Felicity Pulman's Blog

JANNA + OTHER NEWS

2009-11-11T17:44:00.002+11:00

First up, apologies for the long silence: just returned from two blissful weeks in Bali and, although it's hard coming down to earth again, the landing was made easier by all the wonderful emails and blog messages waiting on my computer - thank you all so much for your enthusiasm, it means a lot to me. In answer to some of your questions: still no publishing dates for the next two Janna mysteries, so I'm sorry you'll have to wait a bit longer for news of that. However, there is interest from an agent, and that's a really important first step in the publishing process. I'll keep you posted on that one. AND - exciting for me - I've just attended the biennial book awards at the Society of Women Writers and I'm happy to tell you that Willows for Weeping was awarded a Highly Commended (ie 2nd prize) in the junior/teenage fiction category. It's always great when your work gets some public recognition.
More news is that I've also been given a May Gibbs Fellowship which means I'll be spending June 2010 in Adelaide, so hopefully I'll have a chance to catch up with some readers in South Australia. The Fellowship is to give me 'time out' to work on a new book. I have to say I'm feeling horribly daunted by the prospect. I've spent so long in Janna's world that it's a real wrench to leave medieval England and focus on something completely different. More on this new 'work in progress' once I get my head around it a bit more. But I'm thinking a time-slip Romeo and Juliet type love story.
To those of you who sent me emails: I'll be answering them asap, I promise. Having been in the more remote areas of Bali (having a wonderful time snorkeling and looking at Komodo Dragons amongst other things) I haven't been able to access the internet in quite a while, so there's a mountain of stuff needing my attention. But I really enjoy hearing from you and reading your comments and suggestions: thanks heaps.

who are the people in the photos?

2009-10-11T08:05:00.003+11:00

Good question! These were taken at a recent 'Meet the Author' afternoon tea at Manly Library, organised by the new northern suburbs branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia in conjunction with the library as part of the Manly Arts Festival. It's taken a major tussle with technology to transfer these photos to my blog but when it came to writing captions for them, I'm afraid technology defeated me! So who are the people in the photos? At top, that's me (in the Ghost Boy t-shirt) with two of the lovely students who came to our afternoon tea. Underneath, I'm posing with authors (from left) Wendy Blaxland, Chris Cheng and Belinda Morrell.
And I'm thinking now that I've changed my 'look', I should get some new photos for my website - but I HATE posing for photographs. I always feel like a Cheshire cat grinning away - but I look totally sullen if I don't smile. Anyway, I like smiling! My tip for the day (for a lifetime actually): if you're happy and open to the world you're far more likely to attract good things your way than if you're always expecting the worst - cos then, the worst is what usually happens!

2009-10-09T17:12:00.000+11:00

2009-10-09T17:08:00.000+11:00

Janna rewrites + recent activities

2009-09-30T14:31:00.002+10:00

Okay, I've finished the rewrites on Sage for Sanctuary and Thyme for Trust and I hope I can get them published cos I think you'll be as excited about them as I am. YES!! (And I cried - I've lived with Janna for about six years while I've been researching and writing the series, and it's like saying goodbye to a really good friend. It's so strange to think I won't be following her journey and she won't be in my life and in my thoughts any more. Which probably sounds a bit mad, but it's true!) No news on the publishing front as yet - as I said, it's a long, slow process but now I've got two manuscripts ready to go, I'm going to give it my best shot.
As well as writing madly, I've also had some good gigs: first at Bookfeast last week, organised for schools from the western suburbs of Sydney by the fabulous Michael Fraser and held in the city in the Teachers' Federation building. It was the day of the big red dust storm and you could hardly see in front of your face. Ferries were cancelled but I managed to get a ride into the city from Manly on one of the new and privately owned fast ferries. I wondered if I'd be the only one there but, surprisingly, everyone braved the winds and dust and it was a full turn out - but my eyes still feel gritty! I sat with students from Chester Hill North primary - they were great company and it was a really happy day for everyone.
I also took part in a 'meet the author' session at Manly library as part of the local arts festival at the weekend, and that was fun. Other authors there to talk about their books were Kate Forsyth, Belinda Murrell, Chris Cheng, Wendy Blaxland, Karen Robertson, Kirsty Eagar, Jenny Hale, Sarah Davis and Lindy Batchelor. It's always interesting to hear other authors talk about where they get their ideas and how they research and write their books.
My next 'activity' is a workshop at the Writers Centre in Sydney, titled Digging the Past on October 10th. This is for anyone interested in writing historical fiction and we'll be talking about research resources and doing hands-on exercises in setting, characterisation and plotting using photographs, documents, artefacts and so on to flesh out the story. The day will be split in half with Vashti Farrer leading the session on 18th-19th century Australia while I'll be back in medieval England for the second half.
School holidays nearly here in NSW - and elsewhere? Hope you all have fun!

