Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘The writing life’

image

My first podcast interview, grandly titled ‘Campfire Tales’, crashed and burned. It’s all a bit sad really…or is it?

Here’s what happened. Technology happened, or in my case, didn’t happen. So I rang my mentor, and cried, and he mopped me up, and told me to try again, which I did – my interview with my dog ended up being rather brilliant, although he’d fallen into snore mode on his tummy with his legs in the air by recording number six.

What did I learn?

  1.  That I’m the expert and I need to trust myself
  2. That starting is half the battle – I may have flunked the interview but by midnight I really had that sucker licked
  3. There’s always tomorrow
  4. That Chicago’s All That Jazz gets better with every listening (even though I was only using the first two minutes, by the end I felt like a star)
  5. A glass of wine or two loosens the vocal chords but plays havoc with the script

My next interview is tomorrow and I’ll be there with my technology, script and dog. It may be no better than my first effort but at least I’ll turn up and give it a go. But perhaps without the wine this time:)

Read Full Post »

image

Read Full Post »

image

Just received this email from Amazon’s automated preference service. Alas, no The Miner’s Wife. 

TMWBook

A bit sad really, if it wasn’t kind of funny…can’t wait to see what happens to my ‘Around Australia in 8 Romances’, except I’ve wised up and they will be published under Mel Hammond.

Around Australia in 8 Romance Novels pic

And to make matters worse, my co-author is equally as infamous, sort of…ever heard of a bloke who carried a fridge around Ireland??

From here on in just call us Lindy and Dick😇

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

jixyxBGiE.jpeg

KABOOM!!!!

A CRACKER & GILLY MYSTERY – Book 4

CHAPTER 1

Oh, Ooh, Kablooie, We’re in Trouble Now Boys

Kablooie, and from the shops side of the beach to above Pyang Avenue, from the Surf Lifesaving club to the Bowling Club, the lights went out, the stars and moon in the sky the only light to be seen.

‘Run to the beach, geez, run.’ Cracker pushed his two mates toward the beach where even the minimal light from the moon failed to pierce the night darkness.

Trann and Bone needed no persuasion and leapt in to full speed. Unfortunately, the boys hadn’t been given clear enough directions and they crashed into each other and fell to ground in a sprawling entanglement of arms and legs.

‘Stop mucking about you fatheads. We could be in serious trouble. Run that way!’ pointed Cracker, ‘Duck down when you hit the sand and hide under the lee of the beach.’

The three boys fled to the beach where they found a deep depression which would conceal them from even the most determined searchers.

After a space of three to five minutes three heads appeared and looked back at the electricity substation that, as a result of one arrow fired into the night had unexpectedly turned the boys night of adventure, by exploding in a fizzing, sizzling, spark flying nightmare.

‘Keep calm,’ Cracker ordered. “We go home and say nothing. Meet back here tomorrow at eight, ok?’

Not quite meeting each other’s gazes, the three boys hi-fived and went their separate ways.

 

Read Full Post »

image

Read Full Post »

image

Read Full Post »

image

It’s thirty something degrees today and we decided to go for a swim at the local dam, Carcoar Dam for those that know the Bathurst/Orange area of NSW.

What we didn’t count on was people wanting to buy our books – and our writing courses.

The problem was our vehicle.

And me.

Before I launch my online writing courses I read that I needed three of ’em and so I’ve waited.

And procrastinated.

And missed an opportunity  to upscale my business, damn it!!

A lady named Darlene is heading around Australia with her hubby and three kids.

And they all wanna write.

And they saw my vehicle.

And.

Read Full Post »

image

  1. Attitude matters
  2. Education is an investment
  3. Giving is better than receiving
  4. Values cultivate respect
  5. Word-count matters – without content you have no business – see  Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
  6. There is no such thing as perfection
  7. No one is laughing at you, in fact, most of us a rooting for you
  8. If at first you don’t succeed – see ‘The 1000 Day Rule: What Living the Dream Really Looks Like’ by Dan Andrews
  9. Surround yourself with experts (Jane Friedeman, Janna Penn and Dan Blank to name a few)
  10. Look back and see how far you’ve come – celebrate!!

Read Full Post »

image

image

image

Read Full Post »

image

 

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »

%d bloggers like this: