LINK TO NEW BLOG (Been there since May 2011)

Some of my followers still have this Blogspot blog listed in their blogroll. You must all think I've fallen off the wagon, or run away with my tail between my legs, and joined the other blog deserters! But I'm still here, blogging madder than ever, even though I keep saying I'm going to take a break because I've got a novel to write! You know, the usual story we post, but always positive, of course. The directions are slightly vague in the previous entry so my apologies about that. I've been blogging over at Wordpress since May 2011. Also called A CERTAIN BOOK . Please pop over and see what I've been posting. Thanks for tuning in. Hope to see you there.

SCARLET by Leigh Marsden - My interview with Leigh.

If you haven't linked to my new blog, please visit here. See my latest post - my first interview with bestselling NZ author Leigh Marsden here.

I'm having a baby!

No, I'm not having a baby. Sorry. But I got your attention, didn't I? Maybe. Anyway, I'd love it if you linked to my new blog HERE so you can keep an eye on me. I've taken up with wordpress, but I've kept the same name - it just requires a little tweak on your blog. Thank you. :-)

MUSIC AND iMAC

I see the NZ Book Award finalists are up on websites and blogs. They look like great choices. (You can link here for the list). The one that stood out for me in the non-fiction category was Blue Smoke: The Lost Dawn of New Zealand Popular Music 1918-1964 by Chris Bourke. My uncle gets a mention or two in the book, which I didn’t know about until I opened it to check. He used to play the double bass, and a fine player he was too. It’s the first comprehensive illustrated history of New Zealand popular music in the days before rock’n’roll. A time when couples jived, and fox-trotters took offence and cabarets banned their presence. The book examines the rise of jazz, swing, country, the Hawaiian sound, rock’n’roll, the recording industry, touring and more. There are rare photographs, interviews and transcripts to enjoy. (The image doesn't show the quality of the book here.) If you’re musically inclined or researching, this should jostle for space at the top of your bookshelf.

I bought an iMac two days ago. Hubby gets the MacBook. He's been developing the cyber-itch lately, so it seemed like a good idea before we start warring over who’s hogging it the most. The iMac is easy in terms of ergonomics, and the wireless keyboard and mouse are a plus. The screen is almost three times the screen size of the laptop! Which means I’m not allowed to complain about vision; I still have to wear spectacles, though. At the moment I’m transporting what I need from the Macbook to here, not an easy task, although it’s supposed to be. Lots to explore in this new contraption.

Note: Sorry I haven't got around to comment on some blogs. Will catch up soon.

WHAT I'M READING NOW - Goon/Byte/Moment

Nothing from my 2011 Reading Challenges. (Remind me not to get so ambitious at the end of this year, will you, please?) But something else that always pops out at me from blog posts or recommendations, the NZ Listener, and gosh-darn-it, Twitter! Sometimes I wish I had an extra lobe in my brain specifically for ‘regulating reading capacity’; neurotransmitters like, er, readamine? (pronounced read-a-mean) that feed receptor cells with small, even doses and produce the right effect. At the risk of stretching this wish too far best to move on; here's what I’ve been lying in bed with:

• A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD by Jennifer Egan

A superb read. I like the conception of this book. Each chapter seems like a new story but they’re all interconnected in some way. The themes are contemporary and Egan takes the mundane, the unpleasant and makes them monumental, and executes it so well that no one, surely, could do it better. I’m up to chapter nine and each one had me hooked word, line and paragraph. For me, it sits right up there with my top read of all time, Johnathan Franzen’s Freedom. It is equally as poignant, and brilliant and more; the only difference being that AVFTGS is ‘grippingly funny’.

The story is about an 80s punk band called the Flaming Dildos and how each member and those who touched their lives (oh heck, no pun/s intended) have fared over the years. There is no chronological order to the stories but you make the connections as you keep reading. Most of the scenes in the chapters are set in New York and then suddenly you're transported to another continent, on safari for example, and introduced to a few new characters whom you can’t seem but to like or dislike, even love; or driven by convoy through rough terrain to a secret location in Columbia with gun-toting soldiers riding, well, gun-shot. All of the stories are dark and edgy, and would’ve been too heavy a read if not for the peppering of humour. There’s much more to talk about in this book, but my post will look too long for readers to stick to. AVFTGS makes for stimulating conversation.

