Archives by Tag 'Border Watch'
Journey’s end
I realise the blog posts are a little out of order, but holidays will do that to you! After one last gorgeous sunrise from The Ghan we stepped onto the station platform to be welcomed with a blast of air straight off Antarctica. Consequently we are both now proud owners of coats - not much [...]
The quiet achievers
With a minimum of fuss, while we were trying to leave Australia and travel to New York, one of my orchids produced two beautiful flowers. It’s a plant that sits at the back of the pack, never complains and never demands. I always think of orchids as metaphors for late blooming children.
Romance is bad for your health – apparently??
I can’t resist this one. My sister sent me a link to a story in The Australian about a British relationship counsellor Susan Quillam. Here’s the link : The Australian – ‘Leading medical journal criticises romance novels for promoting an unhealthy ideal for health and relationships.’ It would have been good to read Ms Quillam’s [...]
That town called Alice
It seems trains travellers are split into two groups – those who sleep like babies, and those who can’t sleep at all. GW is renowned for being able to sleep anywhere, but we now know trains are the exception… Consequently I was woken at 5 am by a bleary-eyed husband who was bored with his [...]
Plan Z
New York, with its crowded skyline, busy streets and Broadway, is still a mystery. For three days we tried every which way to get there. We spent a day at Narita airport in Tokyo and failed to get on any of the flights we listed for. We flew back to Sydney and spent another day [...]
It’s all in the timing
Phew, what a week! Monday I hit ‘send’ and the latest draft of Burning Lies, book three in my Border Watch series, hurtled off through cyberspace to my agent. I’m waiting to hear her verdict, trying not to be too anxious… Tuesday I packed my bags, mowed the grass, and passed my yearly aviation medical. [...]
First Wednesday Book Club
I laughed so much last night my stomach still aches this morning. Who knew a book club meeting could be so entertaining? What a wonderful way to discuss books and writing plus anything vaguely connected to that, which means everything was fair game The catering was wonderful, the company entertaining and I’ve come away with [...]
What conflict should not do…
Last week I had a look at what conflict shouldn’t be. Today, ably assisted by Zeus, I’m contemplating what conflict should not do to your hero or heroine. Conflict shouldn’t demean them. The conflict can and should challenge them, change them, because we want our characters to grow with the story, but it shouldn’t paint [...]
When is conflict not a conflict?
In between partying at the RWA NQ Roadshow and finishing off the first draft of ‘Burning Lies’ I’ve been judging a few contest entries. One of the common issues I see is conflict that doesn’t last the distance. I’m finding conflict that could (and should) be easily resolved. The conflicts aren’t bone deep, soul deep, [...]
Romantic Book of the Year Finalist
CAIRNS WRITER HÉLÈNE YOUNG NOMINATED FOR THE ACADEMY AWARDS OF ROMANCE WRITING The accolades just keep coming for local author Hélène Young who has today been short-listed for the RUBY Award – the Romantic Book of the Year – known in the industry as the academy awards of the Australian romance writing world. Read more…