Going Oh So Slowly

My writing is moving slower than a snail at the moment. It has nothing to do with the story, well I don't think it does anyway. No, I think it is more that I have too much going on in the outside world.

My Mum is not doing all that well at the moment and it is looking more likely that she will have to go into aged care. She is going into rest spite next week for a few weeks and we are hoping to get more in home care for her so she can stay in her own home, all we can really do is wait and see. I've decided I don't think I want to get old, it is the pitts.

So on top of that I'm getting more headaches, (well migraines). I don't have time for that crap. I have a novella to write. I'm at 5,351 of my 20,000 words with 17 days to go. So that is words a day I need to write as well as edit and do re-writes on 'We Were In Love'. I do not have time to be down for two and three days with migraines.

On to other news, I'm still in Karin Tabke 'One Line' contest. YAY. Really thought I'd go this week. So I've made the top 50, not bad, I'm happy. Rhain Cahill is still going strong as well, not sure about any other Aussies. I'll have to have a good read through them all and see if I can work it out.

I've written my first two reviews for Fallen Angel Reviews I'm not sure when they get posted to the site. I'm enjoying writing reviews, I'm reading novels I don't normally read and learning a lot about writing as well. I have a few reviews I've written for Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction on my Review Blog , you'll also find my Angel me there, LOL it's the only time I've been an angel.

Okay that is it for this update. See ya next time.

Sandie

An Interview With Suzanne Brandyn

I am joined today by Suzanne Brandyn whose first novel ‘Passion In Paradise’ is digital released today from The Wild Rose Press. Look out for the print format 21 February 2009.

Suzanne, thank you for taking the time to chat with us today, and congratulations on the release of your first novel. I have to ask, how are you feeling now you have your novel published?


I’m excited and a little nervous. I’m looking forward to the reviews.


Can you tell us a little about your novel?

Passion In Paradise was originally titled seven days. The first three chapters were entered in the RWAustralia Emerald Competition gaining a mark of 95%. I had to withdraw it as it was accepted for publication. I wanted to get two characters stranded on an island. It all took off from that single idea.

How long did you spend on writing your novel?

Oh now that’s a hard question. I wrote ‘Passion In Paradise’ in the National Novel Writing Month. But then a lot of edits followed to perfect little mistakes. :-)

In writing your novels, how do you decide what point of view to use?

This depends on which character has the most to lose but basically most of my manuscripts are 65% in the heroine’s POV.

Tell me a little about your writing process. How do you get yourself into the mood to write?

I really don’t get myself into the mood to write. I am in the mood to write. I think this stems from the desire to want to succeed, the desire to see my novels published and the desire to fulfill readers dreams.

Do the characters take on a life of their own? Or, do you direct where they go and what they do?

I basically have a general plot and a few subplots, but yes, my characters at times tend to do something I never planned. Usually when this happens it is such a great turning point and works out well.

Did you want to be a writer when you were growing up?

No, I wanted to be an airhostess. ;-)

What is your revision process like?

Once my manuscript is finalized I print it out. Then I read it through marking what needs to be changed. I pick up more discrepancies that way. I also read chapter for chapter aloud. This is a great way to pick up mistakes.

What are you working on now?

I have recently finished a category and currently I’m finalizing another.

What writers have influenced you?

I guess I could say Nora Roberts. But I admire most authors and their talent and ability to tell a good story.

What is your daily writing schedule like?

I try to write four days a week with an hour here or there. It depends on what I’m doing. I get up at seven, walk, attend to any domestic duties and by nine I am at my desk tapping away until five or five thirty. When I’m in my story I find that by five I have missed lunch and that’s not a good thing. Lol. But it continually happens.

Do you keep a journal?

Definitely. This is where everything in my life goes. I have done since 1994.

Do you have any bad writing habits?

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. All writers have bad writing habits. I tend to be repetitive. This includes using the same word over and over. You know pet words. I am becoming more aware of repetitiveness. ;-)

Can you tell us something about yourself that we would never guess?

An accident brought me to writing. The first accident in 1994, I wrote short stories articles etc. I then regained my health and joined the workforce until another accident in 2004 brought me back to my writing. Now, I am too in love with what I do to ever consider doing anything else. :-)

Suzanne thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions. I wish you every success with your novel, I know I’m looking forward to reading it.


Thank you Sandie. Thank you for having me. It has been wonderful. A great new experience for me. :-)

Enjoy! ;-)


If you would like to purchase Suzanne’s novel ‘Passion In Paradise’ go here to The Wild Rose Press.

Sandie

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