Monthly Archives: September 2013

The test of true mettle

30 Monday Sep 2013

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Well first off reader, what is mettle anyway?

flower

It was a saying I’d heard often and probably even quoted myself. But, I didn’t know for sure, so I googled!

This is the first of 4,420,000 results

met·tle

/ˈmetl/

Noun
A person’s ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way.
Synonyms
spirit – nature – temper – temperament – character

I’ve been in the process of streamlining and restructuring my work/life balance. No mean task, I can tell you. Naturally, I’m disorganised and scatty. Or so I thought.

Recently I’ve made a few lifestyle changes that have proven that my self image was a misconception. I am not lazy and vague. I just shouldn’t eat sugar!

Oh! Don’t stress reader, I’m not going to launch into a lecture about the evils of the white stuff. If you want to read about it there’s plenty of information out there. But here and here are two interesting blogs about sugar and it’s effects. Only click if you want to.

Anyway on with the story. Since I’ve removed processed sugar (not fruit) from my diet I’ve seen a lot of changes.

fruit & veg

Mostly with my concentration. I am much more focused and less inclined to wander away from a task. It’s great. The best thing I’ve found is that I have been able to stick to tasks that previously would have had me cleaning the fans or oven.

But, back to the mettle. There have been a few things happen lately that add up to my feeling a bit deflated. Nothing that is note worthy by itself. But things add up.

Which brings me to where I am and if I can pull myself up by my bootlaces and keep on going.

Of course I can reader. When you want something, you keep trying. Regardless of circumstances. In the words of someone far wiser than I, “It will be right in the end, and if it’s not right, it’s not yet the end.” <quote> 

Last week I talked about NaNoWriMo creeping ever steadily closer and what I’m planning. You can read about that here. So while I’m working on a new story and am excited about that I realise it’s good to move on.

too good to be true

Sometimes, no matter how good something looks, it’s a case of, “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.” Thankfully my writing adventure isn’t in the too good to be true category. So while something in my life haven’t panned out to meet expectations, the good thing is I’m resilient and will keep pressing forward.

38 days, and counting down

23 Monday Sep 2013

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Hello reader, here in sunny Australia it is the 23rd of September. This means that there are only 38 days before NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, or November in the non literary world.

NaNoWriMo

That’s 38 days of reading, researching, plotting, planning, thinking and even dreaming.

Yes, I do dream about my characters. I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with a scene having played out in a dream. Then the difficult bit is to get it recorded before I lose it.

This year I am planning on something a little different to the style I’ve written before. While still a romance, still a bit of a mystery, those being my favourites, Raven’s Ridge will be a mix if historical and contemporary, mystery and romance. And I can’t wait.

Serendipity seems to play a part in my my writing. A while back, ages really, I found a rhyme about crows, I just liked it so I saved it and forgot about it.

IMG_0083

I love the last line in particular and it became the premise for Raven’s Ridge.

In June I wrote a romantic romp that took my characters to a farm out near Dunedoo in central New South Wales. I fell in love the house I’d imagined and my sister, who read each chapter as I wrote it, did too. We both knew another story with the house as the setting had to be written.

Usually when I’m writing, I start with an idea, then build from there. Add characters, add in a mystery a romance and off it goes.

This time, I started with a house. I want to include our colonial history as I love reading and researching the early European settlement of Australia. So what better than to have a Colonial mystery unravelled in a contemporary setting. Perfect.

Homestead

So for the next few weeks I’ll be scribbling, drawing and reading. I have a pile of books and diaries and letters from the early part of the nineteenth century and have about six weeks to soak up the language, attitudes and history of 1820 Colonial New South Wales. Six week to shape my character’s attitudes, beliefs, likes and hates. Six weeks to learn about organic farming and agriculture. Six weeks to prepare for NaNoWriMo.

books

So reader, do you like a mystery? Does history fascinate you? I love both and am really looking forward to delving into the secret past of Raven’s Ridge and the Craven family’s hidden troubles. Does it sound like something you’d like to read? I hope so.

juggling the tea cups

09 Monday Sep 2013

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2013-09-06 10.41.50 Reader, discipline is not my strongest attribute. You may remember me whining about how difficult it is to work from home. I know, blah, blah, blah!

