Tag: Poetry

Beaufort's Landing, crime, Memoir, Novels, Series, Writing

Oh The Agony!

What am I on about? Well it is a bit of a story, but the short version — I lost everything off my desktop. Yes, I do backup onto a USB and I thought the cloud, but hadn’t done the USB backup for a little while (I bought myself a new computer, what could go wrong in those few weeks?) so some earlier edits were saved but I had done a stack of work that wasn’t. As for the cloud, I had no idea it wasn’t backing up

How did this disaster occur? I was working on a docx file – pressed save – it flicked onto desktop then poof! All my folders and files sitting on the desktop disappeared from the screen. I couldn’t find them anywhere. Took the bloody computer to two (2) different fix-it companies and they were as baffled as me and despite many hours of searching through the backwaters — no luck, that sucks, but it is all gone!

‘Devastated’ doesn’t come close. I can’t even cry, just have this big empty space inside. Perhaps my work is hiding in there somewhere and it will miraculously return and my own memory banks will have retained some of it, but I’m not holding out much hope. I had done a lot of work in a short period of time hence the lack of external backup. So, my dears. BACK IT UP — OFTEN!

The good news is that I did have a fairly recent edit/draft of Deaf Ringer and so was able to use that and rewrite the parts I had added, subtracted, re-arranged, corrected…mostly. Anyhow it is completed now and out to the final beta reader, who tells me she is enjoying it. I was planning on a pre-Xmas release, but that won’t happen.

The featured image is a photograph of one of many huge murals in Charters Towers where a lot of Dead Ringer is set. This one and many of the others are copies of paintings by Peter Lawson. He is a terrific artist, based on Magnetic Island I believe. Look him and his works up at https://www.gallery247.com.au/peter-lawson and visit Charters Towers Region to step back into gold-rush, military and mining history, and for a taste of life on the land. Also pop into its new art space at Mike Carney Creative Industries Centre an exciting relatively new centre for local and regional artists and creatives of all sorts.

Well that’s all for now, ciao,

Novels, Poetry, Short Stories, Writing

Where to next?

Hello friends and followers, It has taken me this whole week to recover from the emotional and physical fatigue workshop week-end cost me. I won’t be so knocked around by anxiety next time, if there is a next time. The good news on the back of that, is that for my Townsville and surrounds followers both ‘Escape to Danger’ and ‘Death, Danger and Dark Dreams’ are now available in paperback from Mary Who’s Bookshop in Flinders St.

My present missions are to finish the Prequel, ‘Comimg Home’ and Book 3, ‘At Curlew Cry’, of the Beaufort’s Landing series. I am feeling the weight of that demand as I ready Book 2, ‘Tidal Secrets’, for print.

So, instead of getting on with these, I’ve allowed myself to be distracted by covers. Yes, bloody covers again, but this time I have more positive news. I have gone in and changed the cover fonts so they look more of a set and more, I hope, in genre. What do you think of these?

A bit better I think.

Now, along with the above I’ve finally decided on the cover for ‘Ruth In Pieces’…no, seriously…I think. Oh, and I’ve altered the cover for my collection of dark tales and poems, ‘Death, Danger and Dark Dreams’ – to wit…

Oh rats, the ‘Death’ one is supposed to have the author in caps. I’ll go fix that, sigh. Anyway, you get the idea. Are these en pointe?

I also need to be getting on and readying RIP for print and finishing Book 3 of that trilogy. I’ll get there, but not too much pressure yet as I can’t really do much until Book 2 returns with its rejection from Allen & Unwin in September.

You’ll excuse me, I’m sure, as I have to get back to work.

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Novels, Poetry, Short Stories, Writing

It’s Over!

Well, i got through the weekend’s events very well, though I was pretty peopled out and retreated to the garage to lose myself in painting for a couple of days.

I was enjoying myself, but Ann doesn’t look too impressed in that shot but as you can see I won her over in the end…lol…Thanks Ann for taking care of the figures for me.

To all the people who supported me and attended either the Meet-the-author night Friday evening or the workshop on Short Stories on the Saturday, I want to say thank you so much. I couldn’t have done it without you.

They were all kind enough to give lots of positive feedback. Here’s what a few attendees had to say…

“I enjoyed the presentation and readings. The information is very informative and helped me clarify a few things in my writing style.”

“I learned more about structure and story plots.”

“I learned new stuff–always a bonus.”

“…what NOT to include, as I find I write 100 words when 10 will do.’

“It was great please do it again.”

Not a bad outcome, I reckon. I’m so glad people got something out of it. I was terrified I’d bore everyone to death on Friday night. It was quite a task to get over my reluctance to talk about myself for so long, having had it pounded into my brain that you never blow your own trumpet.

I owe much to Townsville City Council for their support in the form of an Arts Grant, and to the Rollingstone Community Association for getting Behind me, especially Chris who helped me with the application. The local Lions Group fed and watered us. A good time was had by all and some great discussions entered into. Thank you all!