I had to play nurse to my husband for a month. After he had minor surgery, we had weeks of sleepless nights because we couldn’t find a pain killer which actually dulled his pain. I missed many yoga and Zumba sessions while our apartment just didn’t get cleaned. I was too tired to read and …
Don’t rush your manuscript!
A publisher cancelled their open call. They only open for unsolicited manuscripts four times a year, and I had all my submission documents ready for their date in May. But two days out, they cancelled that submission date due to a backlog they still had to get through. What enticed me to them is that …
Book Review – The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Most of us know this story. I've seen two movie versions and a stage play. These focussed on the horror elements as well as the philosophy Wilde weaves into the tale - the idea of whether our soul is tainted by our actions. This uncensored version restores gay content which the novel's first editor feared …
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Book Review – Mercedes General by Jerry L. Wheeler
This is a collection of short stories which reads like a novella. In the first tale, Kent meets Spencer when they are both kids in 1966. Spencer is the new boy in school and Kent is drawn to him. But Kent’s domineering sister, Suey, doesn’t like Spence because he stands up to her bullying. Each …
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Author etiquette
None of us are perfect. I was part of an interstate literary festival once just after I had a major operation on my arm. A day or so in, it was clear my sling needed a wash. It smelled. But I had to be on panels and run a workshop at this two day event, …
Book Review – Tilda Is Visible by Jane Tara
Not long ago I had a conversation with a man in his seventies. He was one of the members of my writing group who asked if I'd mind getting a lift from him each week as he had a long drive to get to our meetings and would enjoy the company. During my first chat …
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Listening to audiobook auditions
This is not an easy task. Some of these guys are good so there's added pressure to pick the right one. And I have a bias for theatrical reads. Partly because many moons ago I studied acting, and partly because my last audiobook was presented by a trained British actor. All of this is being …
Book Review – The Lodger, That Summer by Levi Huxton
I don't generally read erotic novellas. The few I have read I put down after a few chapters because the scenes were similar. But I caught up for coffee with author, Levi Huxton, to share marketing tips, and as a gift he gave me a copy of his popular debut. His success is something many …
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Writing trends come and go
This blog is inspired by a recent conversation with a writer friend. He told me of an editor who believes all works should be third person and past tense. She says first person is an unreliable subjective narrative, while past tense gives the advantage of reflection. Yet Invisible Boys by Holden Sheppard is a critically …
Book Review – The In-Between by Christos Tsiolkas
I read this straight after reading his previous novel, 7 1/2. These are the first Tsiolkas' books I've read (yes, I've waited that long) even though I'm familiar with his stories from various TV and film adaptations. 7 1/2 fascinated me with its stream of consciousness style, its raw sex scenes and fascinating prose, which …
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