Citrus Skies

Joseph Kleitsch

I've just discovered the paintings of Joseph Kleitsch. Impressionist works are so easy to live with...if it doesn't sound too pretentious, I'd say they delight the soul.

Paper Crow, Spring/Summer 2010

I just received a couple of copies of Paper Crow in the mail--my poem "Hate Circles the City" is part of it. Opened it at random and read Noel Sloboda's "Last Bus to Hell". Yes! Punchy and clever.

Discovering new poems is joyous.

And editor Angela Craig writes charming letters.

Happiness is being part of fine work.

Celebrate with Carina Press

Carina Press is counting down to the 7 June launch and to celebrate they're giving away wonderful prizes--books! Check it out

My paranormal romance novella, The Price of Freedom, is to be released June 14. You can't imagine the thrill of seeing it listed as part of the launch. O happy day!

Carina Press Launch Countdown

Time to party! 

Tumblr

Think I'm developing an addiction.

I've signed up. You'll find me at http://jennyschwartz.tumblr.com/

If I've gotten the feed right, this blog will appear in link summaries over in this new (to me) site.

Dog Yarn

Finally, a way Toby can be useful! You can actually make dog yarn from his fur and knit something with it.

Not that I'm going to...can't knit.

Yes, and?

It's been a while since the last Toby photo.

Apparently, here, I'm interrupting his life.

Globish?

I don't travel enough (--at all) to comment intelligently--hmm, question to self, when do I comment intelligently?

Globish is a new term to me. Seems to mean a limited English vocabulary, direct active voice, in use among non-native-English speakers.

Globish (as a word) sounds like something a troll would speak--all gargle and spit.

Seeing sick people stimulates immune system

This study reported at Phys Org suggests seeing a sick person stimulates a strong immune response.

I wonder what this means for medical staff, constantly confronted with disease symptoms?

And on a lighter note, who knew just strolling through the mall while people sneeze and cough and sniffle gives my immune system a work out? See, I'm not wasting time window shopping, I'm taking preventative health action.

Learning to Write--10 Great Books

and I don't think I've read any that made it to Heather Summerhayes Cariou's list.

When I think back, the advice I'd hate to have missed is the early posts in Uncle Jim's novel writing thread over at Absolute Write Watercooler.

I can't imagine ever stopping learning the craft of writing, but different advice, different authors work at different points in the journey.

Die for Love by Elizabeth Peters

With my Twitter world filled with #RT2010 (the Romantic Times conference) now might be the time to dig out a copy of Elizabeth Peter's Die for Love and re-read.

In this fictional gathering of romance writers and fans there is conniving, laughter, death and problem solving. An over the top, affectionate skewering of conference and industry hoopla.

Camels and all that

Writing about djinn I'm spending a lot of time thinking about deserts--and camels.

My latest addiction

Hot chocolate. Not sure if I've already confessed.

It's coming up to winter here in Western Australia and that means cosy pullovers that hide a multitude of sins--or the consequences of sin. Quick, hide those bathroom scales.

I pour a cup of milk (full cream) into a saucepan, add cocoa powder, cinnamon, vanilla essence and sugar, stir and bring to the boil. Mmm.

Heaven

Pop culture references

One of my favourite amusements when reading a book is recognising quotations the author has woven in. Older books did this a lot (I'm thinking of Anne Hepple's Border romances, for instance), mostly quoting bits of poetry or Shakespeare's plays (Georgette Heyer had her hero in "The Black Sheep" quote "my bright particular star" to the heroine and years later I remember the quotation though the hero's name? oops, gone completely).

I was wondering if this has gone out of fashion, but then I realised the shared background of author and readers is less poetry now than the pop culture of TV, movie, music--and this has two drawbacks. First, the copyright and permissions issue. Rather than deal with the hassle, authors don't use the quotations. Second the fact these references have short life spans and quickly date a book.

I understand all this but...Bring back the hunt-the-quotation game!

Social Networking and Stress

According to this study (via Phys Org) when stressed women find comfort/support/encouragement in social networking, but men withdraw.

So when I'm chattering wildly, I'm stressed? I knew that!

The Mythical Creatures Bible by Brenda Rosen

Beautifully illustrated and a handy starting point when I want to write a spec piece but can't find inspiration. The Mythical Creatures Bible by Brenda Rosen includes creatures from a wide range of cultures, brief descriptions and effective categorisation.

My poem "Hate Circled the City" in Paper Crow isn't about golems, but reading the entry on golems sparked the poem.

