Setting Goals for 2009

Cata University is hosting a Blogorama so you can share your goals for 2009. So what you do is post your goals then go to Cata University (click on name) and add your blog URL to their site. Then visit the other blogs listed to see what everyone's goals are for 2009.

So here are mine.

1. Do editing and rewrites on my finished manuscripts.

2. Submit to Agents, Editors or Publishing Houses.

3. Complete all current WIPs

4. Update blog on a more regular routine.

5. Visit my friends blogs more often.

6. This is the big one - Get Published!!!!!

There are properly a lot of other things I want to do but that will do for now, I can always add more later.

Wishing you a Happy New Year.
Sandie

Christmas & Contest Update

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and received lots of great presents from Santa. I got a new office chair, it's very pretty and very comfortable with lots of adjustments. Hubby and I are having a couple of quite days at home now. My Mum came and had Christmas with us, that was nice. The only down side was that she let some guy in her house the other day and he stole her wallet. I don't know how many time my brothers and sisters and I have told her not to let strangers into her house. Anyway at least she's okay which is the most important thing, it is a worry though with her living on her own.

So onto the writing side of things.

I'm in to the third round of Karin Tabke 'First Line' Contest. YAY that is one better than last year so far. Of course I posted my third line then stressed as to whether it is any good. Not much I can do about it now though. Now the wait is on until Tuesday. (Tuesday for us Aussie writers anyway).

I also entered Leigh Michaels and Rachelle Chase's 'Chase the Dream Writers Contest'. I'd never heard of this one until my good writing buddy Monique Wood told me about it the other day. What a sweetheart Monique is. I emailed my entry off, but I have until January before we get any results.

I've also signed up to do reviews with Fallen Angel Reviews, that should be interesting. I'm going to add the reviews I do on my Review Blog once they have been added to the FAR site. I also do reviews for Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction , it's one of the Ning Network sites I'm a member of.

Next month I'm going to be doing an interview with Suzanne Brandyn her first novel 'Passion In Paradise' is due for digital release on the 7th January 2009 in the US and 8th January 2009 in Australia. So please keep an eye out for Suzanne's book and her interview here on the 8th January.

Australia the Movie

Review on ‘AUSTRALIA’

Hubby and I went to see Australia last week and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it, from start to finish. My emotions ran from laughter to tears, joy to sadness, it had it all. Personally, I thought Buz Luhrmann did a fantastic job with the film not that I should be surprised. Buz has a unique gift when directing films.

Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Lady Sarah Ashley was wonderful. I was in fits of laughter with the scene where she meets The Drover for the first time. Now I freely admit I’m a big Nicole fan, I have been since I saw her in ‘Malice’ (which by the way she was brilliant in). But back to ‘Australia’, I loved watching how Lady Sarah changed as she adapted to her new surroundings and the people in her life. One of my favourite scenes was when she tried to sign ‘Over the Rainbow’ to Nullah, cracked me up, LOL.

As for Hugh Jackman, well what can I say put ‘Oh, my God what a body.’ Okay that is a very sexist remark, (sorry Hugh). In truth, Hugh pulled the role of The Drover off so well, (I really don’t think Russell Crowe would have had the same appeal). Hugh is all we as romance writers want in a hero. Is it little wonder he is used as a pin-up for hero material and inspiration?

The rest of the cast were great as well. Bryan Brown, as King Carney king of the outback, fabulous, David Wenham, as Neil Fletcher the nasty and crocked overseer, outstanding, and Jack Thompson as Kipling the alcoholic accountant another standout performance.

Of course, I can’t leave out young Brandon Walters as the young aboriginal boy Nullah who narrates most of the film; he is one young actor to keep an eye out for. All the reviews have praised this young boy and they are all well founded.

I loved this film and I’m looking forward to it coming out on DVD so I can buy it, I have a feeling it will be one I watch quite a few times. I’d give it 4 ½ stars. My hubby enjoyed it and is recommending it to friends as a great movie to see. Try it you may be pleasantly surprised.

Sandie

Online Contests & Shopping Is Good

I haven't been doing much writing lately. I did a couple of critiques and a very rough first edit on 'Baby Can I Hold You' but that is it.

I've entered two online contests the first was 'Karin Tabke's First Line' contest, that was a crazy few minutes. I'd been out shopping again (well it is almost Christmas), anyway I'd been out shopping and raced home ready to add my line the minute 'Game On' appeared on the screen. I hit refresh so many times waiting and waiting and then it happened those words popped up on the screen 'Game On', and there were already 48 entries. What? That can't be right. So I added my line and came in at #58, what the hell was going on here? Within 9 minutes the 100 places were filled. Karin said that was a record. Now I have to wait until Monday (well Tuesday because of the time difference) to see if I've made it into the next round.

The next contest i entered is 'Nathan Bransford's First Paragraph' contest, okay this one wasn't quite as crazy in pace but the number of entries are huge. So are over 1,000 so far, mine is in the 401 to 600 group. At least I only have a few days to see if I make the next cut with Nathan's contest.

Yesterday I took my Mum out for a few hours and went shopping. No Christmas shopping this time, no went into Borders. Love that shop. LOL. Anyway I picked up Evan Marshall's 'The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing' and James Scott Bell's 'Revision & Self-Editing'. My plan is to sit down over the weekend and read both books ready to get back into my writing next week.

So that is what I've been doing the past couple of weeks. Oh yeah, I have another blog (hopeless I am) anyway this one is called 'A Writer's Life' and I blog about tips I find in books and magazines drop by and have a look if you get time.

Happy writing.

Sandie

NaNo Over for Another Year!

National Novel Writing Month has come to an end for me this year. I’ve written my 50,000 words and very pleased that I’m finished. Have you ever written a novel and wondered why you are putting yourself through this torture? I mean writing should be fun right? It is a profession where we get to decide what we want to do, so would anyone in their right mind write something they are not enjoying?

My answer is I’m obviously not in my right mind. Not that, that is something new to me or anyone that knows me well enough. LOL. You know what I’m looking forward to the most now? It’s getting back to my other characters, the one’s they never behave themselves but at least they tell me things in some sort of order.

Editing is going into full swing in a couple of days. I’m going to be tough, stick to a route, and not let anything or anyone distract me. And if I tell myself that enough I just may believe it too.

Sandie

I LOVE YOUR BLOG

Cool picture hey? Yes, well Rhain Cahill and Diane Curran gave me this award which is great, RC is a fellow Aussie living in Singapore and a dear friend, plus one of the three founding Topless Table Dancing Tarts along with Diane Curran these two ladies keep me on the straight and narrow and if I need to vent they are always there ready to listen (okay read) about my complaints. Now I need to nominate some people for the 'I Love Your Blog' Awards. Here's what you have to do:

After receiving the award, if you’d like to participate, you must:

1) Add the logo of your award to your blog. - Done

2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you. - Done

3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs. - Done

4) Add links to those blogs on your blog. - Done

5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs. - Will be done shortly.

My nominee's:

#1. Annie Doyle - Annie was one of the first girls I really connected with on ROMAUS. When I need a friend Annie is always there.

