Young writers

When I was at the Sisters-in-Crime convention, SheKilda, in early October, I was pleased to see several young writers in the audience, and noticed that they attended as many sessions as they could and took notes, and also perused the bookstore offerings with grave discernment. No quick flicks through the odd book, but a sound, though short, assessment of a book’s reading potential before they purchased.

It was great to see this because going to writing conventions and workshops and analysing published books to see what works is what all aspiring writers should be doing. And even published authors go to workshops, because you can always learn something new. Good luck, Tennille and Daniel, and may you stay determined and true to your dreams.

With Tennille Chase and Daniel Kennedy at SheKilda
With Tennille Chase and Daniel Kennedy at SheKilda

There is a group of young writers in Bundaberg called the What If group and it’s fantastic to see them so dedicated to their writing and so supportive of each other.As they all write speculative fiction I felt quite honoured that they came to my book signing. I hope they always follow their dreams.

Sandy with the What If writers group after the Fatal Flaw book signing
Sandy with the What If writers group after the Fatal Flaw book signing

What a night!

What a lovely evening! I’ve had book launches for my previous five books but this was the first time I’d had a book signing in Dymocks at Bundaberg. It was great to have the support of friends that I haven’t seen in a while – our lives sometimes get too busy, don’t they, and we need a reminder that time slips by far too fast. Some family members couldn’t make it, but those that could enjoyed themselves immensely, especially my four-year-old grandson Alex, and definitely my daughter-in-law, Cheryse Durrant, who snapped away madly with her trusty camera – the results are on her website.

Dymocks Booksellers Bundaberg owner, Phil Freeman, said he enjoyed seeing so many people in his store who were book-lovers. I definitely agree with him – love those book-lovers 🙂

I think I’m almost brain-dead after over two weeks travelling and constant sinus problems. Everything in Victoria was flowering – a pleasure to see but a disaster for my nose. Our grand-daughter turns one today so all the relatives are gathering to celebrate, so it looks like another busy weekend. Guess I won’t have any time soon to do a re-read of Grievous Harm, the next book after Fatal Flaw. I finished writing the story some time back but want to have a re-read. Don’t know if I’m a perfectionist or just plain picky 😉

I’d like to thank everyone who came to the signing. I very much appreciate your support and friendship.

Sandy with romance author Helen Lacey and fantasy author Louise Cusack
Sandy with Phil Freeman of Dymocks Bundaberg
Sandy with Phil Freeman of Dymocks Bundaberg
Sandy with Cheryse Durrant
Sandy with Cheryse Durrant
Laree Chapman, Di Esmond, Jan Sullivan, Jenny Duffy, Pascale Osanz

Book Signing

It’s finally arrived! The evening of the book signing for Fatal Flaw. Well, it’s actually afternoon, the rain that’s threatened all day has decided to pour down, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing, I can’t find the top that I’d thought I’d wear tonight – after nearly three weeks travelling (more about that later) and only arriving home a day ago it’s a wonder I can find anything – and juggling times and pickups with relatives to ensure my Mum can get there, it’s beginning to feel like the Chaos Fairy is in full swing and chortling madly at my expense.

But it’s going to be a great evening because the books arrived at Bundaberg Dymocks yesterday (whew! close call), and family and friends will be there to share my joy.

More later …

SheKilda and the Chaos Fairy

Just a little over a week to go before the Sisters-in-Crime convention, SheKilda, will be held in Melbourne. For readers interested in the crime genre and the romantic suspense sub-genre, it will be a must-attend event. Top Aussie crime writers will be sharing their knowledge and baring their souls (well, their writing souls). Aspiring writers will have the opportunity to come along and ask their favourite authors those questions they’d never otherwise have a chance to ask. Readers will get to see their favourite authors in the flesh and have books signed.

As a Queenslander I was writing winter woollies on my packing list, but was pleasantly surprised to see Melbourne temperatures in temperatures in the high twenties (C). Just as I was thinking of revising the list, the city lived up to its reputation of having four seasons in one day and the mercury plummeted. It’s a good thing Rob and I are driving down – I’ll need all the back seat to stack the many changes of clothing I’m sure to need.

On Monday a journalist from our local newspaper, the NewsMail, phoned and said she wanted to interview me about the publication of Fatal Flaw and send out a photographer. I looked around the house – saw the stuff that’s been piling up in the past few weeks as the Chaos Fairy swatted me a few good ones with her wacky wand and kept me from concentrating on housework (all right, I’ll be honest, I try to avoid housework but I don’t like it to get too feral) and knew I was in for a quick clean-up. I looked in the mirror and knew that was a good place to start, especially as my hair looked like I should mop the floor with it. Deciding it needed a colour to give it a lift, I quickly dragged out the plastic gloves and set to work. During the colour-setting time I made like the mad woman in the Ajax tv ad and did a surface clearance. Just as I was about to dive into the shower to rinse off the colour the phone rang. I looked at the number. It was my publisher. I couldn’t not answer it. Ten minutes later I half stripped, stuck my head in the shower and was towelling dry when the photographer arrived. Luckily for me it was Max Fleet, a great guy with a lot of patience. I didn’t have time to throw on any spak filler, but he managed to play with the light so I didn’t crack his lens. The result can be seen here.