Sometimes a starting point is all we need. Our wild imaginings take us on from there.

Still on Facebook

The trade-off between functionality and privacy. Lifehacker's post is a good summation, and includes steps to protect your Facebook privacy.

My feeling is that anything sent to the internet risks becoming available to people who you never want to see it. I cross my fingers and trust in encryption when I buy things online. For the rest, what I share I try to run past a mental filter--in 10 years time will I cringe if this reappears? (Not that anyone's going to bother holding anything against me, I'm an ant in a 6 billion world)

Watch what your friends "like" while you blog

Given that I'm a tech idiot, I may have read Mashable wrong, but it seems to me you can place Facebook's new "like" the whole damn world button/viewing results on your blog and watch what your Facebook friends are "liking". Of course, if posted to your blog, the whole world can watch your friends right along with you. Hmm.

Weekend photos

I took some photos over the weekend and have posted them to Facebook. This busy bee is a new favourite.

It's a new week!

Well, my footy team lost (badly), but I had a lovely weekend of sloth and I'm happily set for a new week. I'm forcing myself to leave alone my Australian djinni novella. I need some distance from it before a final revision. Fortunately, that leaves me space to think about a story I've been dying to write.

Doesn't the very mention of Damascus conjure images of romantic travel and trade? I'm setting the next novella in Syria. Cali is the djinni at the heart of the story, a beautiful, wilful, vengeful fury. For Andrew, the guardian angel who falls in love with her life is not going to be easy. The tough soldier will have to rediscover tenderness if he's to lead her into trust and love.

I'm so excited to start their story this week.

Happy weekend!

I have a football game to watch on TV--yay Eagles!--and shopping to do (boring stuff, but there will be chocolate) and beautiful weather to enjoy this long weekend.

Hope you all have a sunshiny couple of days :)

Yep. It's me--Rare photo of photophobic

Facebook Page

I created a FB page, played with it and concluded that for right now I'd go crazy trying to maintain a "me" me on FB and a "page" me. So I've deleted the page.

However, some good did come of the exercise. I'd forgotten to acquire a username for my FB profile. I went and snaffled "authorjennyschwartz". So facebook.com/authorjennyschwartz will link you straight to my FB wall. You're welcome to add some graffiti while you're there :)

Maybe some Neanderthals did survive

or their DNA did. Scientists suggest evidence that Neanderthals and humans interbred.

Facebook Pages

They seem to act like mini-websites within FB and I think I'll set one up for my writing.

Why did no one way back in Intro to Literary Studies not tell me I'd need html coding skills to be a writer? A grievous oversight.

Blog Fairy

Way back on Monday--nearly an entire week ago--I asked what sort of supernatural creature you'd wish to be. I hope someone chose "blog fairy".

I think the world needs more blog fairies--magic creatures who bring sparkle to a blogger's life by dropping in the odd surprise post.

"Oh no", the blogger's groaning. "I have a cold and sniffles and I can't think. What will I post today?"

But wait. What light by yonder computer screen breaks? It is the east and the blogger fairy is at hand.

Surprise posts that make blogger and audience smile would be a wonderful gift.

So how many of you chose to be blogger fairies? And when will you visit?

Ball on Shipboard by James Tissot

The dress detail is incredible.

[Wikimedia]

Using the internet and feeling at home

Facebook's ambition to scatter "like" buttons all over the internet, encouraging people to populate Facebook with any and everything that catches their eye has forced me to stop and think about my internet habits and more than that, where I feel comfortable on the internet.

The result is my realisation this blog is my nest. To it I bring back interesting articles and muse on them. It's here that I post triumphs and progress reports (and I have to admit, the odd whinge).

But Facebook wants us all to move our nests to its space.

The problem I have with Facebook is the way all additions to a person's page are dumped on friends' pages. Yes, you can choose selective sharing--but who bothers? I don't want to be responsible for further cluttering people's lives by dumping all my random "likes" on their Facebook pages. ::sigh:: I think I've just talked myself into learning and using selective sharing.

Related to this is the fact I find discussion boards and the comment section of blogs far more interesting (and navigable) than Facebook. At the moment (and possibly due to my unfamiliarity) Facebook (and Twitter) seem like a lot of white noise--useful engines, background noise to my online life.

It'll be interesting to see how Facebook's ambitions play out and where people (and weight of numbers is a judgement in itself) feel comfortable on the internet.

Wearing Dead Men's Minds

Paste with spit
over the naked spirit
a carapace of text.

I read,
therefore, I am.

