Drama Queens with Love Scenes is a decade old. My tale of two friends who end up in the theatre district of the Afterlife went through eight drafts before Charles River Press initially published it in December 2012. So, on this very important milestone, I thought I'd share ten facts about my first novel. 1. …
Hearing your Audio Book for the first time
I've found the cure for Impostor Syndrome. One of my novellas has been recorded as an audio book. My publisher, NineStar Press, put out the call for narrators to audition, and after several voice-over artists submitted their recordings, we chose British actor, Jon Bolitho-Jones. Jon has a Masters in Acting and has tread the boards …
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Jagged Little Pill – Theatre Review
Thanks to my #AusWrites partner in crime, Rebecca Langham, I scored free tickets to this show. My generation clearly remembers how angst-ridden Alanis Morissette's single 'You Oughta Know' was when it hit the charts in the 90s. It encapsulated the anger of being dumped with an honesty we'd never heard before, and hardly hear now. …
Researching the Sydney Gay Scene of the 90s – Part 3
As well as a Mardi Gras parade and party, there's a festival. During the 90s, sponsorship from major brands helped expand the number of events. Film, theatre, live music and sport kept us busy all through February. Of course, Fair Day was always a popular event, but you were allowed to bring a picnic, settle …
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Trigger Warnings
I was horrified the first time I watched Get Smart. Max shot several people suspected of being Kaos agents. Then the Chief tells him that he's posted a number of Control agents to protect Max. Canned laughter played as Max realises he mistook the Control agents for Kaos operatives and tells the Chief that maybe …
Writing about my relationship
The initial draft of my first novel was titled Staging Life. It told the story of two friends, based on me and my husband, who end up in the Afterlife. A few theatre references were thrown in and, hey presto, I had my first draft. Then I had it professionally assessed. Besides changing the title, …
Meet the Devil
He'd been sitting inside my laptop for a very long time, but finally it came time for him to strut into the world. Friends, meet Preston. He's one of the characters in Drama Queens and Devilish Schemes, the third book in the Actors and Angels series. As you can see he's fond of a top …
Worldbuilding
Two decades ago I studied acting part time over three years. Fortunately, I secured a job in a creative industry before I completed the course, which probably saved me from many desperate auditions and a life of poverty. But there are important factors about that craft that shaped the books that make up the ‘Actors …
Adding Adult Themes
The second novel in the Actors and Angels Series is not like your usual sequel. This book is called Drama Queens and Adult Themes, and follows Drama Queens with Love Scenes. The idea for the plot of the second book came from the first - I know that's stating the obvious, but bear with me. The …
The First Novel
Tomorrow I’m going to feel a sense of déjà vu as my first novel gets relaunched for the third time. My last publisher closed down, so I was very lucky that NineStar Press decided to re-contract my works. An author's first novel is special. It’s the one they sweated over. It’s the one that was redrafted …
kevin klehr - author 