Sorry I missed the IWSG, my bad, but here I introduce myself and tell you about my new novel set in Paris.

Hi my friends!

Sorry, I totally missed IWSG for only the second time in its history and I feel bad, but what can I say, I'm just enjoying being on holidays up at the beach house--reading, writing, having coffee--and schedules don't exist. The teaching year in Australia doesn't begin until the end of January--long summer holidays! Too hot to be cooped up in a classroom!


But I'm a news junkie, and the news has been terrifying. Not everyone has been having happy times. Like you, I'm sure, my heart goes out to all those involved in terror attacks around this small world of ours. 


Now I've been going round reading some of your IWSG posts this morning (finally!) and see that we were supposed to introduce ourselves. Seeing as I've lost a lot of my regular visitors :-( and gained new ones :-) since I foolishly changed my blog URL, I think I will do a little introduction. (Now would be a good time to copy my new URL and add me to your blogroll, wouldn't it? I'd love it if you did.)

WHO AM I?

I've been a writer since I could write, and have publishing credits in Australian fiction magazines, newspapers, travel magazines, online magazines and in some e-book anthologies. But I've been quietly writing novels in my 'spare' time (I have 5 not-completely-finished novels thanks to NaNo). These have helped me learn how to write even if they are never published. 

I am seeking the traditional publication route (good luck with that, you say!) After I polished my first completed manuscript to death, paid an editor, did online writing courses, got a mentor from Romance Writers Australia, primped it up again, I have finally submitted it to a Harlequin line. No one ever said writing was easy, did they?

A scene from my new novel-Love Locked in Paris.

I am all fired up to write a 'chick-lit' this year. I am totally into the research and have hand written the first few chapters. I love it. Love the research. Set in Paris--food, landmarks, love...ooh la la!) 

I must say the idea to write this novel came from Alex J Cavanaugh, our very own Ninja and brains behind IWSG! How's that? One of the biggest involvements I've had in the blogging world is to run monthly permanent flash fiction bloghops. These have been invaluable in getting feedback for my work and for exploring ideas for novel-length works based on feedback. 

Love locks on the Pont des Arts, where some action takes place!

Alex has forgotten for sure that he commented on my flash fiction piece, Love Locked in Paris and said, well you've given us the middle of the book. Now write the beginning and end and you may well have a winner! Thanks Alex. I totally wouldn't have bothered taking the idea any further without your prompting.

So there you have it. Maybe 2015 will be my year to see at least one novel published, or on the way! 

I was going to blog about all the books I've read so far this year--heaps!--but that will have to wait!

• How about you? What are you hoping for in 2015?
• Happy New Year!

Are you in the middle of a Jessica Watson challenge?

Some of you may know of the 16 year old Aussie girl, Jessica Watson, who is nearing the end of her around-the-world nautical journey. She left amongst endless debate regarding whether her parents should have let her go etc. As a mother of 3 daughters I cannot imagine letting one of them launch off into such a fraught trip. I've been worried about this kid ever since I heard she was going. Well, she is back in Australian waters and on the last leg of her journey, so I'm starting to relax a little, and feel a little sheepish.

Reading about Jessica's exploits in the weekend papers, I was struck with the idea that how dare I (and many others) deny Jessica the right to follow her goals! I realised there are a lot of parallels between her exploits and those of a writer. This is a short list:

• There would have been oodles of preparation before Jessica even thought of setting off - how much preparation is involved in planning a novel? a short story? Some people just sit down and wait for inspiration to come, whilst others, like moi, like to have a plan before I launch.
• In her planning, Jessica knew she had to face notorious seas, different condition, things that would challenge her to the nth degree - don't we? We know once we type/write that first sentence, phrase, that we have thousands to go, we are sailing into unknown seas...
• Jessica has faced strong winds, rough seas, and so do we. Especially in the middle of a piece - which way will I go? I wish these characters would behave themselves instead of dragging me every which way...I'd like to drown the lot of them!
• Jessica ate chocolates as she crossed the Equator, so that's an upside. It's not all challenges and danger! I eat chocolate every chance I get. When the story is getting me down, chocolate always makes me feel good.
• Jessica has been through violent storms, where she said the best thing to do was to belt up and hold on. Excellent advice for writers - how many times do we want to trash the piece, hide it in the bottom drawer (or a computer file we'll never open again). No, as any NaNoWrMo writer knows (or any other fraught writer will experience), belt up, hold on, you'll get through this storm.
• Okay, Jessica will have completed a 23,000 nautical mile journey when she hops off her 10 m yacht in Sydney. How many thousands of words will you have written when your current journey ends? Like Jessica, victory is close.

OTHER WRITERS

Was inspirational to read a writer's blog today and see she is 75% through her novel. That's so good! This writer also writes in other genres, both fact and fiction. There is a bit of a thing about that and it is good to see someone who has success in different genres. For myself, I like to write about travel primarily, whether fact or fiction, then fictional short stories, but of course am always researching bits for that novel I hope to write one day...When the days are longer, of course....Meanwhile I have to prioritise as am moving in about a month and will have to move this mess off my desk, so would like to toss off a few stories as it'll probably be a bit of a break while I get set up in my new abode...