• TERRORBYTE by Cat Connor

Ellie Conway, an FBI agent, and her team must find the killer in their midst who is preying on the mentally ill. At every murder scene there’s a pattern, including words scrawled across cabinets or walls. Words, they discover, taken from a book of poetry written and recently launched by none other than Ellie and her soulmate/partner, Mac, (also an agent). All profits from sales of the book are poured into their foundation that helps children of parents who suffer from bipolar disorder. As Ellie and her team struggle to capture the elusive killer, she must cope with the effects of a head injury sustained in a past encounter and stoically hides from her colleagues, including Mac. Is it more than a head injury though? Could it be something genetic? Written in the first person, it’s difficult to know if Ellie is losing her mind or not because she has this wry sense of humour. It’s an interesting premise and there’s more to take your attention elsewhere, which ups the ante and keeps you flicking back the pages. Cat Connor writes really well and there are some lovely passages I drooled over. There’s a series by the way: Killerbyte, Terrorbyte and Exacerbyte. You can check out her blog for more detail about this story here.

• THE MOMENT by Douglas Kennedy

The first book I ever read of Kennedy’s was The Pursuit of Happiness. It was written from a woman’s perspective and Kennedy got into her head so deeply, I wondered if he used a pen name and was a woman in real life. But no, DK really is a male. He has a talent for writing compelling love stories and providing rich insight into our recent past. The positive reception this book's garnered lately should quench the desire of his avid fans. I haven’t dipped into The Moment long enough to review and give it justice. Here’s a short blurb to whet the appetite though: As Thomas Nesbitt tries to reconcile himself to the end of a long marriage that he knew was flawed from the outset, his self-exile is interrupted by the arrival of a box in the post. The return address belongs to the woman he had an intense love affair with twenty-five years ago in Berlin, at a time when the city was cleaved in two, and personal and political allegiances were frequently haunted by the deep shadows of the Cold War. Thomas is forced to confront what he'd kept at bay for so long, the extraordinary force of real love and the woman to whom he'd lost his heart. Morally complex, tragic and deeply reflective ... "

Another great cover design. Click on the image for more.

Tales For Canterbury (includes Neil Gaiman)

Tales For Canterbury is a charity anthology to raise funds for the NZ Red Cross Earthquake Appeal. It features tales by New Zealand and international writers. This from Random Static’s website:

‘Tales For Canterbury brings you a variety of stories set in past, present and future times, worlds touched by disaster, magic and the other worldly; where everyday truths are explored, and you never know what shape the future might hold; explores the depths of what it means to be human, escape the real world, and find hope in these pages.”

I bought my copy yesterday and managed to squeeze in a couple of stories last night.

I hadn’t heard of speculative fiction before until I caught onto a few local blogs last year, including Debbie Cowens’ blog. Her story The Delightful Maiden features in the book and really drew me in from start to finish with her writing ability, and the compelling nature of the story. I was so disappointed at the end though, because it left me hanging, and I wanted to read more. I wonder if it was an extract to an upcoming novel … Or, I just simply missed something - I’ll have to go back and read it again. Cowens is someone to watch out for, anyway. Also, an incentive to read speculative fiction.

There are more fantastic contributors to this book including Helen Lowe, Tina Makareti, Tim Jones, Matt Cowens, Cat Connor; not to mention the inimitable and prolific blogger Neil Gaiman … I'm dying to get stuck back in, and I urge you to buy one for a very good cause. Copies can be purchased at Random Static HERE. It’s available as an ebook, too ($12).

(ps Has anyone noticed that they can't 'sign out' of blogger? Weird.)

My First Rejection

Hello folks. Yep. I am now officially a member of The Rejection Club. I have earned my first rejection badge. There are more badges (submissions), but hopefully I don’t get to wear ALL of them. Seriously though, you can guarantee that my world caved in as soon as I read this:

“It’s [the novel] fresh and different ... but we do not believe it is one that we would publish”.

