember". Thank goodness for credit cards (this tune will likely change when I get my statements next month). I have increasingly demonstrated my unfailing ability to pick the most expensive variant of a thing at fifty paces and fall in love with it by acquiring a Pandora habit (I'm blaming Gwen for this one and the fact that I have already proven myself able to lose normal charms from normal charm bracelets with mysterious ease), new Jo Malone perfume (Red Roses, me smell pwetty) and er more fabric for quilts (more on this later). I did manage not to buy any of the three handbags I spotted in DJs and adored (the cheapest of these was $1935!!! so apparently even my spendiness has it's limits).
The quilt thing: I think I may have blogged about quilting (or my desire to someday have a go at the non-teeny tiny pieces and stitching variety) before. Because I like colour and pattern and quilting seems to require enjoying that sort of stuff. As I have pointed out my brain is broken and I cannot be expected to find the relevant posts. You may search if you wish.
Anyway, earlier this year I finally (as part of an artist's date) when to a quilting store and bought some fabric (demonstrating my expensive picking expertise nicely). Sadly things did not progress very far due to, you know, me trying to have a day job, write books and be treasurer for RWAus and occasionally prove to friends and relatives that I am still alive by seeing them in person. Not much spare time for coming to grips with quilting.
But seeing as I am now no longer treasurer, I theoretically have some time for some other creative outlets and so I pulled out the fabric and tried to cut some up (after Chris demonstrating how easy it was to do so). Let us just say it was not so easy for me and I may have whined to the VT about not knowing what I was doing (virgos do not like this). She, being brilliant and virgo-y promptly presented me with a gift voucher from the quilt shop as part of my birthday present, pointing out that they, duh, had classes. Who knew?
So yesterday I toddled off and signed up for a class, thinking I would do something simple as a class project then come back to my other quilt. So I explained this to the nice quilt lady and she helped me buy still more fabric (spendy, spendy, spendy, most expensive fabric in store picked withing five minutes, spendy, spendy, go me) for a squares quilt. Then she managed not to laugh too hard at me when I told her which quilt I was planning to make which she pronounced just as easy and I could practice on that. But no, practice quilt is smaller and will be done first. It is the Virgo Way.
Then she mentioned I needed to test my sewing machine before class (good point, said machine has lived in my wardrobe for several years since I inherited it from my mother. My sewing activities over this period have been limited to handstitching hems and buttons and the odd cross stitch. But I can sew. I used to make clothes and all). Then it occurred to me that, to test the machine I need more fabric, (as of course one cannot waste the expensive stuff on practice sewing). So I bought yet more fabric, pins and a rotary cutter so I can return Chris's spare at Spotlight. So now I have practice squares to practice on for my practice quilt. It's like a never ending spiral of fabric. And spendiness. And apparently after learning to machine piece I can do more classes in hand quilting (hmmm, maybe. I do hear tell that - ssssshhhhh- you can pay people to machine quilt for you), binding and I'm sure it just goes on from there. Go me.
Just in case that was all confusing I have:
Practice material to test machine.....
Practice quilt material (we shall dub thee Mel's soothing blue and white nap quilt)....
And original quilt we coveted material (Mel's quilt of brightness)
(Sorry, bad photos. Light not great today. Plus my camera isn't fab at close up.)
And I saw plenty of pretty fabrics in further quilt shop investigations with Chris yesterday and this morning when I was sleeping in and dozing in and out I kept seeing fabric patterns in my head and colour combos. Not even patterns I had seen in the stores. Help! The girls are obsessed. I'm assuming it's all story food and creativity fertiliser so let's see.
PS Apologies for long-and-ramblingness. You were warned. And now off to iron practice practice fabric as it has been washed. I don't even like ironing! Then there will cutting and sewing. Should be entertaining.
But first a big WOOOOHOOOOOOOO!! to the uber-talented Bron for selling her GH winning manuscript. She is clever! You must all buy her book when it comes out next year.
Other good things:
Not having to watch the Grand Final this afternoon (due to interest, none)!
It is the weekend!
Miss Doxie (funny, funny, funny).