But who am I
who twists these words
into the food of ego?

Are an author's political views important to you?

Sometimes is my fence-sitting answer.

A well-written genre novel (mystery, SF, romance) can pull me in even if I disagree with the political slant to the book--ie the way social class is accepted, questioned; the analysis/reference to current affairs.

A non-fiction text, well, when I disagree with the author here, the disagreement is more likely to have me throwing the book across the room, so I pick my non-fiction books with a greater eye to the author's likely sympathy with my world view. It's all very well to be challenged--I don't look for my reading to enrage me.

Beyond political sympathies, if a book is nasty or snide, I put it aside.

But back to the original question--the author's political views.

As authors share their opinions/lives on the Net, you can get a fair sense of their world views. I suspect this influences me less than the quality of their work (and I acknowledge the sneakiness of this answer, because "quality" includes for me a style that excludes offensiveness).

So I haven't really answered the question, but it's an issue I'm considering--How much sympathy of world view/experience must there be between authors and their readers?

Iona by Francis Cadell

[Wikimedia]

Revisions

I love revisions. I'm in the middle of revising my paranormal romance novella--the one with a sexy Australian djinni (he migrated with Afghan cameleers in the nineteenth century) and a passionate, innocent angel. It's such a good story, and revisions are the place where I get to make it better--tweak the tension, add description using all five senses, simply add joy now that the tough work of first draft is over. It's like someone else has dug over the garden and I get to plant the pretty flowers.

Love, love, love revising. When it's all polished I'll submit it to Carina Press, then type with my fingers crossed till I hear back--hopefully with an acceptance :)

Facebook takes over the world?

We'll be "liking" all over the place.

I think I'll scream if I have to add another button to this blog. It looks cluttered already.

iStory?

Narrative, a new journal, is aiming to be read on iPhones and iPads. This has set constraints on the stories published--notably their length--150 words.

Now I'm trying to remember the length of a drabble. 100 words? 80?

Very brief stories aren't new. They are a challenge.

There is a submission fee. It doubles as a subscription fee.

I wonder how technology will impact the stories told in the next few years. As I've said earlier, I think shorter stories will benefit. But maybe it's truer to hope everything will find its niche.

Free Read--I've posted an SF story at Goodreads

"The Divide" is a flash fiction take on what the financial crisis could have triggered, but didn't. Still, the number of people who feel both powerless and overwhelmed aren't fiction.

Le Bateau Atelier by Claude Monet

Solitude

[Wikimedia]

Dee Tenorio interviews Deb Nemeth

Over at Carina Press.

Dee is a great author and Deb a fearless editor. Drop by and read Deb's great escape.

Neat hint at the end of the interview for authors submitting their MS.

Time v Money--and your book buying habits

Again over at Dear Author, a discussion on how finite resources (time and money) affect readers' habits.

For authors this is the question of will readers buy your book in place of someone else's or in addition to it.

Harlequin Blogger Bundle

If you remember a Harlequin romance (from 1998 on) with an unusual heroine and you'd love to read it again (in digital form) drop over to Dear Author to nominate it and/or vote. Harlequin is putting together another blogger bundle.

Idle Thoughts

I was thinking about the stars last night, how I have two competing concepts of the night sky. One is the myth-informed notion of the stars as a celestial background to human lives and the other is as vastly distant suns, all furious science. These competing conceptions left me unable to pursue a single vision in peace.

It started me wondering where a poem comes from. Is it from a single vision? So I close my mind to the stars as nuclear hot houses and go with stars as a heavenly landscape. Or does a poet have to embrace the competing visions and build a poem in that tension?

Revelation to the Alien

Every Day Poets has published my poem, Revelation to the Alien. I'd call it darkly satirical, but what do I know? I sure had fun writing it.

Rumplestiltskin by Anne Anderson

[Wikimedia]

Mixed Genre Anthology--Short Story Me

Short-Story.me have published an anthology of crime, SF, fantasy, etc--a celebration of genre work. My story "Dragon Bride" is part of it. Why not buy it for your Kindle? I think a paper version is coming soon.

Talking to whoever's out there

Last week The Economist reviewed The Eerie Silence by Paul Davies and mentioned at the end of the review a contest run by the Daily Telegraph asking what message people would broadcast to aliens. The Economist then quoted this suggestion:

"Two thousand years ago, we had a very enlightening visit from the Creator’s Son. Has he been to visit you yet?"

Now, I thought that was a pretty cool message to the unknown. What would you send?