Fortunately, the rumbling sound around my head lasted a few short but terrible minutes (not seconds).

There. Got that out. Now what? Keep my fingers crossed. Go on a holiday. Clean out the house. Dig up the garden. Buy a cattery. A new computer. Some makeup. Clothes … Maybe I should just stick to the Club’s motto. I am after all a new member.

MOTTO: Keep occupied. Keep Writing (the next novel). Persevere. Be patient. Have faith.

A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh (Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge)

Ngaio Marsh, New Zealand’s Golden Age Queen of Crime, brings to life Detective Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn in her first mystery novel A Man Lay Dead (1934). Seven guests are invited to a weekend house party at Sir Hubert Hendesley’s home in Frantock. There’s a sense of jolly anticipation leading up to Hubert’s famously known party game called the Murder game. Like any game there are set rules. It’s the job of the butler to choose from the group of seven, someone to play the murderer who in turn must choose his or her victim. No one else is privy to this information. After discovery of the body, a whodunit trial follows. When the game begins, lights are flicked on and the room is a stage set for murder. The actor is found slumped over the table with a dagger in his back. As the group gathers around the victim they play along - giggling, exclaiming, pushing and shoving, slightly horrified. But a closer inspection reveals another story. The bantering is suddenly replaced by squeams and expressions of horror. Charles is not pretending to be dead. He is dead. Enter Detective Chief Inspector Alleyn.

Alleyn appears to be unorthodox in his approach to solving a homicide; employing the person he suspects least, to help him. Later, he gathers all his suspects in the one room, placing police officers at possible escape routes, and relays to everyone his theory and the evidence, hoping to flush out the murderer. This includes re-enacting the murder by choosing someone to play the part or parts. The irony is clever, and the theatrics entertaining.

This story was light and fun (or cosy), the first Ngaio Marsh novel I’ve read, and vastly different from my usual dose of crime reading. The Russian element was interesting, reflecting political intrigue at the time. Written in the 1930s, I found myself smiling at the small things such as the language of the time. I particularly enjoyed these two - ‘great hopping fleas!’ and ‘put ‘em up, my poppets’. And how about this for a chapter title: Alleyn Does His Stuff.

This is the first entry in the Vintage Mystery reading challenge 2011. Finally.

An enjoyable day at the Readers & Writers Festival

Saturday turned out to be a sunny day, not a day to be wasted indoors but enjoyed outdoors, before winter (lurking around the corner) fogs up the windows. I was at the Readers and Writers Festival in Auckland, which was of course indoors, but I think it would have succeeded just as well outdoors, if they had had the appropriate facilities. One new addition or feature I noticed, however, was the outdoor cafeteria keeping with the character of the building (lots of glass) and overlooking Aotea Square. The blend of café smells wafted across the throng and back through the building, causing a protest of rumbles from my tummy, and drawing in a sea of customers. After my event there were no seats available and a queue so long I felt myself scowling. I think most of the patrons were ARWF attendees.

I didn’t get to many events, unfortunately. Time was a factor. But I did get to one event with local authors Carl Nixon and Sarah Quigley (two for one), and the inimitable Book Blogger, Graham Beattie, as chair. You can read a review of Carl Nixon’s latest novel Settlers’ Creek HERE. It was interesting to hear why he wrote it and whether he’d received any flak or negative reviews regarding the subject matter of cultural conflict and racism. I’ve not read any of Sarah’s novels except for her book on writing titled Write, which is, by the way, a fantastic reference book for writers. Her novel The Conductor released just last week, sounds intriguing. It’s set in Leningrad (St Petersburg) during the German blockade in the Second World war, and is essentially about two characters, one a conductor whose potential blossoms in a time of great upheaval and devastation. The story is drawn on both fact and fiction. I’d love to read it. Paula Morris was on my list of ‘must see’, but when I purchased my tickets at the door they mentioned her session was up at the university, a ten minute hike away. Sadly, it began at the time Nixon and Quigley’s session was over.

