Zena Shapter's Blog, page 14

What did you want to be?

When I was a child, I never really knew what I wanted to be once I was grown up, there was no particular job I wanted, didn’t think too much about it. However, now I look back, there were signs…

When I was a young reader, I loved the ‘Little House on the Prairie’ books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, so much so I’d go to sleep dreaming about building my own log cabin, where I might find water and food in the woods or on the prairie, and how I’d cook and eat it all! The pioneering lifestyle of the 1800s was of course in no way as simplistic or idealised as it is in those marvelous books, but that didn’t matter to little young me – it wasn’t the simplicity of life that appealed. What I found fascinating was exploring a different world new to me, the books’ survival aspects, and how it allowed me to observe the basic needs of humans and what little we need to live. I still find this fascinating, whether I’m reading dystopian YAs, watching ‘The Walking Dead’ on television, or disaster movies on the big screen. I enjoy taking things back to basics and examining our essential nature. And of course I still have my Little House books…

At the same time, my favourite childhood toy was a doll’s miniature bureau. It was so precious to me I never used it. It had tiny a drawer and little notepads, minuscule pencils and a clipboard. I had other doll furniture too, but when my parents had to sell most of it during the 80s recession, I kept the bureau.

When I was a child, I also loved the Jill Murphy ‘Worst Witch’ books. The main character was Mildred Hubble, a hapless pupil at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches. I identified with her good intentions, dreamt of being a backstage hero like her and of saving the day where I could, and I loved the idea of magic. I still have good intentions and wish I were magical, though never became a magician. I still have the books though…

I also loved time outside, soaking up the beauty of nature. We didn’t have a garden as such, more a corridor of pavers with bushy borders, but there were flowers among the bushes and I used to make ‘perfume’ by soaking petals in jars of water. I would never become much of a gardener, though I did some work experience in my teens as a ranger and really enjoyed it. I loved studying science at school too, learning how the world worked. Sometimes I’d go into the woods near our home and watch animals or birds, build shelters or tree houses. Who doesn’t love the idea of a tree house? Another of my favourite childhood toys: the ‘Family Tree House’…

But even today I’d much rather sit behind a desk than have a physical job, work in the field or a laboratory. I’m certainly no survivalist, no matter how interested I was and still am in the subject. When it comes to household chores, I’d rather tidy, file and do our tax returns than mend walls or doors, water plants or fix the car. I loved lego as a kid because I love building worlds, not because I like architecture or actually building.

No, my path was always obvious in hindsight. I remember being eight years old and reading books in the dark by torchlight, long after I was supposed to be asleep. I wrote poetry and short stories from a young age, established a writers’ group at school, read English at University thanks to all manner of grants and awards, and spent my summer holidays writing for the local newspaper – for free. I spent a few years working as a solicitor trying to be a hero and save the day, but ultimately it was my desk that lured me into my true vocation: working on books everyday from my home office, conjuring magic and examining our essential nature as humans as I explore new worlds in my fantasy and science fiction stories. I get to be a different kind of hero now, writing heroic but flawed characters reflective of real people who at least try to save the day, as well as themselves. Survival is a big part of that. I guess the writing was on the wall!

Now I have kids of my own, with the first going to high school next year, I look for signs in their interests and activities that might reveal who they’re going to be when they’re older. With technology advancing as it is, it’s likely that their future vocations haven’t been invented yet, so as their mum I try to keep them focused on skill development rather than possible job identification. Still, I look for signs. My son drew me this picture the other day because I saved a turtle at a nearby national park. It was on the road and injured, so I took it down to the water and waited until it swam away in case I needed to take it to the vet. Each of these little characters wear a cape, because all of nature is heroic to our family.

What about you? Were there signs when you were growing up that hint in hindsight at who you would become as an adult? What were your favourite stories and toys, and do you still have any? Go on a journey down memory lane and you might just discover something new yet old about your own character!

‘Heard’ by @ZenaShapter, #Free #Story for #Halloween #FlashFiction

A crunch.

Jules definitely heard a crunch.

The air was chilled, and it moved, whooshing around and around. Had she left the ceiling fan on last night? Had Dave switched it on?

She rolled over to drape her arm around him, but instead of his warm body her hand touched a shard of bark, rough and crackling.

