Rest and transformation

A polite oops, upon realising I haven't posted here since the end of last year. I thought I had. And then discovering I'd left this post in draft mode (technology and me, we will learn to embrace each other).

This year has been, unexpected, on a few levels which is all par for the course of life and I know it's giving me a wonderful depth of emotion to draw upon for my storytelling.  However, in saying that, I've come to some conclusions that mean I need to pull back a bit. Not that this blog has been busy (or regular) however, it does play on my mind.

Being a regular user of Google Reader (so not looking forward to the demise of this and finding a new way to stay on top of my blog reading), I know what I like regarding how many posts etc. I'd always intended this blog to be roughly once a month and that hasn't happened for quite awhile.

The result being a decision to go into a hibernation of sorts (hence the chrysalis images). In saying that, many wonderful things happening to many around me, I may well come by here and shout it out here along with twitter.

I'm not leaving the internet, I socialise (at times way too much) in various places and can be found most easily on twitter. If you tag me in a tweet I'll get notified and reply.

Meanwhile, in the interim, for myself, it's getting back to words. To telling myself the stories that are backing up in my brain.

Next Big Thing Meme

This meme feels like a round of “tag-you’re it”, once the domain of the school playground, this game has been doing the rounds in all my writing spheres. 

The lovely Jane Domagala tagged me and I in turn have managed to chase down three willing victims, er, participants. 

It’s a chance to have a peek into the things to come out of writer’s minds in all their delightful hues.

The Next Big Thing

What is the working title of your book?  Firewalker

Where did the idea come from for the book? Watching the weather and listening to the news in particular the various and ever increasing reporting of the natural disasters occurring globally.

What genre does your book fall under? Fantasy and depending on your personal definition urban or contemporary (think mermaids in our world).

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie? I don’t work this way. I more hear the voice than see the person. Possibilities would be Rose McGowan for Sofia, David Giuntoli (from Grimm) for J'Red.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?   The aim is to be represented by an agency.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? Dirty draft took just under five months.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? 
 Hard to say, I’m sure there are others out there, I’ve yet to come across something and say That!, That is where I sit. 

Perhaps some tv cousins (perhaps a second cousin) would be the series Lost Girl, or even Grimm. The principle that non-humans live among humanity and battles have been going on long before humans ever existed.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?
This story fell out of my brain and is part of a larger idea/series. The inspiration stemmed from an artefact - The Gundestrup Cauldron. Why was it found where it was.

 

Image from Wikipedia

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? If you’re tired of vampires, demons, shifters and angels (fallen or otherwise), this series has none of them. Instead it’s nosy humans, mermaids, sylphs, salamanders, gnomes and elementals.

And so the time to tag and pass on this meme to others has arrived. Enjoy having a look at what fantasy writers Eleni Konstantine, MJ Scott and contemporary romance writer Sandra Antonelli have coming up in their writing pipelines. Each will post their responses towards the end of December (Eleni's the 28th) or early January.

GenreCon wrap up

GenreCon has come and gone and what a blast it was. Being the first of its kind (in Australia) I was curious to see how the amalgamation of the various tribes would go. I've been a part of all three at some stage (most noisily in romance and spec fic) and it truly was wonderful to be able to catch up with friends from all areas at the same time.

The panels were a good mix of topics and I think the idea of using topics that were wide enough to encompass each genre, then having someone from each tribe being on the panel worked brilliantly (instead of say, a specific genre focused topic).

Given two of the three guests were from NYC (and giving the phrase shelter from a storm a whole new level of meaning), the guests of honour were lovely to meet and very generous sharing their wisdom, experiences and generally being available throughout the con.

The banquet dinner on the Saturday night was fun and the chats between courses a great idea. Sarah Wendell's presentation of a live snark went down brilliantly and I'm sure many will never view a platypus the same way again...especially when the highlight end cover was revealed. I know personally, bow ties and fuschia have gone to a new level of understanding (or therapy required).

After two days of interesting, thought provoking and inspiring panels, the con was wrapped with a Great Debate. A topic which has been since time eternal, a dilemma...Plotters vs Pantsers. It brought the house down with both sides bringing their best game. For those witnessing it, I doubt it will ever be forgotten. A fantastic way to wrap up.

