Pauline Toohey's Blog
November 19, 2015
Backstroking into the Xmas period
Yearly, Dymocks Camberwell holds an early Xmas special, and lines their walls with not only books, but their authors, too. It's a fabulous night for shoppers and authors alike.
This year I shared a bench with new Aussie author, Ann Turner. Ann's 2015 novel The Lost Swimmer (my weekend's read) has been picked up by Sue Maslin, producer of the film The Dressmaker.
Fabulous to see Aussies doing so well.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
This year I shared a bench with new Aussie author, Ann Turner. Ann's 2015 novel The Lost Swimmer (my weekend's read) has been picked up by Sue Maslin, producer of the film The Dressmaker.
Fabulous to see Aussies doing so well.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
October 11, 2015
Melting Of The Mettle
A cheering cloud wraps my ankles, and ever so gently lifts me up, up, but not away. I move through the normality of every day, the rough and tumbles, the exhaustion, the stresses. But none make an impact. It's like birthday celebrations, or first love. Excitement can be an awesome immunisation.
My third book was released this week. And I can't stop smiling. The marketing slog is about to fall upon me, but allow me to enjoy this little sense of floatation for an interim.
Melting Of The Mettle is the sequel to Pull Of The Yew Tree. We pick up the lives of the Fitzgeralds of Kildare five years on.
Available at some Dymocks stores in Australia.
Kindle on Amazon.
Ebay sales.
Paperbacks will be available on Amazon next week.
ISBN 978-0-646-94449-4
Now, I wriggle on back into my writing room and create some new adventures.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
My third book was released this week. And I can't stop smiling. The marketing slog is about to fall upon me, but allow me to enjoy this little sense of floatation for an interim.
Melting Of The Mettle is the sequel to Pull Of The Yew Tree. We pick up the lives of the Fitzgeralds of Kildare five years on.
Available at some Dymocks stores in Australia.
Kindle on Amazon.
Ebay sales.
Paperbacks will be available on Amazon next week.
ISBN 978-0-646-94449-4
Now, I wriggle on back into my writing room and create some new adventures.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
September 29, 2015
The Dressmaker
I caught up with author of The Dressmaker, Rosaline Ham (pictured) and producer of the anticipated movie of the same name, Sue Maslin. Two down to earth ladies, as Aussie as all Aussie.
Fingers (and everything) are crossed for great success with the release of the movie next month. A huge coup with Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth and Judy Davis on the star-studded list.
If you haven't yet read The Dressmaker do yourself a favour and enjoy the ride. Count the times you laugh out loud.
Set in country Victoria, Tilly returns to her home town to care for her mum, Mad Molly. This yarn is sprinkled with gorgeous prose, exquisite imagery and careful detail to fashion and the skill of pinning hems and seams and the clunky use of pinking shears. Oh, and a hilarious, lovable police Sergeant.
5 stars from me, and I suspect with time, The Dressmaker will become an Aussie classics.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
Fingers (and everything) are crossed for great success with the release of the movie next month. A huge coup with Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth and Judy Davis on the star-studded list.
If you haven't yet read The Dressmaker do yourself a favour and enjoy the ride. Count the times you laugh out loud.
Set in country Victoria, Tilly returns to her home town to care for her mum, Mad Molly. This yarn is sprinkled with gorgeous prose, exquisite imagery and careful detail to fashion and the skill of pinning hems and seams and the clunky use of pinking shears. Oh, and a hilarious, lovable police Sergeant.
5 stars from me, and I suspect with time, The Dressmaker will become an Aussie classics.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
September 18, 2015
New Release Melting of the Mettle
I'm chuffed to announce the release of Melting of the Mettle.
We pick up 5 years after Pull of the Yew Tree, and continue to follow the Fitzgeralds of Kildare.
Blurb: 'And your plans may differ from Gerald’s, but that does not make his wrong. Your son will prove a fine leader when the time comes.You should not doubt that.’ 15th century Ireland, four great families entwined by blood and necessity and love.Opinions differ. Some too much.
Currently available on Kindle via Amazon.
Print copies to be released later this month.
http://www.amazon.com/Melting-Mettle-...
We pick up 5 years after Pull of the Yew Tree, and continue to follow the Fitzgeralds of Kildare.
Blurb: 'And your plans may differ from Gerald’s, but that does not make his wrong. Your son will prove a fine leader when the time comes.You should not doubt that.’ 15th century Ireland, four great families entwined by blood and necessity and love.Opinions differ. Some too much.
Currently available on Kindle via Amazon.
Print copies to be released later this month.
http://www.amazon.com/Melting-Mettle-...
April 21, 2015
Marketing fun!