“Dave?” she murmured, rubbing open her eyes. “Dave!” she screamed. She wasn’t in their bed at home at all…

Branches clacked above her as a cool wind swirled then groaned through tall bare trees, carrying with it the dank scent of rotting leaves. A pale lemon sunrise gleamed on patches of snow. Her fingers were numb and grainy from the hard earth beneath her. Twigs and leaves gripped onto her clothes like they didn’t want her to rise from the forest floor.

Given the empty shadows between the trees, Jules wasn’t sure if she wanted to get up either – somewhere among them, someone was shovelling dirt with a spade, cackling with too much venom for comfort. Jules shuddered, remembering the joke she’d made before bedtime, about Halloween not being real, about witches not being real…

Her mouth went dry. The log she thought lay beside her was clearly a broomstick.

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Readers are reading #TowardsWhite – squee!

Hooray, readers are talking about Towards White – every author’s dream come true!

Book Pics

Thank you to these amazing readers who have sent me pics of them reading Towards White – I love these!!! Send me more!!

Ontario, Canada

Sydney Trains

North Shore Snug

Canberra Play Mat

Freshwater Beach

Reviews

Readers have also been kind enough to review Towards White to let others know it’s a good book – they’ve been shouting out on review blogs, Amazon, Goodreads and Twitter. So far so good…

I’ve started a #conflux13 book. Towards White by @ZenaShapter . A very gripping opening and delicious writing.

— Donna Maree Hanson (@DonnaMHanson) October 16, 2017

Hey @ZenaShapter I inhaled your book. I loved it and couldn’t put it down

— Donna Maree Hanson (@DonnaMHanson) October 18, 2017

It really is very good. You should be proud and it’s beautifully written too

— Donna Maree Hanson (@DonnaMHanson) October 18, 2017

 

Interviews

This week, two amazing blogs even went a step further and interviewed me about Towards White.

Supernatural Underground wanted to know all about Iceland, Becky Dales, the science and the philosophy woven into Towards White, research, complicated relationships and my typical writing routine. Read that interview here.

Australian Women Writers also invited me to be a guest on their Sunday Spotlight. They wanted to know when I started writing and what was the catalyst, what inspired Towards White, who’s at the heart of the story, how I incorporate research into my stories, how I stay sane as a writer, and what sort of paranormal I would be if I could choose. Read that interview here.

Autographs

I’ve also been keeping in touch with fans – it’s so much fun to send and receive mail! I’ve sent out bookmarks, autographed copies and emails of course.

Or wine

My nearest postbox is just around the corner, so please let me know if you’d like me to send you something.

Autographed copies to anywhere in Australia are AUD$35 including postage. For overseas I have to get a quote once I know your suburb. Get in touch to find out! If it’s too expensive to send a signed copy overseas, I can always send a personalised book label you can stick on the inside of your book.

Of course if you can do anything to help readers find Towards White please do so – word of mouth is still one of the most powerful ways authors get their books ‘out there’. And I’m loving book pics! Post them online and tag me!

Thank you for all your support so far!

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Towards White Launched in Sydney!

Photo: Chris Maait

I’m still taking it all in, but on Thursday night Towards White was launched by the amazing Joanne Anderton in Sydney. The biggest battle was getting my 12 year old son to wear jeans, not shorts, but after that everything went really well. The bookshop, Harry Hartog in Warringah Mall, set up a beautiful seated area and a couple of high stools for Jo and I, as well as a fabulous autograph table.

Then drinks were poured – champagne, red wine and juice; snacks were laid out – homebaked banana bread (not by me, my wonderful friend Lindie, because her banana bread is THE BEST!), cheese platters, chips and grapes; books stacked the shelves; the banner was pulled up; and we were ready to go.

I can’t believe the number of people who came to see me – from so far away as well, even the central coast – all to spend some of their precious time supporting this book. Amazing! I felt so guilty when I got home because I couldn’t talk to everyone as much as I wanted

Waking Writer Interview about #TowardsWhite by @BernetaWrites

Today I’m over on the Waking Writer blog talking to Bernera L. Haynes about Towards White. Here’s the start of the interview:

What is the biggest thing that people THINK they know about your subject/genre that isn’t so?