Lemon cheesecake chocolate (though now that my mother has signed me up for some sort of wardrobe advice/style makeover thingy jiggy at the end of October chocolate consumption needs to cease and desist to give Operation Make Pants Less Tight a fighting chance).
Other things (may be symptoms of brain brokeness):
My hand is bruised. Method of bruising, you ask? Why, I stuck my hand in my letterbox to grab mail, then started to walk towards front door without performing essential step of removing hand from slot before moving feet. Net result, whack hand good on metal mailbox rim. Owie.
Losing ability to identify objects correctly. Proof - yesterday told orange cat quite sternly to stop sniffing the washing machine. Which would be fine except he was sniffing the sewing machine. Apparently they both do something with cloth and that is good enough for my brain.
Misinterpreting the word "September" as "Spend spend spend like a spendy thing-tember". Thank goodness for credit cards (this tune will likely change when I get my statements next month). I have increasingly demonstrated my unfailing ability to pick the most expensive variant of a thing at fifty paces and fall in love with it by acquiring a Pandora habit (I'm blaming Gwen for this one and the fact that I have already proven myself able to lose normal charms from normal charm bracelets with mysterious ease), new Jo Malone perfume (Red Roses, me smell pwetty) and er more fabric for quilts (more on this later). I did manage not to buy any of the three handbags I spotted in DJs and adored (the cheapest of these was $1935!!! so apparently even my spendiness has it's limits).
The quilt thing: I think I may have blogged about quilting (or my desire to someday have a go at the non-teeny tiny pieces and stitching variety) before. Because I like colour and pattern and quilting seems to require enjoying that sort of stuff. As I have pointed out my brain is broken and I cannot be expected to find the relevant posts. You may search if you wish.
Anyway, earlier this year I finally (as part of an artist's date) when to a quilting store and bought some fabric (demonstrating my expensive picking expertise nicely). Sadly things did not progress very far due to, you know, me trying to have a day job, write books and be treasurer for RWAus and occasionally prove to friends and relatives that I am still alive by seeing them in person. Not much spare time for coming to grips with quilting.
But seeing as I am now no longer treasurer, I theoretically have some time for some other creative outlets and so I pulled out the fabric and tried to cut some up (after Chris demonstrating how easy it was to do so). Let us just say it was not so easy for me and I may have whined to the VT about not knowing what I was doing (virgos do not like this). She, being brilliant and virgo-y promptly presented me with a gift voucher from the quilt shop as part of my birthday present, pointing out that they, duh, had classes. Who knew?
So yesterday I toddled off and signed up for a class, thinking I would do something simple as a class project then come back to my other quilt. So I explained this to the nice quilt lady and she helped me buy still more fabric (spendy, spendy, spendy, most expensive fabric in store picked withing five minutes, spendy, spendy, go me) for a squares quilt. Then she managed not to laugh too hard at me when I told her which quilt I was planning to make which she pronounced just as easy and I could practice on that. But no, practice quilt is smaller and will be done first. It is the Virgo Way.
Then she mentioned I needed to test my sewing machine before class (good point, said machine has lived in my wardrobe for several years since I inherited it from my mother. My sewing activities over this period have been limited to handstitching hems and buttons and the odd cross stitch. But I can sew. I used to make clothes and all). Then it occurred to me that, to test the machine I need more fabric, (as of course one cannot waste the expensive stuff on practice sewing). So I bought yet more fabric, pins and a rotary cutter so I can return Chris's spare at Spotlight. So now I have practice squares to practice on for my practice quilt. It's like a never ending spiral of fabric. And spendiness. And apparently after learning to machine piece I can do more classes in hand quilting (hmmm, maybe. I do hear tell that - ssssshhhhh- you can pay people to machine quilt for you), binding and I'm sure it just goes on from there. Go me.
Just in case that was all confusing I have:
Practice material to test machine.....
Practice quilt material (we shall dub thee Mel's soothing blue and white nap quilt)....
And original quilt we coveted material (Mel's quilt of brightness)
(Sorry, bad photos. Light not great today. Plus my camera isn't fab at close up.)
And I saw plenty of pretty fabrics in further quilt shop investigations with Chris yesterday and this morning when I was sleeping in and dozing in and out I kept seeing fabric patterns in my head and colour combos. Not even patterns I had seen in the stores. Help! The girls are obsessed. I'm assuming it's all story food and creativity fertiliser so let's see.