What GREAT story ideas! + Shalott news

2009-09-12T11:35:00.002+10:00

Thanks so much for all your comments re Janna's love life and also for your good wishes for future publication - no news on that front yet. But I'm blown away by all your suggestions for how the last two books should go - maybe I should just retire and leave it to all of you to finish the series!! Some really good plot ideas there. In fact I'm enjoying the rewriting process and the mss are going to be a lot more interesting as a result of this new input!
Thought I should also mention that Random House has recently rejacketed and reissued The Road to Camelot. This is an anthology of short stories written by numerous well-known authors who were invited to each take a character from Arthurian legend and write about him/her at a crucial moment of their lives when they intersect somehow with Camelot and King Arthur. I chose to write about 'Elaine of Astolat', who was the inspiration behind Tennyson's poem, The Lady of Shalott - which in turn was the inspiration behind my Shalott trilogy. For those of you not familiar with that series (which I absolutely LOVED writing!) this is a story about 5 Australian teenagers who, through virtual reality, go back in time to the court of King Arthur on a quest to save the life of 'the Lady of Shalott' and so save Camelot. And it changes their lives because they have to come to terms with life in medieval England, confronting danger and death, learning to trust - and finding love. (eg What if you fell desperately in love with a legendary character who lived almost a thousand years ago - if he ever lived at all? Or: What if you realised that you loved someone - but dared not confess it to anyone, including the person you love?) Because of what happens to the five teenagers in Camelot they end up not only trying to change the legend, they're actually rewriting their own destiny at the same time.
Writing this trilogy is what ignited my interest in finding out more about medieval time but I also loved exploring Arthurian legends and Celtic myth and writing about 'the otherworld'. Random House have now reprinted and reissued the Shalott trilogy so, if you're interested, have a look out for it! And also for The Road to Camelot. And if they're not in the bookshops, ask your local bookseller to order them in for you.

more book week stuff+ Janna

2009-09-03T16:12:00.002+10:00

It's been a hectic few weeks, with visits to some great schools over Book Week: Wenona, Pittwater House, Mosman High and SCEGGS Redlands, as well as a wonderful day spent at Kincumber High School in Gosford. The CBCA lunch on board the ferry with hundreds of students was also fun. I sat with some really interesting students from St Joan of Ark who, as well as being good company, were also clever enough to be short-listed in the short film competition for 'Loud Laura' - you go, girls! Sunday was spent with other authors at the Australian Museum in Sydney, and I've now just been online for a chat with a school in Queensland. In among I've been judging short stories for a competition run by the Quarantine Station in Sydney with the History Week theme of Scandals, Crime and Corruption. Lots of ghosts and fantasy, really good imagination and highly entertaining reads - it was hard to pick the winners. I'll be presenting prizes at the Quarantine Station Open Day at 1 pm on Saturday 5th so, if you're around and want to visit a really creepy and fascinating place, come and join a tour of the Station and please also come and say hi.
I also want to thank you all so much for your input into Janna's future and also your messages of encouragement. At last I have time to go back to the computer and, partly in light of your comments, I'm now reworking both books 5 & 6 and loving being back in medieval time again. I've realised how very important it is that she gets the right guy and that you're all happy with her choice!!!