#2. Eleni Konstantine - Eleni is another fellow Aussie and member of ROMAUS. Eleni is always there with an encouraging word when ever things get you down.

#3. Rachael Johns - Rachael was the brains behind our 50ks in 30 days challenge in June.

#4. A Dribble of Drivel - Yes the Dribbler is another Aussie who always has something interesting to say on her blog.

#5. Amanda Freeman - Amanda is one of my fellow Endurance Writers. If I ever need to get my word count going all I need to do is log in with Amanda and the girls and I'm off and running.

#6. Tannia Franklin - Tannia is one of my fellow NaNo's and ROMAUS member. Tannia is great she always has helpful little tit bits to help keep you on track.

#7. Monique Wood - Moni is a crack up. When ever I'm feeling down I just have to read a post from Mon and I'm smiling and laughing. Plus she's a girl after my own heart a huge Hugh Jackman fan.

Okay there you have it. Of course there are other's but I don't want to be greedy and add everyone. After all the girls have to have someone to nominate as well. LOL.

Sandie

A tip for Tuesday

Here is the tip for Day 11, have to say when I read this all sort of weird images went through my head. LOL.

Day 11:

Bathe Your Imagination.

Among the weird places where writers find inspiration, the shower is one of the more common. “Your body is totally relaxed and your mind is totally relaxed,” says Ray Bradbury of his trips to the steamy plot chamber, “then the little explosions, the little revelations come.’

Spend some time today investigating those places and situations that allow your mind plenty of room to wander -- a walk, a bike ride, standing in line at the bank – and soak in the literary results.

Hope you writing is progressing well.

Sandie

Have You Hurled Anything Yet?

As promised here are the first few days of Week Two’s tips. Yes a day early.

Day 8:

The Plot Thickens.

Ah, the start of the second week. Where things get more, um . . . interesting. If Week One was all about character creation, Week Two is about finding something to do with all the people milling around in your book. Yes, we’re talking plot here, a word that sends a lot of writers needlessly running in fear. Just keep prodding your characters and a plot will set itself in motion this week. Know, though, that the decisions of Week Two will make this the most exhausting of all four weeks.

Also, know that the more you write, the more inspired you are going to feel. If you’re feeling a little pokey now, it’s because you’re not writing enough. Push yourself to write every day, and make a point of adding something to your word count any time you’re within striking distance of a keyboard.


Day 9:

No Frogs In This Pond

Today, we take Zsa Zsa Gabor as our literary role model. Her enthusiasm for marriage was so great that she did it nine times. What do Zsa Zsa’s many nuptials have to do with your novel?
Toda, as a number of possible plot directions start offering themselves to you, you may decide to wait coyly for The One to appear. Don’t.

In the world of the monthlong novel, there are no frogs, only princes (or princesses). Take inspiration from the Hungarian actress, and hitch yourself to any likely suitor. You’ll have a great time with any of them, and you can always grab a different one on the next go-round.


Day 10:

Complain, Curse, Crumple.

A friend of mine, who is an EMT, says that people at restaurants choke more often than you’d imagine. According to him, the real danger isn’t the chocking, it’s the bathroom. Because the moment people get a chicken wing lodges in their throats, they do a curious thing: They use the last of their oxygen to politely remove themselves to the bathroom, far away from anyone who might be able to help Heimlich it out.

If at any point you start having difficulty with your novel, the worst thing you can do is suffer silently. Complain in detail to your support team and anyone who will listen.

Curse your characters and their mothers. Crumple up this card and hurl it in the trush. Let the frustration out. You’ll be surprised at how much clearer your writing vision is after a good venting.

Okay this one here is where I’ve been for most of this novel. LOL. Although I am staying within the required word count, so that is a positive. How about you have you hurled anything to let off a little steam yet?

On another note, the writing sprints are starting to pick up and my word count is increasing each time. Gotta love those word sprints.


Happy Writing
Sandie

NaNo, Not Going Anywhere Fast

Like the title says, my NaNo is not progressing very fast. I'm on 17,023 words at the moment and I should be on 30,006 because I wanted to write twice as much this year. You know move my novel along get to the 110,000 mark so I could edit during Feb and March. Anyway it's early days yet.

Over on the 50/30 blog I posted a one of my No Plot? No Problem! Novel Writing Kit cards. Diane suggested I share more cards with everyone so I thought I'd post them here, well the first four days anyway. So here goes. Yes I Know I'm a week late. LOL.

Day 1:

Green Lights, From Here to the Horizon.

The first day. A blank page. And a slight panic about starting the book off on the right foot. But you know what? There are no wrong feet. Take a tip from freewheeling graphic design guru Bruce Mau on the subject of beginnings:

"Not knowing where to begin is a common form of paralysis. Begin anywhere."

Day 2:

Create Your Clay.

Writing a novel is like working with clay. You first create a rough shape, then massage that shape into something beautiful, such as an ashtray or a fearsome army of worms. Unlike potters, though, who can simply buy clay at the art supply store, novelists have to pull off the supernatural feat of creating their clay with their minds. It’s amazing accomplishment, really, and it’s also why postponing judgment of your work until the end of your first draft is so important. What you started producing yesterday is noveling clay – valuable, essential, and invariably lumpy. Its beauty will grow as you work it.

Day 3:

Aim Low.

One of my favorite books is called Rules of Thumb 2. The volume offers thousands of guidelines for any number of essential day-to-day activities, such as properly estimating a submerged crocodile's length and surviving a pistol duel. The dueling hint was submitted by historian Jim Barber, who writes: "When dueling with firearms, always aim lower than your opponent's vital area - to pierce the heart, aim at the knees." This is something you'd do well to keep in mind in these early days of Week One.

Abandon the stultifying notion of brilliance and aim instead for the low mark of completion. It'll take the pressure off you, which will allow your writing to become looser and more ambitious, paradoxically raising the quality of your book. It's Barber's law: Aiming low is the best way to succeed.

Day 4:

Let Your Fingers Do The Naming.

Demographers have been noting the decreasing size of families in industrialized nations for decades. They pin it on everything from rising education rates among women to the decrease in family farming. But I know the real culprit: With a skyrocketing number of baby names to pick from, would-be parents avoid having children because they can't decide what to name the things.

As you birth your cast of characters this week, you can reduce your naming stress by simply borrowing monikers from the Great Library of Character Names. It's published annually your by phone company: look for the large white book on your shelf next to the Yellow Pages.

Day 5:

Borrow Mercilessly.

One of the best ways to learn to do something is to emulate those whose work you admire.

The treat (and task) for today is to drop by the bookstore and pick up a novel by an author whose voice you've always loved. Read the first few pages of your purchase before you start writing, and pick out the methods the writer uses to create the mood you find so appealing.

Is it the folksy vocabulary and informal writing style? The electric buzz of clipped, declarative sentence? Or the poetic, lyrical style of flowing sentences and sensual adjectives? Whatever it is, borrow the elements you love and use them throughout today's writing season.

