Lily Mulholland's Blog, page 5

On the Beach – Conflux 8

The Canberra speculative fiction convention, Conflux 8, is coming up – it will be held from 29-30 September 2012 at the Novotel. I'm planning to attend, and look forward to carrying on some of the great conversations we started at Conflux last year.

The conference convenors have just announced details of the short story contest, which closes 29 June. I wasn't planning to submit anything, but last night a story came to me, almost fully formed. I'll mull it over for a few more days, trying to unpack the layers of meaning, before I make any decisions about writing it. I am supposed to be fully focused on my MPhil research project, but I am a master already of 'productive procrastination'!

Are you coming to Conflux?

Two words you never want to hear

Bunions!
Surgery!

But, if like me, you have had these two words mentioned to you in the same sentence by a doctor or orthopaedic surgeon, you might be interested in my experiences over the past couple of weeks. You can read about my surgery and post-surgery story on my 'Post-Bunion Surgery Page', which I've cunningly hidden under another tab on the homepage, because, let's face it, most people just don't wanna know about bunions!

Eighty Nine – the book trailer

The book trailer for Literary Mix Tapes: Eighty Nine has been released on YouTube.

Congrats to Devin Watson and his crew.

Literary Mix Tapes: The Movie Project

Hello there. Wanna know something exciting? My story 'Grey, Like Stone', which appeared in Literary Mix Tapes: Nothing But Flowers, is being converted into a film script, along with nine other stories from the anthology. Joint ringmasters for the project, Jodi Cleghorn and Devin Watson, will wrangle, authors, scriptwriters and film crews across three continents over the coming months, with the films planned to be ready to premiere in the Northern summer. This project is either crazy or completely ambitious – you never know what it's going to be when it's an eMergent production!

To find out more about the The Movie Project, visit Devin's post over at Write Anything.

Egads! February already

Goodness. Last time I peeked, it was New Years! January evaporated without permission and left me stranded in February, with a whole year's work ahead of me.  I did, however, manage to snatch three weeks of bliss in Tasmania; I feel so wonderful when I'm there. I also worked on a couple of ideas for novels: one a crime/thriller, the other a more mainstream 'contemporary' novel. Scenes keep coming to me and I'm slowly learning my characters. I'm jotting it all down and will keep adding ideas to my notebook. BUT I am not allowing myself to start writing, as the other 'non-fun' writing that needs to be done is the thesis for the Master of Philosophy I am half-way through completing. I'm researching organisational development, specifically, what leadership attributes are required in start-up interagency government organisations. Dry as ditchwater, but I MUST finish it this year. A lot of work to be done, and that's on top of my ridiculously busy day job, family commitments and a few other jobs I'm doing in the Army Reserve. Over-committed much? Hell, yes!

How do you juggle all of life's many challenges? It's hard, but then, ever was it thus. That's what makes us good writers. It's just sometimes hard to keep slogging away.

Farewell 2011

It's been one hell of a year. An out of control busy job, a spot of Army Reserve work, marginal work on my masters research project, half a dozen stories written and published, and two children nurtured for another year. Having so much responsibility has pushed me to the edge this year. It's been a long haul. And there's my long-suffering husband, who pretty much comes last these days! He gets the worn out, flopped out on the couch in front of the teeves version of me – not so satisfying for him, but he loves me regardless. That's the essence of a long-term relationship, is it not?

I'm hoping 2012 will be a little more in control. I'm doing some work with a personal coach to learn how to distance my emotions from all the shit that goes down at work – to be more rational, less reactive. It's working at work, but I'm not so good at applying these learnings in my personal life! That's my resolution for 2012 – less negative reactivtiy and more understanding and positivity. Here's my mantra for 2012:

I am not responsible for other people's behaviour

I am solely responsible for my own happiness

I think that about covers it. If I can be less reactive, I should be less exhausted. I also have to learn that I am not responsible for the success of my organisation – there are 35 of us and the responsibility is shared. I have to find a way not to take it so personally (but that might have to wait until 2013!).

My other resolution for 2012 is to spend a little time each week writing. I have an idea for a novel that I'd like to start pursuing. It will be in the crime/noir style and will be set in Canberra/Queanbeyan/regional NSW, featuring a female protagonist. It's going to be a long, slow burn, but one that should sustain me over the year ahead.

I just have to find a way to fit it all in.

What's your goal for 2012? Whatever it is, I hope 2012 brings you health and enough happiness to make this crazy life worthwhile.

Do you like your hardboiled fiction by the dozen?

Well, if so, here's an anthology for you  – The Dark Pages – Volume 1. In it, you'll find 12 hardboiled/noir tales from around the world. I'm thrilled to have my story, 'The Puppy Wrangler', showcased alongside genre luminaries including Paul D Brazill.

Only $2.99 on Amazon for the Kindle version.

To find out more about the authors and the creative guy running the whole shootin' match, head on over to Trestle Press.

 

Ready? Get set, go! (well, not until Tuesday)

[image error]Please join the Eighty Nine team as the Literary Mix Tapes Volume 3 is released. We are having another Amazon chart rush. Buy, or add the crowd-sourced anthology to your wishlist on 25 October 2011 and the writing gods will smile down upon you and shower you with karma and other sparkly soul-dust.

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The Yin and Yang Book – available for global pre-orders

How very exciting – this awesome anthology (and I'm definitely not just saying that because I have a story in it) is finally availble in paperback and is open for pre-orders, with copies available from next week.

This very cool anthology contains two sets of ten stories joined by the same prologue and the same epilogue. Two parallel universes compete for your attention, bounce up against each other once or twice and speed the reader to a dramatic conclusion. Read this book and you'll never view an airport the same way again. This book would be perfect to read on a plane (no crashes, I assure you, other than the airline…but that's for me to know and you find out) or during a lazy holiday. It would make a great gift, although maybe not for your mother-in-law, as there's a fair bit of language and a little bit of um-ah sex. It's my kind of book!

You can find out more and lob your pre-orders here: http://chinesewhisperings.com/2011/10/pre-order-chinese-whisperings-anthologies/

Are you still here? What are you doing? Go on, scoot over to Chinese Whisperings…Now!

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Pre-orders open for Eighty Nine

Pre-orders for Australian deliveries of Eighty Nine are now open. Other regions to follow soonest!

I'm very much looking forward to seeing my baby fly. My story is called 'Chronicle Child' and is a tale with a twist set in 20th Century Japan. I'm in very good company with some of the best emerging writers from around the world, who've been wrangled by Literary Mix Tapes editor and publisher, Jodi Cleghorn.

Buy it, buy it now!