The Titan's Goblet by Thomas Cole

[Wikimedia]

And who are you?

Question for the week. If you could be any supernatural creature, what would you be? Angel, demon, djinni, tooth fairy, siren, werewolf, vampire, ogre, gremlin,...?

I guess I'm looking at the question as a way to try on the strength and weaknesses of each supernatural entity as a way of generating conflict and story ideas for paranormal romance.

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs is as good as I hoped it would be.

It's a novel about loyalty--complications, conflict, compassion, hope.

I don't want to mention any spoilers, but a couple of books ago the series shook me. With Silver Borne I'm back enjoying the paranormal world Briggs has created--vivid and coherent. The characters are strong, real enough to walk off the page, and they are consistent across the series with believable personal journeys.

Botox and Emotion

This article raises the question whether botox treatment (by eliminating the face's ability to register emotion) decreases a person's emotional experience. So you frown less and (possibly) want to frown less--but what about smiles and happy moods?

[found link via Mind Hacks]

Beyond Letter Literacy

BoingBoing posts a chat with Henry Jenkins.

I'm trying to get my head around this way of viewing media. I doubt I have the right terminology, but this active engagement of people with books, tv, movies, games, blogs, tweets, websites, whatever reminds me of Postmodernism's critique that we are co-creators of the experience we consume. And what does that mean?

Well, it's suggesting that the more we put in (the more skills and savvy) the more we get out.

Also makes me wonder if content producers (and as a writer, I am one) ought to engage with the internet (the most ubiquitous carrier of social media) in a way that supports people's differing levels of savvy/engagement.

So increasing levels of streaming? a way for people to involve themselves in different depths of engagement with what you produce, given that you (online) are part of what you produce.

I know my thinking is chasing way behind a lot of other people and that I must sound slow-to-the-party and a bit random. But my brain is ticking over.

Different levels of engagement. It has to be easy for people to fit into the level they are comfortable with, but also to move deeper.

Whew. Wrangling with a website is tough work

But I've got it to display The Price of Freedom cover and slightly re-arranged the My Books page. Having another cup of coffee on the strength of this achievement. Now I'll have to learn how to pop a permanent link on this blog.

Truly, a writer's work is never done ;)

The Price of Freedom Cover

To say I'm happy with The Price of Freedom cover is an understatement. The cover is stunning.

The Price of Freedom--The Cover is Here!

Bewitched and Betrayed by Lisa Shearin

My copy is in the mail! Bookseller promises.

I hope it's a keeper, like the first three in the series.

AddThis deserves an award

I'm in love with AddThis. Now with one click people can share anywhere any of my posts. I realise this is not new functionality, but AddThis gave clear instructions (even I could follow) to alter the Blogger template for this functionality. Totally blissed that a tech world thing was easy.

Happy, happy.

Maples in Chester County by William Trost Richards

[Wikimedia]

The Superficial Social Scene

When it comes to dating, this study written up at PhysOrg suggests more options equal less discernment. In other words, given an abundance of potential partners we tend to look at externals--height, weight, attractiveness. When we have fewer options, then we take the time to dig deeper--well, slightly deeper.

Putting on romance writer's hat. Interesting that the setting in which hero and heroine meet can have this unconscious effect. Lots of ideas boiling, now.

ePublishing and the Rediscovery of the Short Story

Orbit Books have just announced they'll be electronically publishing short stories from their authors. This provides both a new product to sell (for author and publisher) and promotion for the authors' longer works, ie their novels. I think this is smart. SF&F readers have a tradition of short stories, and online short story ezines.

It does make me wonder though--buy a short story from one author or support an ezine that supports many authors (many of whom aren't already published names)?

Fortunately I think there's room for both options in the market.

It's end of week catch up time

I began this week with wild excitement. The end of my novella was in sight. And then I got distracted--by life, by my website, by the unwilling re-learning that I'm not superwoman to achieve everything. But why can't I be superwoman?

So today and tomorrow I'll be working furiously trying to cram the writing in--both the last chapter and finish the synopsis. The last is a ha-ha. I'm not going to finish the synopsis in a couple of days. I write it as I revise the MS and I'm about half way through.

Sadly this week my ambition (in the sense of intention) has outstripped my energy--who knew there are only 24 hours in a day?

Where's my soap?

There's a campaign in Australia raising awareness about the destruction of rainforest to support ever more palm oil production. You would not believe how many products have palm oil in! All I want is a soap without the stuff. Is that too much to ask?

Maybe olive oil soap?