I write science fiction and fantasy, and people (who don’t read it) tend to think of it as ‘all spaceships and magic’. It isn’t! Science fiction, for example, can indeed be based on space, time travel or life on other planets; but it can also be based on imagined scientific or technological developments, major social or environmental changes, set in the real world here on Earth. My latest book, Towards White, falls into this category, imagining a world where scientists have discovered when the electrical energy in your brain goes when you die. It’s set in Iceland and I’ve been told it’s portrayed in a very realistic style. Because of this, people who don’t read science fiction have enjoyed it so much they’re going to read more science fiction from now on. I hope they do!

Other questions answered include:

Can you share with readers a little bit about your latest book?
What made you decide to sit down and actually start writing this book?
Tell us more about your main character. What makes him or her unique?
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
What role does research play in your writing?
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
What is your next project?

Want to read more? The rest of the interview is over here.

#Conflux13 – recounting a weekend of speculative fiction @conflux_sfcon

Every time I attend Conflux, Canberra’s annual speculative fiction convention, it’s different. The uniting theme is of course different and exciting (this year it was ‘Grimm Tales’), as are the guests of honour (this year we had Ellen Datlow, Angela Slatter, Meri Amber and as MC Kaaron Warren – all spec fic mega stars!), and since I don’t go every year, time passes and I am different. But this long weekend’s convention went a step further because it was different every day. People came and went, bringing their own flavour to proceedings, and my schedule brought me different delights and challenges.

Friday – Road Trip, Arrival, Publishing

Friday was all about travelling down to Canberra, then recovering. I hitched a ride with my awesome editor buddy Abigail Nathan from Bothersome Words and the hours flew by – though I reckon something strange happens to your body when zooming forward on a highway for hours, you’re sat down but somehow it’s tiring (perhaps we need some white travel goo like in The Expanse?).

Luckily a fresh Caesar salad helped us recover, just in time for our first panel of the con…

‘Self-Publishing, doing it properly’

I run a creative support business that helps writers (of fiction or non-fiction, biography or commercial project) release their words into the world, including book layouts and self-publication assistance. I also teach a course called ‘How to Self-Publish a Book’, and for the last five years have assisted the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group publish books for 10-14 year olds to raise money for The Kids’ Cancer Project. So, along with my fellow panellists, I imparted what wisdom I could to those interested in the indie side of things. We explained how it can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but that you also need to be prepared to market your work and learn how to use online tools for promotion.

The opening ceremony was next, where attendees were introduced to the theme of the con, Grimm Tales, with a game – Kaaron Warren read out the opening line of a fairytale, gave the audience two choices, then everyone had to guess which story the line opened. Guess after guess, a prize was awarded to the person who got every guess correct.

Dinner and drinks in the bar followed – one of my favourite parts of going to Conflux: catching up with All The People!

All The People hanging out in the foyer

Above the foyer

Saturday – Fairytales, Towards White, Writing

The nerves kicked in pretty early on Saturday, as IFWG was to launch my solo debut Towards White at 2.30pm.

A quick visit to the gym helped, then I had a panel…

‘Youngest sons and daughters: youth characters in fairytales’

Alistair Ott, me, Adam Hale, Maddy Piggott

Preparing for this panel, I realised I knew a lot more about fairytales than I thought! Since I also write for children and have children myself, I could understand why a considerable number of fairytales follow the adventures of the youngest son or daughter in a family – they’re the only ones not responsible for a younger sibling, and so can take the risks fairytale storytellers needed them to take in order to explore a theme or go on an entertaining adventure. As a parent, I also like my children to learn the lessons fairytales teach as early as possible, and young protagonists can engage young readers. We also talked about our favourite fairytales and how the telling of them is inevitably changing given our modern sensibilities and storytelling requirements. We all agreed ‘Into the Woods’ was a fantastic mash-up of fairytales.

Book Launch

After lunch it was time to get ready for my launch. I helped my publishers set up the books, bookmarks and massive banner. Hotel staff arrived with champagne for everybody.

Fellow authors Leife Shallcross and Rob Porteous helped too – Leife prepared a list of revealing questions to ask me and Rob baked an Icelandic Celebration Cake. Here’s Rob talking about the cake (gosh, I sound so Aussie in the intro!):

After Stephen McCracken of IFWG introduced me, I read aloud a section, then Leife interviewed me, then we all had champagne and cake and I signed books.

