Are they me?
The first book published in my name is a book about an embroiderer.
Sigh, you say. Where’s the drama, where’s the angst.
The first book published in my name is a book about an embroiderer.
Sigh, you say. Where’s the drama, where’s the angst.
Really?
April’s coming? The last month of the first quarter of the year?
Crikey!
I have to look back and ask: is there accomplishment in the last almost four months?
Well, yes. I’ve almost finished Michael, despite the hurdles that are being thrown my way.
Okay! It’s not a new idea. In fact it’s been done everywhere. But I find I like reading what people would take to an island to sustain them…
I like listening to Desert Island Discs too – wondering whether, if the island is truly a desert island, they dance to the music, conduct a symphony orchestra, play air guitar truly fortissimo – and all without being embarrassed! And I wonder if the music would be a solace, soothing ebbing spirits as passing days get notched into the trunk of the obligatory palm tree.
But back to the books…
Thoughts for the new book are coming together.
I feel like a detective placing clues on a board. Some shout louder than others but somewhere in what I am looking at, a storyline is emerging. The legend of the Fox Spirit is whispering particularly loudly. Readers might remember her appearance in The Shifu Cloth. …
When I was driving to the Big Smoke a few days ago, I had the idea for a blogpost.
But when one has one’s hands on the steering wheel and concentration on the road is implicit, one hopes the idea will stay on the edges of consciousness so that when one reaches a destination, and fingers hit the keyboard, the post will open like a bud in the spring sun…
Fiona McIntosh is a prolific and extremely popular Australian author and also, I think, something of a superwoman.
Since 2001, she has released over thirty books covering a number of genres and which propelled her into something of a household name. She was born in England but calls the Clare Valley of South Australia her home. Bryce Courtenay recognised something in Fiona that subsequently took readers by storm. I wanted to find out what it was and so I’m pleased to welcome her to my blog today…
I was very lucky recently to be given a proof copy of Dreamer’s Pool (Book One of the new Blackthorn and Grim series) by Australian historical fantasy author, Juliet Marillier.
It wasn’t a review copy, it was just a giveaway, and I was thrilled because Marillier has been an absolute favourite writer of mine since I read the first book of The Seven Waters series: Daughter of the Forest many years ago.
Daughter of the Forest was based on the fable The Six Swans and I realised at that point that one can set Marillier far apart from many other fantasy writers. She takes the fable and weaves such threads through it that it becomes a seamless part of the original legend. One cannot separate one from the other. She is quite simply brilliant at the art-form.
Over the last eight months, my surprise everyday has been to find that both the historical fiction/historical romances and the historical fantasies from my pen have achieved Amazon Bestsellers Rank: (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) in the Amazon.co.uk store.
Currently beside my bed, I have this little pile of books.
I am about to read Ann Swinfen’s new book, Flood, an exciting revelatory novel set in the seventeenth century Fens. She is releasing it next week and kindly send me an early e-copy. Ann has had a laudatory career as a women’s literary fiction writer with an excellent backlist to her credit. Recently she has taken her backlist and re-published through Shakenoak Press and I can tell you, if Flood is anything like her previous books it will be the most perfect read.