Book Week + Janna update

2009-08-23T09:27:00.004+10:00

Just snatching some time out to thank you all for your continuing interest in the Janna Mysteries. I'm currently waiting for a response from an agent in the USA, and am also trying to fit in some writing time. Meantime, if you'd like to check it out, there's a fantastic review of Willows for Weeping in the latest issue of Stiletto, the magazine put out by Sisters in Crime in Melbourne.
I'm having a quiet weekend after a really busy lead up to Book Week. Our new Children's Book Council Northern Suburbs (Sydney) branch has organised some wonderful afternoon teas at primary schools in Balgowlah, Manly, Beacon Hill and (on Tuesday 25th) Allambie Heights. Students have come along to this free event to meet children's authors and it's been great to see their enthusiasm for reading and books. I mostly talked about researching and writing my time-slip novel Ghost Boy, which is set partly at the Quarantine Station in Sydney. Many of the students have visited the QS, and some have even done the special Ghost Boy tour that's based on my book.
I've also been made welcome at several fantastic high schools: Cheltenham, Kuringai Arts College and Killarney Heights. It's been great to meet the students, share some writing tips, show a p.p. display of some of the sites I visited when writing the Shalott trilogy and the Janna Mysteries, and answer their interesting questions.
A highlight for me was visiting my granddaughter's primary school to talk about my novels for younger readers: Ghost Boy, Turning the Page and Wally the Water Dragon. My granddaughter (aged 7) asked questions along with the older students, and was very happy to share information with them about our resident head-banging water dragon, Fred, who was the inspiration behind the Wally book.
Next week promises to be even busier. If you're a student at SCEGGS Redlands, Mosman High, Allambie Heights P/S, Wenona or Pittwater House, please come along and say hi during my visit. I'll also be on the ferry on Monday for the CBC book lunch. And if you're in Gosford on Wednesday, I'll be at the Top Bookshop although most of my day will be spent at Kincumber P/S. And on Sunday I'll be at the Australian Museum in College St., Sydney. So if you're around any of those schools or at those functions, please drop in and introduce yourselves. And above all, have a great book week - please keep reading (and keep writing!)

many thanks - what a great response!

2009-07-31T10:08:00.003+10:00

Thanks so much everyone for all your interesting comments - you've certainly given me a lot to think about. I specially like the suggestion that Janna is giving me hints about which way she wants to go - I'd never thought about that in those terms before. Hmmmm ... Questions, questions.
Many thanks too for all your messages of encouragement and support. I'm quite determined that Janna will finish her quest - and also wind up with the guy who's right for her!! Meantime I'm always happy to hear your suggestions.

book week + Janna's love life

2009-07-29T08:16:00.003+10:00

Hi everyone; hope you all enjoyed the school holidays? (Not as much as your teachers, I bet!) Schools are much on my mind at present as Book Week comes closer. I've been invited to visit lots of wonderful schools in Sydney and at the Top Bookshop in Gosford. Schools include Manly Primary, Kuringai High School, Killarney Heights High School, Cheltenham Girls High, SCEGS Redlands, Mosman High, Wenona and Pittwater House amongst others. If any students from there are reading this, I'm really looking forward to meeting you all. Plus the Children's Book Council have organised lunch on a ferry for students - always fun - and a day at the museum, both of which will give readers of all ages a chance to meet a variety of authors. So I hope to catch up with some of you around the traps.
Meanwhile Janna is giving me a hard time! I thought I knew who would win her heart at the end - and I think she agrees with me (sometimes characters take on a life of their own. They become very troublesome when they think they know best!!) But I need to do quite a bit of rewriting as a result and so everything's on hold for the time being. But if you, the readers, have any ideas or suggestions on the subject, please feel free to let me know!

