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ELEVEN…I think I’m a real writer

Eleven months to go…

I’m celebrating my countdown to May 2013 with a look back at June’s 50ks in 30 Days and I’m happy. By the time you are reading this I will have hit the 50,000-word mark in book 3 of my Seasons Collection.

Given my two books (contracted to Simon & Schuster in January this year) both started as a writing challenge project, and both were at full first draft by the 50k word count, I’m confident of being on track with this story. (This achievement is despite being up to my neck in my volunteer role as Registrar for this year’s RWA Conference on the Gold Coast.)

This publishing caper is all still a bit surreal. May seems so far away. But if all goes to plan, I might just have book 3 ready around the time book 1 is released. Wouldn’t that be nice! Now if I can only keep my mojo going (and book 4 is now a kernel with potential) I think I may have overcome my fear that I’m not a real writer at all, but a one-book wonder.

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The Lucky Seven – Jenn J McLeod

There’s this ‘thing’ going around. It’s called “The Lucky Seven” and the clever Juliet Madison has tagged me.

The challenge: Post seven lines from an unpublished work of fiction.

I have chosen lines from my debut novel House For All Seasons (release date May 2013) a story about four women reconnecting with their country roots.

The Golden Rules of this challenge:

  • Go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript
  • Go to line 7
  • Post on your blog or Facebook page the next 7 lines, or sentences, as they are – no cheating
  • Tag 7 other authors to do the same

So here goes: House For All Seasons, Page 77, line 7:

‘As for me,’ he said, taking Sara’s hand. ‘I prefer a more traditional hello. Welcome to my home.’ He tugged her arm, pulling her down until he could kiss her on both cheeks, lingering a little longer than tradition, in Sara’s estimation. ‘Come on in.’

The affectionate welcome had set a kookaburra amongst the butterflies in her stomach. Will was fast becoming Sara’s constant companion, if not in person by day, then in her mind each night in bed when she closed her eyes and imagined she was sixteen again, and brave.

Well, there it is. Now it’s back to Facebook to tag some 7 writer friends to do the same. Seven very different but wonderful authors.

Bronwyn Parry, Helene Young, Lisa Heidke, Anita Heiss, Jaye Ford, Christine Stinson, Dianne Blacklock

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Bring on the bling!

I’m enjoying a quiet spell from the crazy Conference Registar role I volunteered for this year. The RWA’s national conference on the Gold Coast in August will dazzle, especially with the traditional dress-up Cocktail Party theme this year – Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.

In the lead up to the conference, the Conference Coordinator (Fiona Gregory) and I starting to get into the swing of things, taking part in some fun blogs over at Romance Writers of Australia and talking about our 1950’s Hollywood glamour cocktail party outfits (among other – less important – things).

In that blog post, I refer to my very blingy blue number with the sparkly sequins on shoulderpads to die for as Vintage/Recycled (a.k.a that outfit I haven’t had the heart to throw away these 27 years, thinking I might actually be able to wear a blingy blue number one day and still fit into it.) August 17 will be the day and just to prove it is 27 years old and still holding together (better than I am sadly) here it is.

Very blingy and very blue.