Click here for merchandising baby!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

I did it!

I did it! I did it! I said that I would do it and indeed I did!

Ending on 50,088 words of draft 1 of Living Scars - my first novel. What a journey that was. Learned somethings. Relearned other things. Worked my socks and shoes off. Most importantly had fun. Will I do it again next year? I think that will depend on whether I've conquered my tendency to procrastinate :) Thanks to you all for your support waves sent through the air - signals received loud and clear.


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The Next Big Thing Blog Tour


I've been very graciously tagged by Patty Apostolides to take part in the Next Big Thing Blog Tour. Keepin' it the real deal seal! (eh??). It's like a self interview that you get to read and an opportunity for us all to be introduced to other authors and their work, so when they're 20 novels in and their books turned movies are on every station on TV you can say you knew them way back when! There will now follow questions and answers - you can decide which is which (the question mark kind of gives them away though) And next Wednesday the five beauties listed at the bottom will be blogging about their Next Big Thing so get on and follow them now so you don't miss their wonderfulness.



What is the working title of your book?
Pocket Full of Bleeding Posies is the actual title and it's working. It’s a collection of short stories. All written by me. 'Onest guvna.

Where did the idea come from for your book?
I started writing short stories around 2003 after signing up for a screenwriting course. The teacher said to sit at the computer and write so I did and they came. I hear the first line and then just let it flow. I rarely know where I’m going until I get there.  Hettie was my very first one and has hardly changed from the first draft.

What genre does your book fall under?
I would put it in mainstream fiction with a literary twang. The stories are a mix of, thriller, romance, sci-fi. With some odd little writings that don’t really fit under any category all stuck together with random, I like to think humorous, expressions. Just because I can! The two things they all have in common are being a little dark and a little twisted. They're from my head so I don't know what you expected!

Which actors would you choose to play in your movie rendition?
Difficult because there are so many stories. I would have to find a role for Angelina Jolie, she’s amazing and gorgeous. But it wouldn’t be in The Long Day, no way she would sit around waiting to serve divorce papers and no way would she wait so many years to do it. Not my Angelina, no sir Mr Man!

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
A Decently Dark Collection of Woven Words.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I’m not represented and that’s not presented a problem to date. Neither am I self-published. I’ve found a traditional publisher who recently opened up a fiction branch and was looking for new work. With my next novel I’m considering my options and may take the self-publishing route. Watch this space! (and please give it a little dust and polish while you're here)

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
The bulk of the stories were written over a two month period, earlier this year, once I decided to do something with them besides having them sitting about on my computer.

What other books would you compare this story to?
I wouldn’t dare to! My two literary heroes at the moment are Philippa Gregory and James Frey (did I say a dirty word?). Excuse me, three heroes and the third is Jacqueline Malcolm, my uber talented sister and author of Slave: Escaping the Chains of Freedom. Jacquie’s styling is closer to Philippa Gregory’s, mine is closer to James Frey. His use, or misuse of punctuation and spaces freed my creative mind.

Who or what inspired you to write the book?
My sisters, Jacqueline and Karol Malcolm (artist). They push me through the pain of writing. They particularly pushed me to get these stories published. Not only with their nagging but their accomplishments - I ain't being left behind! Yes, we're a little competitive.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

And now for the rest of the best in alphabetical order because that's how I roll;




Monday, November 26, 2012

Last Stretch!


Yippee I'm on the last stretch, the final furlong, the fat lady's singing her song! With just over 10k words to go I'll be glad to have a celebratory rest. Dead chuffed with the novel so far though :D

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

And she's past the half way mark!


Totalistic word count for the NaNoWriMo challenge is 27041 so I'm finally past the half way mark! As a reward for all your supporting efforts here is another excerpt;


Valentine scanned the street. He felt like a lifelong member of the mafia and subconsciously put his hand inside his jacket to check his piece was there, only he didn’t have a piece or a jacket so looked like he was stroking his breast.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Counting Words!

24581 - nearly half way! The novel is taking me on twists and turns and linking this way and that way - it seems to have a life of its own. :D

Monday, November 19, 2012

Riding Along on My Write Bike Honey!


Very pleased to have fit in my fit of writing before 11am leaving the rest of the day to play... well do the socials and learn greek. But it's almost play, I guess! 22424 words in the bag.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Nano count update


Now reporting in at 17541 words on me novel mateys! It's hard work but loving it. Word of advice to myself and anyone else taking part - don't get behind, catching up is a nightmare!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

NaNoWriMo - notice and update!


I was so busy posting about it everywhere else (in between writing of course!) I forgot to put it up on my very own blog!! This year I've decided to take up the challenge of writing a novel in one month.

It's about Valentine Jones, a man with more than the average scars and we hear his story through their history. So far so good, what I've written has not induced nausea. And to date I've written 5806 words of the required 50,000 minimum. My biggest challenge is to forget about the word count when I'm actually writing - a little distracting and controlling of chapter lengths to say the least.

What a road trip!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Not now!


How about you chase the motorbike while I finish my book!


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Third Sunday Blog Carnival

Hettie was included in the Third Sunday Blog Carnival. Goooooo Hettie!

http://thirdsundaybc.com/

Saturday, October 20, 2012

A snapshot from Rum Runners The Musical just to give one a feel for the music in the show. I know I'm soooo giving!

Rum Runners The Musical overture

Monday, October 15, 2012

Magnified Gratitude!

Big thanks to Jeanette Hornby for featuring Pocket Full of Bleeding Posies (and me of course) on her blog. A war dance looks way more effective when there's more than one person taking part :D

www.jeanettehornbybooks.blogspot.com.au


Jeanette Hornby Books: Welcome Author Marva Gregorio De Souza

Jeanette Hornby Books: Welcome Author Marva Gregorio De Souza:                                                                            Picture: photobucket.com Marva Gregorio De Souza bo...

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Bird in the hand



A bird in the hand should be in the bush with his two friends.

Eradicate the animal slave trade!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Dusk Damsel


I thought I'd share with you some of the super heroes I created for an animation project a couple of years ago.  Credit for the drawings goes to Bob Harper http://www.facebook.com/bobtoons

Dusk Damsel
Super Powers:  
·          Stealth - she is the shadow of her alter ego
·          Black belt in martial arts
·          Flies
·          Nipple of truth – glows when someone is lying

Idiosyncrasies:
·          Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Alter Ego: Helen Brown
·          Therapist – a lot of super heroes’ alter egos are her patients
·          Obsesses about not hurting people (OCD)
·          Constantly repeats ‘She’s hiding in the bushes’
·          Fear of flying

Creation:
In her teens Helen Brown became plagued with OCD.  Various types of medication did nothing to help.   Desperate at the age of 21 she heard of a new, untested procedure where parts of her brain susceptible to the dysfunction would be separated and confined and thus controlled.  Helen signed up for it.  Everything appeared to be going well but in the middle of the process Helen demanded they stop as she needed to pee.  The doctor explained they were at a key point that really shouldn’t be interrupted so she would have to hold it.  Helen disagreed and disconnected herself from the equipment.
From that moment on, whenever the sun goes down and the shadows begin to lengthen, Helen’s shadow takes on a mind and name of its own and instead of her shadow following her, Helen has to follow the Dusk Damsel.