Intentions for 2013

So instead of resolutions I think it's time to send out some intentions for 2013.

1) Blaze my way through the first year of my archaeology/anthropology double major
2) Celebrate the release of the Dreaming of Djinn anthology
3) Dream up some more short stories and a new novel with a spiritual/historical bent
4) Take my long overdue trip to Egypt (the raincheck has been 5 years)
5) Start meditation classes with Inner Voyage
6) Attend the RWA conference in Fremantle in August
7) Decide where I want to live
8) Forget all about 2012

I think that should keep me pretty busy and hopefully inspired to create a new future!

Dreaming of Djinn Anthology

Am very excited at having my first short story accepted for publication. "Harmony Thicket and the Persian Shoes" will appear in the Dreaming of Djinn Anthlogy, edited by Liz Gryzb and published by Ticonderoga Publications in April 2013.

" This anthology will explore romantic Orientalism through a speculative fiction lens. You might find lost cities, magical lamps, mummies, thieves, intrepid explorers, slaves, robotic horsemen, noble queens, sorcerers, outcast princes, harems, dancers, djinn, assassins and even smart-talking camels and cats, set in exotic Persia, Egypt, Arabia, the Ottoman Empire, or a modern incarnation of these. More information on the exact mysteries contained will be revealed shortly."

I can reveal that my story involves a pair of magic persian shoes, a love spell, and vintage shopping - the three great obsessions of my life - shoes, romance, vintage haha. 

The link to the website is here: http://ticonderogapublications.com/index.php/our-books/our-books/156-dreaming-of-djinn/301-dreaming-of-djinn-contents-announced

Copies can be pre-ordered from Indie Books Online:  http://www.indiebooksonline.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=141

Excited to see the cover and read the other stories inside.

Busy, busy, busy

Have a ton of writing to do in the next few weeks - have to revise a short story for submission to an anthology that I really love and would just about faint to be included in! Also have to prepare my pitch for Professor Fawkesbury's Ingenious Elevator, which I have to deliver to the amazing Kristin Nelson in August at the RWA conference. And here I am writing my blog instead - lol. Ok, back to work.

2011 NQ RWA Writing Roadshow

Have a fantastic weekend with the NQ Romance Writers and all our Roadshow guests and attendees. Saturday was packed with great sessions delivered by Helene Young, Barbara Hannay, Kelly Armstrong and Anne Gracie followed by a very fun conference dinner (at which Helene's husband Graham was of course the star! haha).

Sunday saw our group unwind and talk writing with Anne at The Lime Tree Restaurant at Trinity Beach. Great food and even better company! Look forward to being apart of many Roadshows in the coming years and helping to bring such wonderful talents to the Far North.  And now I'm exhausted but still typing away!

 Above: NQ Romance Writers - (B) Helene Young, Barbara Hannay, Havva Murat, Alice Honsa, Shannean Moncrieff, Noreen Allan. (F) Becca Quin, Mervet McClintock, Bernadette Rowley and Lilian Begelhole

RWA Emerald Award 2011

I finally got the results back from the Emerald Award (national writing comp run by Romance Writers of Australia) and I was lucky enough to come in 8th place - I never even hoped to get through to the second round so this was a huge bonus. There were some great writers amongst the final twelve and the top three are now judged by an American Editor. Great competition and well worth the effort.

holiday work

So glad school is out for the week! Gives me time to work on finishing the setup of my little glass studio - quite happy with the results as I now have my grinder and glass shelf stocked. I don't think there's anything as gratifying in the world as a well-stocked glass or book shelf!

Have worked on a few designs and starting to cut the glass - only going to do glass mosaicing from home for now - might work on some copper foiling later on. I much prefer copperfoiling/tiffany method to using lead.  Also have to sort out registering business name/ABN - hate that boring, paperwork side of thing! I just want to create.

Almost finished my paranormal/crime noir short story to submit for an anthology. It was a hard slog! Went complete 'Panster' on this one but I think it has worked out ok. I find it really challenging when i'm in that place where i don't know how I want things to end in a story, but I think this one ends ok. Soon as this is done i can get back to my novel.

Happy writing/reading/creating and Easter (if you celebrate it). 

fairytale images

Stumbled across a great blog yesterday 'Love at First Blush,' and found these great fairytale images:

http://loveatfirstblush.blogspot.com/2011/01/mythical-mysterious-and-magical.html

Great to get the story ideas flowing...