tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36306470366550236962024-03-13T20:30:25.094+13:00Andrene Low - AuthorMy graduation piece for a presentation skills course was entitled, “Breeding before Forty” and garnered enough laughs that I was persuaded to take part in a rookies’ night at a local comedy club. I stayed on the professional stand-up circuit for three years. While doing stand-up I realized I wanted to write something longer. The result is my "Excess Baggage Series". "This Girl's Abroad" and "Mounted and Hung" are available through Amazon, with "Screwed for Money" due out mid-2016. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-32867608191413239862016-06-26T14:50:00.002+12:002016-06-26T14:54:20.769+12:00The book is dead, long live the book.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But like the royal family, you need new blood or you end up
with a tendency to be related by more than marriage. And so it is with
publishing, with the new blood here being indie or boutique house publishing.
It’s not better, it’s not worse, it’s just different. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With more and more well-known authors opting to
self-publish, the stigma on this is fading and yet the process isn’t so far
removed from the traditional model. Self-published books are still edited,
professionally typeset and have cover designs that win awards. Yes, there are a
few horrors out there, but the majority are every bit as good and sometimes
even better, than those you’ll see in bookstores.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Publishing, like all businesses, is in the business of making
money and the easiest way to do this is to sell block busters; millions of
copies of the one book. The downside for readers, if they only buy from a
bricks and mortar bookshop, is that they have fewer books to choose from.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, if you fancy adding a little ‘Harry’ to your library,
check out the much maligned indie author. Who knows you could just discover a Prince
Charming of a book<o:p></o:p></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-41903958570848998492016-05-11T21:41:00.004+12:002016-06-26T17:39:48.523+12:00So, what's your book about?<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ve
all been asked this question.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of us have answered with “Ummm, well
it’s, ah …” After this we’ll ramble on vaguely for far too long, leaving the
person asking none the wiser for all the words we’ve just thrown at them. In my
case, no two answers are ever the same.</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However,
this simple question is surprisingly difficult to answer. How much is too much?
How little leaves your potential reader floundering? The idea is to sell the
essence of the book; to give them enough to pique their interest and leave them
wanting more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There
are plenty of theories as to what constitutes a good pitch. ‘Fifty words in 30
seconds’ is often touted as the perfect balance of content over brevity. But
what I’m talking about here isn’t a pitch in the true sense. You’re not trying
to get a publisher to accept your manuscript, you’re trying to get one person
interested enough to know more about your book and to then go on to buy it. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
difference given how few words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s
an exercise that the writers’ group I belong to has been grappling with
recently. We’ve now completed two rounds and we all admit we’ve still got work
to do with the amount of crafting required far outweighing the small number of
words involved. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At
our last get together we realized that 30 seconds was too long, with listeners
glazing over. We’re now looking at one, pithy, sentence and not too long a one
at that. Here’s my latest for Dietvale, the comic horror I’m currently working
on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So,
Andrene, what’s your book about?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“It’s
one woman’s journey from lard arse to kick arse while on a diet of B-List
Celebs.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m
closer than I was, but I’ve still got more work to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once
I’ve finalised that, I can move onto a longer piece that goes into greater
detail but that doesn’t give the whole plot away because we’re still talking
about a lot less than the Reader’s Digest condensed version.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So,
what’s your book about?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-79886049675413317122016-05-03T08:45:00.003+12:002016-05-03T09:06:07.524+12:00My dirty little secret<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I admit it; I read chicklit, the porn of the literary world.
