Lucky Seven – snippet from the WIP

Today I bring you a very short snippet from my work in progress, courtesy of the Lucky Seven game. I've been tagged by Liv Rancourt, who posted a snippet from her quarterfinal entry in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award -- Hell... The Story. Mine is still very much a work in progress, unpolished and raw. … Continue reading Lucky Seven – snippet from the WIP

A few convention highlights – Continuum X

I spent the past long weekend at Continuum X -- this year's Australian national speculative fiction convention, where fans and writers and authors gather together to chat about science fiction, fantasy, horror and other related topics. It was held at Melbourne's Intercontinental Hotel at Rialto, a fairly classy venue as these things go. About the … Continue reading A few convention highlights – Continuum X

The ultimate house extension

An extra room has magically been added to your home overnight. The catch: if you add more than three items to it, it disappears. How do you use it? As blog prompts go, this one is pretty fun! My first thought was a beanbag, me and a book. But that's rather pointless, really. Why have … Continue reading The ultimate house extension

Perfections: Interview with author Kirstyn McDermott

Today I am excited to be joined by award-winning horror author Kirstyn McDermott to discuss her fabulous novel, Perfections, which is about to be published by Twelfth Planet Press in paperback and digital. The launch will be held at Continuum X in Melbourne this weekend (details lower down). I feel very close to this novel. … Continue reading Perfections: Interview with author Kirstyn McDermott

May reading: My Brother Michael and more

In honour of English author Mary Stewart, who died earlier this month (see my tribute), I've been re-reading for the umpteenth time, My Brother Michael - one of my favourites. Sipping coffee in Athens and wishing something would happen, Camilla accidentally agrees to drive a hire car to Delphi for someone called Simon. It turns … Continue reading May reading: My Brother Michael and more

Travelling in the 90s – Stratford, Bath, Stonehenge…

More Travelling in the 90s today... and we've arrived at one of the most thrilling weeks of the entire UK road trip. Warwick Castle... Stratford-upon-Avon... Bath... Salisbury... Stonehenge. It doesn't get much better than this. *** [Monday 3 January, 1994] Yesterday we went to Warwick Castle, which is supposed to be the “finest castle in … Continue reading Travelling in the 90s – Stratford, Bath, Stonehenge…

Sunday Journal ~ life balance, new website and a book launch

Work on my novel revision has been coming along well during the past month. I'm still spending lots of time working on 'creative endeavours' in cafes, and still very much enjoying myself. I have a routine that's not a routine -- that is, it changes from day to day, but there's a certain modular regularity … Continue reading Sunday Journal ~ life balance, new website and a book launch

D&D Chronicles: Zillah takes the unknown path (and has a good day)

ZILLAH I fought a bear, once. That’s how my nose broke and I got the scar. I was only 16, still an apprentice, when my master and I got too close to her cubs. Our fault completely. The mother charged and disembowelled my master before I even knew what was happening. She turned to me, … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Zillah takes the unknown path (and has a good day)

Book release: Fallen on good times by Rewan Tremethick

Today I'd like to welcome UK author, Rewan Tremethick, to celebrate the impending launch of his debut novel, FALLEN ON GOOD TIMES, which is released in paperback and on kindle on 31 May via Paddy's Daddy Publishing. Book blurb Fairy tales are warnings. Legend is history. Monsters are real. Paranormal detective Laslo Kane learned this … Continue reading Book release: Fallen on good times by Rewan Tremethick

Tribute to Mary Stewart

Today I learned that Mary Stewart has died. Given she was 97, it shouldn't really be a shock, but emotion surged within me and I found I could not think about anything else. The hours and hours of reading pleasure... The influence of her novels on my travels... The letters we once exchanged... The numerous … Continue reading Tribute to Mary Stewart