I'm getting really cross that producers sneak palm oil in and label it "vegetable oil". But vegetable oil raises a whole new issue--will I have to forgo junk food because it's fried in palm oil? Eeek. It's winter coming up. How will I live without fried chicken?

Authors and Social Media--Just Watch Laurie King

I've been following Laurie King since I joined Facebook--admittedly, that's not a long time--and she's an awesome example of an author with a strong Net presence. This article by Jeff Widmer (which she links on FB) analyses her activity. For any writer looking to use social media--and who isn't?--it's worth checking out.

My analysis? It's about community. And what starts a community? In this instance, great books that engage the readers' imaginations. But in terms of social media, it's also the fact Laurie King creates conversations. People don't just drop by, they're lured into participating.

Sunny Skies

Bland Blog

After yesterday's huge effort to get my website up and running, and the fact the electricity company is switching off in 14 minutes for maintenance type work, my brain is running dry. Apologies that everything is a bit beige this morning.

I'll post a quick photo before my computer enters enforced sleep.

The PMWU Cookbook

Don't know how buyable The PWMU Cookbook is, but if you can get hold of a copy (and you work in Australian kitchen measures) this is by far my favourite all round cookbook. My copy is showing its age and use. A definite keeper.

Beyond Compare by Penny Jordan

If you enjoy a sweet romance with an innocent but determined heroine, a sexy devoted hero and an English country setting, why are you waiting? Track down Penny Jordan's 1989 Mills and Boon, Beyond Compare, and dive in.

Beyond Compare is my favourite Jordan. It's like in a movie when the chemistry between the stars works. The chemistry here is real, enjoyable and the heroine is blissfully blind to it. She wakes up.

A Country Cottage Charm

Candles warmly lavender,
white lace curtains,
wooden floors and wicker chairs,
a hand-stitched, quilted throw.
A purring cat, a simmering pot,
wind chimes on the air.
And most of all, those you love
calling, "Welcome home."

I have a website!

And not with the original web hosting company who took ages (a whole weekend--call me impatient LOL) to respond to requests. But so far I'm very happy with Just Host.

http://www.authorjennyschwartz.com/

It's rather obviously still a work in progress, but I promise you don't need to wear a hard hat when you visit :)

The Final Chapter

I have one chapter to write on my djinni in Australia novella and then it's revision time. Actually, I revise as I go, but this time I know there's going to be back fill as I tweak the tension. Still let's not race ahead. The focus today is the final chapter. It is a joy not to be rushed--a happy ending--the time an author can stop "torturing" her characters and create happiness.

Australian landscape

Lady Meg's Gamble by Martha Schroeder

I enjoyed this immensely. An innocent heroine determined to marry a stranger for his money. A retired (though not old and cranky) sea captain hero who has given up on dreams. He wants a comfortable, respectable life. What he gets is Meg.

A perfect light regency.

After Midnight published by Every Day Fiction

Over at Every Day Fiction they've just pub'd my story "After Midnight". Hope it raises a laugh with a few people.

Jacob's Ladder by William Blake

All the way to the heart of the sun.

The mix of biblical references, alchemy and mythology is tantalising.

[Wikimedia]

Just go read Mind Hacks

http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2010/04/20100409_spike_act.html

So many links to interesting articles and studies. I haven't looked at them all yet, but there's the slower but shrewder aging brain, the "eye of the cycle" effect for disaster survivors, the pleasure of pain and are you smart or just pretending to be (oh dear, think I'll have to read that one and 'fess up).

Edited to add. Just read "smart seeming" article. Clearly I (being female) am one of those less likely to be perceived as smart. Interesting thoughts on prejudice, our self-image and educational/employment outcomes.

Just cruising

I took some happy snaps over the weekend.

Authorial Competition

It's a crowded market out there. Whatever genre you write in, chances are its already stuffed with reader favourites, amazing books that delight and linger in the imagination. You probably have favourite authors whose new releases you snaffle and who you re-read frequently hoping the magic rubs off on you and your draft manuscript.

Beware. Setting your mind up to believe you're competing with these top authors for readers might stifle your brilliance.

The Wall Street Journal has an article on the unconsciously intimidating superstar effect. You become self-conscious and your natural style falters.

Maybe my new mantra should be -- only I can write as me?

The Road to Hell is Paved with...

Good intentions.

I intended to publish a simple, friendly author website over the weekend. It would help if my chosen web hosting company didn't keep rejecting my attempt to buy my domain name--don't they want my money?

Did I mention I have a tech jinx?