Leife Shallcross and me

Photo by Cat Sparks

With Stephen McCracken, marketing director of IFWG

Book launches are definitely one of the highlights of an author’s career and I’m so very grateful to everyone who came along to support me – we sold every book bar three!

I’m still incredibly nervous about how the book will be received by readers, but a five-star review on Amazon this week has eased some fears. If you bought a copy and enjoyed the read, please consider posting a review too! It really helps with all the algorithms and bots, and reassures future readers that they’re in for a good ride. The same goes for any other book you’ve read and enjoyed – it helps authors so much.

Haven’t bought a copy yet but want one? Click here for links to buy. Also let me know if you want a signed copy, as that can be arranged!

IFWG imprint buddies – me with Kaaron Warren

Thank you IFWG Gerry Huntsman, Stephen McCracken and Rebecca Fraser for bringing Towards White to life. Thank you also to my husband Bill, son Brandan and daughter Ophelia for your patience. Also, thank you to my parents – my dad had to leave school at 12 to work in a fish ’n’ chip shop to support his family, my mum had to leave at 14 to work in a hairdressers. So they had no idea what to do with a book nerd when I was born. If Dad were still alive, he’d be so proud. Mum, I know you are – why else would you have driven me from library to library during my teens, just to pick up a book?!

Workshop: ‘Vividness & Voice’

‘Vividness & Voice’

Next up I ran my two-hour writing workshop, Vividness & Voice. It’s designed to test writing styles, explore scene manipulation and develop voice. It was packed out, with people sitting on the floor or perching on side tables to join in. Thank you everyone for coming!

Finally, it was time to retire to the bar again, for dinner and drinks. Yay!

Sunday – Starting out, Science, Hanging out

Sunday was a slightly later start, with my first panel at 11am, so I had time for another quick gym visit to keep all my adrenalin under control – cons are so exciting! Given my 2am bedtime the night before, however, I didn’t manage much!

Starting Writing Later in Life

I was the moderator for this panel, and got to interview Karen and Sherylyn Dunstall and Laura Goodin about the advantages and disadvantages of starting a writing career later in life. Although I started writing when I was eight, I didn’t write my first novel until I was 26, and it was then fifteen years before my co-authored novel Into Tordon was published last year and my solo debut Towards White was published this weekend (yay!), so I understand how long the novel-writing process can take (longer when you’re raising young children!). The panel agreed it was a minimum of ten years from starting writing to first major successes, and these facts made some audience members nervous. The following list of late-publishing authors reassured them:

Bram Stoker ‘Dracula’ – 50yrs old
Daniel Defoe ‘Robinson Crusoe’ – 60yrs old
Mark Twain ‘Huckleberry Finn’ – 49yrs old
Anthony Burgess ‘A Clockwork Orange’ – 45yrs old
Laura Ingalls Wilder ‘Little House in the Big Woods – 64yrs old
George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) ‘Middlemarch’ – 55yrs old
Frank McCourt ‘Angela’s Ashes’ – 66yrs old

‘Putting Science in Stories’

Best Icelandic Cake Maker Rob Porteous was on a panel after lunch, so I went to listen to the discussion, about science in stories. The panelists decided that there was a distinction between silly science and high science in stories, with silly science mistakes irritating them more than high science mistakes. A silly science example would be jumping out of a plane, taking off your jacket, and holding it above you to slow your descent enough to survive – it simply couldn’t happen. More forgivable, however, was getting high science wrong such as dark matter and teleportation possibilities as readers might not notice. Of course, all mistakes should ideally be avoided, and Quora is a great place for writers to start their research – though of course you need to consult multiple sources when researching science. Misrepresented science can warp our understanding of the world, they said, in the same way that airbrushed models in magazines warp our understanding of what women really look like. Finally, the panelists asked writers not to stereotype scientists in their stories – ensure they are as well-drawn as any other character and representative of diversity.

Hangout

The rest of Sunday afternoon was all about socialising and networking, and the hotel foyer was the perfect place to sit back and enjoy the company of old and new friends. It went too fast.

Me, Shauna O’Meare, Leife Shallcross, Kaaron Warren’s hand – watching ‘The Lady & the Highwayman’

Monday – Cross-genre, Culture, Trains

My first panel of the day was at 10am. No morning gym today – my tummy got enough crunches giggling with the girls last night in the bar!