Day 6:

Go Wild.
Weird fact: Before Jerry Springer launched his brawling freak show on daytime TV, he was a serious progressive politician and highly respected mayor of Cincinnati. In his heyday, many Ohioans even saw him as a likely candidate for the U.S. presidency. As you begin worrying that you might be pushing the bounds of believability for some characters, remember Jerry and the countless other real-life stories you've heard that make the wildest fiction pale by comparison.

Don't be afraid to leverage the power of unlikely coincidence and unbelievable occurrence. Nothing could be more true to life.

Day 7:

Skeletons In The Closet.

So many of the things we take as a given in everyday life were actually the result of a bitter struggle between two opposing forces. Take, for example, the custom of saying "Hello?" when answering the phone. It seems like a natural extension of a face-to-face conversation, right?
If telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell had had his way, though, we'd be saying "Ahoy, ahoy" when our cell phone rings. He thought that the nautical salutation was more fitting, and he was disgruntled that the plainer "hello" suggested by inventor Thomas Alva Edison caught on instead.

Today, use part of your writing session to explore a given about protagonist's life or personality, and reveal one of the surprising struggles that brought him or her to their current state.

Okay that is week ones handy hits. Did you get anything out of them? I'll try to get the first part of week two up tomorrow and then add a hit each day after that. Right now I need to do some writing on my novel.

Happy writing.
Sandie

Terrific Tuesday

There is action going on all around me at the moment. On the home front, we have two mares ready to check to see if they are in foal. Its school holidays, so I have my grandson staying with during the week. Not a great deal of writing being done, but I am having fun. We had a day at a Cutting Horse sale on Friday. Can you believe that some fool would pay $85,000 for a horse? Lord, I could pay a new car for that much. Anyway, I have been in pain since. I think I may have put my hip out again, oh the joys of old age.

Let’s move on to my writing. I’m getting organized. Yes, I’m told I need to be more organized with my writing. Well just more organized in general. So, I have set up my boards, calendars and charts to keep track of where I’m going and how I’m going to get there. The picture on the left is my monthly calendar for October. Busy, aren’t I? Most of it is an on line conference I’m doing. Muse Conference it runs all week, lots of interesting workshops and chats lined up. The down side is that most of them are run in the early hours of the morning over here, like 1am to 4am. I don’t think I’m going to get much sleep that week.

As I said not a great deal of writing on my unfinished WIP’s being done, put I am slowly getting my edits and re-write organized on ‘We Were In Love’. I have also organized charts and calendars so I can keep track of where I’m up to with my writing. Plan for the rest of this month is to get edits and re-writes finished on ‘We Were In Love’. The picture on the right is my WIP tracking board. I have this one so I know what my word count is on each WIP, which ones I’m editing and doing re-writes on and if they are ready to go to my CPs or to submit. I am slowly getting a few into the editing and re-write sections. Hehehe.

This chart is for twelve months. The plan is to work out which WIPs I’ll be working on each month whether its writing, editing or doing re-writes. Of course, most of this depends on my characters and cooperative they are feeling. It will only take one and the whole thing could go pear shape. Down the bottom of the chart, I have a list of publishers I’d like to submit my works with; I have their word count requirements so I know which novels will fit where.

As November approaches, I will have my research notes to organize, time lines to write up and character and scene charts to write up. The novel I’m writing for November is ‘Chains of Love’. This is an historical romance; I’m aiming for about 100 to 110K. I’m going to try and do my character charts and scene notes ahead of time with this one, as well as a time line. I need to make sure I have the historical facts right before I start writing.

News on my fellow writing pals. Christina Phillips novel ‘Foretaste of Forever’ is due for release in October, just in time for Halloween. How cool is that book cover? Don’t forget to go and visit Christina’s blog and get all the information. In addition, a couple of my other writing friends won runner-ups with the ‘Feel the Heat’ competition. Congratulations, Felicity Rogers and Rachael Blair, I am so proud of both girls they have worked so hard on their stories.

I’ve also had a spring clean of sorts. I made the decision to delete one of my pseudonyms, I mean, really did I need two erotic romance pen names? The short answer is NO! I’ve delete most of my profile network sites as well. I wasn’t going anywhere near them and if I did, I felt I was spending too much time away from my writing. Speaking of writing, my hubby is back at work today (we just had a long weekend) & my grandson is having the day with SIL, I have peace and quiet, what better time to write.

Catch ya next time.

Sandie

Yes I'm Still Kicking

Quick post just to let you all know I'm still a live and well. I've been writing up a storm. I decided to take the leap and send in a query for 'We Were In Love'. Guess what? Got a request for the first three chapters. I almost collapsed. You know I though it would take at least a week or two before I heard anything, but no within two days I had my request. YAYAYYAYA. First query letter and synopsis and I got a request. I was very pleased with myself.

A week later I thought I got mt first reject. But no as Natalie pointed out it was a request for a re-write. So now you know where I have been, madly doing re-writes. Adding description, removing characters (I had too many in the first few pages). Adding here, removing there. I finally have it finished I think. One of my new CPs has it at the moment and is going over it. That is scary, letting someone read my stuff and asking them to pull it to pieces. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I sent off an entry for the Modern Heat contest, that gets announced at the end of the month. Not holding my breath on that one. I have also sent an entry in for the High Five Contest with RWAustralia. Plus I'm still tossing up whether to send in one of my erotic ones for the STALI. I'm a little concerned that it may be a bit over the top.

Talking about my erotic writing, I've decided to do away with one of my pseudonyms, so Sandra Carrington will no longer exist and I'll write my erotic and paranormal under Cassandra Cornell. I've come up with an idea for a series of short stories as well as the other WIPs I have on the go for Cassandra.

So that's me for the moment. I promise not to leave it so long in between post in future. Honest Suz. LOL. Oh and I have some news to share with you on the talented Suzanne Brandyn. She has her release dates for her first novel 'Passion In Paradise' e format is the 7th/8th January 2009 (just in time for my birthday hehehe) and print format is 20th/21st February 2009. If you get a chance drop over and congratulate Suz, I know she'd appreciate it. Here's her link:

http://writerofromance.blogspot.com/

Okay that's my news for now. Catch ya soon.

Hugs

Sandie

Clayton's Conference and Other Things

Heaven’s has it been that long since I did a post. What a slack butt I am. I’ve been busy with writing, editing and family. Plus RC and I ran this year’s Clayton’s Conference. That was a lot of fun we had some great workshops and chats. The feedback was positive which was a relief; it’s always hard to take on a project someone else has worked on for a number of years. So when Julie-Ann asked if I would be willing to run this years Clayton's I was a little nervous, but thought "If I don't give it a go I'd kick myself." Of course then I asked RC if she wanted to come play as well. Thank you Julie-Ann for allowing us to watch over your baby this year.

We had a ‘Novella Workshops’ by Shiloh Walker, ‘Ask the Author Anything’ with the talented Allison Rushby very interesting. It was wonderful of Allison to take time away from her family to chat with us. RC did a workshop on ‘Sensory Overload’, that had us all thinking and was a great lead into Sunday evening. Laney Cairo’s “Mechanical Sex’ was fantastic; we had a great time over all.

