Zigzag

Today I bring you two very different images from my journeys through Spain a few years ago, inspired by the latest WordPress weekly photo challenge theme, which is ZIGZAG. The featured image (above) is from the Alcazar (palace) in Seville. It's a simple staircase descending into a tiled foyer, but I've always loved the angles … Continue reading Zigzag

D&D Chronicles: Trek through snow to the Lake of Tears

ZILLAH The punt carries us downriver, out of reach of the arrows. The old woman -- Yag is her name -- instructs Ammonite on how to steer us to the northern bank.ย  Those Testerris scum in Hyden's Ford have got their backs up... I think maybe Ammonite and Calwyn killed some of them, and we're … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Trek through snow to the Lake of Tears

Sunday journal ~ time out at Phillip Island

Winter sun. Wind. Waves. Words. Phillip Island in winter is quiet, serene, beautiful. With the blessing of a clear weekend, I hightailed down to the island this past weekend for some much-needed R&R and time alone with my WIP. It turned out to be one of the most relaxing and joyous weekends I've ever spent … Continue reading Sunday journal ~ time out at Phillip Island

Relic

Phillip Island is one of my happy places -- although I don't seem to get down there nearly often enough these days. On one of my first solitary writing weekends on the island, I took a walk along the beautiful southern coast to discover the wreck of the SS Speke in the picturesque Kitty Miller … Continue reading Relic

June reading: more love and mysteries

Still in mourning for Mary Stewart (read my tribute here), I re-read a couple more of her books in June. Set in Provence, France, Madam, will you talk? is the story of Charity, a young English widow, who's on holiday in Avignon when she befriends a young boy, David, whose father, Richard, has recently been … Continue reading June reading: more love and mysteries

Sunday journal ~ Infinite possibilities (Oh, my!)

Inspired. Energised. A wee bit daunted. That's how I feel right now. It's been one of those weekends. A fabulous weekend -- don't mistake me. But my mind is now spinning like a wind wheel. Bright and shiny? Yes. But spinning oh so very fast. The weekend started with a most satisfactory cafe writing session, … Continue reading Sunday journal ~ Infinite possibilities (Oh, my!)

Sunday journal ~ push and shove

Gosh, another month has passed already... it's been a busy one. I'm still juggling creative endeavours with paid freelance and contracting work -- but as the latter gains momentum, the whole balance is becoming trickier. Business momentum is good -- yay! Displacement of writing time is not -- meh... I'm longing for a writing retreat … Continue reading Sunday journal ~ push and shove

D&D Chronicles: in which we are run out of town

ZILLAH I've never been this far south before. The place is called Hyden's Ford and is teeming with southerners and their priests. A southerner has set himself up as a 'lord', claimed land that should belong to no-one but the wind and rain, and keeps an armed force to do his bidding. Added to this, … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: in which we are run out of town

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