I try to gussy it up by calling it ‘Women’s Fiction’, which technically it is,
being fiction for women, and all. Unfortunately, people aren’t fooled for a
moment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But in my defence, I actually enjoy reading books that don’t
stress me, that don’t depress me, that don’t make me sad. The last thing I need
after a long day at work is a book that’s going to have me emotionally on edge
(read miserable) or fighting to concentrate with the few brain cells still left
in one piece. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">That’s not to say I don’t read challenging literary
offerings, but oh they can be hard work and it’ll take days for my psyche to
recover. As an author, I fully appreciate the work that’s gone into them and
the beauty of the words, but can I relax with one under a tree, on the beach or
in bed at night? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Not without Valium.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Goodreads and a lot of review sites are chock full of books
that would have you believing that reading only really counts if it’s an
effort. I totally get that bad things happen to good people, but because I
immerse myself in books when I read them, I live through the horror, the
sadness and the grief and these emotions invade my sanctuary, laying it bare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">That’s not my idea of entertainment and I’m not alone in
feeling this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s just that people who read chicklit, romance, fantasy or
the like tend to keep quiet about it. They don’t post reviews, or mark
something as ‘to be read’, worried what others will think of them. That they’ll
somehow be marked as frivolous and not as intelligent as you’d like.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So it remains their/my/our dirty little secret. The only
redeeming thing is that so many of us share this shameful habit. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">If we look at the US market alone, the estimated annual
total sales value of romance in 2013 was $1.08 billion (source: BookStats). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">That’s a lot of reading under the covers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Romance accounts for 13% of the adult fiction market
(source: Nielsen Books & Consumer Tracker, BISAC Romance), with romance
book buyers being 30–54 years old (41%; source: Nielsen Romance Buyer Survey
for RWA).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Suddenly I’m not feeling so lonely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, next time you finish a lighter offering rather than sliding
it into a plain brown paper bag and dropping it in the nearest clothing bin,
leave a review. Out yourself as a ‘Lover of Light Lit’ and stand proud.
You are not alone!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hmmmm, I might have to get some badges made, secret
handshake, special cocktail …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-64340155968862028132014-12-11T15:15:00.000+13:002014-12-11T15:15:23.289+13:00Where to from hereAs those of you who follow me on twitter and facebook will know, I recently submitted the first draft of book number two "Mounted & Hung" to my publishers for their consideration.<br />
<br />
I can't work out if this is more or less nerve-wracking than when I sent the first book off to them. <br />
<br />
Less nerve-wracking is actually knowing the person at the other end, whereas I'm now paranoid that the level of writing in this book isn't as good as the first. But I think that simply is paranoia. Maybe because I haven't had to sweat so much blood on this book. That's not because I haven't cared, but simply because I learned so much during the first book and some of that has definitely stuck.<br />
<br />
Only time will tell. But I will update you when I hear from Rebel. <br />
<br />
I'm not sure if I'll be back on here this side of Christmas, and so I'd like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and a fabulous New Year.<br />
<br />
Let's do this again in 2015.<br />
<br />
AxxxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-61722571097403782752014-11-14T10:11:00.000+13:002014-11-14T10:11:32.966+13:007 Lovely Facts Blog Tour<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’ve been tagged by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://catconnor.blogspot.co.nz/"><span style="color: blue;">Cat Connor </span></a>in the 7 Lovely
Facts Blog tour.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />"The next blogger, on the tour is supposed to list seven interesting facts that case a new light on the blogger him/herself." And then they're required to share some blog links of blogs they read. The final act is to pick on someone else and tag them.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Hmmm, thank you so much for this, ah, honour, Cat. I hope to
repay you one day. Ten-fold!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Thinking up lovely facts about myself,
is counterintuitive. I stutter when asked to list my strengths in job
interviews. Apparently making a good coffee doesn’t count.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">But
I’ll give it a whirl.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">It
would seem I’m generous. Well accordingly to my credit card statement I am.
