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
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, December 22, 2008
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
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
Friday, December 12, 2008
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
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