Back from holidays + diary + Janna update

2009-06-28T15:06:00.004+10:00

Hi everyone and my apologies for the LONG silence! I'm just back from a wonderful trip to Russia, followed by several weeks in the UK walking in Janna's footsteps in Winchester, Wilton and Grovely forest amongst other wonderful places. We also went to York. I visited the Richard III museum to an exhibition depicting that 'wicked child killer' on trial for the murder of the princes in the tower. But did he do it? Read Josephine Tey's wonderful The Daughter of Time and then see what you think!
I've hit the ground running, still battling jet lag, but I've just spent a really great day with some very talented students from St Philip's Christian College up at Port Stephens (NSW). One of the teachers has organised a short story writing competition for all their campuses, and I had the delightful task of reading and critiquing their stories, after which I spent a day workshopping their stories with them and also talking about writing short stories and creative writing in general. It was a fun day and the students were terrific. Full marks to their teacher for organising it all. The students will now rewrite their stories (or write new ones) and I'll do the final judging. I'm really looking forward to seeing their work.
Diary dates: if you're in the area and would like to come to anything below, it'll be great to meet you. I'll be at a Childrens Book Council Southern branch lunch down in Wollongong on Wednesday, 1st July. On Friday 3rd we'll be celebrating the reissue of the fabulous Road to Camelot anthology at the Hughenden Hotel in Sydney. A number of authors were invited to contribute stories featuring Arthurian characters (Lancelot, Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin etc) at some moment that changes their lives. I chose to write about Elaine of Astolat who was the inspiration behind Tennyson's mysterious poem, The Lady of Shalott, and also my own trilogy titled Shalott. On Saturday, 18th July the Plantagenet Society is having an open day at St John's Hall in Gordon, with lots of interesting historical stuff including talks on medieval clothing and heraldry, medieval music, and a debate on 'is there any truth in history' which I'll be taking part in along with Isolde Martyn, another historical fiction writer - we haven't decided which side we'll be arguing on yet! And on Sunday, 19th July I'm running a one-day workshop on crime-writing at the Writers Centre in Sydney. This will be followed by a fantasy-writing workshop at the Writers Centre on Sunday, 2nd August. Contact the Writers Centre info@nswwriterscentre.org.au if you want to find out more. I'll also be busy during book week - more about that in my next post.
I finished writing the last Janna, #6 Thyme for Trust, just before leaving on holiday and I'm now waiting for feedback from Gillian Polack, an expert in all things medieval, who checks my manuscripts for me. Once that's done, I shall be sending out signals into the universe: PUBLISHER WANTED!! I'll keep you posted.
Meantime the school holidays are almost upon us. Enjoy!

check out the aussie authors site

2009-05-02T13:53:00.002+10:00

Just to let you all know about a new site I've joined: www.aussieauthors.com FYI, this month I'm the featured guest author so do go in and have a look around. At the same time you can check out reviews of The Janna Mysteries and info on other books I've written. You can also read my 'author interview' if you want to know something about me and about how I work.
While you're on site you can also check out the author spotlight section for other author profiles, both national and international, plus book reviews, new releases and a host of other interesting stuff. Enjoy!

WEEKEND RETREAT & UPDATE

2009-04-30T13:31:00.003+10:00

Guess you're back at school again, but hope you all enjoyed your holidays and made the most of late summer and a last surf or swim. Brrr ... it's freezing today. Just back from a weekend retreat with the Society of Women Writers, which was great. Lots of listening to writers talking about their craft, and lots of good workshops - including one on magic and fantasy which I was asked to run. We all had fun playing with magical objects and creating fantastic and magical creatures in interesting scenarios. It was at the Brahma Kumaris Centre in WILTON - yes! Can you believe it?? This is Wilton NSW not Wilton UK - but I shall be back visiting Wilton UK shortly, and I can't wait. We're also going to Winchester, which is where Janna needs to find work in #5 (Sage for Sanctuary)and also find shelter during the siege of Winchester. We're going to York too; it also has an interesting past (think Wars of the Roses), a beautiful cathedral and a medieval street to explore.
I'm getting so many questions coming in about Janna and Hugh; you all seem dead keen for them to wind up together. all I can say is ... there's a lot of surprises to come. I'm afraid I'm still waiting for news about future publishing but I really REALLY hope that you'll be able to finish Janna's quest one day.

April Fool's Day and happy Easter

2009-04-01T09:10:00.003+11:00

Has anyone played a trick on you today? It's early yet, but I've escaped so far. Hope it's the start of a great month for you all.
My thanks to all of you who are sending in messages of support for the Janna Mysteries and offering to help in whatever way you can. I'm still trying to find an overseas publisher or agent (the economic downturn hasn't helped!)and I'll keep you posted. I also, unfortunately, made a big mistake on the German edition of Rosemary for Remembrance; it will be published in spring next year, not this year.
As well as writing, I've been really busy running workshops (fantasy, crime, writing for children and teenagers, and memoir-writing.) A little bit of something for everybody! I also gave a talk about the historical background of the Janna Mysteries to the Plantagenet Society (it was the son of the Empress Matilda and her husband, Geoffrey of Anjou, who became Henry II, first of the Plantagenet line of the English kings.)
I'll be talking to the Society of Women Writers about my new book, Turning the Page next week. Maggie's story is all about learning how to read and write - you'll find details on my website. It's for primary school students and was published by the National Museum of Australia. The Society is also organising a retreat shortly, at which I'll be conducting a fantasy-writing workshop - and also meditating and listening to other wonderful writers and agents talk about their work. I'm looking forward to it.
Have a great Easter, and I hope the Easter bunny brings you lots of chocolates - yummmm, I LOVE chocolate! Also hope you all enjoy the school holidays with lots of fun times and, hopefully, lots of reading time too!

