Tracey Alley's Blog, page 4

Where would we be without curiosity?

I used to be one of 'those' kids - you know the kind, they're always asking 'why?' I'm sure there were times when I drove my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles - actually any one who happened to stand still for long enough for me to start asking questions completely crazy. But I was also extremely lucky that the people in my life never seemed to be exasperated with me or get bored with my constant questions.

Of course once I was a little older my mum introduced me to the library and I fell in love for only the second time in my life - the first was with words and stories so this second love seemed to follow naturally from that. But once I'd found libraries the questions suddenly seemed endless and my range of interests just kept growing.

My mum used to say I was like an intellectual butterfly. I'd flit from one passion to the next with barely a breath in between. But I was also thorough with my curiosities. I remember once, I think I was about 14, and we had an election. I didn't understand how it all worked, why did we vote for one guy when we voted in our local electorate yet someone else entirely got to be the Prime Minister? So I talked to some people and went back to my [still] favourite place and started reading about politics.

Before I knew it I was studying not only how our system of politics worked in Australia - something just quietly I'm not a huge fan of - but how politics work in other countries as well. Then it's the history of politics from monarchies, to tyranny's to Athenian democracy, republics to empires - well, you get the picture. Then, as now, once I decide I want to know how something works or why it is or where it came from I don't give up.

Although I've always loved to study even until quite recently I've often wondered if I'm not a little 'weird' in my constant pursuit of knowledge. Then my beloved older sister, Cynthia, told me something I hope I'll never forget - You're curious, you have a desire to learn and these are good things. Don't ever stop asking 'Why?'

So as they say on TV - live life a little more curious.

Cheers all,
Trace

Negative review for Erich's Plea

Hi all,
Well I knew it would happen eventually - there's not an author alive who doesn't get a bad review but I have to say for my first one I was actually kind of pleased. Pleased? I hear you say - well if I can post some of the comments made in the review you might see why. Obviously he didn't like the story itself - thought it was a little too D&D and S&S - that's ok as they happen to be fantasy stories and games that I really enjoy so I can hardly be surprised if that type of style crept into my books.

He also said however, "This is an author with a strong, free flowing, natural command of English, who produces language that is very easy to read, and read quickly." and went on to say "whenever the author does switch to description or narration, the reader is carried along rapidly by the clarity and flow of her English." There were other very complimentary comments but I'll leave that for now. If you'd like to read the whole review here's the link - http://indiefantasyreview.blogspot.com/

As a writer I couldn't help but be secretly pleased by his judgement of my writing skills. It would be one thing to say he hated the story and I wrote like a seven year old but this wasn't that kind of review.

So while I'm not exactly bragging - who brags about a bad review? - I am encouraged and feel like a real writer for maybe the first time. I've joined the queue of all other writers who get both good and bad reviews.

I know that bad reviews are supposed to bring us down but I have to be honest and say this one just encouraged me to keep putting proverbial pen to paper and keep writing.

Cheers,
Trace

Haunted by a haunting story

So I'm trying to get all the Kaynos work finished up for publication before Christmas. The work on Slade's Destiny is going well and the short stories for the History Tales compilation are still flowing but I keep getting distracted by this other story that seems to desperately want to be told.

I almost feel like I'm being haunted by a ghost of manuscript future. This one will be a big leap for me, set in current times it's a paranormal, mystery, thriller with one hell of a twist at the end. Even when I'm trying to concentrate on my other stuff these characters keep clamouring for my attention with fascinating tidbits about their lives, their backstory and why this will be such a great story to write.

I'm usually a much more disciplined writer than this so this is a new experience for me. Normally I'll get a vague concept, build some characters around that, play around with the plotline for a while and then start committing words to paper. With this it almost feels already written and it's just waiting for my lazy typing fingers to catch up.

Has this ever happened to anyone else or am I just having a 'muse' moment?

I will have to write the story if only because I've gotten so sucked in that I have to know how it turns out - I'll keep you informed as well, unless it turns out rubbish of course :)

What is it with cats?

I love cats, I've had cats all my life. My current fur babies are Hannibal my big Russian blue who is definitely mama's boy and Jazz a black and white moggie that we found dumped at only 4 or 5 weeks old - she's her daddy's girl. They make life truly more joyous, are loving and affectionate - when they want to be - but they also have some rather weird habits I've noticed.