**spoiler alert**

Hope it doesn't take a trip to Mars to rid me of my jinx [Diana Wynne Jones ref. Year of the Griffin].

Author Website Design

Resurrected from Dear Author because it's just so useful.

Sleeves Rolled Up

I'm fighting with technology today, so no posts. My brain is too full of evil tech support people and my plans for them (nasty), and how to circumvent the jinx that accompanies me whenever I venture into new tech territory.

If you hear anyone screaming like a banshee, it's me.

Hope everyone else has a lovely weekend :)

Landscape with a Windmill by Eurgen Ducker

[Wikimedia]

Slow Dancing

Love is a long slow dance
moving together, apart,
returning.
Finding rhythm in
another's heartbeat,
purpose in their joy.

Dreaming of Libraries

An older but still fabulous collection of libraries (or rather their photos). Libraries as beautiful treasure houses. [Link came from Laurie King's post on Facebook]

But after I ooh'd and ah'd over the prettiness of the libraries, reality nudged me. It said, "silverfish", "mould", "not being allowed to take notes in ink". It said, "feet off the chairs", "no coffee or chocolate smears". And I started to think about what a dream library is for me.

A place of silence. (I walked into a local library one day and found them holding a drumming class--I kid you not. Drums in a library).

Comfortable chairs. A desk the right height for a short person--I hate being left swinging my legs while I scribble notes.

Books, books, books--not DVDs--magazines and journals allowed. Must be able to download ebooks.

Good lighting, but no glare.

A sunny courtyard where people can adjourn to chat, drink coffee, smell the roses.

Una and Lion by Briton Riviere

[Wikimedia]

The Morals of a Romance Reader

Romance readers treasure happy endings. Virtue (however you define it) is rewarded with true love and happiness.

In other words, a romance reader gives their time to an entertainment that confirms their moral view of the world as being a better place for having in it people who love, who risk intimacy and emerge triumphant.

A romance novel celebrates a passionate hero/heroine who learns who they are, what (or who) is important to them, and then, commits themselves to that cause/person.

Every great story is a quest. In romance novels, the holy grail is love.

Jen2late Twitters

I'm on Twitter. Of  course, I arrived too late to claim my own name or anything remotely like it. Went for ironic acceptance: Jen2late

There's a button somewhere on the sidebar linking to my tweets. However, until I get organised, it won't link to anything interesting. Tomorrow I'll start following people. Probably won't be able to resist the urge to "stalk" some politicians.

Oh, and I've caved in to Twitter's insistence--uploaded a real photo of me. I hate photos.

Light Shimmers

Carina Press Authors Blog Roll

CP authors are pretty awesome--humour, writing advice, seriously exciting imaginations. I've started a blog roll (bottom right corner) so it's one click to meet some great people.

Edited to add: I will try to keep this up to date. If you're a Carina Press author and your blog's not listed, drop me a comment. I'm technologically inept, not snobbish.

And while I'm posting poetry

Check out David Kopaska-Merkel's Rocket Boy.

The Traveller

The traveller, eating at street stalls and back room tables,
acquires history as it falls
in atoms through entropic bodies.
Shakespeare's tongue, Borgia fingers,
the heart of Tamerlane
are now a single woman
quiet in her transience.

Changeless by Gail Carriger

My no spoilers rule does make this a difficult post.

In Changeless, Gail Carriger expands and adds detail to the alternate Victorian world she debuted in Soulless. It's a vivid paranormal world and Changeless beefs up the steampunk elements.

There are other differences between the original and the sequel. In my opinion (in other words--I could well be about to say something stupid) Soulless exploited the conventions of Regency romances to good effect. As a Regency reader I was on familiar ground despite the original paranormal twist Carriger added to her Victorian world.

In Changeless, the Regency conventions (and I'd argue, the romance) are gone. The sequel is an Adventure. Read and enjoy.

No Walk Today by Sophie Anderson

[Wikimedia]

Social Networking--Preferences by Age Group

Sarah Morgan has some interesting musings and research on who uses what media. I thought Twitter was for teenagers. Seems I'm wrong, wrong, wrong.

Oh-So-Sensible Secretary by Jessica Hart

I enjoy Jessica Hart's category romances. She writes about women who aren't glamorous, who know self doubt, but who ultimately follow their hearts. Her heroes are sexy because they're competent (I think I've posted before how competence is a huge turn on in a hero. The alpha male just takes that competence to extremes and beats his breast and hollers while he's about it).