GenreCon has been successful enough that there will be another next year, with Brisbane the host. I recommend highly anyone from any genre to experience it. I know I'll be trying to get to it.

A huge shoutout, bravo and sleeping vouchers to the organisers of GenreCon - the Australian Writers Marketplace, with Meg Vann, Peter M Ball, Aimee Lindorf, Sarah Gory, Sophie Overett, Simon Groth, Perry Woodward, Sharon Phillips,  among the list of invisible ninja staff who held it all together.

I've come back exhausted, inspired and ready to tackle the next phase of my life - both in the mundane day-day sense and the writing sense. Below are a number of links to various attendees of GenreCon who have given wrap ups of the event. If I find others, I'll update as I come across them.

GenreCon wrap up blog roll -

the Australian Writer's Marketplace (the team behind the organising of this convention)
Peter M. Ball (convenor of the awesome con)
Alan Baxter
Book Thingo (who has managed to find some of the Saturday night snark covers...)
Rowena Cory Daniells
Cheryse Durant
Fangbooks
Jayne Fordham
J. Michael Melican
Jason Nahrung
Caitlyn Nicholas
Romance Bandits (with Christina Brooke)
Tansy Rayner Roberts
Sisters of the Pen (Rebekah Turner, though I know three other sisters attended)
Zena Shapter
Helene Young
Lynda R. Young

How did October get here?

Halloween is nearly upon the world and that means the DarkSide DownUnder blog is due a birthday. How time flies. Two years in fact. Some great celebrations are going on over there, complete with blog hops and giveaways. Go and have a squiz at what the Darksiders are getting up to, or under...or through for that matter (one never knows with paranormal writers).

I’m off to the inaugural GenreCon being held in Sydney over the coming weekend. It’s a coming together of multiple genres, primarily speculative fiction, romance and crime - my three favourite beasts. I’m sure there will be more pondering thoughts to come from what looks to be a great line up of guests and panel topics. 

A year of changes. I knew 2012 was to be one of those. If you told me what some of these changes would be I’d be disbelieving. Living in interesting times is well, interesting. A lot of fodder for the mill of my brain which is still being chomped through. 

Not to mention this house has a new resident in the form of a Ninja Kitty.

2012 - the year brought to you by the letter W

Wow. 2012 has arrived. Already it's in double figures. January has that effect on me. It's one of those months that you look forward to and boom! you blink and it's gone before you know it. I never feel like I've had the calendar turned onto January for the full 31 days. Weird but true.

So. 2012. At last we meet. Sure, there's been heaps of talk of an apocalypse being the big feature for you at the end of the year but for me so much will happen before that...well, I may need an apocalypse to catch my breath. You are going to be a year of new phases and lifestyles. Why yes. Plural.

My son is off to university to pursue a career in physics and moving in with his dad. I will have gone from school-mum (or mom for those who prefer) to empty-nester in the space of three short months. I don't have time however to actually navel gaze this life transition. I'm too busy preparing for another one.

My wedding (the 1st of the letter "W"s). It is under five weeks away and I like to think of it as being caught in The Wedding Vortex. There shall be some traditional things (we do say vows, sign paper & then break bread after all) but there are many things that may not be seen as traditional (though what goes for traditional these days?).

In amidst all this I am also this year no longer in a day-job (well, at least until August or September). So, my new "day job" is writing. I'm finally able to spend my time on my words (the other "W" in my life). I shall continue to develop the Elemental series as well as get on with writing my Vestal Virgin centric story.

I'm looking forward to these changes. As the only constant in life is change. Saying that, I will however be continuing my reading challenges. They help keep me focused. I'm keeping records of them over on Goodreads I'm again using the challenges set up by Book Chick City (who I found via the wonderful Eleni).

My choice this year shall be -

I'm always wanting to expand my exploration of authors and genres so this fits beautifully. I'm going with 25 as the goal. Should be do-able.

How did November & a post about Joss Whedon get here?

So, this month it appears I've gone and written a post about Joss Whedon and storytelling for the Darksiders Blog. You can learn how Joss brought me into the world of emotion, stories and dinosaur betrayal.