Janna, and how to help promote the series

2009-03-03T09:33:00.004+11:00

Greetings to you all, and once again my thanks for your continuing messages of support for the Janna Mysteries. I truly appreciate hearing from you. One lovely fan has asked what readers can do to help with getting the series published. The only answer really is: buy more books. Tell your friends about the series, encourage them to buy the books and read them. Encourage your school and local librarians to stock the series. Suggest to your teachers that reading the Janna Mysteries while studying the middle ages in history is one of the BEST and most painless ways of learning about life in medieval time! That's because, as Janna travels from forest to farm to abbey to town and in the company with jongleurs and pilgrims and also (finally) with members of the royal household, so readers get a glimpse of every different aspect of medieval life - and it's all historically accurate. (As well as being a good, page-turning read!) So, maybe I can recruit you all as my ambassadors - to spread the word, to get it out there?? And let's see what happens. Many thanks.

update + happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T13:47:00.003+11:00

I'm not writing this blog as often as I should - busy, busy writing and doing other stuff - more of that shortly. First up, my thanks to all of you for your continuing messages of support for the Janna Mysteries. I'm on the case, but I'm afraid as yet I have no good news to report. Just wanted you to know that it's heart-warming for me to know that Janna has touched your lives as she has touched mine: together, somehow or another, we shall see her complete her quest!
I have quite a few talks and workshops etc coming up over the next couple of months. Please keep your eyes on my diary (on my website) and, if you're in the area, please come and say hello. It's always great to meet you.
This month's got off to a good start with the launch of Turning the Page, written for the Making Tracks series at the National Museum. I'm now about to write another story, this time based on a photograph not an artefact, for an upcoming anthology. It's a different way of writing but I believe it's something students do quite a lot at school for creative writing projects. I'd be interested to hear how you go about it as I'm finding it quite a challenge! I've just done a 'writing for teenagers' workshop and am now preparing a crime-writing workshop for the Writers Centre in Sydney next Sunday (Feb 22nd) if any of you are budding crime writers?? Meantime I hope you all got a card (and a red rose??) today from someone who really cares. Stay well, stay happy.

Fantasy-writing workshops + Good Reading magazine

2009-01-24T08:33:00.003+11:00

I've just had a fun day at Port Stephens, running two holiday workshops for high school students on 'writing fantasy' at the libraries at Raymond Terrace and Tomaree. I told the students a little bit about my books and where my ideas come from, and showed them a powerpoint display of some of the sites I've visited while researching both the Shalott trilogy and also the Jannas. We talked about the conventions of writing fantasy: answering the questions WHAT is the quest about, WHO goes on the quest, and so on. We finished with a series of fun exercises exploring the possibilities of magical objects and magical creatures, and students were then invited to choose one of their writing exercises to read out. Some BRILLIANT writing there, and some wonderful ideas too. Onya, everyone; I hope you enjoyed the workshops as much as I did!
The new (February) issue of Good Reading is now out, and I have an article in it, written about my morning walks and how they help to inspire what I write. I'm often asked about how to get over writer's block, and my answer is always, first up, to go for a walk - without your iPod, best friend, boyfriend. girlfriend or anyone else. (But you can take the dog, if you have to!) I find walking is wonderful thinking time, and often knotty problems in my plots/characters are resolved as I walk about, so that I come back to my computer refreshed and willing to hammer out a few thousand more words!
Enjoy what's left of the school holidays and all the best for 2009.

