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If you can’t beat ’em, read ’em – Australian Women Writers Challenge 2012

Woo hoo Elizabeth Lhuede for initiating this challenge. What a champion, promoting Australian women’s fiction across the blogsphere. This is another wonderful opportunity to support our writers.

The challenge: help counteract the gender bias in reviewing and social media newsfeeds that has continued throughout 2011 by actively promoting the reading and reviewing of a wide range of contemporary Australian women’s writing.

I’m accepting the challenge for 2012, although not aiming too high. ‘Stella’ level sounds pretty good to me (read 3 and review at least 2 books) even though there are sooooo many good authors with books due out next year (not to mention this year): Helene Young, Rachael Johns, Lisa Heidke, Rae Roadley, Bronwyn Parry, Fleur McDonald, Fiona Palmer, Cathryn Hein, Kylie Griffin, Jaye Ford, Mandy Magro, Annie Seaton, Karly Lane, Jenn J McLeod … no, not really. Just seeing what it would look like 🙂

My motto for 2012: if you can’t beat ’em, read ’em!

 

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Seasons of Change

 

I love the seasons – the sights, the smells, the sounds. I love the birds, the flowers, the foliage. (Just now, I’ve come inside from picking strawberries in a summer rain shower – try it!)

I’ve loved watching the changing seasons this past tweleve months (which has been an interesting, emotional, learning, growing year for me as a writer) hence the pics (above) – a favourite tree of mine because of the way it changes.

Even more inspiring are the emotions each season stirs. I guess that’s why I’m drawn to include the seasons in my stories.

In House For All Seasons, four women as different as the four seasons shed more than their city skins when they reconnect with their country roots.

In The Simmering Season, it’s summer storm season and the NSW country town of Calingarry Crossing is sweltering. As emotions bubble away, and a school reunion brings home more than just memories, you’ll discover there’s no keep a lid on some secrets.

I’m about to throw myself into book three, Season of Shadow and Light.  With a title like that, I can’t wait to see where it takes me. (Although one thing I know for sure is, it will take me home to the country 😉

 

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A wild ride

Wow! What a few wild weeks. It’s been a bit crazy. I’ve been crazy (it’s called having a thyroid disorder!) But I am back into it and writing up a storm (or revisioning up a ???)

To bring you up to speed on my news:

  • I attended my first RWA Annual Conference in Melbourne (a 1920’s theme). I was able to put faces to names who have, to date, been nothing more than an email addy. Read more
  • I met my agent for the first time too, although we had one of those “one of us shoud have worn a pink carnation” moments in the hotel lobby. But I pretty-much picked her and she was lovely and motivating and inspring.
  • I collected my 3rd place award for the Little Gems Short Story Contest and saw my words in print in the anthology (as well as finding myself on the organising committe for the 2012 RWA conference. Note to self: stop saying ‘yes’.
  • I came home to to a full-page article on my ‘other’ life – my dog-friendly B&B in Coffs Harbour. The reviewer called me ‘schoolmarmish’ because I like to write signs. Humph! But all publicity is good publicity. It’s still a great review .

Okay, back to my manuscript. I have 30 days to polish both of them – starting…NOW.