PS Apologies for long-and-ramblingness. You were warned. And now off to iron practice practice fabric as it has been washed. I don't even like ironing! Then there will cutting and sewing. Should be entertaining.
July 27, 2007
April 22, 2007
Halfway
Busy weekend. I've made it to the halfway point in the wip, we had a lulu meeting, contest entries were judged, treasurer stuff was judged and (sob) the last episodes ever of the West Wing were watched.
Thank goodness this week has a holiday in the middle.
And can I just say a big "have fun" to Keri, who heads off to RT tomorrow. This time last year she went, and her hardcover hadn't yet come out. Since then she's had four books out and is a USA Today and NTY bestselling author!! That's what I call a good year. And it wasn't even the golden pig. Imagine what can happen by the end of this year...
And now, into the second half. I'd like to finish this book by the end of May. Which may be a tall order but I'll give it a whack.
Thank goodness this week has a holiday in the middle.
And can I just say a big "have fun" to Keri, who heads off to RT tomorrow. This time last year she went, and her hardcover hadn't yet come out. Since then she's had four books out and is a USA Today and NTY bestselling author!! That's what I call a good year. And it wasn't even the golden pig. Imagine what can happen by the end of this year...
And now, into the second half. I'd like to finish this book by the end of May. Which may be a tall order but I'll give it a whack.
April 13, 2007
And the oinks just keep on coming
In more good lulu news...Keri's latest book Dangerous Games is number 15 on the NYT list. Yay, Keri!!! Muchly deserved, it's a great book, so check it out.
And the first Riley book, Full Moon Rising comes out in paperback in Australia this month, so keep an eye out!
And the first Riley book, Full Moon Rising comes out in paperback in Australia this month, so keep an eye out!
March 08, 2007
What dreams may come
First of all, a big whopping full volume flat out WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO to Keri. Because Tempting Evil, the third Riley Jensen novel has debuted at #14 on the freaking NYT bestseller list (that is the name of the paper, you know, the freaking NYT : ) ).
Now I have a friend who's been on the NYT list TWICE!! Lovely to see lots of readers with such excellent taste.
In other less world beating news, the girls came up with an idea for the wip last weekend. An idea that made me go "eeek, but that's just mean". One that would take my heroine places she doesn't want to go. Which pretty much means I have to do it.
So while I was trying to work out exactly how one would do that, the girls turned contrary. They changed the subject. They demanded Buffy Season 7 and Love Actually and The Constant Gardner and Reign of Fire. They weren't much interested in writing much but they're circling it. Something tells me the girls are going dark.
They also let the other wips start talking again. Not quite shouting in my head five at a time like they were last year but chatting away quietly. To the point where a single gesture in a dream last night woke me up with a whole scene in one of them playing in my head. Something sad to go with the general queens of pain thing they seem to have going on. Luckily it was still there this morning and I got down a thousand words or so. Wrong wip but sometimes you've just got to go with it. And now that it's out and I've hunted through iTunes for some more music for that book to keep them happy, maybe they'll let me get on with Wolf 2. Into the deep dark woods. Let's hope they don't mind me carting a torch along something solid like Mulder and Sculler used to carry. I think I'll need it. It's a four day weekend here. Let's see what happens.
PS Keri rocks to the rockingest!!! Go buy her book.
Now I have a friend who's been on the NYT list TWICE!! Lovely to see lots of readers with such excellent taste.
In other less world beating news, the girls came up with an idea for the wip last weekend. An idea that made me go "eeek, but that's just mean". One that would take my heroine places she doesn't want to go. Which pretty much means I have to do it.
So while I was trying to work out exactly how one would do that, the girls turned contrary. They changed the subject. They demanded Buffy Season 7 and Love Actually and The Constant Gardner and Reign of Fire. They weren't much interested in writing much but they're circling it. Something tells me the girls are going dark.
