Category: Promote & Publish

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Where I was today: The best little station in the nation.

The sign says it all.

2NVR – Nambucca Community Radio – is an impressive facility tucked away in an old school house in Bowraville, NSW. (Some of you might know that my fictional Calingarry Crossing was inspired by four small towns: Sawtell, Ulmarra, Bellingen and Bowraville.)

So, what a thrill it was to be asked to spend an hour talking books and writing, songs and the seasons on Elizabeth’s Turning Pages program. (And what  tremendous role community radio people play in regional Australia.)

A few days ago Elizabeth asked me to provide her with a list of my favourite songs — of course they were all season related: Summertime, Blue Skies, Stormy Weather, Summer Holiday — to be slotted into the hour-long chat, along with the news and the all-important sponsor messages. (Did I mention how amazing community radio is, yet?).

We discussed my writing process and how much I am enjoying mentoring a local writer. For aspiring writers I sung the praises of RWA. I got to share bits about book 3 – Season of Shadow and Light – but forgot to mention book 4 has a very Nambucca theme!!

We laughed a lot, talked about my impending adventures in a fifth wheeler and my writing of the song for Simmering Season. We also gulped in unison over a technical glitch, which Elizabeth resolved like the professional she is. (Did I mention how wonderful community radio folk are, yet?)

Sadly, we were unable to play my song, so here it is – below.

I did manage to leave books with Elizabeth and over the next week or two she will be telling listeners how they can win the signed copies.

So locals, do tune in to the ‘best little station in the nation’ – 105.9 FM – each Friday from 11:00 am and don’t forget to support those all-impotant sponsors. If you Facebook, head over the Elizabeth’s Turning Pages.

 

**READER SPOILER ALERT**

AMBER LEAVES
Music and lyrics by Jenn J McLeod.
Arranged and performed by John Watson.
Produced by Clive Lendich.

______________________

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I. AM. HERE

SWF 2014May 23, 2014.

I. AM. HERE.

Sydney Writers Festival and the Australian Book Industry Awards gala event.

Okay, so, I was there as an observer, rather than being celebrated for some great literary achievement. But I was there and my book was there — on the book wall along with every book from 2013. The weekend was still an amazing experience and a career highlight (although perhaps the best thing for me was having the head of Tony Abbott’s personal security team at our table and talking to his wrist!)The book wall

Some 24 hours later, after being whisked down and whisked back again (thank you Simon &Schuster for treating me like a winner anyway) the sparkly outfit is back on the hanger and I am back to being ordinary me and blogging. But there was a particular moment from the awards night I wanted to share.

There I was in the room at Friday night’s book industry awards when at the end of all the awards, ‘someone’ at the mic said “Congratulations to all those in the room who received an award this year.”

I quietly raised my glass, looked across the table at author friend, Anna Romer, and whispered to her: “Congratulations to any author who managed to get published this year!”

The same sentiment can be applied to any author who managed to type the words THE END, as well as any author who managed to put those first few words of their dream novel on a page.  We are doing what we love, no matter what stage in the journey, so well done and celebrate every step along the way. We can’t all win awards, just as we can’t please all readers/reviewers. As I say these days: “I can’t be every reader’s favourite author. I can only be the best author I can be.”

My book awards experience was an extraordinary moment for this very ordinary girl and I am extremely grateful to the lovely people at S&S.

Keep writing and reading, friends.

 

 

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Jenn’s not-so-perfect cover!

You’ve all seen the fabulous cover for my April 1 release – Simmering Season. Not even the lovely Roberta and Larissa (Simon & Schuster) — responsible for the real thing — know about this ‘other’ cover.

When Dianne Blacklock and I were ‘talking’ on her blog recently about our planning/plotting process, I explained that part of my creative process includes making up titles and tag lines to get me into a story. In the early days I would go so far as to design a visual to stick on the wall. (I dug this pretend cover from the archives the other day and had a giggle.)

It seems Maggie/Magpie was always going to find her way into a story and she finally has – in Simmering Season.

Maggie’s story (a vague resemblance) began close to a decade ago. At the time I was toying with a book series using bird titles: magpie – the protector, bower bird – the collector, koel – the home wrecker, kookaburra – sadness behind the smile. Get the idea? (Hmm, you can see why that bird brain concept didn’t get me anywhere with a publisher!!!)

But I was stuck on the magpie idea. I love the birds and I knew there was some merit in a magpie storyline: territorial, maternal, desirous of human interaction, the magpie’s courtship tends to be devoid of all the drama that accompanies so many matings (dance, song, quirks). In fact, the female magpie will generally build her nest alone and often in the most exposed parts of the tree with full exposure to the sun and sky – a kind of bold strategy to prevent ambush. Mother magpies do it all.

Enter Simmering Season’s lead character – nicknamed Magpie – bold and protective:  a devoted mother, daughter and wife grappling with her responsibilities as well as being the reluctant town publican and community event organiser for the town’s centenary and school reunion.

Lucky for me (and Maggie) my lovely publishers have a better idea about book covers which means I can now leave the visual creative stuff to them so I can focus entirely on the story telling (while finding new ways to procrastinate – namely Facebook and Twitter).

But I thought you might like to know a little about my Maggie.

As in House for all Seasons, my female leads don’t necessarily fit the fiction heroine mould. Maggie, in particular, is not strong or brave. She is not rescuing anyone or saving the day; Maggie Lindeman is lucky to save herself. She’s far from perfect, desperate, but proud, the kind of everyday woman I hope resonates with readers, much like Poppy, Sara, Amber and Caitlin in House for all Seasons.

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