My heart goes out to all those who have lost homes and businesses in our recent floods, and I wish them courage and good fortune in the days and weeks ahead. But oh, what joy to see the sun yesterday after all those days of teeming rain and howling winds. My usual path through the…
On Saturday I braved the gales and teeming rain in Sydney to join members of the Plantagenet History Society of Australia, Richard III Society and friends to celebrate (a year late) the 21st birthday of the PHSA. I was so glad I went: we spent a wonderful afternoon with the sublime medieval music duo, Pastance.…
One of the joys of reading stories is that it gives readers the chance to explore the world in all its wonders while they live vicariously experiencing life through other people’s eyes and emotions, and discover what it means to be human. But not any more! If you care about the future of fiction, and…
Hoping you’re all keeping safe and sane in this age of plague! Being in seclusion has given me a chance to make headway on my rewrite of my Shalott trilogy, and the books are now going through the final editing process! Very exciting. I’m trying to combine work with exercise, and today’s bushwalk was particularly…
I’ve received a few enquiries regarding my Shalott trilogy first published many years ago, and I thought it was time for an update on my proposed plans to republish them. I’ve retitled them: Shalott – Into the Unknown, Shalott – Dangerous Magic, and Shalott – End Play – or should that be End Game? I’d…
It’s been a really strange few months; I’m wondering how all of you are coping with it? For me, the best remedy I’ve found is chocolate: my girth is increasing!! I’ve also been busy rewriting my Shalott trilogy to make it more magical and more in keeping with my vision, and wishing I’d got it…
Just returned from the fantastic Historical Novels Society Australasia conference held at the Western Sydney University Parramatta campus. So many good panels and workshops to choose from over Friday – Sunday. I attended an extremely useful talk on Trove on Friday, with heaps of info about this amazing online resource into Australian history and how…
Gabrielle Lord with her terrific new novel ‘Sisters’. So enjoyed yesterday’s Society of Women Writers workshop and lunch at the State Library with the fabulous Gabrielle Lord (pictured.) Gabrielle’s writing workshop was a delight, with four rare and very special artefacts that sent our imaginations into overdrive after we were invited to choose one or…
I attended a fabulous event last night, truly an evening of inspiration and delight. Hosted by the wonderful (and indefatiguable) Paul and Beth Macdonald, owners of The Children’s Bookshop, who do so much to promote, foster and encourage reading and writing in NSW, the function was held to celebrate the new Children’s Library and creative…
First pic: what is the smiley face? (Clue later in my blog) It’s been such a long time since I last wrote a blog (and the programme has changed, which doesn’t help!) so a quick review of the past months and a promise to be more active on my blog in the months to come.…