I sat in the Square afterwards, eating sushi, watching the surrounding activity. People were enjoying lunch, reading or writing, lapping up the sun. I don't venture into the city often so I tend to appreciate the small things - the presence of seagulls and pigeons dotting the area for example. They would take bobbing runs and flutter up into the air like a white blanket, only to circle back and land at your feet a couple of seconds later, expecting a crumb or two as if that little bit of entertainment was deserving. Most folk know better than to feed them though, unless you’re willing to risk the ‘daggers’. In the distance, up close to the road, a protest was in full motion. Syrian flags waved gently back and forth in a small assembly of dark-clad men, women and children. It was a peaceful rally from where I was sitting. They were chanting. I wish I knew what they'd been saying.

And, oh yes. I did spend some money. I was restrained though, which makes a change after previous years’ events I’ve attended.

The book in the middle is called The Long and Short Of It. You'll find the winners of the Unity Books short story competition between the covers. How apt is that title? The Long, refers to the winner of 'the best story over 10,000 words' and Short, to 'the best story under 1,000 words'. The book also includes four 'highly commended' winners. Judges were Emily Perkins, Elizabeth Knox and Bill Manhire. I'm reading The Road To Tokomairiro (the Long winner). So far, a Cobb & Co coach driver has an accident, killing one of his passengers. It's a lovely read and quite riveting. Described as 'lighter than its subject matter' and 'beautifully and sympathetically written'.I loved the movie about French singer Edith Piaf. Author Carolyn Burke was also here in 2007 promoting her last biography about the first woman war photographer, Lee Miller. It's been sitting in my TBR pile since and I feel quite ashamed.There were so many books tempting me, and those NZ cover designs were something to drool over. I lingered around the poetry section too, and read one of Jenny Bornholdt's poems. I stared at the cover and it seemed to say, "Buy Now."

So I came away content with my lot for the day from the Readers and Writers Festival in Auckland 2011.

Bookman Beattie and the Christchurch Library are busily posting events on their blogs as they unfold this weekend. Very engaging posts and audio clips so pop over when you can.

Writers and their typewriters

During the Blog Out yesterday I popped over to Twitter and linked to Blogger’s timeline. It was rolling over so fast I couldn't keep up, but what I managed to catch was like watching road-rage. In a techno world we’ve lost the meaning of the word 'patience'. We expect everything now. Instant. No traffic jams, no hold-ups. And no mistakes allowed.

Anyway. I was trawling around the Internet suppressing my own frustrations and found this delightful album of iconic images to feast on: writers and their typewriters. Includes McCullers, Carter, Hemingway, Faulkner, Amis … Just click on the image and it’ll take you there.

Auckland Readers & Writers Festival

I’m in the big smoke tomorrow. The Auckland Readers and Writers Festival began yesterday and should be in full swing by Saturday. There’s a good line up of local writers – Sarah Kate-Lynch, Carl Nixon, Sarah Quigley, Paula Morris and more. I’ll be taking mental notes, drawing inspiration and enjoying the company of like-minded people. Click here for MORE.

My Covering Letter

I wrote a covering letter for submission the other week. This sample letter was very helpful. ;)

Dear [Agent/Editor]

Prepare to be blown away. In your hands you hold the first four pages of my debut epic, VIOLENT THUNDER. You have the truly unique opportunity to be one of the first to read a work that will undoubtedly revolutionise the publishing world. Borrowing tropes from the epic fantasy, supernatural detective, and harlequin romance genres, I have crafted the first wholly original masterpiece in probably at least a century … MORE

This comes from one of ten popular articles on the Web at the moment; compiled by the Writers Knowledge Base (WKB). Just click on the logo below and you’ll link to a wealth of writing information and inspiration, and on occasion, someone's clever post to engender a fit of the giggles.

All Tensed Up, and D.D. Warren

One of my biggest bugbears (well highlighted during my writing course) is TENSE. I prefer to call it a real ­– pardon the expression/cliche – ‘pain in the ass’. At the same time it's a painfully good lesson. This problem of tense may seem trivial to most, but it’s a common trap to others.

