Eleni Konstantine's Blog: Eleni's Taverna, page 5
January 19, 2016
Challenges galore...
Okay so most of my challenges are reading ones and I'm crossing over with those - i.e. I'm using the same books on different once - but they still count as part of the galore.
It's been a good start to the year so far and I'm working towards it being a consistent thing by routines and schedules. Hark - routines - I always thought I hated routines but I think it's the type that you do for the sake of doing type routines, instead for a real purpose like to make life easier.
Anyway, by putting some sort of semblance of routine in my life, I am making time for reading - which you already knew about (and you can read about on my Eleni's Library blog here) but other challenges such as two you don't know about unless you follow me on Facebook.
52 week Illustration Challenge
Firstly the 52 week Illustration Challenge - yep you guessed it, that means doing an illustration (whether by hand or digital) each week for the whole year! I'm part of a closed group on Facebook and I have been lurking for the last couple of years on this loop. Finally, I have been able to join in. I needed to focus on my illustrated creative side and not lose any skill that I gained in Tafe.
Here are my contributions so far:
Week 1: Fancy Dress
I was shocked and excited that Sally from the
challenge selected this as one of her picks
for the week!! You can see the post here .
Week 2: Outdoors
I have a slight Owl obsession...
I sign them as HelzKat Designs as that is my design alter ego but I am not on Facebook as a profile but only a page, so using Eleni. Looking forward to undertaking next week's theme: theme parks.
There are some incredible artists in the loop and one day I hope to be as good as them. But for me it's about developing my skills and most importantly having fun, which I am.
52 week Flash Fiction challenge
The other challenge that is more relevant to my writing life is the 52 week Flash Fiction challenge. That is a closed group as well with no blog or website, but in no way any less important. I'm reading some great stuff and I have done one story so far and working on my second one. I hope to share some of these Flash Fiction stories in future - most likely in my new newsletter!
This is getting the writing side of my brain working and this length is perfect for me at the moment.
Becoming more professional (personal author challenge)
And that brings me to the final challenge - getting myself organised as an author.
This includes organising the newsletter I have wanted to do for a long time. I'll be starting sending a newsletter (no more than one a month) in the next month or so. If you would like to sign up, you can do so below.
There'll be all sort of extra goodies like stories, behind the scenes stuff, and giveaways.
That's it from me.
Keep well.
~yia~
It's been a good start to the year so far and I'm working towards it being a consistent thing by routines and schedules. Hark - routines - I always thought I hated routines but I think it's the type that you do for the sake of doing type routines, instead for a real purpose like to make life easier.
Anyway, by putting some sort of semblance of routine in my life, I am making time for reading - which you already knew about (and you can read about on my Eleni's Library blog here) but other challenges such as two you don't know about unless you follow me on Facebook.
52 week Illustration Challenge
Firstly the 52 week Illustration Challenge - yep you guessed it, that means doing an illustration (whether by hand or digital) each week for the whole year! I'm part of a closed group on Facebook and I have been lurking for the last couple of years on this loop. Finally, I have been able to join in. I needed to focus on my illustrated creative side and not lose any skill that I gained in Tafe.
Here are my contributions so far:
Week 1: Fancy Dress

challenge selected this as one of her picks
for the week!! You can see the post here .
Week 2: Outdoors

