Posts

Writing and the real world

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Writing isn't easy. Neither is the, apparently, simple task of living. Really, it's a never ending circle that leads you nowhere. Write a book. Agree to extra shifts at work to earn extra money to publish and promote the book. Earn a few hundred dollars from the sale of your book. Work extra shifts to promote again. Bookbub approves your free promotion. OMG! 14000 downloads. (Rubs hands together in glee). However they are 14000 FREE downloads. Work extra shifts for more promotion. Write another book - however, you are working so much that you don't have time to write. And around and around it goes. I'm off to write a book...or am I off to do extra shifts? Oh...who knows. By the end of either I'll have no money 😂😂😂 Take care Kiss xxxx

Better late than never

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So...I had promised myself I would blog on the first week of every month. Better late than never. I was camping during the first week of July in a beautiful area of Queensland - the Scenic Rim. It was cold, one of the nights reaching about 0. Luckily we have a 12V heater - and a camp fire. Sometimes, even writers need to get away. Unlike most jobs, we carry our work around in our head. Have you seen that meme about a writer's mind? It's not far from the truth. Writers are always thinking, changing scenes and talking to their characters in their heads. Am I right? (Yeah? Yeah?) So to get away and not think about writing for a few hours can sometimes be a blessing. While camping, I was thinking more about how to keep our camp fire alive than what Oscar was about to do in the next scene. At one stage during our trip, I worried more about rolling down the cliff close to our campsite - or actually falling into the fire (after a wine or two). I was also worried about my husb...

Back to Work

Back to work in a big way this month. Traveling on public transport in COVID times certainly makes life a lot easier. Less people. Cleaner transport. It's nice knowing that our buses and trains are wiped down regularly. I just wish it smelled like it. Trains smell. I don't think there's any getting around that! Of course, there's always the members of the public who take our 1.5m social distancing to the extreme and stand waaaay down the other end of the station or bus stop. In Brisbane city we can only board the buses via the back doors. Electronic payment only. The bus drivers don't accept cash. At work, staff enter through one door. Patients enter through another. Staff exit through another door. Patients exit through another. This is a recipe for mass confusion. Then, there are the members of the public who wear masks. The government has just decided that this is a good idea. But...people...if you are wearing a mask, don't remove it to talk to me and...

Finally Typed THE END!

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Oh, friggin' yay! Earlier this week, I finally reached a milestone with Nicholas: In the Shadows of Angels Book 4. I typed those two wonderful little words - THE END. Firstly, I would like to thank all those readers who have contacted me personally to let me know of their excitement about reading Nicholas. Secondly, I would like to thank all my readers for their patience. My first release date for Nicholas was meant to be April 2019. Wow...this is definitely a case of better late than never. It's only a year...😳😳😳 Ok everyone...THANK YOU Nicholas is in the final processes of publication and should be available on Kindle on Monday June 15th 2020. There is also news about Dominic: In the Shadows of Angels Book 2 being released as an audio book on Audible. Not much news but it is news. Due to COVID-19 Audible is running late with their audio reviews. So, fingers crossed I'll know more soon. I can't wait for you all to listen to Gareth Williams tell the s...

Six weeks

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I have six weeks off work due to surgery. My plan was to sit and write for the whole six weeks. Finish Nicholas. Start Oscar. Let all be good in the universe again. Who friggin' knew that abdo surgery would hurt so much!! Anyway...I can finally sit upright for longer than five minutes. I think I've got long enough to write this blog and post a new chapter. To all the readers waiting for Nicholas...Thank you so much for your patience. The book is coming - so is Christmas, I know! I definitely plan to complete Nicholas and publish by May 10. Here's a reminder of what you have to look forward to! On extended sick leave from the Police Force due to post traumatic stress disorder, Everlee Warren accepts her father’s invitation to visit his archeological site near the small town of Grayson in the Scottish Highlands. There, he gives her an old red-leather bound book, and in the middle of a stormy Highland night she is drawn into its pages and transported ...

Back from my vacation - Had a blast!

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Two weeks in India. Hubby and I didn't quite know what to expect but India lived up to and exceeded all of our expectations. The highlight - of course - was the magnificent Taj Mahal. However, the people and culture far outweighed the sights. The parts of India we visited weren't beautiful. In fact we saw some things that made us appreciate that we live in a country like Australia. But India is fascinating. We watched the farmers tend to their crops the 'old way', with oxen and cart and by hand. There were very few tractors or large machinery and if there was, it was used to transport the farm workers, sometimes transporting 20 or 30 people in one truck. We visited many magnificent forts and temples, and experienced ways of life much different to our own. If you ever have the chance, explore the world. Not only is it fun to travel, but it's also educational to see how the people in other countries live and play. Kiss xxx

Let's talk characters

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Characters are the crux of a story. Sure, the world in which our characters live is, sometimes, a character within itself but the people, werefolk, fae...whatever your poison...are the central focus. Take my series, In the Shadows of Angels, for example. The grand ancient castle that has adorned the Aingealag Estate since the 10th century is a living, breathing pile of stone and mortar who hides away the many secrets of the Benedict Family. Aingealag Castle whispers to the heroines to help them along their way, at times to lead the hapless heroines into unforeseen danger. In my latest release, Rory Benedict, Laird of Benedict often muttered that Aingealag Castle will devour the girl whole.  According to several Lairds, Aingealag Castle did not bide high spirits or joy.  But, we need characters to keep the story moving. The ghosts that inhabit the castle. The animals that roam the courtyards. The house staff. Family members. The Laird. The potential Lady....