The Oh-So-Sensible Secretary was interesting because it's one of the few Mills and Boon I've read that's written in the first person point of view. After a couple of pages I adjusted and enjoyed it--although a nitpick was the annoying naming of the nail polish the heroine kept changing. Like I cared. I hate nail polish.

A classic category with the hero falling in love and the heroine oblivious, blinded by her own insecurities. Enjoyed it.

And Fiona Harper's Housekeeper was a sensitive handling of grief and head trauma.

Can an email say I love you?

I was thinking about this question last night. Would a twenty first century Romeo twitter rather than stand under Juliet's window and declaim?

A few decades ago there were novels written as letters. L M Montgomery wrote one of her Anne series that way, and Jean Webster wrote another. You watched the heroine's life through her letters.

I'm wondering if the shorter, jerkier language of twitter and emails is as successful at carrying the novel reader into the heroine's relationship.

I recently read a novel where the author glossed over days of the heroine's developing relationship with the hero by saying they texted frequently. Huh? That developed a relationship? Am I a dinosaur that this didn't work for me, or is it something more basic--the author fell into the trap of "telling" rather than "showing"?

Anyhoo, I'm just wondering about how romance and other writers weave these new forms of shortened communication into their stories.

Carina Press Author Meeting

Well, I've confirmed two things this morning--I'm an idiot and the Carina Press team is lovely.

The idiocy was my inability to use a phone. I forgot to add the dial out of Australia code to the international phone number. It took me till a third of the way through the meeting to track down my oversight. I think I'll blame Telstra--although I could just as easily blame the time. It was 5:40 am when I tried to phone and my brain was misfiring.

Now, I have a second cup of coffee and I'm buzzing with the enthusiasm of being part of CP.

Rialto Bridge by Maurice Prendergast

[Wikimedia]

Novellas--Why Their Time has Come

Yes, my Carina Press manuscript, The Price of Freedom, is a novella. So I have a vested interest in this discussion. It doesn't invalidate my argument.

Novellas are going to boom.

I'm a long time fan of Harlequin Mills and Boon category romances. I think 50-55,000 words, an hour's reading, an exciting emotional ride and a satisfying happy ever after are a brilliant way to improve my day. But that's a solid hour to hour and a half of reading without distractions. What if we halve that word count? Now we have the perfect lunch time read or commuter there-and-back story, like the mini novels that are huge in Japan.

When it's well written a novella can deliver the punch of a longer story. It focuses tightly on its key characters and their emotional drama. It also respects the competing demands on its readers' time.

The novella is the perfect length to read when you're busy. You know how guilty you can feel stealing reading time for an epic novel when work and family life is crazy. But a novella gives you a mini escape. It uses stealable time.

Also, as novellas become increasingly popular their shorter commitment of time will allow writers and readers to be more adventurous. What you mightn't commit to reading in a full length novel, you will taste test in a novella.

So, that's Tuesday's argument. Novellas are coming.

Blogging the Future

Dear Author has interesting links and comment discussion on ebooks and publishing. I think my brain will explode if I think much more about the future of the publishing industry.

As a reader, I'm still waiting for an ereader that is gentle on my eyes and on the environment--not to mention light in terms of price and transportability.

And that's about it for content and pricing wars and me. I'm done. Plum tuckered out.

Everyone loves puppies

Abby visits.

Blank Blog

I've been staring at the screen trying to think of something, anything, to write. Weird what thoughts skippity-hoppety into the brain when there's blank space to fill.

Do you want to know I planted kale yesterday and the snails haven't yet eaten it (yep, procrastination well underway, I went outside and checked snail-munching status)?

Or maybe you're dying to know how I'm contemplating chocolate with my morning coffee? Ah, Easter.

Or that I have a page of notes for finishing my Australia djinni novella and will soon be typing like a maniac? In fact, I'll post a quick pic and get to it.

Neighbourhood Watch

I'm a big fan of cheeky willywagtails--though they rarely stay still long enough to be photographed.

The iPad amazes me

The Apple iPad amazes me. Not because I've seen one (only through TV/internet) and not because reviews of it blow me away. No, the iPad amazes me because of Apple's tapping of free publicity.

I'd love to see the marketing plan behind the iPad. Discussions of the Apple tablet computer have claimed huge blog and internet space, and even mainstream old media space, for months. Easter Sunday's big story here in Australia on the evening news included the iPad going on sale--overseas. It's not released here, yet.