I sign them as HelzKat Designs as that is my design alter ego but I am not on Facebook as a profile but only a page, so using Eleni. Looking forward to undertaking next week's theme: theme parks.
There are some incredible artists in the loop and one day I hope to be as good as them. But for me it's about developing my skills and most importantly having fun, which I am.
52 week Flash Fiction challenge
The other challenge that is more relevant to my writing life is the 52 week Flash Fiction challenge. That is a closed group as well with no blog or website, but in no way any less important. I'm reading some great stuff and I have done one story so far and working on my second one. I hope to share some of these Flash Fiction stories in future - most likely in my new newsletter!
This is getting the writing side of my brain working and this length is perfect for me at the moment.
Becoming more professional (personal author challenge)
And that brings me to the final challenge - getting myself organised as an author.
This includes organising the newsletter I have wanted to do for a long time. I'll be starting sending a newsletter (no more than one a month) in the next month or so. If you would like to sign up, you can do so below.
There'll be all sort of extra goodies like stories, behind the scenes stuff, and giveaways.
That's it from me.
Keep well.
~yia~
Published on January 19, 2016 05:25
January 2, 2016
Changing gears...
Dearest blog readers,
Time seems to pass me by with all things but blogging and writing. But I feel that I will turn the corner soon enough. I’ve gone down a gear since end October, and now the new year is here, there will be another gear change down.
Space Project
The school project with Master 11 was a blast - we learned about different aspects of space by reading and watching documentaries, visiting the planetarium, and of course research on the net - including how to do a 'rocket'. We eventually did have success using effervescent tablets in warm water and plastic bottles (thanks to my brother- I am hopeless at that sort of thing). Lots of fun and I was honoured to be chosen to do the project with him. I was also happy to learn a new skill in using iMovie. (Unfortunately, I can’t show you the movie because of copyright of images - okay for school projects but not for putting it out there - but also because of the privacy I keep for my family.)
Blogging OWL
The Blogging OWL went very well I thought, and I was lucky to have an amazing co-presenter in Daniel de Lorne who took the lead as I dealt with some health issues. Blogging is such a big topic and we managed to fit it into 4 one-two hour sessions. Another new skill learned was using software to present in real time. I keep on learning new things every time I revisit the topic, and new resources as well.
If you're looking for online courses for your writing, check out the Romance Writers of Australia OWLs - the new year will have a range of new topics soon.
What’s next?
I am catching up some design work and some volunteer work to pass on, but in the new few weeks, I want to get back into my writing and working on my stories. My brain has been so overfull in the last few years, that it slowly lost its creative drive for capturing my stories. It’s still in my head of course, but all my energy had been diverted elsewhere. And therefore, I’ve been too tired to concentrate in the way that I want.
Reading
The good thing is that on the whole my reading has increased - there a few busy weeks where again, it takes a back seat and while the stories are gripping, it’s my mind that is too tired to follow. But on the whole I’m able to read a little a day. I managed 49 books last year which is an increase from 24 books in 2014 (hey that's double!).
Check out Eleni's Library to keep up with what I am reading, including how I'm going in my 60 Book Reading Challenge for 2016 (also widget on the sidebar of this blog).
2016 Since 2015 was such a horrid year for me personally, I'm glad for the freshness that a new year brings. I hope to be around more and get back to some more regular features but I'm not rushing myself.
Have a fantabulous 2016 everyone!! Take care.
-Eleni
Yia!!!!
Time seems to pass me by with all things but blogging and writing. But I feel that I will turn the corner soon enough. I’ve gone down a gear since end October, and now the new year is here, there will be another gear change down.
Space Project
The school project with Master 11 was a blast - we learned about different aspects of space by reading and watching documentaries, visiting the planetarium, and of course research on the net - including how to do a 'rocket'. We eventually did have success using effervescent tablets in warm water and plastic bottles (thanks to my brother- I am hopeless at that sort of thing). Lots of fun and I was honoured to be chosen to do the project with him. I was also happy to learn a new skill in using iMovie. (Unfortunately, I can’t show you the movie because of copyright of images - okay for school projects but not for putting it out there - but also because of the privacy I keep for my family.)
Blogging OWL
The Blogging OWL went very well I thought, and I was lucky to have an amazing co-presenter in Daniel de Lorne who took the lead as I dealt with some health issues. Blogging is such a big topic and we managed to fit it into 4 one-two hour sessions. Another new skill learned was using software to present in real time. I keep on learning new things every time I revisit the topic, and new resources as well.
If you're looking for online courses for your writing, check out the Romance Writers of Australia OWLs - the new year will have a range of new topics soon.
What’s next?
I am catching up some design work and some volunteer work to pass on, but in the new few weeks, I want to get back into my writing and working on my stories. My brain has been so overfull in the last few years, that it slowly lost its creative drive for capturing my stories. It’s still in my head of course, but all my energy had been diverted elsewhere. And therefore, I’ve been too tired to concentrate in the way that I want.
Reading
The good thing is that on the whole my reading has increased - there a few busy weeks where again, it takes a back seat and while the stories are gripping, it’s my mind that is too tired to follow. But on the whole I’m able to read a little a day. I managed 49 books last year which is an increase from 24 books in 2014 (hey that's double!).
Check out Eleni's Library to keep up with what I am reading, including how I'm going in my 60 Book Reading Challenge for 2016 (also widget on the sidebar of this blog).
2016 Since 2015 was such a horrid year for me personally, I'm glad for the freshness that a new year brings. I hope to be around more and get back to some more regular features but I'm not rushing myself.