Happy New Year, plus book launch invitation

2009-01-15T11:44:00.002+11:00

I hope you've all enjoyed the break over Christmas, and that 2009 is going to be a great year for all of us. 2009 has started on a high note for me with the launch of my new book, Turning the Page, part of the Making Tracks series published by the National Museum of Australia. Turning the Page tells the story of Maggie, a young girl living on a sheep station in the 1850s, who gets into all sorts of trouble when she tries to teach herself how to read and write. The book is being launched at the SCBWI conference in Sydney on Sunday, February 1st, along with another book in the Making Tracks series: Daisy Sunshine by Susanne Gervay. All welcome, and it would be lovely to see you if you can come. Please see my website for details.

Christmas greetings + update on the Janna Mysteries

2008-12-20T09:01:00.002+11:00

Thanks to all of you who have sent me emails and left messages on my blog. Some of you have asked questions about Hugh and yes, Janna will meet him again in Book 5 - with some unexpected results! I'm still writing Book 6 and, I'm afraid, there's no good news re publishers for Books 5 & 6 as yet - but I'm still working on it! Meantime the good news is that the first book in the series (Rosemary for Remembrance) has been translated into German and will be published by Patmos in Germany some time in spring (their spring, ie March - May.) For me, it's really exciting to think that Janna will be given new life in a new country.
Meantime, I wish you all a very merry Christmas / happy Hanukkah / happy holidays and all the very best for the new year - may all your dreams come true!

News + a new book

2008-12-02T06:13:00.002+11:00

Have just returned from two idyllic weeks in Vanuatu - what a fabulous place! It was a real 'get away' from it all, with a cruise around some of the more remote islands and then a stay at a resort near Vila. I spent most of my time in the sea, snorkeling the fabulous coral reefs, but also visited some of the villages and was fascinated to learn about the villagers' lifestyle, and listen to their music and watch their dancing - only men allowed to dance (and to watch - except for visitors) and it was more war manoeuvres than dancing really. They look absolutely fearsome in the most incredible masks and headdresses they wear.
On my return, I was invited to attend a wonderful teacher-briefing at the fabulous Quarantine Station here in Sydney, where several guides took turns to talk about tours available for schools: Kids in Quarantine, 40 Days, and the tour based on my own novel, Ghost Boy. (I was really chuffed to hear that the Ghost Boy tour is their most popular with schools.) It's always a great treat for me to hear the guides talk about my novel and its characters, Froggy and Tad, and I also got to do a short reading while we were in the hospital ward - VERY atmospheric, especially as the teachers were given raw onions to hold, just as it happens in my book!
I also want to share with you news of a new book to be published next year, in February, by the National Museum of Australia. It's part of the Making Tracks series, and it's called 'Turning the Page'. It's based on an artefact from the museum's collection (as are all the Making Tracks series) and tells the story of a young girl with a great hunger to learn how to read and write at a time when there were no opportunities for her to get an education. The story is set at Springfield, which was a sheep stud near Goulburn, and you can read all about Maggie if you click on the cover of Turning the Page on my home page on my website. The book will be launched at the SCBCWI conference on February 1st next year.
Meantime, thanks to you all for your blog messages and emails.

THANK YOU!

2008-10-21T08:20:00.002+11:00

Many thanks to all of you who've written in with messages of support for The Janna Mysteries. It's heart-warming to know that you really care what happens to Janna in the future. So do I, which is why I'm busy writing the last book (Book 6, Thyme for Trust) and why I shall do my best to find someone willing to publish the whole series. I'll keep you posted via my blog.

JANNA MYSTERIES - THE FUTURE

2008-10-09T08:04:00.002+11:00

So many of you have been emailing me to ask what's going to happen in the next Janna Mystery and also ask when it will be coming out. I answered, in good faith, that I hoped Book 5 would be published next year (2009). Yes, there are lots of questions still to be answered before Janna completes her quest, and yes, they'll be covered in Books 5 & 6 (Sage for Sanctuary and Thyme for Trust.) I'm working on Book 6 at the moment, but unfortunately my publishers have told me that they have no plans to publish any more of the series at present (because of disappointing book sales.) This is really disappointing for me as well as for all of you who love the series and can't wait for the next one to come out. Let me just say that I am chasing opportunities overseas and I'll keep you posted via my blog. In the meantime, I am so sorry as I feel I'm letting everyone down, even though this is not my decision. I believe in Janna and in her quest, and I'm going to do my best to finish the series in the hope that one day you'll be able to read the series to its conclusion. Meanwhile, thank you for writing to let me know how much you're enjoying the Janna Mysteries; it's your faith in Janna's journey that encourages me to keep on writing the series, and I won't give up on it.

