Mar 15

Dealing with it

How do writers deal with depressing news? I dunno about other writers but this one:

  • Drinks of a lot of wine
  • Takes a few days off to hang out with friends and husband (people well skilled in the art of ‘making you feel better’)
  • Makes two delicious varieties of home made pesto, from the forest of home grown herbs gifted by said friends
  • Goes to a heavy metal concert

and finally…

  • Gets back to work

Any other writers out there got some good tips?

Mar 07

Getting a move on

Is what I really need to be doing. My beta-readers are super-efficient and wonderful so I need to knuckle down and do some work!

So I will! But… trying to work out WorldCon plans. And need to head to the shops too. Oh and there’s some proof-reading heading my way. And look, now I’m blogging! *tisk tisk*

Might as well make the most of it while I’m here. Out of the Frying Pan has a website! Check it out. Looks like Navi is already making her mark over there as well.

Ok, NOW I have to do some work… or maybe after lunch…

Mar 04

More frying pan news!

Out of the Frying Pan is up on the Finch Publishing website, looking extremely official (and still very bright!). It will be out in all good bookstores by the end of the month. It even looks like there will be a book launch (in Perth, sigh, which I cannot afford to get to *weep*). More publicity coming!

It feels different to be talking about this book, even a little strange. I think it’s because my story inside it is, well, real. It’s actually my story. And personal, and even a little embarrassing in places (although hopefully also quite funny!) So even while I’m doing this good author thing, part of me is a tad uncomfortable with the idea of people reading it. Obviously not that uncomfortable, after all, I’ve put this story out there, haven’t I, hoping it will be read. But still, I don’t have characters and magic and another world to hide behind.

…

Which gets me thinking, do we really hide behind those things? Just because my stories are not about things that actually happened and people who really existed, does that make them any less real? Maybe the things I put poor Tanyana through say more about my fears and concerns and dreams than I realise. Do Jill and Molsey’s human-dragon bond reflect the place of my pets in my life? And what about the themes that reappear, unbidden, in so much of what I have written? Does all of this, actually, say more about me (and more honestly) than the ‘real’ story in Out of the Frying Pan?

Oh dear, that’s just all a bit deep and meaningful. I think I need a cup of tea…

Mar 01

And we’re back at it!

That was a lovely break, wasn’t it?

Yesterday I went through my notes for this series, right from the research I did at the very beginning. I wanted to make sure that things were still on track, that even though the story has changed a lot from those preliminary ideas I am still maintaining the integrity of the characters and the world and the magic-system. You know, I wanted to make sure everything still made sense! It’s really interesting, looking back at what I thought these books would be and what they have become. I’m pleased that the basics have carried through and I much prefer what the story is now to what my original notes looked like.

Now I’m about to start a run-through of Debris. I already have a few notes, things to look out for, change and add into Suited, but I want to read through the first book just in case I’ve changed something, or forgotten someone along the way.

Fascinating, isn’t it? 😉

In other news I went for a bike ride yesterday! The back seems to be holding up well. I’m aware of it today, but it just feels a bit tired, not injury-sore. I’ve been good with my stretches and exercises, and careful not to sit here at the desk for too long without a break. Here’s hoping it will continue to improve!

Feb 25

Quick post about a review

What more do you need to know? Found a review of Australian Dark Fantasy and Horror Vol 3 at Dark Scribe Magazine the other day, one that actually mentions ‘Trail of Dead’. Considering the extremely high calibre of stories in this antho, I’m stoked to get a mention:

Joanne Anderton also ventures into Romero territory with “Trail of Dead.” Anderton’s tale works thanks to its unique mix of characterization and action, and because it ventures out of typical zombie lore to include witchcraft.

That’s me, mixing it all up! Or something… 🙂