Have a fantabulous 2016 everyone!! Take care.
-Eleni
Yia!!!!
Published on January 02, 2016 19:27
November 20, 2015
Dark Side DownUnder: Enchanted Orb with Maggie Mundy
Published on November 20, 2015 16:36
November 16, 2015
7 Flash Fiction stories For free for you

While my longer stories are not available due to Musa Publishing closing it's doors, here's the flash fiction stories that is still available.
Published in Antipodean SF:
Minion (spec fiction)
Antipodean SF, Issue 175, January 2013 issue
Podcast available in Show 173 Alpha
Strange Brew (Paranormal)
Antipodean SF, Issue 165, March 2012 issue
Podcast available in Show 165 Alpha
Changes (Paranormal)
Antipodean SF, Issue 163, January 2012 issue
Podcast available in Show 163 Alpha
Dragon's Quest (Fantasy)
Antipodean SF, Issue 156, June 2011 issue
Podcast available in Show 156 Delta
The Bucket - (Science Fiction)
Antipodean SF, Issue 149, November 2010
(archived by Pandora, National Library of Australia)
Published by other web-zines
Mirror, Mirror (Fantasy)
Mindflights, April 2011
The Magician - (Paranormal)
Flashes In The Dark, 28 May 2011
Have fun reading!!
Published on November 16, 2015 02:58
November 7, 2015
Super Sunday week in review: Space, reading, OWL, oh my...
I've still been recuperating, much more in the last two weeks thanks to a procedure.
This is what I've been doing the past week or so...

School Project with Godson
This is going to be fun. This is a project to designed to be done with a family member. My Godson is very much interested in Space, which I am too. While I'm not the most scientific of minds myself, I appreciate all things scientific, so it'll be good for me to learn a thing or two as well.

Reading
Oh, be still my reading heart, I've managed to pick up the pace again. It's been slow going with the mind fog at times, but that's okay. I'm enjoying being a reader and while sometimes the writer part of me notices something in the writing, I'm trying to push that part to the subconscious to relish the act of reading for reading sake.
This in turn has made me update my details on Eleni's Library and even start a new reading quote feature. I love quotes as you know *wink*.
Blogging OWLAs mentioned in an earlier post, I'm co-presenter in online Blogging workshop for Romance Writers of Australia. Week one's lesson went well with Daniel de Lorne presenting the bulk of it (he kindly took the lead in while I've been recuperating). This week Dan will talk about Wordpress, and the following week, I'll talk about Blogger.
It's great immersing myself in blogging again and picking up some nifty items - like Canva (created the graphic for Neil Gaiman quote - that have changed in my time focused on other parts of my life. And I'll be looking at my blogging schedule as well.
Family time

Our pup (who is almost 9 years old) had surgery to remove some cancer spots and is doing well now a few weeks later. Here he is waiting for my brother to come back home. Yep, she's a cutie but a cheeky one.
Coming Week
I'll pretty much be focusing on the above as well as a design project, so while I'm still doing things it's not at the break neck speed I was doing previously.
Have a great week!
~yia~
Published on November 07, 2015 17:34
October 23, 2015
The Wonderful World of Blogging- online workshop
Come and join my alter-ego, Helen Katsinis who will pair up with fellow author/blogger
Daniel de Lorne
to present an online blogging workshop for beginners.
Over 4 weeks in November we introduce you to blogging, set up blogs by Blogger and Wordpress and answer questions about blogging.
There's still room- come join us!
~yia~
Over 4 weeks in November we introduce you to blogging, set up blogs by Blogger and Wordpress and answer questions about blogging.
There's still room- come join us!