The rest of my life has been very busy on the parenting front. My son is now officially a high school graduate which means we are all free of the school regime. So excited about it on many fronts, one of which is no more early morning starts. Well, except tomorrow which shall be an OMG-o'clock start due to assessing night shift workers. It's so rare, I don't mind. Too much.

The lead up to silly, crazy, hot season this year also absorbs waiting for university offers for son and realising it's now under three months until I get married.

Dark Side Down Under

Writing of time flying, it has been brought to my attention the Dark Side DownUnder blog I'm a member of is about to turn 1.....

There are some awesome prizes on offer with book giveaways from Keri Arthur, Rowena Cory Daniells, Tracey O'Hara and Erica Hayes to name a few of many.

All you have to do is come along, make a comment and answer a question on Monday, October 31.

Creativity, Life & Time

As I look at the calendar I'm slightly stunned how near the end of October we are. I knew at the start of this year it would be a rough year for me to balance my desire to write with my parent hat (we won't discuss wedding planning, I'll keep myself in denial on that front).

It's taken most of the year, but I've given myself permission to ride out the remainder of the school year (er, with 3 weeks to go) where getting words not down is okay. My son is wrapping up school and viewing life post school and all that entails - university applications, scholarships, choices, life without the school regime. In a way, so glad it's him not me (remember being 17??).  I have no doubt he will find and land on his feet, however it can be hard to watch the rollercoaster being so close to the action.

Meanwhile, there have been a lot of blogs appearing in my Google Reader about creativity, the need to keep going, burn out, balancing the creative with the practical side of one's life and it has me thinking.

So, while that blog post is percolating in my mind I'd like to direct you over to a blog by Deborah Biancotti (who is currently playing over at World Fantasy Convention) about creative exhaustion. It is something that happens to everyone in many different and varied ways. I know I've certainly enjoyed reading all the various responses Deb has received and it shows how no matter what way we travel to and reach the end product everyone has these thoughts. It's how we learn to handle them that counts.

Mysterious paper sculptures - Central Station Blog post

The internet can be a time suck it's true. But sometimes you come across things (I love facebook and twitter for this very reason)....like this. Go on. Have a scroll through. I think they are all beautiful, awesome achievements.

Mysterious paper sculptures - Central Station Blog post

I know I've been remiss in posting since the music. Real Life has been keeping me out of mischief. However, I have plans. They are somewhere round here, mixed in my ones for world domination.

Unintentional Radio Silence

Or should that be unintentional blogging silence. There was a plan. To do a blog during the Romance Writers of Australia 50K30day challenge. Being consistent, I didn’t pull that off either. Real Life intervened (as it does).

July saw me co-ordinating on the ground the RWA 5DI program. Was interesting being on the other side of the fence as six years ago I did a similar event called EnVision. I’ve never looked back from doing it and wanted to pay it forward. In between timekeeping during 5DI, editing managed to resume (I’d hoped to, but wasn’t planning anything). Was such a relief after so many bumps this year.

Back in June, the plan was to get on with edits and to make headway into my current wip (aka mermaid’s story). However, she and Real Life had other plans.  I’ve spent the snatches of available time reworking the turn she insisted on doing. Now I have this, the dirty draft is going to go down.  

Now, August looms.  Of course, August in Australia also means the RWA annual conference. It’s the 20^th anniversary and looking like being a wonderful shindig with plenty of networking, fun and learning.This year is in Melbourne and one of the guests I’m very much looking forward to meeting is Kelley Armstrong. Melbourne is a lot cheaper (and shorter) to fly to than Canada. 

I find it very amusing in my final year as an unmarried woman I will be room sharing (think of it as a professional girls weekend). Continuing on this train of thought is my other half mentioning since next year’s conference is much closer to home he may tag along (we get married and he comes to crash my girl’s weekend, er, I mean professional development).