Enjoyed a fun-filled evening being interviewed by Sisters In Crime Australia re my latest novel My Rickety Metronome. Alongside me sat fellow author Belinda Neil. Belinda is also a retired police member and spoke on her experiences as a hostage negotiator and the events listed in her autobiography Under Siege.
Terrific and insightful questions asked by audience members, with lots of laughs received in response to the answers.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
Terrific and insightful questions asked by audience members, with lots of laughs received in response to the answers.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
February 22, 2015
Introducing Anna Murdoch
Anna is finally here. My fictional character, leading the charge in all things 'solving-crime', is now on the page with the release of my new crime series, An Anna Murdoch Mystery. It's a far cry from Medieval Ireland, and so too is the language and prose I use. Short, sharp and comedic.
Anna's investigations grew from reflecting on my almost-25 years as a member of Victoria Police, working mainly in Melbourne’s West with stints at the Major Drug Investigation Department and Homicide.
In my My Rickety Metronome, Anna is one of Victoria Police's finest. Solving the murder of local drug-dealer Bernie shouldn't be a problem for this one, but there's more than one crime afoot. Lamingtons disappear, a curious fashion sense is adopted by her husband, and marinade recipes come with alibis. It is the first in a series.
I've been asked by many, "Is Anna you?"
A one-word reply doesn't suffice. The answer is yet, but during the editing process I discovered she possesses some of my nuances. It's unavoidable I suppose, for in developing characters my interpretation of reactions and opinions are sourced from my own experiences.
I hope you enjoy the read.
My Rickety Metronome is available at Dymocks stores and online. Amazon offer a Kindle version.
Don't forget to visit ptediting.com for all your editing needs.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
Anna's investigations grew from reflecting on my almost-25 years as a member of Victoria Police, working mainly in Melbourne’s West with stints at the Major Drug Investigation Department and Homicide.
In my My Rickety Metronome, Anna is one of Victoria Police's finest. Solving the murder of local drug-dealer Bernie shouldn't be a problem for this one, but there's more than one crime afoot. Lamingtons disappear, a curious fashion sense is adopted by her husband, and marinade recipes come with alibis. It is the first in a series.
I've been asked by many, "Is Anna you?"
A one-word reply doesn't suffice. The answer is yet, but during the editing process I discovered she possesses some of my nuances. It's unavoidable I suppose, for in developing characters my interpretation of reactions and opinions are sourced from my own experiences.
I hope you enjoy the read.
My Rickety Metronome is available at Dymocks stores and online. Amazon offer a Kindle version.
Don't forget to visit ptediting.com for all your editing needs.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
June 21, 2014
BOOK TITLES
I spent some of yesterday browsing the shelves at Readings Books in Carlton, following a 9-course Italian degustation. (Tiramisu and Nutella crepe were the last to be dished up).
My partner had no difficulties in devouring the 9 courses, nor selecting his 4 purchases at the bookstore: 'Taliban', 'Gestapo', 'Girt' with a picture of Captain Cook on the cover, and, 'Dangerous Allies' by Malcolm Fraser. Easy to guess at the large slice of his reading interests.
Not so easy for me. I struggled at the ricotta fritters (5th course), conceded defeat at the Tiramisu, and failed to identify a book to suit me, without first reading the blurb and a few pages. (Here I must confess to a distaste of reading blurbs, as I find they offer a 'spoiler', telling me what will happen in the first quarter of the novel).
So how do I select a book, when titles rarely act as a neon sign?
This dilemma takes me to the task of choosing a title for my own work. To say the task is the most difficult in the writing/publishing process would be a complete lie, but, it indicates just how frustrating the task can be. Eye-catching, non-cliché, original, inviting, curious, screaming pick-me up.
'Pull Of The Yew Tree' came about at the very end of the writing process. You see, the prologue was an afterthought, and in composing the 'intro' the title flashed and yelled to be used. Those who have read the book will be nodding their heads, and uttering an 'oh, of course'. The sequel, 'Melting Of The Mettle' followed a similar path. Another prologue, and another set of words flashing and screaming, and an intentional mimicking of the rhythm of POTYT.
But neither title hint at the genre, the prose type, the setting. So? So it seems there are no rules and regs in this area.
To answer my earlier question, 'how do I chose?', well, of late, I wait for recommendations. If not, I would have never ventured to try my last two reads. My friends know what I like. It's working well.
If I ever contemplate an autobiography ... oh the possibilities.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
My partner had no difficulties in devouring the 9 courses, nor selecting his 4 purchases at the bookstore: 'Taliban', 'Gestapo', 'Girt' with a picture of Captain Cook on the cover, and, 'Dangerous Allies' by Malcolm Fraser. Easy to guess at the large slice of his reading interests.
