Debra Clewer's Blog: Travelling Through Time, page 3

Patience and Persistence

Well, it's finally happened. I have taken delivery of my first box of Harriet and the Secret Librarian published copies, after receiving the initial proof copies. The cover design was not quite right, so I created a new cover through the site Poster My Wall. They have many book cover templates to choose from, and it's as simple as arranging where you want the elements on the template, then saving the image. There are 3 options: you can create a design and save for free, but if better quality images are the goal there is they choice of paying $2.99 U.S. or $7.99 U.S. I opted for the first paid option which cost around $4.25 AUD. Much happier with the result this time. It's been a long project since 2015, and the story has had many twists and turns added, along with extra chapters to tie this story in with Harriet and the Secret rings. I have added a dedication to my late husband John who gave much input input with the original manuscript. I have been working on the next in the series, Harriet and the Secret Coins, and enjoying research into Australian life in the goldrush era. The first two novels contain a lot of fiction which is based on fact, and I believe this adds authenticity to the storyline, along with being educational for our young readers. As part of my research I visited the Lambing Flat Museum at Young, NSW, which is the place my young protagonist Harriet and her friend Will first find themselves while on a school history excursion. Lambing Flat (which is now Young), was the scene of violet confrontation in 1861 between gold miners from many different places and the Chinese miners. The man at the museum was very helpful, and gave me quite a bit of info along with an historical site to check out. This third book will be back to adventure, while the latest one is a little more subdued, however, there is a child-eating dragon involved, along with some awful bullies. My aim is to fire the imaginations of our young people aged 9-12, although confident younger readers would also be able to manage the stories. Books are available through me at a cost of $12 plus postage. Please use the contact form to order.

Inspiration first, perspiration next.

I have recently joined the Creative Kids Tales network, and decided to write some short stories for an upcoming publication in 2019. Seeing a theme for a competition they are also running set my thoughts wandering. One of the themes was felines. Now, inspiration can crop up in funny places. I had been mulling a short story over in my mind, unable to sleep in the early hours of the morning. Later in the day, I was sitting with a child who was writing a story. She had slightly misspelled a word, which set my mind off on a different track. I suddenly had the idea to write a story about a cat detective and his offsider. I had been thinking that the story line would involve a bully criminal dog who hires a rat to steal a prize cheese. Now, the funny thing is, I was looking on Google for the phrase to say the cheese had been stolen in another language (the cheese maker is Italian). It seemed like just a silly idea, until a few articles cropped up saying that cheese is the most stolen food in the world! I was amazed at the value of the large wheels of cheese, and the fact that the people who had stolen them were referred to as curd burglars. What a great term! So I have started on the first one, (tentatively titled The Cat Chronicles), which can be up to 1,000 words. Looks like I was on the right track in the first place (well, hopefully). There'll be some hard work involved to keep the story line moving, while having an element of fun and whimsy about the whole plot. I thanked my young friend for her spelling mistake, and promised to acknowledge her, which I hope I can do. Maybe she can even be one of the characters. We are only limited by our imaginations.

READING, 'RITING & RESEARCH

This is a topic I have written about before. I am writing Junior Fiction (or Middle-Grade novels) based in part on historical fact. My second book, Harriet and the Secret Librarian, has just been published. It has been a long road since the first draft in collaboration with my late husband John in 2015. I set the manuscript aside to concentrate on Harriet and the Secret Rings which was released first. In both instances, I have written fictional stories of people and places which are grounded in historical fact. In the Secret Rings novel, which is in 3 parts, my protagonist Harriet Cooper and her friend Will Taylor travel back in time: first to Ancient Rome, then to Philippi in Ancient Greece and finally to Sherwood Forest. In each case I researched the lifestyle, clothing, geography, food and jewellery of the time. I have always loved history and delved into the research with great delight, feeling that it was important to establish the intended goal. With the Secret Librarian, I have also done some research. Harriet is read some stories by a local librarian, with one about a bushranger called Johnny Gilbert. He roamed around my local area in the 1860's, causing major trouble. The story I have written, Good Sam of Binalong, is modelled on the parable of the Good Samaritan. John Gilberts' grave is at Binalong, which is around 20 minutes from where I live. I visited his grave last July and took photographs. A cropped Photoshop version of the grave site is on the new book cover, to the right of a tree. My dragon character Gruffyd also appears in one of the stories, which is based in an historical town where we lived from 2006-2009. I feel that the fiction is enhanced by reality, and am currently researching the gold rush era in Australia for the third book in the trilogy, Harriet and the Secret Coins. Loving every minute of it.

LOVELY LIBRARIES

I've always had a love affair with libraries from my school days. I get involved whenever possible with whatever is happening. Today I was guest of honour (well, actually, my Tedd. D. Bear puppet was, playing the Easter Bunny), at Cootamundra library for pre-school storytime. But I also love to tell stories to older children, and have donated a second copy of Harriet and the Secret Rings to our wonderful library. A big shout out to our great librarians who do so much for our community-not to mention helping everyone, young and old, with their imaginations. What would we do without them? (Just a littlebit of a clue for my upcoming novel Harriet and the Secret Librarian).