No More Edits and That’s a Promise.
Last week, I finished editing my novel and sent it back to Allen and Unwin. A few days later, one of my editors emailed to say: ‘It has been such a pleasure to read the revised manuscript this week. I think you’ve tightened the pace of the novel and fleshed out...
New Release Date for ‘The Sisters’ Song’
I have a new date for my book’s release: January 2018. Whilst this means I must wait another four months’ to see my book on the shelves, it also means that I have more time to complete these final edits and get my novel into tip-top shape. Once this...
The Story Behind the Story: My Great-Grandmother
In the lead-up to publication of my novel, I want to write a few posts about the inspiration for my story. Last year, I wrote about my grandfather in ‘The Story Behind the Story’. In that post, I talked about how as soon I started writing my novel, my...
Writing is Rewriting
Back in 2013, when I finished a first draft of ‘The Sisters’ Song’ (which was called ‘Ida’s Children’ then—I’m still getting used to calling my child by a different name), I had no idea how much editing and rewriting...
I’ve Been Editing …
My apologies for being so quiet on my blog lately. As most of you would already know, I’ve been doing the structural edits on my novel. They’re notoriously hard—just ask any author—and I had only one month in which to complete them. That month also...
My Writing Goals In 2017
I’ve been quiet on the blog lately and I apologise. My excuse is that in this part of the world, it’s school holidays, and I’ve wound everything right back so I don’t spend all day in the attic and neglect my family. School returns next...
The Story Behind My Story: My Grandfather
In the lead up to publication of my novel, I’d like to write more about the ‘The Story Behind the Story’: the genesis of my novel, and the people and places that inspired it. My Grandfather My paternal grandfather was...
Is Blogging Worth It?
Blogging is a big commitment. I’ve done it for three-and-a-half years now, and there have been times I’ve been tempted to let it lapse. When it’s felt like too much of a burden, another deadline, a time-sucker. I’m not a quick writer,...
On Signing a Publishing Contract and Getting to this Point
So, at long last, I got to sign one of these: A publishing contract. It took a while to reach my hot little hands and as soon as I’d signed it, I had to return it to the publisher for counter-signing, so I haven’t been able to gaze at it and...
I Have An Agent!
Just in case someone didn’t hear me shouting it from the rooftops of Facebook on Monday, I have an agent. Yes, a literary agent has agreed to represent my novel, Ida’s Children. That’s a big step forward for Ida and me, as...