I know I've been curious and following the story because I want to know if and how the iPad will impact ebook publishing. But what's everyone else's excuse? Is it, as Cory Doctorow hints at BoingBoing, a case of media people (journalists and publishers) wanting to believe the iPad will lock the media to the status quo--the same domination of newspaper moguls and publishing house earls? This would suggest the iPad is not a game changer but a bump in the road.

Hats off to Apple's marketing people for making the iPad the thing  to talk about.

I won't be buying one any time soon.

For that chocolate hangover

Can't get your brain to work? Feel like deciding to write was your worst ever decision? Can't imagine...well, can't imagine anything?

PsyBlog has seven tips for creativity.

Happy Easter

Daniel's Answer to the King, by Briton Riviere

[Wikimedia]

The Historical Question

At the beginning of the week I asked what question you'd ask which historical person. Then I had to think hard about who I'd ask what.

Richard II sprang to mind [if you've not read Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time, you should], but really I didn't have a question for him. I mean, can you really ask, "were/are you a decent guy?"

I'd like to chat with Teresa of Avila [her autobiography is vibrant], but just chat, no questions.

Maybe ask Shakespeare where he got his ideas and how he managed to write so many plays and sonnets? No, my voice would have an undignified whine of envy.

So many famous figures whirled through my mind--Churchill, Marie Antoinette, Caesar, John the Apostle.

Yet when it came right down to it, the person from history I want to question doesn't have a name. Well, obviously they do. They didn't run nameless through life. But I don't know their name.

I want to ask one of the European women settlers of the Swan River Colony (what became Perth, Western Australia) what those early years were like. Was she scared? What were her dreams? Did she have a social life, laugh, sing, cry? I want to know the experience of someone who lived before me in a place I love.

My question doesn't invalidate my respect for the Nyungar people who land was stolen. I remember that they loved this place first.

The interconnectedness of things fascinates me. I'm a Georgette Heyer fan. The Swan River settlers had all (well, not the very young) lived through the Napoleonic Wars, the backdrop to regency romances.

iPad--and the consensus is confusion

Is the iPad a game changer?

I think the final quote in the short Economist is the key point--consumer expectations.

Book, movie, tv show, radio, magazine, newspaper, email, twitter, word processing, games--whatever entertainment we're after, will people come to expect it from one gadget?

Inferiority complex

Yesterday I gave myself permission for an hour just drifting around the Net. Coffee to hand, I enjoyed the journey. But...reading people's smart observations, snappy comebacks, stories of courage, articles of substance (research plus thought), I just felt inadequate. Am I contributing anything to this wonderful, loosely connected community? Well, I'm an appreciative audience. Truly, our world is full of incredible people.

Reverie by Reid Robert Lewis

[Wikimedia]

Belonging and Identity

BoingBoing links to "What will the Net do to institutions in the next 10 years?" and highlights a quotation asking--we've proven we can grow a corporation to behemoth size; now, how do we take it apart?

This sort of talk, of the Net making companies smaller, has been around for a while (don't ask me to reference, I've recycled those 1999 books). Will it happen?

I think it depends on where people focus their identity. Belonging to a corporation gives identity--ask Japanese workers, or the old guard workers at Ford versus GM. When we go to work, we get reassurance as to part of our identity, where we belong. The lack of this is one of the devastating impacts of unemployment. When we're introduced to someone new, what do we ask? "Where do you work?"

Issues of identity and belonging don't need to revolve around our employer. Religion is an obvious alternative. So is any issue you're passionate about. But if you want to break apart a behemoth corporation, you need to tread softly in this area of employee identity and their sense of belonging--otherwise they are left devastated and feeling betrayed.

In fact, you have to gently detach their sense of identity and belonging and offer them a new, satisfying place to cling. People want to know their world values them (the wage packet is a measure of this value).

Mourning the Handwritten Letter

I watched a repeat of Antiques Roadshow and was struck by the treasure one man brought in--a handwritten letter from Tolkien responding to a piece of fan mail the man had sent as a boy. That Tolkien had taken the time to write 3-4 pages was a kindness that warmed the man's life.

Emails are convenient, but letters are a personal gift.

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Everyone's talking about Patricia Brigg's Silver Borne, and my copy is still in the mail. Aaaaah!

Childe Hassam site

I've only just discovered the work of Frederick Childe Hassam. I think I'm addicted. The paintings are so liveable with.

Feed the addiction here.

The Writer Acquires a Virtual Personality

Interesting musings from Karen Harrington on authors and the impact of social networking. Who are we when we post online?

A related conversation would be on growing a community or joining one.