RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal

We’ve all seen the devastation the recent Queensland floods have wrought and have wondered how we can help. We know that for many affected families, books will not be high on their priorities list for some time to come.

But…

We also know how valuable books can be in providing time out when reality gets tough.

So…

With the aid of some wonderful volunteers, we’ve put together a Romance Writers of Australia Flooded Communities Book Appeal.

What we need?

FICTION BOOKS! Romance books, children’s books, young adult books, genre books, whatever – either new or in sparkling condition.

Please send them to:

RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal
PO Box 1717
Noosaville Post Office
Noosaville BC
Queensland 4566
When to send them?

Now! And any time over the next few months. The books will be boxed and delivered to the appropriate libraries/schools/neighbourhood centres/community centres in batches as soon as the communities are ready to receive them. We’ll be liaising with councils, libraries and schools to ensure this is done appropriately. Feel free to pop a note inside, or if you’re an author, sign it.
Questions:
If you have a question about donations, email Jess Anastasi: Jess@jessanastasi.com

If you work in a library / council / community centre / school in a flood affected area, email Rachel Bailey: rachel@rachelbailey.com.au

Monday's Male ~ Do you tailor your Heroes after anyone?

Have you had days where you know you should have done something but can’t for the life of you remember what that something was? I’ve had a couple of those days. Yesterday and again today, a little niggle at the back of my brain saying, ‘What have you forgot to do? Your there is something? Think woman.’ Yes well I’ve remembered. My Blog! So much for being organized. LOL.

So I’m going to talk briefly because I quickly running out of time to post my ‘Monday’s Male’ and I can’t have ‘Monday’s Male on Tuesday’. This month I’m looking at the physical aspects of our heroes.

At one of our NewMait Writers meeting last year we talked about tailoring our heroes after people we know like family and friends. I don’t do this normally as I prefer to keep my writing and personal life separate. Do you tailor your hero after anyone?

The closes I’ve come is with eye colour, most of the time my heroes either have blue or brown eyes, and I think that is because my husband and son have blue eyes and my dad had brown eyes. With that in mind, here are a few of the sets of blue and brown eyes that have caught my attention when looking for a likeness to my hero.

Aren’t these the most beautiful blue eyes you have ever seen on a man? These ones I think I will use as one of my shapeshifter stories, along with these. Plotting - sort of.

Patrick is my hero in one of my partially written stories, ‘His Surprised Fiancée’. Again I started with the eyes and built from there. On hold.




  

 Rob Lowe, his eyes were the ones I envisioned when I started to write ‘Rich Man’. All I had were a set of vivid blue eyes, then I saw a photo of Rob and knew he was the one I wanted. In the editing mode.

Eric like my ‘Mr. Beautiful Blue Eyes’ is tagged for a shapeshifter.
Plotting - sort of.

Orlando is my hero in my first Regency Romance. A current WIP.

While Johnny is the hero in ‘By Her Father’s Design’. Another one being edited.

See you Wednesday with ‘Women who touched my life’.

Sandie

Frantic Friday ~ Finding Time

I started the year with good intentions, so far they are not working. I have on a few occasions opened my current MS folder, added a couple of words, looked at my research, my plot notes then started at the screen waiting hoping by some small miracle the movie in my head would start playing again. So is this a case of plotting once again blocker my creative vibe? Now here lies the problem you see, because I really enjoyed doing the plotting, the planning, working out the scenes etc. I know one thing for sure, I have to come up with a solution to this problem and fast.

On another note, today is my Dad’s anniversary, as with everyone who has lost a parent it’s not easy. This year seems extra hard as my Mum seems to be having more bad times than good at the moment. God love her, she looks like an innocent small child when she tells us she is trying to be good and not get out of bed during the night. Lately I’ve been thinking about what Dad would want us to do, there is one thing I know it would break his heart to see Mum as she is now. I also know he would be pleased to know we are all here for Mum and being one of six does have its plus sides at these times.

I also have to go to a funeral today, one of my uncles passed away earlier this week. Actually, he was my last surviving uncle. He was an uncle who had a lot of influence on my younger life and always had a joke or funny anecdote to share. I know that no matter when I think of Uncle Don, I’ll always do so with a smile.