~yia~
Published on October 23, 2015 17:42
September 21, 2015
Stepping back
I had two amazing conferences in August - the
Get Fresh in '15
Romance Writers of Australia conference in Melbourne (go team!) and the
Love Thrills
Romance Writers of New Zealand conference in Auckland.
I spent a lot of time networking and talking to people - catching up with old friends and making new ones, and generally having a great time doing this.
But it also made me realise that it's time for me to step back from major volunteer work. I had mentioned in an earlier post how I had been struggling for a while now. This was brought home to me when I was exhausted really before the conference in Melbourne properly began. I remember thinking 'how am I going to do this for another year?'
The simple answer is that I couldn't. So thanks to the help of some wonderful friends in RWA who had seen my struggles, I have been able to step away from my two major roles in the organisation, keeping only smaller roles to keep me giving back. I'd wanted to continue as I'd given my commitment but in the end the best for everyone was for me to remove myself from the roles and allow people who are fresh at them.
I'm in handover mode and once this is done, I'll be reviewing my writing direction and seeing where best to put my energies. In the meantime, I'm enjoying reading again - I hadn't been able to read as I'd been falling asleep as I was so tired and anything I did read wasn't being absorbed.
All rugged up for an early morning walk in
New Zealand - used to seeing AM from
the other side.I have also stopped studying for the moment - and really I'll review if I'll go back. I think I garnered what I needed from Tafe and while I didn't earn my qualification, that hadn't been the reason I'd been studying - in fact, I'd gone in with the idea that I wouldn't earn a qualification and study as long as it suited my purpose of developing some design skills to help with HelzKat Designs, which I have. I'm not going on to a design studio so the qualification isn't the important factor. I'd also been there long enough to see the course change and change again that it wasn't the original course I'd signed up for.
The truth of the matter is I have only so much energy and on good days, fabulous, I can do a lot of what I want to achieve, but good days are not my norm. I have okay days on the whole, but CFS and Fibromyalgia can change how I feel from moment to moment. It's not easy to adjust to this- I still struggle after so many years - but every so often, I'm reminded that it's not only okay to rest, but it's absolutely necessary.
I have missed blogging and talking to you all and sharing. So I'll be back online when my time is my own again.
~Yia~
I spent a lot of time networking and talking to people - catching up with old friends and making new ones, and generally having a great time doing this.
But it also made me realise that it's time for me to step back from major volunteer work. I had mentioned in an earlier post how I had been struggling for a while now. This was brought home to me when I was exhausted really before the conference in Melbourne properly began. I remember thinking 'how am I going to do this for another year?'
The simple answer is that I couldn't. So thanks to the help of some wonderful friends in RWA who had seen my struggles, I have been able to step away from my two major roles in the organisation, keeping only smaller roles to keep me giving back. I'd wanted to continue as I'd given my commitment but in the end the best for everyone was for me to remove myself from the roles and allow people who are fresh at them.
I'm in handover mode and once this is done, I'll be reviewing my writing direction and seeing where best to put my energies. In the meantime, I'm enjoying reading again - I hadn't been able to read as I'd been falling asleep as I was so tired and anything I did read wasn't being absorbed.

New Zealand - used to seeing AM from
the other side.I have also stopped studying for the moment - and really I'll review if I'll go back. I think I garnered what I needed from Tafe and while I didn't earn my qualification, that hadn't been the reason I'd been studying - in fact, I'd gone in with the idea that I wouldn't earn a qualification and study as long as it suited my purpose of developing some design skills to help with HelzKat Designs, which I have. I'm not going on to a design studio so the qualification isn't the important factor. I'd also been there long enough to see the course change and change again that it wasn't the original course I'd signed up for.
The truth of the matter is I have only so much energy and on good days, fabulous, I can do a lot of what I want to achieve, but good days are not my norm. I have okay days on the whole, but CFS and Fibromyalgia can change how I feel from moment to moment. It's not easy to adjust to this- I still struggle after so many years - but every so often, I'm reminded that it's not only okay to rest, but it's absolutely necessary.
I have missed blogging and talking to you all and sharing. So I'll be back online when my time is my own again.
~Yia~
Published on September 21, 2015 22:55
July 28, 2015
Work that is still available
A reminder that I have two short stories out there in the world.
Sealed with a Kiss - a paranormal romance
Can a gift from her grandmother protect Lise?
Lise doesn’t believe in vampires. Or so she tells herself. Though, she constantly wears the garnet necklace her grandmother gave her, which wards off the creatures. Andreas, the man she’s attracted to, seems more than a little interested in it. Could there be an ulterior motive?
Available from Smashwords | Amazon | Amazon Aus
and
Enchanted - a modern fantasy
Katharine’s life has become static. She has no friends and her workaholic husband hardly notices her. Enchantment and fascination comes in the form of a mysterious painting. -
Available from Alfie Dog Fiction
Happy Reading!!
- yia -
Sealed with a Kiss - a paranormal romance