Not so easy for me. I struggled at the ricotta fritters (5th course), conceded defeat at the Tiramisu, and failed to identify a book to suit me, without first reading the blurb and a few pages. (Here I must confess to a distaste of reading blurbs, as I find they offer a 'spoiler', telling me what will happen in the first quarter of the novel).
So how do I select a book, when titles rarely act as a neon sign?
This dilemma takes me to the task of choosing a title for my own work. To say the task is the most difficult in the writing/publishing process would be a complete lie, but, it indicates just how frustrating the task can be. Eye-catching, non-cliché, original, inviting, curious, screaming pick-me up.
'Pull Of The Yew Tree' came about at the very end of the writing process. You see, the prologue was an afterthought, and in composing the 'intro' the title flashed and yelled to be used. Those who have read the book will be nodding their heads, and uttering an 'oh, of course'. The sequel, 'Melting Of The Mettle' followed a similar path. Another prologue, and another set of words flashing and screaming, and an intentional mimicking of the rhythm of POTYT.
But neither title hint at the genre, the prose type, the setting. So? So it seems there are no rules and regs in this area.
To answer my earlier question, 'how do I chose?', well, of late, I wait for recommendations. If not, I would have never ventured to try my last two reads. My friends know what I like. It's working well.
If I ever contemplate an autobiography ... oh the possibilities.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
February 24, 2014
Finding My Mojo
Breaking that unwanted abstinence from writing can be a huge task. Boulders often just sit in the way, gathering nothing more than moss as the cliché would have us believe, and the pen doesn't seem to move. And to budge that boulder ... phew. Hard Yakka!
Revisiting the classics, whether in book form or movie, is my preferred medicine. Flying along with Nelly Dean's thoughts in Bronte's Wuthering Heights, or, counting the images Shakespeare offers to paint Romeo's love of Juliet, or, disliking Mrs. Bennett all the more as she conspires to find 'matches' for each of her daughters in Pride And Prejudice, all possess the power to budge that boulder.
And so it was, last evening, that I cuddled up on the couch with a very chilled glass of sauvignon blanc, slices of freshly roasted pork with apple and pear chutney, and my rescue border collie, Moby, and watched, yet again, the marvelous The Lion In Winter (the original version of course). The lines are absolutely inspirational and have flooded me with energy and new ideas.
Gotta love a Katharine who spells her name with two 'a's.
And who would yell at the King of France and tell him just because he sits his arse on purple cushions doesn't make him a king?
Priceless!
And so, today, the prose continues.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
Revisiting the classics, whether in book form or movie, is my preferred medicine. Flying along with Nelly Dean's thoughts in Bronte's Wuthering Heights, or, counting the images Shakespeare offers to paint Romeo's love of Juliet, or, disliking Mrs. Bennett all the more as she conspires to find 'matches' for each of her daughters in Pride And Prejudice, all possess the power to budge that boulder.
And so it was, last evening, that I cuddled up on the couch with a very chilled glass of sauvignon blanc, slices of freshly roasted pork with apple and pear chutney, and my rescue border collie, Moby, and watched, yet again, the marvelous The Lion In Winter (the original version of course). The lines are absolutely inspirational and have flooded me with energy and new ideas.
Gotta love a Katharine who spells her name with two 'a's.
And who would yell at the King of France and tell him just because he sits his arse on purple cushions doesn't make him a king?
Priceless!
And so, today, the prose continues.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
October 6, 2013
Seasoned Traveller ...
A dear friend recently completed her dream-holiday, and traipsed around Europe, enjoying the food, the wine, a lot of mojitos, and the stellar scenery and usual tourist hotspots. My book accompanied her on many of her hikes, and often found itself in the hands of some interesting characters, keen to partake in a little bit of fun.
This is my favourite image. Pull Of The Yew Tree, outside Rome's Colosseum, in the arms of four unconvincing gladiators taking a break from their duties. The tin-coated men demanded a tip after their strenuous assistance.
Gotta love the gift of 'friends'.
www.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
September 22, 2013
SALEIt's marvelous to see the listed price now discounted...
SALE
It's marvelous to see the listed price now discounted, and accessible to booklovers with constricted budgets. $15.88, with free delivery. Please enjoy.
http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781909357181?redirected=true&gclid=CNnxmPa13rkCFYk9QgodJ0MAtAwww.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
It's marvelous to see the listed price now discounted, and accessible to booklovers with constricted budgets. $15.88, with free delivery. Please enjoy.
http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781909357181?redirected=true&gclid=CNnxmPa13rkCFYk9QgodJ0MAtAwww.wix.com/ksphotograph/kingst2
