Occasionally scenes write themselves. Most don't. As authors, we know this, and in the 'most don't' category, there are many sub-categories. So, for this blog I'm sharing the different dilemmas we encounter while writing scenes. 1. The scene we thought was perfect, until continuity raised its head. I can think of two recent examples with …
Do not start writing unless you love it! – Guest blog by Christian Baines
Christian Baines is an author friend who recently posted the rant below on Facebook. Like me, he is on the indie side of the author scale, and what he wrote here is full of truth. He gave me permission to republish his words. Do not start writing unless you love it and are willing to …
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The most sophisticated Book Club scam I’ve received
Authors get them constantly. Those AI generated flattering emails asking you to give permission for a book club to discuss your book. But one I received a few weeks ago made me do my research. This email came from a gmail account, asking if I'd like to be interviewed online for The European Book Club. …
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Book Review – Gravity Let Me Go by Trent Dalton
This was one my husband bought. We both purchased several novels to read for an upcoming trip, but as he was still reading the Liza Minnelli I was keen to read, while I finished both my Anita Heiss and my Holden Sheppard, I started reading the Trent Dalton he hadn't read yet. I'd only read …
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Book Review – Yeah the Boys by Holden Sheppard
It's risky writing a sequel to a popular novel. It could feel rushed. It may not reflect the same spirit. It may run out of fresh ideas. This sequel to Invisible Boys has none of these issues. Every novel Holden Sheppard has written is a page turner. His characters are well developed and very accessible. …
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Book Review – The Paradise Pact by Anita Heiss
This is more than a Romance novel. At its heart it is a comparison of indigenous issues in both Australia and Hawaii. It explores similarities and differences as three fifty-something female friends take a holiday. A trip which includes running a half marathon. I read this book at the start of my own long vacation …
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My friend used my novel for his AI assignment!
A friend of mine is studying AI. He is doing the course for his job and at one stage asked if he could use one of my manuscripts for an assignment. At least, that's what he tells me. I don't recall. The thing is, he used an unpublished manuscript I asked him to read because …
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When AI steals your cover art
Some freaky things are happening. Authors are receiving emails with AI generated praise to convince them to sign up for paid promotions. Several of us have been comparing these in online writers' groups. Two popped into my inbox in just as many days and they sound like this: I just finished reading about Drama Queens …
Book Review – King of Dirt by Holden Sheppard
First off, the plot is perfect for a movie. It lends itself much easier to a screen adaptation than Holden Sheppard's other works - each dramatic cinematic beat is here. Two earlier scenes really resonated, setting up Jack Brolo's low opinion of himself, and later, his state of mind returning to the town he grew …
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Writing to a deadline while on holidays
In two months, my first self-published novel will be out. Well, at least it will be at the time I write this blog. It's titled Grayson's Magical Mishaps and is part of the Haunted Hearts: Season of the Witch collaboration - eleven Urban Fantasy romances written by gay authors. I usually spend years on a …
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