Can a gift from her grandmother protect Lise?
Lise doesn’t believe in vampires. Or so she tells herself. Though, she constantly wears the garnet necklace her grandmother gave her, which wards off the creatures. Andreas, the man she’s attracted to, seems more than a little interested in it. Could there be an ulterior motive?
Available from Smashwords | Amazon | Amazon Aus
and
Enchanted - a modern fantasy
Katharine’s life has become static. She has no friends and her workaholic husband hardly notices her. Enchantment and fascination comes in the form of a mysterious painting. -
Available from Alfie Dog Fiction
Happy Reading!!
- yia -
Published on July 28, 2015 20:07
July 22, 2015
Taking stock...
Hi my lovely blog followers
I'm sorry that I've not been here for months. If you've followed me on Facebook or Twitter, you may know that my father passed away in March.
He hadn't been a well man, fighting cancer as well as dealing with a lot of other health issues. While his pain had increased (his cancer had metastasised to his bones), it was mainly in control and he was still with us in good spirits making jokes, and his mental facilities were all there. He had slowed down quite a bit and while I hadn't been prepared for him to go when he did, his body thought otherwise.
Suffice to say that it's been a difficult path for me and my family since then. And really the last year or so with his ongoing treatment to battle the disease. My life has been about memorial services - we Greeks tend to have a lot of them in the first year - and trying to get back to normal.
But here's the rub, there is no getting back to normal when a parent dies. Especially when you're living in the same house. Dad was a larger than life character and while his antics could make me shake my head at times, cringe at others, and make me mad some instances (as all parents do), I wouldn't have had him any other way. I miss it all.
Dad and me in 2008 when I first got the iMac.
Loved his cheeky grin.I was ploughing through my to-do lists trying to get some sense of order, but I realised (thanks to dear friends) that I couldn't go on as per normal. That I needed to communicate more and needed to let go of things more. The not letting go was me trying to make things easier for others, so that they didn't feel overwhelmed, but I overwhelmed myself.
So right now, I'm taking stock. Organising myself, clearing the decks, and most importantly, not rushing my grief and my own health. CFS has been another issue as well as increased pain of fibromyalgia. Stress can do that. But if I don't watch out, I will crash and burn and that's something I don't want and something my dad wouldn't have wanted also, having supported me through a number of crashes.
My family have been leaning on each other and my extended family, wow, all I can say is that I love them more than ever. My friends have been there too, each in their own way. Thank you to everyone who sent condolences and has lent support. It has meant the world to me.
Writing? What writing?
There has been no progress in my writing life - my creativity is dried up, and I've not had the energy to edit or be proactive in my career. And for now that's okay. I'm allowing me to heal and allowing me to get my groove back but I have no timeframe of when I will get back to it. We'll see what happens.
Blogging
However, every so often I will start posting posts on my writing friends as my way of giving back to the community and spreading the word about their work. It will trickle in as I'm conserving energy (for a subject at Tafe, and RWA conferences for this and next year). But stay tuned for more posts...
Until next time, be well.
-yia-
I'm sorry that I've not been here for months. If you've followed me on Facebook or Twitter, you may know that my father passed away in March.
He hadn't been a well man, fighting cancer as well as dealing with a lot of other health issues. While his pain had increased (his cancer had metastasised to his bones), it was mainly in control and he was still with us in good spirits making jokes, and his mental facilities were all there. He had slowed down quite a bit and while I hadn't been prepared for him to go when he did, his body thought otherwise.
Suffice to say that it's been a difficult path for me and my family since then. And really the last year or so with his ongoing treatment to battle the disease. My life has been about memorial services - we Greeks tend to have a lot of them in the first year - and trying to get back to normal.
But here's the rub, there is no getting back to normal when a parent dies. Especially when you're living in the same house. Dad was a larger than life character and while his antics could make me shake my head at times, cringe at others, and make me mad some instances (as all parents do), I wouldn't have had him any other way. I miss it all.