Shame shoes aren’t tax deductible like the charities I support. Unless? Note to
self. Feature designer shoes in next book.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">People
tell me I’m loyal. But they’re my friends, they’re meant to say that. Aren’t
they? What if they’re just being kind? Breaths deeply from paper bag before
carrying on. What the hell, I’ll take it. I’ve still got 5 to go.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I’m
kind to animals to the degree that Jasmine, my cat, damn near holds #1 spot in
the household. I’ll also only eat free-range bacon, eggs and chicken. I’m not
staunch enough to go vegetarian though.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">While
I’m a lazy arse when it comes to doing stuff for myself, I have endless energy
when it comes to doing things for others. Witness the community of dust bunnies
currently lurking behind the fridge.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I’ll
share chocolate, right down to the last piece.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Two
more! God forbid. Maybe I can split that one about Jasmine and bacon? Yep. That’s
two in my world.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">When
people ask me to complete list thingees like this, I only bitch a little bit
rather than tell them to bugger off. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Cat,
you definitely owe me chocolate for this. Lots of it. On the upside, you now
know I’ll share it with you.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Here
are some blogs I read:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://catconnor.blogspot.co.nz/"><span style="color: blue;">http://catconnor.blogspot.co.nz/</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://rebelepublishers.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://rebelepublishers.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.wendywings.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.wendywings.com/</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I
feel really guilty about tagging the next person (Oooh, I’m empathetic too. That
makes 8 doesn’t it?) but I guess if I don’t, the Blog Tour will die. I
therefore nominate <a href="http://www.wendywings.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Wendy Lester</span></a> who’s
currently got her plate full with an exceptionally early Christmas (due to
family travelling over the silly season) and who’s also being kind enough to
read an early draft of my novel “Mounted & Hung”. God forbid, now I feel
really guilty!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-6797662045699523762014-02-24T11:59:00.001+13:002014-02-24T12:00:11.186+13:00So close I can smell it ...Definitely feel as though I'm getting closer to This Girl's Abroad finally being out of my head and in the marketplace. I've made it to the "Coming Soon" page on the Rebel e-Publishers website and that has made it all feel very real.<br />
<br />
I'm working on my bio and tidying up the synopsis for when the book goes live.<br />
<br />
The bit I'm dreading the most is the head shot. I'm photo-phobic with a vengeance. Someone only has to produce a camera for my eyes to half close in readiness for blinking in time with the flash, my mouth drops making me look bloody miserable and I generally look as though rigor mortis is threatening to take over. Basically every photo looks like a passport shot. <br />
<br />
I'm hoping the photographer is aware of all those tricks that help stretch out crows' feet, that flatten wrinkles and pummel crinkles. A bull-dog clip on the back of my neck might help. It's either that or wear a push up bra with enough padding that my boobs block out any age-related faults in my neck and jawline. Necklace! What necklace?<br />
<br />
Thank god for friends who have amazing re-touching skills. I'm going to be so airbrushed that my head shot will look more like a painting than a photo. I'm going to be wind-tunnelled to hell and back. <br />
<br />
Watch this space. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-62077353279382197552014-01-26T09:02:00.001+13:002014-01-26T09:03:31.600+13:00Paint on, paint off ...<p dir=ltr>Bit quiet on the writing front of late. Been getting the house ready for sale. This has meant a lot of time on the end of a paint brush. Unfortunately up the top of a ladder rather than in front of an easel. </p>
<p dir=ltr>End is in sight though and then I'll be eager to write the scenes forming in my head whilst I've been bunging holes, sanding and painting.</p>
<p dir=ltr>On the upside, I did manage the almost final alts on This Girl's Abroad. That MS is now off for reading by three friends and formatting and proofing by editor. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Writing I'm talking about above is for the second book in the series.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-79139280441084334092013-12-17T13:15:00.001+13:002013-12-17T13:15:08.424+13:00Goodbye 2013 ...2013 really has sucked something awful. Sorry to be so negative, but other than getting a contract for the book, it's been very bloody average.<br />
<br />
I have great hopes that 2014 is going to be a lot better. Not that it would be hard to beat the year that was.<br />
<br />
Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas Break. I'll be back on board in the new year, hopefully with a better attitude. <br />
<br />
XXXAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-63563245530893851502013-12-10T08:21:00.000+13:002013-12-10T08:31:48.846+13:00Boutique Accommodation ...<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jennie’s relatives run a caravan park in a suburb called Sunshine.