I mention this because I’m going over a chapter in my novel like a crime-scene technician searching for anything suspicious that will throw up the hard evidence. I found two offenders on the one page!

Deviating slightly, I love this no-nonsense quote:'Compose first, worry later' by NED ROREM (composer/author)

Reading and reviewing: There has been no time to write up reviews of the books I’ve been reading lately or posts I had planned. At present I’m enjoying crime author Lisa Gardner’s 2011 novel Love You More. It’s another police procedural with D.D. Warren and her Boston homicide team. God, she's good at writing those! Always a pleasure to see a woman running the show and overcoming the obstacles.

Extra: If you Tweet and know about #fridayshorts, well, this time, I got an honorary mention for my entry. I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. :) Hinemoa Baker took first prize!

Writing Wisdom

Love these pearls of 'writing' wisdom from RJ Ellory:

"Books are like wine: if it tastes good, then it is good wine, no matter the year or the vineyard."

"I try not to concern myself with how much better my fellow writers might be doing, for – as Krishnamarti said – ‘a life of comparison is a life of misery’."

"Life is not a rehearsal, it’s the main performance."

More pearls can be found at this in-depth interview with Ellory on writers, writing, music and movies HERE.

Miss you ...

I’ve been wandering around aimlessly these past few days. Sometimes I open the front door and nothing happens. When I peer out the window he’s not there. I wash his bowl and shake his biscuit container. This morning I expected him to leap onto my writing desk and nudge me for space, or stare at the computer screen and paw at the mouse.

We buried my 16-year-old literary companion the other day. It was a sad affair. Hubby, a stoic, fell to pieces. I was Soakie too, and now I’m an empty vessel. It’s too early to consider another cat.

Book reviews for newbie writers

Radio New Zealand is a candy store of book reviews. They include recent debut novels here and overseas. It’s a resource I’d highly recommend for aspiring writers. The majority of these books are reviewed by established authors who not only discuss plot and character within a 3-5+minute time frame but how well-written (or not) the book is. Weaknesses (not always) and strengths are highlighted, and this is full of insightful information that newbie writers should bookmark in their How To Write file notes. If you don’t have much time to spare, these are not long reviews, and a book is reviewed daily. If you should miss out on one, there’s an archive going back to 2008. Not everyone will agree with some of the reviews if they've read the book already, but in general terms, it does provide insight that a newbie writer can mine for their own writing practice or aspirations.

Five things I learned today or was reinforced:

• Watch out for vanity publishers, although I believe that this is changing as with everything else in publishing.
• A well-edited book is sooooo vital if you’re self-publishing.
• Are you writing memoir or fiction? You need to differentiate.
• Does your child protagonist speak like a child or an adult?
• Evocative writing gives a strong sense of place.

If you're interested here's the link to RadioNZ, and if you can't find the book review archives, try here.

Feijoa and Lime Muffins

Yep. I’m obsessed with feijoas. I stumbled across a few feijoa recipes in last week’s NZ Listener. I found another in today’s Sunday Times newspaper. Must be feijoa 'week', not ‘day’.

I thought I’d try the Feijoa and Lime muffins from the Listener. They turned out moist and delicious. I did, however, mix in too much lime zest, which left an unpleasant aftertaste. Wrote note next to recipe: easy on zest.

By the way, I didn’t know this, but sometimes feijoas are called ‘lawmower fruit’ because the smaller feijoas tend to be abandoned and gobbled up by the mower. Apparently they leave a nice fragrance. Must try that one day.

Here’s the recipe for anyone who lands here:

• 3 juicy limes
• 60g B, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 200g plain F
• 2 ½ tsp BP
• 100g S
• 1 C peeled and diced feijoas (about 6-8)

Oven 180C - grate zest from limes - combine with eggs and B, whisk till fluffy - fold in combined F & BP gently with S - fold in feijoas

Fill muffin cups - sprinkle with zest (not too much) - bake 20-25 mins

Makes 12. Lovely with coffee. Simple and quick.

