Over at the Logan North Library next Saturday there’ll be a bunch of us authors talking about writing craft. It’s a free event, but it’s essential to book.
Tag Archives: Marianne de Pierres
Meet the Authors…
Gold Coast Literati Event
If you live in South East Queensland and you love books and writing, the Gold Coast Literati Event will be held the weekend of the 24, 25th of May, 2012.
For more information see here.
Who is is for? Readers of all genres (spec Fic and mystery among them).
Who will be there? Myself, Marianne de Pierres, Trent Jamieson, Louise Cusack, Kylie Chan, Queenie Chan and many more.
What will be happening? Workshops, panels, talks and general celebration of books and writing!
So rock up, have some fun and say Hi!
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ROR … Recovering
Here I am, back from the 2012 ROR (See here for more info on the ROR writers group). This year we went to Steeles Island. Lovely spot, great premises.
The view up the estuary
This was an intense week. We read 5 manuscripts beforehand and wrote reports then spent a morning, or an afternoon, on each ms. It reminded me why I love writing – sitting around, getting excited with my fellow writers about plotting, foreshadowing, characterisation, blending back story and of course … talking about the industry.
The room where it all happened.
I had a bit of a problem with the room. The ceiling was at an angle, the chimney fireplace ran at two different angles and then there were the horizontals and the verticals… the angle of one of the chimney sides was at war with all the other angles in the room. It got so I couldn’t look in that direction. The others thought this was hilarious, but it really bothered me. Confession … writers can be a little neurotic. (I can’t find a photo of the wall in question that shows the ceiling and the chimney. You will have to take my word for it).
You can see the energy level from this pic of Tansy and Richard
The guys did a brilliant job of critiquing all the manuscripts. I’m not allowed to say much about the books because we don’t want to jinx them.
Margo being insightful
(Marianne and Trent couldn’t make this ROR due to work commitments and where they were up to in their current manuscripts).
Maxine attended virtually by skype and this worked surprisingly well. Her book is on its second draft and it was really interesting to see how she had incorporated the feedback from the last ROR. (Come on Maxine – get that book finished. I’m dying to read the ending!). Richard put in his usual quirky polished manuscript.
Dirk provided us with amazing cooking while giving excellent insights into our books. Somehow he managed to pull enough of a manuscript together despite life getting in the way, for us to get swept away by his project. Tansy has a follow up to her highly successful novella bubbling in the writing pot. Margo brought a new project along that was in a raw state deliberately to sound us out. This was really interesting and we had a terrific time brain storming. The guys were great with my book. They helped me realise the difference between book one of a new trilogy and book four of a series. Obvious once you say it, but really hard to see when you are neck deep in manuscript.
That's me enjoying the brilliant banter of the RORees
On the Thursday evening we drove into Hobart for the launch of Tansy’s Reign of Beasts and Margo’s Sea Hearts. (More on the launch). This was held at the Hobart Bookshop in Salamanca Square. Waves to Chris and Janet! (Here’s Margo being interviewed about Sea Hearts. The original novella won a World Best Fantasy Award). Book one of Tansy’s Creature Court trilogy won the Aurealis Award for fantasy.
There was a terrific turn out for the launch. I want to thank some of the ROR blog followers and the Twitter Team for turning up to wave the flag.
This is me kissing my DH at the launch
And while all this was going on I spent every spare moment chained to my lap top madly working on the rewrites for Solaris. Serious Brain Overload!!!
So, to help me and everyone else calm down, here are some photos from Steeles Island.
The steps down to the beach in the early morning light
Tansy's partner and their youngest on the tidal sands
Sunshine on sea a Wild Tassie Beach
Supanova Goodness!
Here’s a clips from the news on Supanova. Right at the end when they interview Isobelle Carmody, that’s me in the background – the blue shirt and blonde hair. At least, it’s the back of my head. LOL
It was great catching up with Marianne de Pierres, Ian Irvine, Keri Arthur, Tracey O’Hara, Kylie Chan and Isobelle!
Supanova – Be there or be Square!
Okay, maybe not, but it will be heaps of fun. There’s a great line up of writers coming this weekend to Brisbane Supanova!
Isobelle Carmody( is going to launch The Sending), Marianne de Pierres, Tracey O’Hara, Keri Arthur, Ian Irvine, Kylie Chan and myself will be at the Dymocks bookstore if you’d like to stop by and get a book signed or just chat.
Plus there will be panels and a workshop.
Friday –
Isobelle Carmody Writing Masterclass in the Cosplay Theatre at 6.45pm
Saturday –
1pm – Isobelle Carmody’s booklaunch for The Sending in the Wrestling ring – launched by Min
2.30pm – Marianne and Rowena in the Supanvnova Seminar Room – Steps to Publication
3.30pm – Tracey and Keri in the Supanova Seminar room – Introduction to Paranormal
Sunday –
11.50am – Kylie in the Supanova seminar room – Journeying towards Trilogies
1pm – Official launch of Ian Irvine’s Vengence by Isobelle Carmody in the wrestling ring
2.20pm – Ian Irvine in the Supanova seminar room – Vengence unleased!
Here is a link to the official event guide. And here’s some pics from the other Supanovas I’ve been to.
There's amazing costumes!
There's amazing authors. This was Sydney or Melbourne with Kevin J Andersen, Rebecca Moesta, Jennifer Fallon, Alison Goodman, Kate Forsyth, Marianne de Pierres and me.
This is Jennifer Fallon and me signing books.
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Doing anything Saturday 27th, August, 2011?
Once a year, the good folk down at the Logan North Library run a Speculative Fiction month. On Saturday 27th of August some friends and I will be on a panel talking about writing.
So if you are in the neighbourhood, drop by and say Hi!
