When I stop flying in the sky I shall write a proper report on the night it’s been thirteen years of me entering the Scarlet Stiletto. Now that I’ve won the two shoes I am no longer eligible. It’s an end of an era for Tale Peddler. But I am incredibly honoured to be one of the five women in Australia who have won two shoes. In 2001 I won for Birthing The Demons and on Friday night I won for Shadows, a short story inspired when my daughter ran off from a park and decided to walk home by herself.
Thank you for visiting me. There’s a lot I’d love to blog about – so much to share – but I’m right into the world of Currawong Manor at the moment. This book is intense to say the least. I don’t want to lose the beat and heart of it too much by spending time away from it.
1am in Melbourne
Deadline is now the end of December. I have my characters and my crumbling world of Currawong Manor for a short time yet.
I love this book so much that it hurts. I am happy to report my husband also loves it and hopefully other readers will as well. It’s been the hardest book I’ve ever written but it’s bones have emerged in exactly the way I always envisaged it.
Thanks again to all the Sisters in Crime and to Kerry Greenwood for her kind words to me. I really needed to hear what she had to say to me. I love Kerry and she’s been such a big inspiration to me over the years for her wonderful books set in Australia and for her style. In my opinion, she’s got even more style than her sassy creation, Phryne Fisher.
She is a survivor and it’s writers like Kerry who keep me going. The talk and powerpoint presentation by Kerry and costume designer Marion Boyce was fascinating and the outfits drew many gasps from the audience. I could have listened to them both all night.
Phyllis, Mandy, Lindy, Carmel, Liz and all the other Sisters of Crime, I love you all.
You can read the official press release HERE from Sisters in Crime and see the full list of winners. Congratulations again to all fellow Sisters in Crime who picked up awards this year. If you didn’t make the short list then submit next year!
Thanks to HARPERCOLLINS for their continued support of this award.
xx
Congratulations again, Josephine. Shadows deserved the award – a wonderful story. So glad you made it to the event. Now looking forward to the release of Currawong Manor!
Thank you, dear Phyllis for having me. It was a very special night. I think I was in shock until about halfway through today as I’m actually more wildly excited than I was last night! I i wish all the Melbourne Sisters in Crime would move to Sydney as you really are the loveliest bunch. Thanks for your good wishes on Currawong Manor. I have loved working on this final stage of the book as the characters are playing their tricks with me and it’s become very twisty and exciting. Hopefully you will enjoy it.I’m so pleased Shadows won as my daughter put me through hell that day and so it was great I had something of benefit from her little trick. xx
Congratulations Josephine! I so wish I could be a writer, it looks like you had a fantastic night. I would have loved hearing about the Miss Fisher costumes, I devour them all when I watch the show. I must read your short story, how do I go about purchasing it? Also, I have something that I really want to send to you, could you give me an address that I could send it to? Once again, Congratulations and warm wishes. Heather Quenneville.
Dear Heather, I wish I had thought to tell you about the evening as you could have come along! You would have loved it . It was very special to see the slideshow of the outfits used for all the characters and hear Marion’s insider talk on it. If I get a chance to write down a few things she said I will blog them or send them to you. The short story will l be put on their website eventually but I can send you a copy if you send me your address but be warned – it is QUITE SINISTER. My crime short s are a lot darker than my longer mysteries.My postal address is – PO Box 926 Broadway, Sydney, 2007 NSW. Don’t forget to put your return address on so I can reply back to you and send you a copy of the story if you would like. I think my original story BIRTHING THE DEMONS is online if you search. That one also won a Scarlet Stiletto but it’s very dark as well. It was inspired by the treatment one of the mothers of the boys who killed the toddler James Bulger in the UK received
and so they do get very intense. Thanks for your good wishes, Heather and for all your lovely support. It is always appreciated! Love Josephine xx
Oh congratulations lovely! I’m, so pleased for you. I would have loved to have been there and had a drink with you, but it just wasn’t to be. The talk looked right up my alley too. It was lovely to see your video and hear your voice. jxxx
Jennifer! That wasn’t my voice. My voice is incredibly melodious and honey smooth. That’s the machine voice! I cannot imagine I could ever do video blogging as has become very popular. Thank you so much for popping back and your good wishes and I loved my very brief flit through Melbourne. I can never put my finger on what is that’s different about Melbourne to Sydney exactly but I love both cities. There is such a creative vibe in Melbourne and I always have a lovely time. We will have that drink one day. xx
Ohhhhhh – they look so lovely together!!!
It was so good to see you again and chat. I’ll look forward to reading your story down the track. And can’t wait for Currawong Manor.
Lovely Liz, I loved catching back up with you. Thank you so much for your gracious words to me. I’ve been thinking them over all day. I shall also look forward to reading your story very much and yes – the shoes look so cute when they are kissing. I can’t wait for the day you get your second shoe. You will hear the cheers from Sydney. You’ll get there or my name isn’t Tale Peddler! Actually I feel some relief I an now no longer eligible to enter as the competition is getting tougher and tougher every year. But the journey of the Scarlet Stilettos was so much fun and I loved the challenge of coming up with a 5000 word story every year. It’s like a tiny beautiful puzzle after some of the big books. You looked so fab last night . xx
We had such a winning table with your taking out the SSA shoe and Fiona Chisholm taking out the best outfit! Woohoooo!
They told me when I arrived they had placed me at a wonderful table and they were right. Although I did feel a bit of a drab sparrow next to all those wonderful bright flappers! It was great to sit at your table Rose. Thanks for spreading the good vibes.xx.
We love you too, Josephine!
Lindy, Sisters in Crime have boosted my spirits many times over the years. As I gushed in my 1am video ‘Crime writers make the nicest people’ and I stand by it. I feel I will always have another home in Melbourne with the Sisters. It’s been so many years now of me trying to get that second shoe and I’m rather relieved you don’t have to watch me doddering up as a 102 year old Josephine although I would have kept going for sure! Take care and hats off to you. xx
Lovely, lovely post, Jo and such a deserved award. You look so gorgeous and happy!!! Love the inspiration you draw from people like Kerry (adore Phyrnne Fisher books and series and her other work) but also, I see in your photos, lovely ladies like Mandy Wrangles and Lindy Cameron. The Sisters are a great bunch. Congratulations again, Jo! xxxxx
Hello lovely Karen, thank you for visiting me. I do honestly think crime writers make the loveliest people. I read somewhere that it’s because they get rid of their demons through their writing. And yes, well spotted for Mandy, Lindy and Liz. Although come to think of it Karen, you are one of the loveliest writers I know so that blows my theory. xx