Sandie

Women on Wednesday ~ Miss Marianne Dashwood

Today I’m looking at Miss Marianne Dashwood. I’ve never been a great lover of Miss Marianne, I think because she is just so selfish and self centered. Will I think so anyway, other’s may feel differently. It would seem that Marianne suffered the greater lost of being turned out of their home by their greedy and heartless sister-in-law.

The Dashwood women move to Devonshire, where Marianne is less impressed. That is until she meets and loses her heart to the dashing and charismatic John Willoughby. Willoughby shows every sign of returning Marianne’s affection until his aunt suddenly sends him away. When they meet up months later and after many letters written by Marianne, he snubs her breaking her already fragile heart.  

Waiting in the wings is Colonel Christopher Brandon. The Colonel doesn’t judge the much younger Marianne instead giving her someone to talk to about her beloved poetry and classic novels. In some ways in the end it is the Colonel that brings out the better side of Marianne.

The 1971 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility saw actress, Ciaran Madden play the role of Miss Marianne Daswood. My goal this year is to find a copy of this adaptation to watch.

Tracy Childs starred in the role of Marianne in the 1981 BBC series Sense and Sensibility. While Miss Childs was a bit whiny at times in the role she did play the self centre part well. I also thought her and Robert Swann worked well together as Marianne and the Colonel.

As I’ve said before Ang Lee directed the 1995 film version of Sense and Sensibility. Kate Winslet played the role of Marianne. Kate received nominations for a Golden Globe, an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Sense and Sensibility moved once again back to the small screen with another BBC adaptation in 2008. Charity Wakefield stepped into the role of Marianne this time round. This is another DVD I need to watch this year.

Catch up with you again on Friday.

Sandie

Monday's Male ~ Colonel Christopher Brandon

To start the New Year I'm finishing the series of blogs I should have posted well before Christmas. Here I look at the second of Marianne Dashwoods suitors, Colonel Christopher Brandon.

Unlike the dashing John Willoughby, Brandon is the grave, quiet, but gentlemanly in his manner. At 35, Marianne considers Brandon something of an old man and incapable of falling in love or inspiring anyone to love him in return.

When Willoughby breaks Marianne’s heart it is the Colonel who is there for her, over time their friendship becomes love and the for the first time Christopher Brandon understands what love is like.

In the 1971 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility actor, Richard Owens played the role of Colonel Christopher Brandon. Like a few of the adaptations I haven’t yet seen this series, so I can’t comment on Richard’s performance.

Robert Swann stepped into the role Brandon in the 1981 BBC series Sense and Sensibility. This was one on the better portrayals of Brandon I think, at least this Brandon showed more interest in Marianne than just her beauty and singing ability.

In 1995, Ang Lee directed the film version of Sense and Sensibility. Starring in the role of Colonel Brandon was acclaimed British actor Alan Rickman. Rickman was nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

In 2008, Sense and Sensibility moved once again back to the small screen with another BBC adaptation of this classic. This time the role of Brandon was played by David Morrissey. I haven’t see this version but I have heard that Brandon and Marianne are closer in age in this version so I’m not sure how that would play out in the story line.

I’m bringing you Miss Marianne Dashwood on Women on Wednesday, so will catch up with you then. In the mean time have a great week.

Sandie

Goals Glorious Goals

First off

Happy New Year,

May you achieve all you wish and reach the heights you desire.

New Years Day new mountains to climb and new obstacles to hurdle and a new set of goals to aim for.

Putting my goals on my blog in some way (I hope) will make me more accountable. I’m being realistic this year, no over the top goals, no setting the bar too high so that if I don’t make it I feel defeated. No, I’m going into this with a clear head.

Goals for 2011:

Take part in the January challenge with the Historical Writers loop. Aim to write 2,000 words/day and edit three pages per/day.

Write and edit short story for RWA Little Gem Contest. Edit pages of Regency Romance for Valerie Parv Award.

Finish Regency Romance novel.

Edit Contemporary Romance manuscripts and submit.

Work on one manuscript at a time.

Go to RWA Conference in Melbourne.

Blog 3 times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday and once a month on Sunday with updates on goal progress.

Wait impatiently for the arrival of my second grandchild.

That’s it for now; I may or may not add to this as the year progresses. But I do believe these are achievable even the flying to Melbourne for the conference. I’ll just keep telling myself that and by the August, I’ll be right. LOL.

See you Monday.

Sandie