I’d like to take the time to thank all our sponsors for donation of their time and prizes, without these people the weekend would not have been such a great success. I hope you’ll go and visit their sites (just click on their names) and learn a little about these talented women. Allison Rushby, multi-published author of Adult and Young Adult. Anna Campbell , author of dark, sexy regency historical romance. Anne Whitfield, multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance. Annie West, Annie writes, Presents and Modern romance. Elisabeth Rose, has her second novel with Avalon due for release in October. Janet Woods, Janet’s 22nd novel will be published in 2009. Laney Cairo, is a multi-published author of erotic romance. N.J. Walters, has over 30 novels published in romance and erotic romance. Rhian Cahill, now this is an author’s name to remember, Rhian writes erotic romance and it is only a matter of time before she hits it big. Shiloh Walker, Shiloh is a multi-published author with Berkley, Ellora's Cave and Samhain Publishing.


I have some great news from the Melbourne conference. Diane Curran got a request for a partial how cool is that? Go over to Diane’s blog and have a look. There were a few girls that got ‘The Call’ or request for partial’s or full manuscripts. Congratulations to all.


My writing is coming along slowly at the moment. Had four more ideas jump into my head the other day. I’ve jotted them down and I’m trying very hard to stop them from moving into the ‘Head City Motel’ I really need to empty some rooms up there.


I also did a couple of on line workshops, they were fun. One was about time management. Let’s face it; I need to get into a route. The fact that I haven’t posted here for so long is a sure sign of that let alone my other blogs. As for Facebook, well lord only knows how many applications I’ll have over there. But now I have my trusty time manage techniques and I’ll be able to do all the things I need to do and a well organised manner. (She’s says crossing her fingers).


I have a new challenge coming up soon. ‘From Start to Published’ yep, this is a big one. Twelve months, twelve months to write edit and submit a novel. Okay I have a few I’m working on now to get ready to submit and enter a few contests. But the one for FSTP is my historical novel. The research that I’ve been doing, oh and the cool sites I’ve been playing at, I’ve had a blast. Come November 1, I’ll be ready to rock and roll with my novel, I hope.


Alright I need to go and get some housework done so I can get back into my writing. I have contests to enter, query letters to send off and manuscripts to research, start, finish or edit. The life or a writer is never done. When one motel door closes another opens.

Hugs
Sandie

I've Been Busy, Honest

Now I don’t want you thinking I haven’t been busy. I have, I’ve been very busy writing, editing, doing a few critiques and that has all been in the last two days. Yes, up until two days ago I’d been plodding along, coasting in a world of my own. Just doing a little writing here, a little editing there, but nothing solid, nothing in the volume that I needed to doing. Yesterday I did some word sprints with a few girls for the US and I have to say it was just the kick in the pants that I needed. I wrote over 3,000 words on one novel and edited a few pages of another.

Today I’ve edited a full chapter of one novel, critiqued two chapters for other people and written 1,500 words. I’m hoping to add to that later tonight.

Last weekend I went to a horse show with my hubby. It wasn’t a bad weekend; the horses settled in okay to their stables, ate and drank well which is always a bonus when you go away from home. Hubby won a couple of events and placed in others, so over all he was happy. The only down side was that I’d signed on to do a challenge to write 2,000 words in a genre I don’t normally write. Thinking I’d have heaps of time while hubby was off riding or chatting I was sure I’d shoe it in. Wrong, time got away from me; because, of course I had to go and watch him ride, take a few photos and video a couple of events. So instead of writing 2,000 words I came home with 100 and something. I decided I’d write in first person, an interesting exercise. This also caught me up a bit. But never the less Sunday night I sat down and wrote the rest of my story finishing at 10.45pm. I was quite pleased with myself. Sure that my slump had passed and I would be once again on a roll, I woke Monday morning feeling like I’d been tackled by a forward pack. Every bone in my body ached, I had headaches, earaches you name it I had it. But that is now all behind me. I’m back in my groove, ready to take on the world. Write up a storm. Blaze my way to publication.

What else have I been up to of late? Oh RC and I are running this year’s Clayton’s Conference for RWAustraila. That should be interesting. They have no idea what they have let themselves in for, Hehehe. We also have our own group at yahoo Romance In All Its Flavors here’s the link;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Romance_In_All_Its_Flavors/
It’s a jointly owned group between Rhian Cahill, Diane Curran, Rachel Charlton, Mari Carr and me. We are just in our early stages at the moment. RC is flat out in edit mode and you already know what I’ve been up to. Diane is off at Byron Bay this weekend; she has just finished her novel she was working on during the 50/30. Mari has a few excerpts of her writing up on the site, if you’re interested in having a read.

Okay I need to go if I am going to get some writing done. I’ll catch up with you all later. I really need to do an interview with a couple of my heroes and post on my Hero Blog, or find some more yummy pictures. LOL. May be I’ll do both. So I couldn't wait, he is yummy, isn't he.

See ya

Sandie

Hit A Brick Wall

Here I was writing away, enjoying my stories, jumping from one to another everyone doing what they were suppose to do. Well everyone except their pair on the kitchen table (but that story really belongs to Sandra Carrington). So I’m writing, getting the words on paper or computer or both when WHAM BAM I hit the wall, SPLAT I hit the ground, and that is where I have been for the last couple of days. Yesterday I read over some of my work and decided I hated it all. So I shut the file down and ignored the urge to re-open it and write something, anything. No that would be a mistake.

So I’m taking a week off, well five days really. It’s school holidays here in NSW, I have my grandson for a few days again this week so I think I’ll spend the time with him, painting, walking and cooking. We can make a lot of mess cooking and painting for that matter. Then come the weekend I’ll write again, I’ve entered another challenge over at Kiwi Writers, this is 2,000 in two or three days and you have to write about something you don’t normally write about. If I can get over, through or around this brick wall, I’m going to write my opening to a book I want to write about my Mum and Auntie Mary.

They are writing down their memories about their childhood. It was an exercise I set my Mum to keep her thinking and give her something to do with her time other than just watch the television. I told her if she wrote down all she could remember about her childhood I’d write a book about it. I love listening to the pair of them talking about their lives, the hardship they went through, yet they had a great family life. They were close, and still are today. Two grey haired old ladies who are thankful they have each other still and can share so much. I’ll keep you posted on my story about them.

The end is here, yes 50ks In 30 Days has come to an end. What a wonderful month with have had. We started with the month with 51 challengers and ended with 46 either completing the challenge or at least getting some great word totals. Everyone has said that they have enjoyed the month and have never written so many words in a month before.

RC, you know Rachel C/Rhian is hoping to reach 100k. I’ve decided to call her Queen of the Bionic Fingers. She has had an amazing month. The last couple of days we have seen a lot of the girls make the sprint home, a few had not been sure at the start of the month if they would make it to the 50k, but true to the Aussie sprite they continued on. Other just had the whole universe fighting against them and no matter what they did event from the real world just would not leave them alone. Yet they continued, continued writing determined to at least work towards a personal best.

So what was my final total? Well that would be 75,080. I now have three novels of 50k to edit as well as two of 15k. So July is looking at being another busy month, I’m thinking this editing may roll over into August which is fine, as long as at the end I have something that will be worthwhile submitting.

Well that’s me for another challenge. I have a few BIAW coming up, but other than that life may be a little slower. WOOHOO won’t that be nice.

Hugs
Sandie

I've Been Slack Again

I've been so slack this week, it's as if I reached my target and that's it. I really wanted to have at least one more of my WIP's finished, but my hero and heroine have gone off to places unknown. They were last noted as having sex on her kitchen table. I guess this is what happens when you leave your character doing the horizontal tango for too long. Anyway I have found a couple of other willing couples ready to play.

One is a new work altogether, yeah I know like I NEED A NEW WIP. It's like got two finished and move out (or at least into a new area of the Brain Motel) and more move in to take their place. The second one I'm working on is one I've done a little bit with and they shouted the loudest so got moved up a couple of spots. I'm hoping against hope that I may be able to make these two novellas rather than novels. I'd like to have a go at writing a 'Spice Briefs',so I'll see how I go word wise, I tend to go waaaaaaaaaay over.

I've also been trying to organize my work area, you know try and keep it in some sort of order. At least I can now sit at my computer and not have piles of folders and books falling all over me.

I'm off to write some more.

Hugs

Sandie

I Reached My Target, But Not My Goal

I reached my target today, just not my goal. Well kind of, sorta I did. I finished the novel I was working on this passed week, but I didn’t get to the 50,000 words with it. I know when I edit it I’ll get there but at the moment I just really do not want to go back and add anything yet. The biggest thing with the story is that I started it almost two years ago, my writing has changed, I think, no I believe I have grown as a writer so there will be a lot of changes. Anyway with finishing that one up and doing a bit more to a couple of other WIP’s I reached my target of 50,000 words for the month. So YAYA me. I haven’t told the girls at 50/30 yet, I’ll do that tomorrow. I really didn’t think I’d get any writing done today but just plodding along I got there. I still have a couple more WIP's to work on before the end of the month, so I might get my goal yet.


I’m hoping to be able to see my chiropractor tomorrow. I pulled something in my back or shoulder the other day when I was doing some housework, dangerous occupation housework. Anyway if I sit for too long typing it gives me curry. So on that note, I’m going to say goodnight. Yes it’s night time here in the wonderful land of Oz. Happy writing.

Hugs
Sandie

Two Weeks Down, Two To Go

We are at the end of week two for the ‘50ks In 30 Days’ challenge. I’m on 44,104 words for the challenge and almost finished the second WIP I wanted finished. I had hoped to have it finished today but with two days out with my saggy middle and my daughter and grandson staying with us tonight I didn’t quite make it.

Tomorrow I’m off to the movies with my grandson to see ‘Speed Racer’, the horse show we were supposed to go to has been cancelled due to the forecast of rain. So it is movies in the morning for me, then writing in the afternoon. Hopefully I’ll be able to get the last 5,896 words done to finish this story so I can get to work on the next one.

The next story is my erotic romance. I’m at 30,248 words for it so only have another 19,752 to go. If I can get this one finished this month as well that will give me four full MS’s to edit in July. Of course if I get my finger out and finish this one in the week, I still have another eight I can work on. This will be good practice for me and November with NaNoWriMo, I plan to write an Historical romance, they are normally 70,000 to 100,000+ words, if I can write at this speed in November I just may get my Historical finished or very close to finished.

I’ve been giving some thought to some of my current WIP’s and I may change a couple to novellas. I’ll see how I go, last time I tried writing a novella it turned into a novel. So maybe if I try for a novel it may turn into a novella. Yes I know its Irish but I know what I mean.

Anyway I’m off to bed. I happy I got to do at least a little writing tonight. I have to be up early in the morning ready for my movie adventure and if I’m very lucky I may even get an hour’s writing in before I go. I girl can only hope.

Hugs

Sandie

Week one of '50 ks In 30 Days'

Week one of the 50ks In 30 Days is drawing to a close and I’ve had a very successful week. I’m on 22,578 words and have finally finished my CataU project. ‘If I were A Rich Man’ has turned out quite well I think, I am happy with how it finished up. One WIP down ten more to go, now I just have to see who shouts the loudest to get my attention. LOL. They are all very quite at the moment.

Anyway I’m taking a couple of days off and will start back with my writing on Sunday. I think it would be a good idea to take sometime to get the sexy eyes of Mackiney Stafford out of my head.

If you get the chance duck over to the 50/30 blog and have a look at who well everyone is going, the link is here; http://writeinjune.blogspot.com

Well I’m off to watch ‘Pride and Prejudice’ with Colin Firth of course and have an other cup of coffee, which I think I’m becoming slightly addicted too. Until next time.

Hugs
Sandie

The Countdown is ON

I have two countdowns on the go at the moment. The first is CataU 'Novella in a Month' which finishes tomorrow. Yes I reached my target but still have heaps to do to the story and I haven't written anything for three days. I'm going to do this post and then try to get at least an hour in on it. I have finally done character chats for this one, that just leaves me with character chats to do on another ten WIP no big deal.

Now the other count down is the '50ks In 30 Days' challenge which starts on Sunday. It seems like we have been getting ready for this for so long it's hard to believe it is almost here. Now the doubt's are starting to set in, 'Can I do this?" "Have I got 50,000 words in me?" "What if I fail?" then I get this screaming in my head, it's like a platoon of soldiers yelling at me.

"FAIL? YOU WILL NOT FAIL, WE DO NOT ACCEPT FAILURE! YOU WILL WRITE OUR BLOODY STORIES AND GET THEM FINISHED!!!!"

Jezz talk about bossy characters. So all I can say is they had better deliver or there will be WAR! I'll kill the whole lot of them off and get some nice old people to write about. May not be as interesting but at least I'll be able to keep up with them.

So as I race out of one challenge and stroll into yet another challenge, I'm excited, scared, numb, stupid, crazy, out of my head, a nervous wreak, but come Sunday I'll be ready. Wish me luck because I'll need it.

Hugs
Sandie

When Life Steps In & Computers Crash

My writing has come to a screaming halt the last few days. No matter how much I tried to fight it my home life just pushed it way into my time. I can’t complain really (well I could but that wouldn’t be fair) my hubby has put up with me sitting at my computer every chance I get for weeks now. (No it is more like months). Anyway he was home sick for two days, and yesterday we went to a horse show, I missed most of it because I had to come home for a form we had forgotten to take. I don’t know where my brain is at times. (Err… no I do know where it is, it’s on my books. Thinking, thinking, thinking.) We had a good day anyway, the boys won plenty of ribbons, owners hubby shows for were very happy, and we got there and home without any major problems.

I also had the great idea of changing my web site header. I wanted something fresh, something new, something that would take me to my happy place when I write. Great plan, even a fantastic plan… until I crashed my site and lost everything. So I had to start again. Nothing like a new start, a fresh start and a lesson learnt. (I hope, never really know with me what I’ll do next.) So if you get a chance have a look at my new website, the header is the same as the one. Here’s the link http://www.sandiehudson.com .