1. Why on earth when they kill some disgusting thing, be it crickets, cockroaches, lizards, mice or yes, even birds [shudder] - why do they have to bring it straight to me, dump it at my feet and then look at me so expectantly. What do they want me to do? Eat their revolting offering? Pat them on the head? [well I do that but only when they kill mice and lizards cause I really hate those things]. I mean seriously, why?

2. Why is it that when I'm working, writing, housework, whatever but why when I'm busy are they all over me demanding attention and affection and yet the minute I sit down to relax and would enjoy some cuddle time they're not interested? Are they trying to assist me in my tasks? Distract me from my tasks? Or are they just plain ole ornery?

I give up - I've just decided that cat behaviour makes no sense. Of course it could just be MY cats that make no sense but either way I quit trying to understand. I'll just have to keep loving them and putting up with their weird little quirks.

Cheers,
Trace

Why are there only 24 hours in a day?

Now it's entirely possible, no make that probable, that I've bitten off a little more than I can actually chew but it just feels like there's not enough hours in the day. I'm starting to feel like one of those mad authors you read about who stay glued to their keyboard pumping out one story after another but I've just go so much going on in my head right now that it's like I can't get the words down fast enough. I'm so excited about my new series of children's books - three so far and the artwork I've seen [all preliminary stuff] is just amazing. Then there's Slade's Destiny which I cannot wait to be ready for release - can't nag the beta readers though, very bad form. Then there's my non-fiction work which seems to be almost writing itself - of course, two years of research probably helps :)

Then I'm redecorating my house - believe me this is a project that is long overdue but I'm so hyped about it that I want to get every little thing exactly right - yes my husband is being driven slowly crazy. Plus I recently got back into my charity work which had fallen a little by the way side of recent times. Even though it takes up a big chunk of my time I absolutely love it - I guess you could say the charity was more for me :)

Anyway before I start to sound boring I'll sign off. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day.

Cheers,
Trace

Finally made the decision

After much back and forwards I've finally decided to go back to Uni and study for my Masters. The ironic thing is that I absolutely HATED high school but once I hit Uni for the first time I was totally in love. I did my first degree in Business Management - blah. But then I decided as I already had a 'real job' I could study things I enjoyed. This led first to a degree in Egyptology - three of the most exciting years of my life. Then I found Comparative Religions and who knew that would be even better?

Of course now that I've decided to actually get a Masters the question is which discipline will I follow? At the moment I'm leaning towards Religion - there's something about the evolution of human belief that I find endlessly fascinating. Why do we believe what we believe? Why has that changed so radically over time? Why are there so many similarities? As you can see, once again I have far more questions than there probably are answers but I'm going to enjoy the journey.

I already use so much of what I've learned in my books - in fact the Temple of Life that Ursula has to traverse in Ursula's Quest is a twisted version of the journey taken by the dead according to the Egyptian Book of the Dead - much poetic license used but it was still one of my favourite passages to write.

Anyway, that's enough for me today - I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,
Trace

Musings from Down Under

Well it's warming up here in Oz - I have to confess that the warmer weather, while offering many wonderful opportunities, is not my favourite part of the year. Here in Queensland it gets hot, sticky and humid and leaves me feeling as lethargic as a snail. I'm trying, after 40 years, to appreciate it more but Winter will always be my favourite season. That is the winters here - I lived in Christchurch, NZ for a couple of years and boy do they know how to do winter over there - snow, sleet and winds that get through a dozen layers of clothing. Here in South East Queensland the winters are mild and just cold enough to really enjoy - lazy days, Tim Tams, goods movies and snuggling up with the other half.

Still I won't be complaining as this Summer season my beloved husband is going to give me the basics for Scuba Diving and when I'm ready I'll get my PADI certification - why you may ask? or not ask but I'll tell you anyway.... Early next year we're heading off to Thailand and Cambodia. Thailand for some excellent shopping, scuba diving, fabulous Buddhist temples, elephant treks, the Tiger Temple and then six whole days of nothing but lazing by the pool and watching the world go by. Plus as an added bonus we're doing a quick hop over to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat - total bliss.

Still being the nerdy writer that I am I will likely take the laptop and keep working on whatever story is currently driving me mad to be written :)

I'll keep you posted - and probably bored to tears LOL,
Cheers,
Trace