Given we are both off to Brighton, England in 2013 for World Fantasy Convention (our delayed honeymoon) perhaps starting with a Romance Conference may be a wise thing.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 30 The End is Here! Desire, Romance & Blood

I've done it. Managed to keep with this meme all the way through. Never done this many blogs in a row. I'm thinking the once a  month with extras will be the way to go (it's where I sit comfortably in the blogging world when added to twitter, facebook and oh yeah, that pesky writing thing I do). Part of the experiment in doing this meme via my blog rather than facebook (keeping the list was another) was to see if I wanted to blog more often. I can see a blog post about where the interwebz fits into my world.

The final choice was for favourite song this time last year. May 2010 was a blur. I was busy working 2 jobs (both regarding teaching/training), juggling a teen in the first of two years of senior (we're in the final year now) and organising an engagement shindig......songs weren't really a priority.

Trawling YouTube by ways of friends posting songs on facebook was more how I came across songs last year.

The result is I'm wrapping with two songs.

The first is a performance by a capella group On the Rocks dong a performance of a Gaga medley with Bad Romance dominating (& it was the song on high play on radios too). I love the movements they do along with the general awesomeness of a bunch of guys pulling off the songs.

The second is another I must've heard a lot and started to enjoy via morning weekend tv music shows. Undisclosed Desires by Muse. Added bonus to a version I found on YouTube (before my son bought a few of the cds) is someone put a composite of Eric Northmen & Sookie Stackhouse from True Blood to the song. A fan of the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris and the HBO tv show (though do not watch/read one expecting the other to be the same).  Personally I think the actors playing Pam and Eric in particular have nailed their characters brilliantly. Some of the others I hold reservations on (& just don't get me started on the fairies....)

So to wrap.......some Eric goodness :-)

30 Day Song Challenge Day 29 Childhood, Puppets & Eurovision

The end is nigh. Today is the penultimate song choice. A song from your childhood. Being chosen and revealed on Mother's Day no less.

I could go with Abba, have memories of one of their albums being the first one I asked to own. Then I thought I could pull out one of the many hippie country folk songs from John Denver, Carole King, Peter, Paul & Mary, The Seekers since that is what I grew up listening to. But since many songs I've chosen are tending to the more obscure or left of field I figure I should keep this going.......

What I didn't realise in this song choice was it was originally a Eurovision song. Honestly, my mother has a lot to answer for *lol* (the fact Abba did Eurovision in no way changes this fact). The song came out before I was born, how on earth I heard it I have no idea. I do remember the small, single song LP record and requesting to have it played (I couldn't use the stereo system - was too young .....) and bop around the lounge room dancing to it. Repeatedly.

Without further ado........here is a classic earworm that can be hard to get out of your head. Puppet on a String sung by Sandie Shaw. Oh, and I managed to find the actual Eurovision performance.....so very different to what is done nowadays.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 28 What's Guilt? No choices made

Today is the hardest one in the list. Again I knew it was coming and again I have no idea what to use. In fact I'm not going to be putting a song up. Different to guilty pleasures (like chocolate) it is mean to be a song that makes me feel guilty. I don't feel guilty when any song plays and I have none that trigger a case of guilts....

Wonder if that's in part due to the fact I live my life eternally feeling guilt (mother's guilt, creative guilt...you know, those "I should be doing something about this/that/whatever" sensation and you're not doing it).

I searched around the interwebz to find songs about guilt - since that was the closest I was going to get but even then I was quite meh over the exercise.

Tomorrow is going to amusing as hell (well, in my brain it is).

30 Day Song Challenge Day 27 Playing Music Harder than it seems

A song I wish I could play. It's taken me most of the day to think on this one (and that is knowing this choice was coming).

I keep coming back to a number of instruments I wish I could play. Owning them or even having the commitment to rent them to practice is the main obstacle to this wish. On the list of instruments I wish to own/play (which I've realised all are used to play Baroque Music).....

oboe

harpsichord

bassoon

Cello

(yeah, there's the cost of a decent sized car right there for you...which is why I've not indulged myself on this desire).

So, I've been spending the day doing mundane tasks like grocery shopping, making jam drops all the while thinking of various pieces of music over the years I've thought would be cool to play. I can think of pieces for each instrument, to play with an orchestra.....harder than it seems to make a choice.

I couldn't find a shorter snapshot version of this one...Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J.S. Bach. Really love it about the 1 - 2 minute mark.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 26 Playing is No Longer Secret

A song that you can play on an instrument.