‘WTF is crossover anyway?’

Alan Baxter, Kimberley Gaal, Elizabeth Jane Corbett, me

The panel and I talked about the difficulties of writing cross-genre stories – mostly trying to sell them to publishers. Stickers and stocktaking were the problem. Libraries put a single sticker on each book’s spine so they can be shelved and easily found. Bookshops need a single category for stock-taking purposes. For this reason, publishers tend to play it safe with books that clearly ‘fit in a box’. Exceptions seem to be when a publisher wants to expand their list to offer readers something different. No one on the panel, however, wrote cross-genre intentionally, prioritising the telling of a certain story or character above that story’s eventual classification. So while it can help writers to consider the primary genre of their story and ensure they meet readers’ expectations for that genre, such forethought rarely happens in practice. Luckily online book retailers, and even some publishers, now recommend other books in ‘people also read’ sections, which can help readers find cross-genre stories they might not find solely searching by category. A final thought from the panel was that really cross-genre referred to ‘original’ stories, stories that don’t fit existing molds and push the boundaries of fiction. Without authors doing this, new genres of literature (such as YA) wouldn’t exist. The world of literature needs us!

Writing across cultures without #!!*#ing it up

Me, Gillian Polack, Elizabeth Jane Corbett, Kellie Takenaka

My final panel for the con was a discussion on culture. I was so excited to be presenting on this topic following the Writing Inclusive Fiction course I studied earlier this year, and my lifelong passion for inclusivity. I can’t wait until we can talk more about valuing intersectional diversity itself (people are not just an ethnicity or religion but a class, gender, level of ability and sexuality as well, and each of those comes with its own set of privileges and assumptions), rather than the representation of one or two minority cultures, but this was a great start and a very useful discussion for the audience. We encouraged the audience to first examine where they come from and what assumptions they might consequently make about others before creating or writing about a culture. If writing about a real world culture, the panel agreed research and connection was paramount – using multiple resources to immerse yourself in that culture, talking to as many people as possible, including those known personally to you, experts, elders, librarians and organisations dedicated to representing that culture. If creating a culture from scratch, we agreed writers should be aware of their background and assumptions when applying worldbuilding tools, then focus on what makes their created culture unique and fully realising that uniqueness from the ground up, ensuring it seeps into everything from clothes and art to politics, food and washing up! Finally, check your characters for stereotyping and don’t be afraid of trying for fear of making mistakes – we all make mistakes.

Home time!

After a final closing ceremony where I got a prize for my short story, The Kind of Man, published in the Conflux 13 brochure, it was time to head home. Thank you to Ellen Datlow, Kaaron Warren and Rob Porteous for blind-judging my story worthy of both publication and a prize. Thank you Leife Shallcross and Karen Herkes for organising an amazing four-day program of speculative fiction events. Thank you to everyone who bought Towards White and made me feel like a superstar by tracking me down throughout the convention and asking for my autograph.

Thank you to Dion Perry for giving me a lift to Goulburn so I could catch the fast train back to Sydney, and start writing up this recount.

Finally thank you to my family, who picked me up from Sydney’s Central Station and gave me lots of big hugs.

Big hugs to you too, online buddies, for spending your time reading this recount!

Happy Release Day #TowardsWhite! Thank you @IFWGAustralia!

Today is the day, and I’m absolutely petrified so excited that ‘Towards White’ is finally released into the world!

Readers might find There are so many reasons to read this book!

Science Fiction

Stuff is here ready for launch – banner + books!!

It’s got a big idea at its heart that attempts to finally answers the oldest question of them all – what happens when we die? Oodles of research have gone into this, over years and years. Here’s part of the blurb:

Scientists in Iceland think they’ve figured out one of our greatest mysteries – where the electrical energy in our brains goes after we die. According to the laws of physics, one form of energy must always become another form. So the electrical energy in our brains and nervous system can’t simply disappear…

Thriller

I’ve been told it’s It’s also a page-turner. Here’s the rest of that blurb:

When ex-lawyer Becky Dales travels to Iceland to track down her missing brother, she doesn’t care about the groundbreaking discoveries, or the positive-thinking practiced by the Icelanders – she just wants her brother back. Having stumbled on something she thinks the Icelandic government wants covered up, Becky must piece together the answers fast… before she becomes a victim herself.

Complex & Driven Female Lead

But it’s not as simple as that – Becky Dales is her own hero as well as her worst enemy. I just hope know readers are going to identify with her story. We all fall apart sometimes, face the darkest of dark hours, question the essence of our being, then seek a way back to ‘normal’ life. This is a story about a character struggling to do that, and facing a crisis at the same time. Sometimes when it rains, it pours!

Philosophical

As well as unravelling the mysteries of life and death, ‘Towards White’ poses questions about science, religion and justice that should will get you thinking!

Iceland

Come to a launch for a free bookmark! Woo hoo!

There’s something magical about Iceland. Nothing can prepare you for the stark beauty of its geography – its lonely lava plains, steamy natural springs, volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, waterfalls and auroras. I haven’t stopped wanting to return since travelling there in 2001. Hopefully ‘Towards White’ will take you back there with me!

Launches

CANBERRA: Saturday 30th September (tomorrow!) 2.30pm at Conflux, Hotel Vibe Canberra ACT 2609. I’ll also be appearing at Conflux over the next few days as follows:

Friday 29th, 4pm: appearing on ‘Self publishing – doing it properly’ panel.
Saturday 30th, 10am: appearing on ‘Youngest sons & daughters: youth characters in fairy tales’ panel.
Saturday 30th, 2.30pm: BOOK LAUNCH!! Please join me to celebrate the launch of ‘Towards White’.
Saturday 30th, 4-6pm: teaching my writing workshop Vividness & Voice
Sunday 1st, 11am: moderating ‘starting writing later in life’ panel.
Monday 2nd, 10am: appearing on ‘WTF is crossover anyway?’ panel.
Monday 2nd, 1.30pm: appearing on ‘Writing across cultures with out @#!!*&ing it up’ panel.

SYDNEY: Thursday 12th October at Harry Hartog, Warringah Mall Brookvale NSW 2100

BUY NOW: Buy one for a friend too! Then you can talk about it without having to wait for them to finish reading! Just follow this link.

 

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Book Quote Thank You – @KimFalconer #Generous

The generosity of some writers astounds me. Five amazing writers just read my upcoming solo debut Towards White, and gave my publisher IFWG Australia five amazing quotes about it, all while juggling their own projects, writing and family. I had to know more. So today I’m asking Kim Falconer, what else were you doing while reading and quoting on the Towards White ARC? Firstly, here’s what she said about Towards White:

“Zena Shapter’s debut novel will hold you tight from start to finish. With characters as convoluted as the faultless plot, ‘Towards White’ expands the mind, and the mind’s eye, as you track the journey of life, death, love and deception. Suspense that takes you to the brink, then pushes you over. The world building was perfection. Highly recommended!” Kim Falconer, author of ‘The Blood in the Beginning’, an Ava Sykes Novel

So, Kim, what were you up to?

1. What were you writing?

I’ve been working for the last eighteen months on a YA Fantasy/Horror novel called Cloud Forest. The premise is everything happens twice. It’s about a fifteen-year-old girl who survives a car accident but doesn’t wake up. While comatose, her spirit roams the shaded world between life and death. In a parallel storyline, the accident never happens. She goes on an archaeological dig with her Year 10 Earth Science class. Think old gods, shamans, curses, human sacrifice and spirit animals. When these girls meet, their worlds collide… My goal is to finish a strong draft before the end of the year.

2. What were you editing?

The Amassia series, three books coming out in 2018-2019 through Entangled Teen. It’s a Young Adult Fantasy seen through the eyes of Marcus, the Heir struggling to control his phantom, Ash, his childhood friend who has given up on ever raising one, and Nalin, the beguiling Mar sent to assassinate them both. Thrown off course on their way to Aku, Ash and Marcus cross enemy lands and a dark sea, home of the Mar, a beautiful but deadly race said to feed on infant sacrifices. Nalin, posing as the bosun’s mate, guides them true, but their path triggers a catastrophic prophesy. In a world on the brink of the next Great Dying, no amount of training can prepare them for what is to come… Watch for it on www.akwilder.com

3. What were you busy promoting?

My latest release is an Urban Fantasy, The Blood in the Beginning – an Ava Sykes Novel, out through Harlequin Books. Undergraduate by day, bouncer by night, Ava Sykes works hard to build her life in New LA, a city experiencing the Aftermath of a seismic disaster. Her prospects improve until she stumbles upon an evil no sane person would want to confront. Suddenly, her life, her city and everyone she cares about is in danger. Pushed to the edge, Ava taps a power she never knew she had… and uses it. Find more on avasykes.com.

