A very busy time.
image by Carla Coulson
My deadline for Currawong Manor has been extended until the end of December which is wonderful as it gives me more time to spend a last month with my characters before they leave the writing shed.
Carla Coulson
I was very excited to speak to Carla Coulson on Friday night in Paris, whose photography/books and blog I’ve long been a fan of. In a couple of weeks she will be taking some photographs of yours truly in the most AMAZING Sydney location. I’ll be fascinated to see how she works for research purposes for Currawong Manor. Hopefully in the midst of editing, I shall be able to organise something to wear.
image by Carla Coulson
David leaves tomorrow to spend a night in a koala hospital for work.
And on Friday I’m flying to Melbourne as I have shortlisted for the annual Scarlet Stiletto Awards with Sisters in Crime for their crime short-story competition. Wish me good fortune, and best wishes to all the other nominated writers. It is an honour to have made the short-list again.
Kerry Greenwood (by Harjono Djoyobisono
Kerry Greenwood is presenting the awards along with Marion Boyce, from Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries who is responsible for the totally stunning outfits Essie Davis wore in the ABC series. Marion has an impressive body of work including Salem’s Lot and so I’m really looking forward to her talk on Friday night.
Speaking of sassy authors – how fab to see fellow Selwa Anthony author, lovely Kate Morton achieve such incredible heights with her latest book The Secret Keeper.
Kate photo by Brigit Solhoug
We are all thrilled for her in Little Brick as we’ve watched Kate navigate her writing career way back when she was first submitting her early work. And it proves that there are readers out there who still love a well-told story presented in a beautiful book. I bought The Secret Keeper the other day and had to cull seven paperback books to fit it on my shelves, but it is a glorious presentation. And I’m very excited that Clint Eastwood has bought the film rights to her second book, The Forgotten Garden.
Sandra’s Birdie and Pearl
I may not have Clint Eastwood but the beautiful chickens above belong to lovely Sandra who hosted a book club meeting for Poet’s Cottage. Her chickens are named after my characters Birdie and Pearl. Such an honour to have not only a television commercial and bag made for my Tasmanian mystery but to have chickens named after your characters fills me with joy. I would love to have some chickens!
The weekend was a blur of editing and fact checking. A highlight was the smell of freshly cut grass in my park on a twilight run whilst an enormous black swan launched himself into flight in front of me.
Looking forward to seeing you on Friday! It’s going to be a fab night. Good luck to you. 🙂
And to you dear Liz! I know one year one of us is going to take home that second shoe. I’m really looking forward to Friday. I just wish I’d had time to organise a flappers outfit. xx
Good luck for the stilettos, and give me a wave as you fly, swan-like, through Melbourne! And how fantastic that you’ll have a sitting with Carla Coulson! Her photographs are swoon-worthy. Those chickens aren’t bad either, I too have fantasies of chooks in the garden and fresh eggs…
Thank you, Jennifer! What are you doing Friday night love? You should come along and have a drink with me! You would probably enjoy the talk. I have always longed for chickens. I get misty-eyed thinking about having several fat chickens running free. I always gathered the fresh eggs from my grandfather’s hen house when I was little. There’s nothing like a warm egg, covered in feathers to make the heart glow. xx
Good luck in Melbourne and safe travels!
Thanks lovely Liz. Hope to see you next week at book club. I shall let you know how I get on there but it will be a good break. xx