But it is difficult to keep all the tea cups in the air without spilling tea all over myself. Or in my case it’s usually coffee.

I’m not good at time management, well at least I’m not naturally good at it. But I am learning. And I am improving.

The hardest thing for me to master is that I am actually working. Running a business from home is hard, and it’s for all the reasons that it’s good.

  1. I can be flexible, work hours that suit me. ~ mm, I should be editing, but I might just weed the garden/clean the fans/hang out the washing, first. 
  2. If someone pops in, no worries, I can catch up later. ~ ah, no you can’t. Because you’ve already put everything off to clean <insert your own busy stuff> 
  3. Emergencies pop up, I can catch up later. ~ahem, you are now three days behind in the bookkeeping and even further in the editing. 
  4. And on and on it goes. – you get the picture.

2013-09-06 10.40.33

I could waffle on about this for the rest of the day and drive you all to eating seventy four boxes of chocolates. In the interest of not foisting obesity on to you reader, I’ll shut up now.

So, back to the topic at hand. What to do about it?

Make a roster or schedule? I suppose it’s worth a try. I’ve done it before, but that’s usually when a truck breaks down and everything else, justifiably, goes out the window. Usually when I have some kind of emergency I really find it difficult to get back to what I was doing. I tend to go and find someone to talk to. Or make some very naughty comfort food, eat it and then feel worse and can’t do any more work.

Well I have a bit of a plan, and I’ll keep you posted about how it works out.

I’ve a whiteboard in my office and it’s divided up into days. The seven columns are divided into two rows. The top row is for Beavans Haulage tasks that must be accomplished. The bottom row has always been for personal. I am about to designate that row to writing tasks. I don’t usually have anything in it anyway. So I’ll be putting it to good use.

2013-09-06 10.38.56

So far this morning, I’ve done my domestic goddess duties, washing done, dogs walked and chickens watered, cat fed and aphids sprayed.

Now to have a cup of coffee and read Nostalgia, with a little light editing (marking up the obvious grammar goofs).

2013-09-06 12.46.00

Then I’m into the office to do the Beavan’s Haulage tasks.

But wait! Look, there’s the mailman! Oh my goodness, those blinds need cleaning! I’ll be right back  . . .

2013-09-06 10.40.38So reader, domestic duties! Are they the distraction for you, that they are for me? Are you disciplined? If you are, how do you do it? If you’ve conquered the procrastination beastie, how??? Please share. I need all the help I can get.

tear out hair

Introducing . . . Iris Blobel

02 Monday Sep 2013

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This week reader I have a visitor. It’s exciting for two reasons. One that this is my first time I’m the hostess for a blog tour. Two is that Iris has a new book out.

I threw a few questions her way and now I’ll share the answers with you.

Here she is. Iris Blobel

NewBeginnings 500x750 with logo

Tell us a bit about New Beginnings.

New Beginnings is about two sisters from Sydney inheriting a house in Hobart. Thing is, though, they have no idea who Clara Bellinger, the previous owner of the house, was. Trying to settle into their new home and new town, Sophie, the older sister, is still concerned it’s been all a mistake. To add a bit of romance to it, there’s Mark, the lawyer, and Zach, the neighbour from across the road.

Where did the journey of New Beginnings begin?

In the beautiful city Hobart, Tasmania! I took some “family-time-out” last year and went across the Bass Strait. When I walked through the streets of Hobart, I wondered how it would be to live in this city, how it would be to be the “newbie” and bit by bit I had the story of two sisters moving there from Sydney.

Do you listen to music to help the muse?

I love music! I get a lot of wonderful ideas while listening to music. That’s when I use most of the yellow post-it stickers … little ideas quickly jotted down. I love Westlife and Darius Rucker, but then again, there are so many other artists I like that inspire me. Presenting a radio program once a week gives me the opportunity to listen to a lot of various music.

While I write, though, I need absolute silence around me. That’s why I usually write at night.

What did you listen to – or do to get you in the zone while writing New Beginnings? 