So I’m not sure how much writing I’ll get done this week but I’m hoping to get at least an hour a day in, it all helps toward get that novel finished. Until next time, my the Word Fairy smile on you.

Hugs
Sandie

Getting People Out Of My Head

As most of you well know by now the talented Rachel Charlton received a full request for her novel ‘On a Wing and a Prayer’. Now this was no ordinary request (and if you knew RC you would know nothing is ordinary about this girl and I mean that in the nicest possible way. Hehehe. ) So back to the story, an editor read her extract on one of her blog sites and requested a full copy of the story. YAYAYA. As you can imagine RC has been running around like a chook with its head cut off trying to get MS polished and sent off as well as doing up new web spots because she decided to have a pseudonym. Out of all this Rhian Cahill was born you can visit her Wordpress Blog here or her new MySpace here. So fingers crossed everyone (well when you’re not typing that is) that we hear good news in regard RC’s submission soon.

So, you may be wondering what all this has to do with people in my head. The thing is I decided months ago that I would write under a pseudonym for my erotic novels. Well if I decided to submit them for publication. Now as most of you know I have a thing for blogs, websites etc, as Sandie Hudson. What you don’t know is that I also have a website, blog and MySpace for my alter egos. I say alter egos because I have three. (Yes I know I am a sad woman who doesn’t know who she is anymore.)

So let me introduce you to my other halves. Sandie Roberts is who I will write under for my children’s books. I chose Roberts because my Dad and Father-In-Law were both Robert. Now I haven’t done a lot with these sites yet so I won’t give you the links yet.

Sandra Carrington was my first chose for writing erotic romance but I’m thinking she may have a far raunchier side than I first thought. I’ll see how I go. Anyway here are her sites. Website, MySpace, Blog. How I came up with her name is I used my own first name and then the town I grow up in.

Cassandra Cornell well she came about because there was already a Cassandra Carrington. See I was going to change Sandra to Cassandra, but it didn’t work. I chose Cornell because that was my Dad’s mother’s maiden name. And she’d get a kick out of me writing erotic novels I think. Anyway Cassandra's sites are here; website, blog, MySpace. So if you feel like visiting go ahead.

Do you think I could have split personality syndrome? Or maybe I just haven’t found the real me. Anyway that is at least two people out of my head and these two have the good sense to only work on one novel at a time. Or is that just me still working on the novels?

Oh and by the way Diane Curran has come out of the closet so to speak, (with her writing I mean) she has a new blog spot so visit her here Diane Curran.

Okay now that I have completely scared the living day lights out of you all, and you will be giving me a very wide berth from now on, I’ll catch ya later.

Hugs
Sandie

What's It All About?

I'm up to 14,330 words for my novella, which I somehow don't think it will be a novella. (Diane I'll have no comment from you on this point thank you.) Anyway I thought I would share with you my blurb. I'm getting a good feel for this one: I like both Mac and Brooke because they have been playing nice. The only spanner thrown into the works was Brooke having a much younger Down syndrome brother which I didn't see coming. He is such a great kid anyway so I have forgiven her for that little hiccup. Even the secondary characters are playing nice. The ones that are suppose to be nice are and the ones who are toilet paper are. :-) I'm waiting for the bomb to fall to tell you the truth, none of my characters behave this good.


'If I Were A Rich Man'

Brooke Fairfax is the rebellious member of her family. It is a title she has carried for so long with pride she no longer knows how not to rebel against everything her father stands for. Now out on her own and earning a living from her art work, she resents even more her father’s interference in her life.

Being summon home after an altercation she found herself in doesn’t help matters. But after seeing the new mechanic working for old Fred she decides a little fun is just what she needs. Besides what better way to get her father back, then to start a torrid affair with the hired help, so to speak.



Mac Stafford arrived in Olive Grove not intending to stay. When Old Fred, who owns the garage offers him a job as his mechanic he changes his mind. After all it was an old country town, a perfect place to lay low for a while. He could leave his past behind him and come to terms with the death of his younger brother. A death he had caused.

One thing was for sure, the last thing he needed in his life was a woman. He’d had more than enough of lying cheating women. He sure didn’t need Brooke Fairfax sashaying her cute little butt around the place. She had trouble written all over her, and if he wasn’t careful he would have that trouble all over him.



I'm going to do an interview with Mac over the next couple of days, and I'll post that on my hero blog. By the way have you been over to have a look at my photo slid some very nice chests on display over there. Even if I do say so myself.

Hugs
Sandie

Suzanne Has A Trailer

Soon to be published author Suzanne Brandyn has a trailer for her book 'Passion In Paradise'. It's a cool trailer, great background music, fabulous pictures. What more could a girl ask for? So click on Suz's name and drop over for a look, it's well worth a visit.

The lucky girl is off on her own paradise romance in the next couple of days. Well she's off to marry her own hero, ahh how sweet is that?

Have a great weekend everyone.

Hugs
Sandie

Devon Has A Cover

WOWHOOO, Author Devon Gray has a cover, and it is HOT. So click on Devon's name to go and have a look at her very first cover. That girl is going to be dancing on the ceiling, out in the street, she will be lucky if she can sleep for a week. A hot book cover for a hot book.


Hugs
Sandie

Challenge Update

The last few days have been fairly productive. I'm in front with my word count for CATA; it's always good to have something up your sleeve for the days when your other life interrupts your writing life. Like this weekend, with Mother's Day on Sunday and three mothers to visit plus my grandson's 9th birthday celebration, I'm not going to get a whole lot of writing done. Never mind there is always next week.

So just how am I going? Well I'm up to 8,450 words, 43 pp and on Chapter Two. I'm quite happy with my progress. I also took sometime out to judge a competition. With that all done, I'll have even more time to write. YAY.

My word count for SVEN is growing YAY. I thought for awhile there I was going to fall short, now I may even do better than my goal. So with 50,211 words down I have just 5,789 to reach my goal of 56,000. Too bad all those words haven’t gone into just one story. Never mind, with each word it means I’m getting closer to the finish of some of my WIP’s.

Okay I now have a question. How in the hell do I stop these new people from jumping into my head? I mean I have 24 couples living up there each with their own little entourage. I shudder to think now of just how many there are running around up there. It’s no wonder I’ve been getting migraines. So if you have any ideas let me know. I was thinking of putting a sign on the door. ‘Sorry closed due to overcrowding.’ What do you think? Do you think they’ll take any notice? Sigh! I really think I am starting to lose it, but don’t tell anyone I said that.

Alright I’m off to do some writing. Half the day is gone already, and as my wonderful father-in-law use to say “If you wait too long the sun will burn your arse.”

Hugs
Sandie

A New Blog

Okay, I have a new blog dedicated to my heroes. Yes I decided in a moment of total insanity that I needed a blog for my men. Why you might ask? The answer! I DON'T KNOW, maybe I'm just crazy. (Okay that's a bad example, because all know I'm crazy). Maybe Miss P just wants somewhere else to play. (This is more the case, I think). What ever the reason, I have one.

So if you would like to visit with my men, here's the link: Heroes Blog

I also started my Cata University challenge today. Reached my word count no trouble. (Thank heavens). I've blogged about it over at my Challenge Blog . So I've had a busy couple of days. Now I really need to get some housework done, before I start anything else to do with my writing. Catch ya later.

Hugs
Sandie

More Good News

As you may or may not know another of our Aussie's had her novel accepted for publication a while back. Yes that's right Ms Suzanne Brandyn had her novel 'Passion In Paradise' accepted by
The Wild Rose Press.

Well now she has a cover. WOOHOOO for Suz. So drop over to her Website and have a look at her book cover, Suzanne Brandyn Romance Writer .

The good news just keeps coming. Have you got any good news you would like to share? I'm more than happy to hear about it.

If I were A Rich Man

That is going to be the working title of my Novella. I really don’t have a clear picture of every thing yet. Well all I have is a hero. Tall, wide chest, shoulder length hair, dark shoulder length hair. Deep blue eyes and lashes that are soooo wasted on a guy. Oh and he has a dimple in his right cheek when he smiles.

He also works with cars, so his hands are well oiled. LOL. Nothing like a a pair of well oiled hands.

He’s leaning against the door to the work shed when a snazzy black sports car goes flying by, I thinking this might be a small town. He is also wiping his hand on an old rag, heavens even that is giving me goose bumps.

This is sooo not going to be a sweet novel. This guy has too much . . . to much . . . yeah I know I’m repeating myself here. No he is not going to want to keep any bedroom doors closed. Heck, he might be lucky to even get in the door first.

Okay I’ve got to stop. My fingers are itching to start to write this thing and I want to put some time in on a couple of my other WIP before this thing starts. That’s it I’m going to bed, can’t spend all my time with this guy. I need some sleep, only had 3 hours last night.

Bye for now.
Hugs
Sandie

AUTHOR DEVON GARY

YES, It has happened, Ms Devon Gray, Author extraordinaire has her very first contract. How cool is that? Rachel C emailed with the news that the squeeeeeeeee had gone out. Devon received an email saying the senior editor loved "Addicted” (That’s the name of her novel) and would be sending her a contract. HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT?

I don’t know much more so drop over to Devon’s blog and say “Hi” and congratulate her because she sooooooooo deserves it.

YYYAAAYYY DEVON. Oops that is ‘AUTHOR DEVON GRAY’. How cool is that?

Hugs
Sandie

P.S. Just click on any of Devon's names and you'll be linked to her site. But just in case;
http://authordevongray.blogspot.com/

Rainy Friday

I've had a couple of crappy days this week. Wednesday I got a migraine because I move my head the wrong way. Felt the crack in my neck and "POW" massive headache. Luckily it only lasted for a few hours. I went to bed with the room as dark as possible, took a couple of pills and crushed. The big problem, like with most of my headaches it takes me two to three days to get over them completely. I feel like I'm walking around with a head full of cotton wool. (Okay I'm like that at the best of times, but this is slightly different). So no writing on WIP being done here.

I've checked emails, read blogs, post on read blogs and just vegged out. Next week I will be getting the whip out to myself (no I'm not being kinky) and get some work done. I'll have three days to get house in order, cook some extra meals for hubby (have plenty of soup for myself) and decide what I'm going to write about during May.

Yes I've signed up for another challenge. It is all that Nicola Marsh's fault, went over there just to see what she has been up to lately, and she has this challenge she is co-hosting. Jeez, I have no will power, the challenge write a Novella of 25,000 words in 31 days. My superior thinking kicks in with, good way to prepare for June. Or as I said to Diane it's like waving a red flag to a bull. I see the words challenge and off I go charging in ready to sign up. Never mind, I still love Nicola she's great, always got something to say, has heaps of helpful hints here and there through out her blog. So anyway if you're interested the challenge is with Cata University from May 1st to 31st.

Okay hubby is hoping for at least 30 minutes of fine weather so he can ride a horse he is breaking-in, had to have yesterday off because it rained non-stop. So I had better go keep an eye on him. Just hope the horse isn't scared of my new welly boots, hehehe. Black with hot pink, white and purple dots, sooooooo cool.

Catch ya later.
Hugs
Sandie

Haunted By The Past

Ever since I wrote my blog on how I got started, I've been getting bits and pieces of the stories I'd thrown out. Yes I'm being haunted by my past characters. At first I just thought they were new characters wanting to join the mad house that is living in my head these days. Until I got a flash of a young girl so excited about her wedding day, she rushes into her sisters bedroom with a newspaper in hand to show said sister the article about her wedding. What she finds changes her life forever.

In her sisters bed is none other then her expected bridegroom asleep with her sister wrapped in his arms. My thought was, crap had that vision before. Yes this is one of the stories I' tossed out all those years ago. I guess they feel they have a right to have their stories told as well as the rest of my characters. Yep, even the one about the widow and her boss is filtering through. All I can do is jot down the little bits I'm getting here and there and hope for the best.

So now I have no idea what I am going to do for '50ks In 30 Days' other then adding to my already over flowing collection of WIP. I'm not game to think about starting something new. I don't have the space for any more people in my 'Head City'. I'm having a population explosion. Does anyone know how to switch it off? Is there a switch somewhere I need to flick? It's Frantic Friday today, all I know for sure is that it is Friday and I'm frantic. Frantic for some peace.

Our '50ks In 30 Days' challenge is growing so we should have a great month. We have a few more people doing the nightly word sprints with us, although I had to pass on last night as I was just too wiped out from family commitments yesterday. But tonight I will be ready to take the world on, (well I'm telling myself that). By the time tonight comes around I just may have myself believing it as well.

WRW-BIAW is on again next week so that should be a very good fore-runner for June. Hubby is still home next week and he'll be hopping on the young horse he is breaking-in so I'll have to sit outside to keep an eye on him. At least I have my trusty lappy I can write and watch him at the same time.

Okay that is my rant for the moment, I off to do some washing. Catch ya later.

Hugs
Sandie

Been Missing In Action

Now I don't want you thinking I've been sitting around doing nothing, because I haven't, I've been very busy. I've helped set up another blog site for our June writing challenge. '50ks In 30 Days' pretty nifty name isn't it?

The site is: http://writeinjune.blogspot.com drop by and have a look. We are working on it all the time adding things here and there. We are also going to have a few people post blogs that have done NaNo a few years to give any new challengers an idea on what to expect with writing for a month flat-out. I've also asked one of the girls that did NaNo last year and had began the month not sure she would ever get to write a full novel. In the end had written her 50,000 words and was quiet pleased with herself. Which she had every right to be.

I've also been doing some great word sprint with Diane and Rachel C. A great way to spend your evenings. Sets of 15 to 30 minutes writing sprints. You would be surprised just how much writing you can get done like that.

Oh and one more thing, Devon Gray a very special friend I've made since I've started blogging got a full MS request. How cool is that? Rachel C and I will be singing from the roof tops when her release date is announced. So stay turned. In the mean time drop by Devon's blog and say 'hi' as well as congratulate her. http://authordevongray.blogspot.com

Okay, I have some sprinting to do with Diane. So catch you later.

