Historically, Australia was said to have derived its burgeoning economy from the sheep’s back. Our history is marked by the introduction of Saxon merino sheep to the colonies in 1804. Farming wool became iconic and superfine Australian wool became world-renowned, beloved everywhere for its softness and purity.
For those who read Mesmered, you’ll know that every Tuesday for the last few weeks, I’ve been a part of a global collaboration in the writing of an Austenesque novel on Twitter (#A4T) . So many of Austen’s most well known characters have arrived at the ball… the Bennets, Caroline Bingley, Charlotte Collins, Lady Catherine de Burgh, Anne Elliot, Henry Tilney, the execrable Wickham and the questionable Willougby… in other words, friends and foes. As the ball progresses a plethora of dreadful disasters face Elizabeth and her husband Mr.Darcy as guests mingle and create mayhem.
You may have noticed that in the sidebar to this blog, there is an event approaching that celebrates the various talents and achievements of English actor Richard Armitage. In case you are new to the world, or have been firmly tied to Colin Firth’s rise to the ranks of the exalted (and justifiably so), Richard Armitage is tracking hard on that Oscar winner’s coattails. FanstRAvaganza is an eclectic collection of people across the globe who have been influenced by RA at some point in their lives. The following list is those blogs taking part with more to be added by 14th March.
Just a note to say that I #amwriting hard in order to place a chapter a day on Mesmered during the FanstRAvaganza. Because this demands a large wordcount, I’ve decided not to upload any chapters between now and the 14th of March. That’s only eleven days away so I do hope you’ll forgive me.
Today I was catching up with Twitter and came across the most gloriously humorous tweets from kaytsukel about things she’s learned by being a writer. I related to most and laughed a lot and thought that writers are all in a common place. So whilst I walked the dogs, I tried to think if there were any idiosyncratic points peculiar to me … and decided nope, there were none.
When I was a wee thing, a tiny toddler who loved stories read and had parents willing to oblige, my mother used to recite a short little poem to me at night. This same poem that we call Lady Moon was told to her by her mother. My mum is 85 and we must be talking about a poem that is at least 80 known years old but might go back even further to my grandmother’s childhood. I’ve used this poem in A Thousand Glass Flowers and in fact the Lady Moon is a defined character both in that manuscript and in the novel The Last Stitch.
Over the last couple of weeks the most outrageously daring phenomenon has been occurring on Twitter. An Austenesque novel is being written. Many aficionados are contributing and it’s with great interest that I read each week’s outcomes. The idea came from UK author Lynn Shepherd 
and American IT specialist Adam Spunberg.
This is the magnificent design of the eldritch robe from the book The Stumpwork Robe.
Pat Sweet has been itching to design the robe ever since she read the book almost two years ago, claiming that as a former costume designer, it fired her imagination. The woman modelling the gown is Ana, who you would know well from reading the book.
With that, he turned and walked away
'With that he turned and walked away...'
and the Sister’s hand pulled hard on my sleeve so that I had little choice but to follow. Any disquiet at Guy’s reticence would have to be shelved in the back of my mind as the door in the wall closed behind me. A dulcet quiet drifted over us – bees, birds, water trickling somewhere and silence. Whilst Guy had ensconced me in a number of religious houses, this one felt different. There were similarities to be sure, but the preciously small nature of this place made me feel as if Mary had taken me upon Her palm and lifted me to some place beyond strife. The thought I could become a religieuse floated through my mind once again.