Westlife …

“So I say a little prayer
And hope my dreams will take me there
Where the skies are blue, to see you once again… my love.
All the seas from coast to coast
To find the place I Love The Most
Where the fields are green, to see you once again…”

If you didn’t write, what would you like to do creatively?

I am soooo glad I’ve found writing, because I don’t like any sports, no knitting, stitching or cooking … so … hmm … writing it is J

What’s your favourite book or series?

My favourite book without a doubt is “If you could see me now” by Cecelia Ahern. I love the idea of the Peter Pan-alike story of teaching a woman to live, love AND believe.

Favourite book series is “Lucky Harbor” by Jill Shalvis and the Reacher series by Lee Child. Love them both!

Who is your favourite author?

Jill Shalvis and Lee Child

Thanks Iris for sharing a little about New Beginnings and your writing life

I’m going to follow the links below to purchase a copy of New Beginnings myself.

Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/New-Beginings-ebook/dp/B00ENU02BU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1377251351&sr=1-1

Astraea Press: http://astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=27261175

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/349320

Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/new-beginnings-6

Bio:

Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she actually had met her future husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only recently emerged, but now her laptop is a constant companion. Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her beautiful two daughters as well as her two dogs. Next to her job at a private school she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.

 Excerpt:

Sophie stared at the house. With tears stinging behind her

eyelids, she slowly turned around and helped Mia out of the car.

The little girl looked fragile in the unfamiliar environment, even

though she wasn’t anywhere near fragile. Very clever for her age,

Mia had seen and gone through a lot, but handled most situations

with trust and belief. Sophie wasn’t sure whether that was a good

thing or not. Her younger sister undoubtedly had her mother’s

looks, with the long, straight blond hair, her bright grey-green eyes,

and pale skin. But deep down inside, there was a survivor instinct

as well. Something, she wondered, her mother might have lacked.

“Is this our new home, Sophie?” her sister asked quietly.

Hesitantly she nodded. “Yes, sweetie, I hope so.”

Mark took the suitcase from the boot of his car and walked

towards the house, opened the gate, and placed the girls’

belongings next to the fence. He turned, and Sophie made no effort

in hiding the struggle with emotions.

“That’s it. This is Forty-Six Chestnut Avenue,” he told them.

It was all too much for her, and she sat down onto her

suitcase and took everything in. She stared at the old brick-built

English cottage house. A small path ahead of her led to two worn

out steps and up to the arched entrance. Tucking a strand of hair

behind her ear, her gaze moved over to the windows. Multi-pane

windows with shutters and flower boxes in front. Beautiful.

Though the flowers seemed long dead. The garden was true to the

cottage style, but looked wild and unattended. It was in need of a

lot of work. She looked up and saw a chimney and instantly

thought about cold winter evenings in front of the open fire. She’d

heard that Hobart was very cold during winter.

And then she just cried. Emotions that had bottled up over

the years surfaced, and she wasn’t able to hold back any longer.

The cautious thought that life could improve from now on was too

overwhelming. Tears fell down her cheeks, but she wasn’t

embarrassed.

“Don’t cry, Sophie,” Mia said tenderly to her. “It’ll be all

okay.”

Mark came closer and kneeled in front of her. Carefully he

wiped away a tear from her cheek. “How about we go inside?” he

asked quietly with a gentle smile that made her yearn for a man’s

touch, missing from her life for so long. She gazed at him and

wondered how it would be to have someone else in her life. A man,

who shared a gentle touch or kiss, a kind word, or a well needed

hug. Sophie had had less than a handful of young men dating her,

because looking after her little eight-year-old sister, Mia, on her

own made it difficult to have a social life. But no way would she

complain. She and Mia loved each other as much as they needed

each other. Even more so since their mother had passed away. And

they both hoped this would be their chance.

Well there we have it reader, a new author for us all to check out, though New Beginnings is Iris’s fourth book, so here are the links to her other books.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52502

http://www.amazon.com/Journey-To-Her-Dreams-ebook/dp/B0065KN74U/ref=pd_sim_kstore_7

http://www.amazon.com/Innocent-Tears-ebook/dp/B009CK7HSC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1347964191&sr=8-4&keywords=iris+blobel