What I'm reading right now: Cry of the Go-Away Bird by Andrea Eames. Gorgeous writing. Interesting story.

Feijoa Day

When we moved to this rural town about three years ago, the land behind us was scrubland but within months, a land developer came along and cleared the lot, paving the way for a new subdivision. It’s a small division with an arterial road running down the centre and small lanes forking off it. To date, one house was built earlier this year and another, a couple of months ago. The latter half finished and abandoned. A definite sign of the times. But for us, we continue to enjoy the freedom of a neighbour-less backyard ­– the north end of our property – where the sun shines and clamours for space in the kitchen, dining and lounge, and the view to the reserve and estuary is unobstructed. It is very peaceful here, idyllic for a writer. In the summer the birdsong is magical, the gardens lush, and before we are cloaked in winter, the feijoa trees hugging the north end of our home are once again heaving with fruit. Branches overhang the fence, tempting for potential neighbours to grope at, little children to indulge, flat earth society people to hack at. Feijoas lay scattered around the garden floor waiting to be gathered up, sliced in half and greedily scooped of its flesh, either consumed fresh on the spot or diced and mixed into a delectable recipe. So that’s where this was leading me – to my favourite feijoa recipe. Some people screw their noses at feijoas and some can’t get enough, and most people outside of New Zealand have no idea what they are or look like. The average length of a feijoa (from our tree) is around 2 inches or 70cm. If you want to know more look HERE.

As a child I had no control over how many I stuffed into my little stomach, unless my mother was nearby limiting my intake. She’d make me sit in a chair and eat each one slowly, not like some half-starved child I impressed on her. Mostly, it was about the awful tummy twinges I would have to endure afterwards. Things haven’t changed much (I might’ve mentioned this in another post). You can find my favourite feijoa recipe HERE, although raw is best.

On the writing front, I haven’t exactly been productive with the new novel. There’s a lot of reading I’d rather be doing right now. More on that later. Enjoy your weekend.

Michael Robotham Week

Stats from my blog are informative and interesting. It gives me a good idea how much traffic is swinging my way, either passing through or stopping to browse. I’m not sure if Blogger’s stats provider includes everything. Compared to my other stats counter, it’s not picking up some countries, including the US. What was most intriguing, however, was the traffic jam I encountered yesterday. There was a large meet at one of my posts: 86 hits, that is! And NO comments! I’ve never had as many visits in one, perhaps three weeks. Cynical-brain-cell got in a right tangle over it and thought a conspiracy of sorts was going down on her blog. You know, like a creative writing course pointing out the terrible lack of editing or some such horror on said blog. If not that, someone desperately trying to figure out why, what, how and when by hammering ENTER 86 times! :)

After further research through stats, I discovered that most of those hits came from Twitter. Now I get it. Someone has picked up one of my posts on the writing process and linked it through Twitter. Gosh, the power of Twitter. And so many writers out there. Here’s the link to Michael Robotham’s writing advice.

Speaking of Robotham, his latest newsletter is available re his new releaseThe Wreckage, and other stuff: HERE. He’s really sweet and has a sense of fun. I searched for his books on KOBO and there’s an unbelievable price, possibly ridiculous, for his 2010 novel Bleed For Me which in my opinion, is a fantastic crime fiction read. $2.89 NZD. That's cheap for the reader, but what about the author? I suppose if you do the complicated (or simple?) math, there must be something positive in it.

The Cry of the Go-Away Bird by Andrea Eames

Andrea Eames’s novel The Cry of the Go-Away Bird is now available for purchase at KOBO. I bought mine. Only $7.99 NZD. Her blog is HERE which I’ve been following for almost three years. She’s a wonderful writer and an inspiration. You'll find a list of reviews/interviews by bloggers and various papers/magazines around the world including The Guardian and The Independent.

There’s a great article in the NZ Listener, too. You can link HERE as it’s not yet available online. By the way, the NZ Listener has a website now, and Guy Somerset blogs about things bookish – what else! Clickety-click HERE.