Oh this was fun to choose. I was remembering the time in my life I played the flute (essentially until I left school, though I do still pull it out every now and again). My high school had a very ambitious music program with a conductor who thought nothing (or, maybe he gave it some thought), of throwing to the advanced concert band works of a high standard. It was hard and we needed to practice. I wasn't as disciplined as I should've been but perhaps if I had my life would've taken a whole other route (music & ancient civilisations were my big loves.....still are in fact).

Ergo, today's choice. The Marriage of Figaro Overture by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Undiluted aka rearranged for school students. We played the real deal. I have copies of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd flute parts. Have played them all. I didn't have the piccolo at this point (that would've been around for the Magic Flute the following year). I was 15yrs old/Grade 10 and can remember playing it along with Slavonic Dances by Dvorak.

I hear this piece and immediately my brain goes to playing the notes, mastering the double tonguing technique required, remembering the rests, the different points of starting, harmonies.....

I love playing music. On my wish list of when I have a gazillion dollars I'd love to buy an oboe and learn to play it. In the meantime, I should probably look into getting my flute serviced......

30 Day Song Challenge Day 25 Teens Make Me Laugh

A song that makes you laugh. A couple came to mind, but one stood out. Sort of Dunno Nothin' by Pete Denahy is a look at the day to day conversations one can attempt to have with a teenager. In particular a teenage boy. I have a teenage son and have had days like this. I don't know about girls, I'm sure they can be just as non-communicative towards parents, family or people who aren't part of their inner sanctum. It's a very Australian song. Aussie language and humour in all areas - the lyrics, the delivery, the settings used. Makes me laugh. Hope you get a smile too.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 24 Humour & funerals make an appearance

A song you'd like played at your funeral. I've thought of this on occasion and I have two songs I'd like played. Whether it'd happen is another thing entirely.

One song is What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. I first discovered this song via the Robin Williams movie Good Morning Vietnam. It's also the final song at the end of the TV version of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I'd have this one played first (as you can get weepy).

My son I'm sure would say the next one is an obvious show of my humour but really it's to tell people to get on with their lives and to celebrate life. The song is Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin, an earworm of a song that came out in the late 80s. Added bonus to the video is Robin Williams making an appearance.

Sure be sad, but what I really want at my funeral is for people to celebrate the act of living and the times they had with me. 

30 Day Song Challenge Day 23 Wedding Secrets not revealed

A song to play at my wedding.  However, my wedding is on a schedule for next year. We haven't decided what songs we're going to use yet. Not to mention, my arrival song is going to be a surprise for the groom.

Maybe, after the ceremony next February, I'll do a post about weddings but until then.....I'm going to seal my lips, and take the U.S. fifth and not tell here.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 22 When Chilli is Sad

A song listened to when sad. Sometimes it depends on the cause of sadness, a passing memory, something that is upsetting at the time, being a witness or participant - it all changes the song choice for me. So, I trawled through all my music lists, listened to a few. Then realised one automatically pops into my head - Otherside by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I'd forgotten how much I liked this video too.

The other time this song makes an appearance is when I do my swimming laps - there's a great rhythm in this song that times perfectly with strokes used in swimming up and down a pool. Swimming however does not make me sad. It relaxes me. So, a multipurpose song really.

I use Red Hot Chili Peppers a lot when I'm writing. The music can help me slide into the zone to a point I've no idea how much time has passed by.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 21 Happy Song with Lions

Aaaah, Saturday and the hunt for a song I play when I'm happy. Honestly, nothing popped. But one I find cheery and always leaves me feeling chirpy would be The Lion Sleeps Tonight. I always thought it was a traditional song (aka folk song), however, if you're curious click on the song title (just above here) to go to the Wikipedia listing and see the interesting history this song has had on the copyright front.

It's been around awhile but more recent history is an appearance in The Lion King - movie and musical. A great movie that has much sentimentality tied to it as well.

The version I'm linking to today cracks me up with the animation of the hippo and the dog. I love the gestures both facial and body. Enjoy!

Oh, and I can never listen to it just one time.....there's always at least a second....or a third.....