They also let the other wips start talking again. Not quite shouting in my head five at a time like they were last year but chatting away quietly. To the point where a single gesture in a dream last night woke me up with a whole scene in one of them playing in my head. Something sad to go with the general queens of pain thing they seem to have going on. Luckily it was still there this morning and I got down a thousand words or so. Wrong wip but sometimes you've just got to go with it. And now that it's out and I've hunted through iTunes for some more music for that book to keep them happy, maybe they'll let me get on with Wolf 2. Into the deep dark woods. Let's hope they don't mind me carting a torch along something solid like Mulder and Sculler used to carry. I think I'll need it. It's a four day weekend here. Let's see what happens.
PS Keri rocks to the rockingest!!! Go buy her book.
March 03, 2007
Saturday and the weather is contrary
I had to get up early (well, early for me on a Saturday) to do a chat for the class I'm doing with Barbara Samuel. So I thought I'd be virtuous and chuck some washing on. After all, it's meant to be 36 today (the weather has not yet cottoned on to the fact it's autumn here downunder), good sheet and towel drying weather.
Famous last words. The load was just finishing when thunder arrived. Soon after rain joined in the party. Sigh. It's now sunny again but there are ominous grey clouds lurking just daring me to try hanging anything out. Which means I now have the dryer running. On a 36 degree day. Only in Melbourne.
In other news, I took myself off to see Music and Lyrics yesterday. Hugh Grant in fine form and a very funny movie if you were a teenager in the eighties and into pop music along the lines of Wham et al. Interestingly it's also about blocked writers, and following your path and what it takes to succeed. I'll admit to getting quite impatient with Drew's character's woe is me line. I almost applauded "Inspiration is for amateurs". It's true. It is. Inspiration is wonderful and fabulous and there's nothing better than writing a book that pours onto the page. But not all books do and sometimes you've just gotta sit and grit your teeth and write through the tough patches. Particularly if you want to do this for a living. You've gotta get the book done. And honestly, often if you go back and read the stuff from days when it feels like you're trying to carve the words onto granite with a rubber toothpick, you often can't tell the difference from the days when you are grinning and telling yourself you are the best writer ever in the history of any universe anywhere. So sit ye down and hands on keyboard. Taking satisfaction in a progress bar is sometimes more helpful than waiting for the muse.
Elsewhere, Kelly Hunter's second book, Priceless, comes out in Australia this month (or you can go order it now from eharlequin.com.au like I just did). Kelly is a fabulous, fresh, funny writer and a great gal too, so go forth and purchase.
And finally, Wolfy has made the final six of RWAustralia's Emerald Single Title comp. Which is not the final round but still, chuffedness. I think I can call that a competition hat trick. Let's hope that editors like it too.
Famous last words. The load was just finishing when thunder arrived. Soon after rain joined in the party. Sigh. It's now sunny again but there are ominous grey clouds lurking just daring me to try hanging anything out. Which means I now have the dryer running. On a 36 degree day. Only in Melbourne.
In other news, I took myself off to see Music and Lyrics yesterday. Hugh Grant in fine form and a very funny movie if you were a teenager in the eighties and into pop music along the lines of Wham et al. Interestingly it's also about blocked writers, and following your path and what it takes to succeed. I'll admit to getting quite impatient with Drew's character's woe is me line. I almost applauded "Inspiration is for amateurs". It's true. It is. Inspiration is wonderful and fabulous and there's nothing better than writing a book that pours onto the page. But not all books do and sometimes you've just gotta sit and grit your teeth and write through the tough patches. Particularly if you want to do this for a living. You've gotta get the book done. And honestly, often if you go back and read the stuff from days when it feels like you're trying to carve the words onto granite with a rubber toothpick, you often can't tell the difference from the days when you are grinning and telling yourself you are the best writer ever in the history of any universe anywhere. So sit ye down and hands on keyboard. Taking satisfaction in a progress bar is sometimes more helpful than waiting for the muse.
Elsewhere, Kelly Hunter's second book, Priceless, comes out in Australia this month (or you can go order it now from eharlequin.com.au like I just did). Kelly is a fabulous, fresh, funny writer and a great gal too, so go forth and purchase.
And finally, Wolfy has made the final six of RWAustralia's Emerald Single Title comp. Which is not the final round but still, chuffedness. I think I can call that a competition hat trick. Let's hope that editors like it too.
February 21, 2007
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