(Logan North Library, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
Filed under Australian Writers, Book trailers, Covers, creativity, Dark Urban Fantasy, Fantasy books, Fun Stuff, Genre, Inspiring Art, Music and Writers, Paranormal_Crime, Promoting Friend's Books, Promoting your Book, Publishing Industry, Readers, Resonance, The Writing Fraternity, Writing craft, Young Adult Books
Back from Sydney Supanova
This time last week I was sitting at the Dymock’s store at Supanova surrounded by wonderful costumes and fellow writers trying desperately to talk. I have my voice back, but I’m still suffering with the ‘flu. Can’t hear properly and it’s been almost a week since I flew home. Here I am with my amazing pull-up behind me. Clint Langley‘s artwork came up really well. Made people stop and take a second look
Was wonderful to catch up with Marianne de Pierres, Alison Goodman, Kate Forsyth and Jennifer Fallon. Also met up with Kevin J Anderson and Rebecca Moesta, who I’d met at the Brisbane Writers Festival a couple of years ago. It is nice to get away with fellow writers and talk shop, everything from career moves and publishing industry to writing craft. Although I didn’t do much talking. Very frustrating. Here we are all lined up for the obligatory photo with the storm troopers!
You couldn’t be bored. There were comic artists, manga artists and lots of amazing costumes. People who’d bought the KRK trilogy at other Supanovas came by to chat.
One girl told me, I bought your books in Melbourne. You said they’d keep me up all night and I thought you were just saying that, but they did. I finished all three in three days!
I wonder if she got any sleep.
The nice thing about Supanova is that when I was growing up there were hardly any TV shows with a spec fic theme, Lost in Space, I Dream of Jeanie and Bewitched spring to mind. It wasn’t until Star Wars in 1977 that the genre I loved started to become mainstream. Back in those days there was definitely a sense of them and us. We were the fans and everyone else thought we were crazy. Now, every second TV show has elements of paranormal/SF and no one thinks anything of it. So a pop culture event like Supanova can attract crowds of between 10 to 25 thousand. People turn up in costume and they feel like they fit right in.
Thinking of wearing a costume to Supanova? Here’s some inspiration.
Had to miss the Perth Supanova, my work load, the ‘flu and the cost made it impossible, but I’m looking forward to the more Supanovas in future. Maybe I’ll see you there.
Ripping Reads …
A couple of weeks ago my writing group did really well at the Aurealis Awards. I thought I might do a round-up of their books, so if you’re looking for a ripping read like Richard is, you’ll be able to find it.
So … Starting with Trent Jamieson. Trent’s Death Works trilogy is set in Brisbane (yay!) and it’s really quirky. It starts with Steve sitting in the food court in the city when a dead girl saves his life. Steve works for corporate death, helping souls into the afterlife and there’s a take-over bid. Suddenly he’s on the run with the dead girl … Book one was a finalist in both the horror and the fantasy section of the Aurealis Awards.
And coming out next year is Trent’s new series The Roil. Very dark and full of daring do!
There’s Tansy Rayner Roberts’ Creature Court series. The first book of this series was a finalist in the fantasy section of Aurealis Award and won this section. This series combines a threatened city, with powerful shapeshifters and a dressmaker who suddenly finds herself caught up in a battle to save her home.
Marianne has been really busy. If you like Janet Evanovich’s Stepanie Plum books you’ll love her Tara Sharp series. Book one won the Davitt Award for female mystery writers. There’s just a touch of paranormal as the main character has the ability to read body language.
Then there’s her new YA series. Dark, sensual and exciting. I like reading YA because the focus is on the protagonist and you get straight into the story.
And don’t forget her two SF series. The rollercoaster ride of the Parrish books. (Aurealis Award finalists)
And the slightly more cereberal but just as addictive Sentient of Orien series. (Aurealis Award finalists and book four won the award)
Then we have Richard, who’s been having heaps of success with his quirky steam punk series. Worldshaker has just won two awards in France. It gives him an excuse to dress up in waistcoats and top hats!
And there’s Margo’s latest book Tender Morsels. I’ve lost track of the number of awards Margo has won for her writing. This book should come with a warning – disturbing.
If you like time travel, there’s Maxine McArthur’s series and her robot mystery nove, Less than Human. (Once again, finalists and winners of the Aurealis Awards).
With so many good books to read, it’s hard to know where to start!
Friends doing well!
Over on the ROR blog I’ve done a post about the Aurealis Awards. These are the Australian equivalent to the Nebulas or the Hugos (I forget which one is judged by a panel of peers). Several members of my writing group are on the short list in different sections.
This is us at the Maleny ROR. Dirk, Richard, Maxine, Me, Tansy, Trent (Marianne was sick and Margo had deadlines).
Why join a writing group? Here’s why Marianne and I started ROR. I can honestly say, the RORees have been like an extended family. Publishing is a tough business. We authors write because we love it, but there are times when you just need to talk to someone else who knows where you’re coming from.
We meet every year or so to critique our works-in-progress (WIPs). Having a group of people all look over your manuscript is great. If four out of five people say X needs changing, then you can be sure it does. Our crits are never destructive, always constructive because we want our friends’ books to be the best they can possibly be. And the ROR team have had some success. (See here).
If you’ve like to start your own critique group like ROR I’ve done a couple of posts on the topic. ROR 101 and Critiquing 101.
So there we are. Kuds to to my fellow RORees for making it into the final lists of the Aurealis Awards and I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for them on Saturday night!
Winner Marianne’s Burn Bright!
Congratulations to Janni Nell who wanted to put Susan Howatch’s Starbridge series to music by Michael Nyman.
Email me on: rowena(at)corydaniells(dot)com to organise postage.