Thank you, Kim! I’m so chuffed you enjoyed Towards White!

Want to come to one of my book launches for Towards White? There will be two – see below! You can also pre-order Towards White here.

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Book Quote Thank You – Leife Shallcross @leioss #Generous

The generosity of some writers astounds me. Five amazing writers just read my upcoming solo debut Towards White, and gave my publisher IFWG Australia five amazing quotes about it, all while juggling their own projects, writing and family. I had to know more. So today I’m asking Leife Shallcross, what else were you doing while reading and quoting on the Towards White ARC? Firstly, here’s what she said about Towards White:

“Eerie and engrossing, ‘Towards White’ is an interrogation of the mystery of life wrapped in a Nordic sci-fi noir story about unravelling the mystery of a death. Set against a starkly beautiful landscape, the story is steeped in a deep sense of unease, alternating between white-knuckle action and a delibrate unfolding of the layers of truth.” Leife Shallcross, author of ‘The Beast’s Heart’

So, Leife, what were you up to?

1. What were you writing?

I’ve got two novel projects on the go at the moment, although I’ve actually taken some long service leave from work until October to see if I can finish off at least one of them. It’s a standalone YA story that re-imagines Cinderella as a steampunk MacGyver-type character who has actually faked her father’s death.

2. What were you editing?

I’m working on the final edits for my debut novel, ‘The Beast’s Heart’, which will be published by Hodder & Stoughton next year. I’m almost done!

3. What were you busy promoting?

So many things! ‘The Beast’s Heart’ – of course. Hodder recently made uncorrected proofs available at the Young Adult Literature Convention in London, so it’s been fun seeing people’s reaction to those. I’m going hammer and tongs on the programming for this year’s Conflux, which starts on 29 September. There is so much exciting stuff happening at Conflux! As well as launching ‘Towards White’, Conflux is bringing legendary editor Ellen Datlow out from the US! And to top it off, CSFG recently announced that I’ll be editing their upcoming anthology, ‘A Hand of Knaves‘, with my good friend Chris Large, which opened for submissions on 1 August. We’re putting the finishing touches onto the crowdfunding campaign for that (in the interests of paying writers MOAR). So yes. Promoting ALL the things. 

Thank you, Leife! Can’t wait for Conflux, see you there – I’m so chuffed you enjoyed Towards White!

Want to come to one of my book launches for Towards White? There will be two – see below! You can also pre-order Towards White here.

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Book Quote Thank You – @JoanneAnderton #Generous

The generosity of some writers astounds me. Five amazing writers just read my upcoming solo debut Towards White, and gave my publisher IFWG Australia five amazing quotes about it, all while juggling their own projects, writing and family. I had to know more. So today I’m asking Joanne Anderton, what else were you doing while reading and quoting on the Towards White ARC? Firstly, here’s what she said about Towards White:

“‘Towards White’ is a smart supernatural thriller, with a central mystery that is both heartbreaking and intriguing. Shapter blurs the line between technology and spirituality, all the while exploring a fascinating Icelandic setting through the eyes of a complex and driven female lead. It’s a novel that delves deep into the nature of justice, religion and death, but at it’s heart it’s a story about family and the bonds that connect us all.” Joanne Anderton, award-winning author of ‘Debris’ and ‘The Bone Chime Song and Other Stories’

So, Jo, what were you up to?

1. What were you writing?

I’m in the middle of my masters in creative writing at the moment, so I was writing the proposal for my major work. It’s a ghost story. Because of course it is.

2. What were you editing?

Slowly, sloooowly, editing a short story I wrote a few months ago. It’s taking a while because I’m squeezing it in between assignments and readings and workshops, oh my.

3. What were you busy promoting?

Nothing much. Not yet anyway. Ask me again in March, when my children’s book ‘The Flying Optometrist’ is out, and then we can talk promotion!

Thank you, Jo! I’m so chuffed you enjoyed Towards White!

Want to come to one of my book launches for Towards White? There will be two – see below! You can also pre-order Towards White here.

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