Hugs
Sandie

Putting Your Foot In It

Well I seem to have put my foot well and truly in it this week. No matter what did or where I did it, I stuffed up, (hurt someone’s feelings which I had not meant to do) or in one case sent a private email to someone I think is pretty special and left a very important word out. A small word, but one that changed the whole context of the sentence. What is the word 'not'. I then had to email this person back and tell them how sorry I was. Thank heavens they were gracious enough to forgive me.

What did I learn from this great mess up? Never, never, write a scene where your hero and heroine are having a disagreement about, who is or is not in the wrong and whose fault it is. Because it is very easy to mess up what you should be writing and to whom.

So what else have I been up too. I have three new stories in the pipeline. Heavens, this is getting way out of control. I have so many people running around in my head it is getting quiet crowded up there. It's like they are having one great bit party going on, (Yes I know there is a lot of area for them to play) they do get pretty noisy up there. So I've been busy writing, messing up email site with a couple of friends. Although in our defence we were doing writing sprints, got some really good word counts done. It is amazing how much you can get done in half an hour.

Well I better get back to my writing, have a hunky hero calling.

Catch ya later.
HugsSandie

How, When and Why I Started Writing

The wonderful Rachael Blair has a blog about how she started writing and asked how we all started. Now normally I’d write it to her post but it is such a long story I didn’t want to use up too much of her blogging with my answer. Click on the link and go and read about Rachael’s journey.

Why I started writing. I have no idea, because I hated English with a passion. I started reading Time Romance mag's in my teens and loved the stories. Then I read an article I think it was by Barbara Taylor Bradford about her writing romance novels and thought I could do that, yeah right. I’d also been reading Mills & Boons novels on and off for a while, one of Margaret Way’s was the first M&B I’d read. I loved reading about the Australian outback; Lindsay Armstrong was another I read a lot of at the time. I still have to pick up one of Margaret’s novels if I see a new one available.

When I started well that’s the long part. After reading the article by Barbara, I started my first story. It was about a girl who finds her fiancé in bed with her sister on their wedding day. Very dramatic. Back then in my early days of writing having a computer was a luxury, and not one that we could afford. (Heavens I think my age is showing now.) So I wrote long hand, had my exercise book and trusty pen and would spend hours writing. When I think about it, I wrote much the same way as I do today in that I had three stories going at once. One of my other stories was about a girl who after receiving her first modelling job arrives home to find her long lost father standing in her kitchen talking to her mother; he has also brought his step-son with him. (I might have to revisit that one.) Of course I don’t have said exercise books any more, it a fit one day when I was sure I’d never write again I throw them out. Bad move, very bad move. Anyway that’s getting a head of myself. The third story was about a woman who along with her husband and children moves to the outback to work on one of the large cattle stations. The husband dies in a plane crush (very sad), and cattle station owner steps in to help her through her grieving process, he had lost his wife a few years before hand. So you can see what was going to happen here. Really wish I hadn’t thrown those books out.

Anyway, we moved over to the farm and between getting said farm sorted out, children and school, working, in-laws separating, parents illness and so on, my writing got pushed to one side. Well really it got thrown in the bin. I started tracing my family history and thought it would be great if I could write about my ancestors and their battles to survive in a new colony. I think that was when it all started to happen. I’d allowed myself to dream of writing again even though I did put it off for a few more years.

About four years ago I started getting these mutterings in my head; have to say at first I thought I was going bonkers. I started writing down what they were saying; it was just bits and pieces of things nothing that I could put my finger on and say, “oh now I know what to do”. If that makes any sense at all. Then about two year ago it all come through like a title wave. It was like I opened the gates to a dam and in came all this information. I joined the Romance Writer’s of Australia six months later and as they say the rest is history.

You wouldn’t believe it, I’m going to do a Book in a Month in June with some of my RWAustralia friends, now I was going to finish a couple of my MS’s I have going ATM. But nooooo last night while watching T.V. I had this couple come and visit, seems they have a story to tell. Quiet a nice couple been best friends for years. Had me writing a five page sketch on them. A bit rude pushing in like that, but what can I do? They’ve blocked my other couples until I’m finished with their sketch, so I’ll go with the flow and let them have their time or until the other’s get feed up with waiting and push their way back to front and centre. So what about you? How did you start your writing journey?

Now you can see why I didn’t leave this on Rachael’s site. I ramble too much, anyway my son is here for a visit so I had better go and spend some time with him, I don’t get to see him anywhere near as much as I’d like too.

Bye for now.
Hugs
Sandie

Borders ~ I've Been Bad AGAIN

I had to go back to the doctor's yesterday, just a check up after my day surgery. He has put me on some different tables in the hope that these might spot my nausea, one can only hope. Anyway after I left the doctors I went to borders just for a look mind you. Yeah right, as if, I should know better.

So what did I buy this time? Well I got my first Anne Gracie novel YA. 'The Perfect Kiss', I've heard some very good reviews about this book, so I'm very excited about reading it. I also got Lucy Clark, 'Her Very Special Baby', Jennie Adams, 'To Love And To Cherish', Anne Oliver, 'Business In The Bedroom', and Trish Morey, 'The Sheikh's Convenient Virgin'. I just don't know which to read first, plus I still have a mile and a half of other novels to read. Sigh, just not enough hours in my day to fit everything in.

While I was in Borders I had to do some shelf rearranging. I mean how rude can they be? Fancy putting our own fantastic Trish behind the Mother's Day Special box when they clearly have enough of them out on display. Well Trish is front and centre now, as is Anne Oliver. They had her behind someone else, not good enough. When will these people learn that they should be promoting our own authors. I just know I'm going to have to go over to my two local Big W stores and do some more rearranging, oh and K-Mart as well. ;-)

Now I didn't just buy novels, I also bought Susie Bright's 'How to Write a Dirty Story', yes I know I'm suppose to be writing contemporary romance. Just couldn't help myself, I have started an erotic novel so thought this might help. Mind you if I do decide to go the erotic way, my daughter has told me to use a different name. (Cheeky little devil). I also got Louise Jordan's How To Write For Children - and get published', this one to help me with my stories I'm writing about my grandson's adventures. :-). For reference books I picked up 'Sex Slang' by Tom Dalzell and Terry Victor, very interesting book, IMHO. And because my spelling is just atrocious I got 'The McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Misspelled and Easily Confused Words'. So as you can see I had another fun fill day in my little slice of heaven.

Oh, I also got this cute journal; Books To Check Out, you write down all the books you want to read, borrow or lent, and your favourite books. So I'm making my list of books I want to buy. I now know they can get me some of Anne Whitfield's, so next time I'm down there I'm going to place my order. I'll also have my list to take to my local library, hopefully I'll be able to get them to stock a few of our own brilliant authors ;-).

Okay that's me for another blog. I'm going to do some housework, YUCK. I've put SVEN on hold for a couple of days, I'll get back into that on Monday. Have a great weekend everyone.

Hugs

Sandie