Loved his cheeky grin.I was ploughing through my to-do lists trying to get some sense of order, but I realised (thanks to dear friends) that I couldn't go on as per normal. That I needed to communicate more and needed to let go of things more. The not letting go was me trying to make things easier for others, so that they didn't feel overwhelmed, but I overwhelmed myself.
So right now, I'm taking stock. Organising myself, clearing the decks, and most importantly, not rushing my grief and my own health. CFS has been another issue as well as increased pain of fibromyalgia. Stress can do that. But if I don't watch out, I will crash and burn and that's something I don't want and something my dad wouldn't have wanted also, having supported me through a number of crashes.
My family have been leaning on each other and my extended family, wow, all I can say is that I love them more than ever. My friends have been there too, each in their own way. Thank you to everyone who sent condolences and has lent support. It has meant the world to me.
Writing? What writing?
There has been no progress in my writing life - my creativity is dried up, and I've not had the energy to edit or be proactive in my career. And for now that's okay. I'm allowing me to heal and allowing me to get my groove back but I have no timeframe of when I will get back to it. We'll see what happens.
Blogging
However, every so often I will start posting posts on my writing friends as my way of giving back to the community and spreading the word about their work. It will trickle in as I'm conserving energy (for a subject at Tafe, and RWA conferences for this and next year). But stay tuned for more posts...
Until next time, be well.
-yia-
Published on July 22, 2015 20:06
February 22, 2015
"So long and thanks for all the fish...." - bye bye Musa!

It's with a sad heart that the Musa authors learned a couple of days ago that the Musa Publishing doors will be closing on 28th February.
Yep, that soon.
The decision was only made this past week by the Directors to shut shop - they stopped for good business sense, by not going forward and changing the integrity of the business. Here's the blog post from Musa.
While I'm saddened by the news that a publishing house that put its authors first will be closing its doors, I can not regret my experience with Musa. I had great editors, great cover art, and learned a lot about the publication industry. The staff were always positive and friendly. It was a really great experience for me to begin my career with. And of course, I met the lovely Wenches (never fear, we will continue to band together)
But what does this mean for my work, I hear you ask?

Well from the 28th February, I get my rights reverted to me. Musa are such an amazing group, they've already got the letters ready for their authors, instead of letting us hanging, which has been the case for many other e-book publishers who have shut their e-doors.
That means that Enchanted Realms, Gateway to Hell, and SNOOP will not be available for sale any longer.
Big boo hoo.
I can either sub somewhere else or go the self publishing route. I'm not sure of my path yet, but I've got enough happening in my life that self publishing may not the best time for me now, but still I need to consider it.
But there's a silver lining to everything.
This week (until 28th February), Musa have slashed 80% off the prices on their website. That's right 80%!

*that's in US currency.
I've been grabbing some Musa titles that I've wanted to grab for some time while I can, especially by the lovely wenches - let me name them for you so you can check out their work on Musa site (just click their names):-
Emilia Mancini - erotic romanceHolley Trent - paranormal and romanceLizzie T Leaf - paranormal humourMarci Bourdeaux - romanceNancy DiMauro - fantasySam Cheever - hot romanceSara Daniel - romanceSharon Ledwith - middle gradeSloane Taylor - erotic romanceSusan Lodge - regency and romanceVonnie Hughes - regency (& romantic suspense - but not on Musa)
As you can see, Musa published such a range of titles. I was lucky I could publish fantasy (Enchanted Realms) and paranormal (romance with Gateway to Hell; Noir with SNOOP) with them. Too bad our journey together had to end here.
I'll keep you updated on any news on these titles.
To all my fellow Musan authors, good luck and I'll keep an eye out on the web for you! To the Directors, thanks for the hard work you put into the company! I know I'm a better writer because of the opportunity you presented me with.
Yia sou!
Published on February 22, 2015 04:00
Eleni's Taverna
The blog of fantasy and paranormal author, Eleni Konstantine.
- Eleni Konstantine's profile
- 49 followers