The girls can stay indefinitely, so long as they’re happy to pay the full going
rate. The place is bloody miles from anywhere and has definitely seen better
days, unfortunately a good thirty-five years before their arrival. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jennie’s cousin and his wife drop the girls outside the caravan
that is to be their new home, then drive off leaving them to it. For all the
interaction they’ve had with her, Nadene might just as well be a dummy. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span>Sam looks at the peeling aluminium hulk in front of them. Any
paint that remains has oxidised to a soft grey that matches the metal showing
through. The rubber window surrounds are cracked and hard. They crumble at the
slightest pressure, as she discovers when she pokes one experimentally. “Bloody
Norah, is this for real?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span>“Maybe the inside is nicer?” </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span>By the time they’ve lugged their bags inside, they’ve used up most
of the available floor space and are blinded by their own sweat. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span>“I can’t believe how bloody hot it is in here.” Sam crawls over
built-in furniture and suitcases so she can open every window in the van. When
finished, she’s not sure it’s made any difference. If anything, it seems even
hotter. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span>Jennie pushes up on the skylight, only to have her hand smash
straight through the fatigued plastic. It’s as tired as everything else in the
van. The whole inside has a ‘baked’ feel to it. “There’s no way we can stay in
here.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Sam looks at the assortment of desiccated insects in the bottom of the tiny sink. </span>“On the bright side, at least we can be sure there aren’t any
creepy crawlies in here.” </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span>Jennie peeks over the safety of Sam’s shoulder. “I thought cockroaches
could survive anything.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span>After peeling off their damp travel clothes and donning their
thinnest outfits, they retreat to the communal kitchen hoping it will be
cooler. It is, but the coolest spot is the tiled floor. They throw down a
sarong to protect them from the fine film of grease and remains of many a
sloppily eaten fry-up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-41941885478460517882013-12-04T20:01:00.000+13:002013-12-04T20:01:17.542+13:00The RSI that is editing …I've been putting off attacking the edits from Jayne at Rebel. Avoiding
looking at the email, avoiding looking at the manuscript with all those notes on
it. Yes, I did have painting to do (walls and ceilings, nothing artistic) but I still should have looked at them sooner. I'm only talking a couple of
days here, but as someone who pounces on chores like this as soon as is humanly
possible, this was a big delay for me. <o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
I didn't realise how addictive they'd be. I decided to have a quick look at
them this morning - next thing you know it's 5pm, I'm starving and my RSI is
giving me hell. I had to put my foot down at 100 pages or risk not being able
to work tomorrow because of sore wrists.<o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
I've been pleasantly surprised that all the changes so far are
stupid little things that I should have seen myself, plus some weird shit going
on with the formatting. Every time an indent has decided to disappear, that's
another click of the mouse. Those clicks add up. <o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
I'm sure there's some nasty edit waiting for me somewhere though. Something
that will stop me in my tracks; one of those things that leads to changes all
over the show. Then it'll be a case of going back to the painting for a few
hours while I nut out how to deal with said edit. <o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
The painting has been very therapeutic and a good way to free up my
brain, allowing me to concentrate on things like the storyline for book number
two. I've already got 50,000 words in a rough first draft on this one and I
basically know where it's going. I also know that a few of the common changes
in the first book will also need to be incorporated into the second.
Better to know up front.<o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
A lot of the changes in the current manuscript are to do with style
rather than typos/grammar as such. For example I was taught that anything that
is going to be in italics should be underlined to denote this rather than
actually put in italics. I think this is a throw-back to the good old
typesetting days and has now been ditched with e-book formatting in mind. Sort
of mistake you only get told about once though. <o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
For now, I’m off to rummage in the freezer for peas to slap on my wrists. <o:p></o:p><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-38709535823711024312013-11-26T09:51:00.000+13:002013-11-26T09:53:03.182+13:00It's green! <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The bar has as much class as you can get with mock-Tudor. It’s
supposed to be 'oldey-worldey' but only manages 'slightley-tackey'. The
pseudo-oak bench seats are upholstered in velvet with what looks like a subtle
pattern but is an accumulation of stains so numerous the original colour no
longer shows.</span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The carpet’s the same but with more adhesive qualities.
Fortunately the drinks are cheap and there’s usually a good covers band.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Despite them being at the pub early, the only table available is a
beige, plastic-topped, metal monstrosity; the result of the landlord’s
decision to “jazz the place up a bit”. It’s from the same school of design as
the fake open fires. The matching plastic chairs have cracks vicious enough to
leave your arse looking like a stripper's after a sales convention gig.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Do I look okay?” Sam checks her dress with her hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yeah. Why?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Nothing. Must be my imagination.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Jennie spins her around so she can three-sixty the
outfit. “It’s fine.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Then why are people staring at me? Damn, I knew I should have
worn the red dress.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Relax you look great.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“God, you wouldn’t believe the shit Crispy tried on today,” says
Sam, after they’ve settled themselves as comfortably as they’re ever going to.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Jennie’s so transfixed by the bright green drink that’s put down
on their table she doesn’t respond.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s a Grasshopper,” says Tania, owner of the drink and a friend
to both of them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Gizza sip.” Sam grabs the glass and helps herself to a large
gulp.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well?” say both the others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Not bad. Why’s the glass so clean?” Sam compares it to the state
of her own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It was fresh out of the box; I think it’s their first cocktail.