Upcoming Workshops: fantasy and crime

2008-10-03T16:03:00.003+10:00

If any of you are going to be in Canberra over the long weekend and enjoy reading sci fi or fantasy, you might think about coming to Conflux, the sci-fi/fantasy convention held at the Marque hotel. I shall be conducting a fantasy-writing workshop on Monday afternoon which should be a whole lot of fun for all you budding writers of the 'otherworld' - hope to see you there. Go to www.conflux.org.au for full details.
On the afternoon of Friday 10th October, I shall be conducting another fantasy-writing workshop for high school students at the Writers Centre in Rozelle, Sydney. Check out the website for further details: www.nswwriterscentre.org.au
Also at the Writers Centre in Sydney, on Sat. 8th November I'm running an all-day crime-writing workshop titled Making Crime Pay. Members $85; non-members $125. Explore the whodunnits, howdunnits and whydunnits of writing crime fiction with a series of fun exercises that will help you understand and write crime fiction. (HSC students take note!)
Finally, I'll be going on line for a week from 20th October answering questions about writing, reviewing and my own books on the Beware of Books forum with Kerrie Smith from Oz Projects - I'm looking forward to all of the above and hope you'll check in and check me out!

THANK YOU!

2008-09-20T09:12:00.003+10:00

Today (Saturday) I have lost my voice. Which is a big calamity and a disaster as I'm supposed to be talking to the Plantagenet Society today about Stephen and Matilda. I am SOOOO disappointed as I was really looking foward to telling their story: that poor little girl being sent off to Germany, aged 8, to marry the Emperor who was heaps older than her, and then being gazumped by her cousin Stephen when she came back and tried to claim (legitimately) the throne of England. Not fair at all! So I'm now typing up my speech for someone to read out - which isn't the same thing at all.
I just wanted to thank all of you who are leaving messages on my blog or emailing me through the contact page on my website. Your comments are heart-warming, and always interesting. It touches me to know that you care so deeply about Janna as a character (special thanks to 'Zeal' for her comment!) and that you're following her journey with so much interest. I'm afraid I can't give you an update on publication for Sage for Sanctuary as yet, but in the meantime I have started writing the 6th and final novel in the series: Thyme for Trust. I'll keep you posted!

DIARY DATES

2008-09-14T10:18:00.004+10:00

I thought I'd share with you some of the things I'll be doing over the next few weeks in case any of you would like to come along.
Monday 15th Sept: I'll be online with the QLD Literature Festival for two sessions 'talking' about crime and romance in medieval time: 9.20 and 10.35 session starts.
Wed. 17th I shall be at Collaroy Plateau P/S for their awards assembly. (I was one of the judges of their story competition. The entries were amazing, some on powerpoint and all with great illustrations - I'd like to give all of the students an award!)
Thurs. 18th Manly library in Sydney is hosting Re(a)d or White: uncork a book from 5-7 pm. I'm one of a panel and shall be talking about books set in medieval time that have informed and inspired by Janna Mysteries (accompanied by a glass of mead!)
Sat. 20th The Plantagenet Society have invited me to speak on the topic 'Stephen and Matilda' - the major players in the civil war in the 1140s that forms the backdrop of the Janna Mysteries. 2 pm Hornsby Library, tel: John McDermott (02) 9489 5768 for further information.
Sun.21st I've been asked to host the Manly FAW short story awards + accompanying paintings from children at the Spastic Centre as part of the Manly Arts Festival. Manly Art Gallery, 5 pm.
Mon.22nd I shall be talking to students from St Cecilias about researching and writing my novel, Ghost Boy, and accompanying them on the special Ghost Boy tour up at the Quarantine Station in Manly on Tues 23rd.
First weekend in October is Conflux in Canberra, after which I'm conducting a fantasy-writing workshop for students on Mon. 6th.
Fri. 10th Oct: Sydney Writers Centre: I'm conducting a fantasy-writing workshop for students 1.30 - 4 pm
Oct. 20th-24th I shall be on-line with Kerrie Smith on the Beware of Books forum to answer questions about my books.