Ever,” says Tania.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Standing, Sam waves at the barman, points at the glass and
indicates three with her fingers. He grimaces before heading out back; grabbing
a ladder on his way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-70320968267595118372013-11-19T12:10:00.001+13:002013-11-19T17:23:18.076+13:00Living like it's 1978...<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s been a week of full-on editing for me. I’m working on
getting the manuscript as polished as a shiny thing before sending it off to
Rebel. Funny, but the longer I tinker with it, the less sure I am. Just getting
too close to it I think.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always a pain though when you notice a little writing tic
towards the very back of the book and you think “Is this new, or have I
been doing this the whole way through?” It’s then back to the beginning to go
through the whole damn thing again. But I’m getting closer with each pass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s odd writing in another era. I disappear into the
seventies for hours at a time and am always surprised when I surface back in
the present day. It does, however, give me a real appreciation for my mobile
phone and email. Back then if you lost your address book, you were screwed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those little books were constantly guarded and updated as
people moved on. With email you have one address and it follows you around the
world. In the seventies if people moved around their details were constantly
being rubbed out and re-pencilled it. It was a brave person who wrote addresses
in biro.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a simpler time back then too and seemed to have had a joy
about it that’s sadly lacking today. Maybe I’ll start living like it’s 1978. <br />
<br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-17008339565193503252013-11-12T11:50:00.000+13:002013-11-22T08:44:25.931+13:00Chapter 1 - Sam Bennett<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;">Brown carpet, brown walls,
brown upholstery. The colour of Sam’s working world is shit brown; not the
official paint company name, but close enough. A forest of dark mahogany
panelling lines one side of the open area she sits in outside her boss’ office.
Large concrete columns intersperse the foliage, like trunks stripped of their
bark. Unfortunately these are painted beige. Not vanilla bean, mocha, eggshell,
or parchment, but boring-as-bat-shit beige. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"> <span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"></span>Vertical blinds the same colour hang passively behind her. Sam’s
given up trying to rotate these to suit the sun. The pull cord invariably jams,
leaving the windows looking like they’re sporting bad dentures. </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"> <span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"></span>The most interesting view from her desk is of the elevator at the
other end of the foyer. This services the whole floor and is her only link with
the outside world other than the view from her boss’ corner office when she’s
in taking dictation.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"> <span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"></span>As she counts down to the end of the week, Sam once again opens
the top drawer of her dark, walnut veneer desk to gaze at a picture of Darren
in his army fatigues; sent with one of his regular letters.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"></span><em>God he's hot.</em> Looking at her
soon-to-be fiancé reminds Sam how important her well-paid, shit-coloured job
is. Her goal of saving enough for a wedding more over-the-top than her parents
are willing to pay for is getting closer every day. It’s only the thought of a
five tier cake, live band and bucket-loads of frangipani that have stopped her
telling her boss, Peter Crisp, to shove it.<span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"> <span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"></span>Crispy Critter. Thirty five going on 50 and middle management right down
to the comb-over and a body that looks as though it’s been put together like
custard. He’s a cheap bastard who drives a Nissan Sunny that flakes rust so
badly that anything over 60kph make it look positively autumnal.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630647036655023696.post-67783681291536822772013-11-12T09:13:00.001+13:002013-11-12T12:35:56.449+13:00This Girl's Abroad<u><span style="color: black;">This Girl’s Abroad</span></u><span style="color: black;"> is a coming of age novel set in Melbourne, Australia, in
the late 1970s, before email, mobile phones, Facebook and Twitter, and before
platform shoes and flares became retro. It was also a time when The Pill had
become freely available to single women who took up the challenge of a changing
world with gusto but maybe not a lot of forethought. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
Samantha’s life is perfect – great clothes, great job, great
boyfriend – until she finds her boss wants to shag her and her boyfriend is
shagging someone else. But at least the clothes are still fabulous – and even
more so if you’re a dog, as Sam carves out a new career for herself in canine
haute couture. Now if only she could just sort out her love life. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The book is comedy, black in places, and has a good mix of
romance, sex and violence. It also covers the correct technique for defrosting
a dead pug.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12303799094757064026noreply@blogger.com2