Margaret’s Comments (group member since May 28, 2012)

Margaret’s comments from the Q&A with Margaret Sharp.' Long and Short Australian Stories' group.

Just an update: yesterday, my husband Ron did the paperwork to put 'A Taste of Life and Love in Australia' on Kindle. I hope it doesn't take long for this to flow through to public information.

I've just been given the first opinion of a reader, outside my family, of 'Long and Short Australian Stories'.
'Thoroughly enjoyed it.'
:)

I decided to try my hand at longer, more complex stories, partly as an experiment. I've tended to concentrate on vignettes of about four pages, so extending it significantly became a challenge: one I came to enjoy.

My all time favourite writer is James Herriot. His character is so engagingly human, and his depiction of the life in the Dales is so wonderfully vivid!

These days of rush may well have led to increased popularity for Short Stories and vignettes, whereby the readers are rewarded by reaching the tales' conclusion before other commitments draw their attention away.
In 'Long and Short Australian Stories', the fact that the tales are of significantly differing lengths gives readers the option of choosing to read something that likely fits their available moments.

Thanks, Lorelei.

A few weeks ago, I started again, writing Short Stories, with the aim of publishing another book. This time around, I've been concurrently trying to get the word out about the six volumes already on the market.

The first four, 25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia , A Taste of Life and Love in Australia , The Essence of Life and Love in Australia , and Reflections of Life and Love in Australia comprise a set.

The fifth book, 60 Questions, Insights and Reminiscences, is quite different. It's a collection of short articles designed to entertain and perhaps enlighten people about life as seen through the eyes of a female baby boomer who has always lived in Australia.

Although it's a collection of tales, the sixth volume, Long and Short Australian Stories, differs from the 'Life and Love ' series mainly by virtue of its inclusion of a couple of relatively long stories.

Now, with my latest collection still in its infancy, I simply won't know whether to designate it as (a)an addition to the first series,(b) a second part of 'Long and Short Australian Stories', or (c) something different again, until it's much more advanced.

Hope you're right, Mark.

I write the sort of stories I enjoy reading. It's wonderful to know that others enjoy them, too.

Seriously, Mark, that's a happy thought.

The Australians I know do not use the language typical of that of Paul Hogan; though, as Jenny says, we do have some signature words and sayings.

So, if the potential readers for my style of books are there, the question becomes: how to reach them?

Thanks, Mark, I'll let Ron know your opinion, and I'm sure it will egg him on. By the way, he read two tales from 'Long and Short Australian Stories' this morning whilst waiting for me to walk our little dog, and he gave me a most reassuring report. Still, from memory there's another eighteen more...

Thanks so much Mark, I'm overwhelmed by your support! It's beyond parallel, in my experience.

Ron and I have talked about e-books. A friend from the local Swimming Club (where Ron and I have been members for many years)last week showed us his Kindle, and endorsed it ecstatically. Personally, whenever possible I shun screens, but e-books now seem to be the way of the future, and already well represented.

Realistically, the ball's in our court. All of my titles are self published through CreateSpace. There's no problem in publishing them as e-books, and I'm under no contract as far as I know. Amazon actually encourages writers to put their works on Kindle. If and when Ron makes a definite decision that now's the time to try Kindle, he'll investigate the procedure of doing so. I'm quite sure he'd master it.
You may be interested to know that, two years ago, I didn't have any idea of how to operate a computer. Indeed, at first I resisted writing directly onto it since I'd always hand-written everything. It didn't take long for me to embrace its virtues, and now, despite disliking screens per se, I wouldn't go back. However, I'm still very limited in what I can do.

Thanks again for your support. Your review, coupled with Jenny's, have been highlights of my life.

Hi, Mark,

I take your point about my unmistakeably English, that is, non American,spelling that was drummed into me 'down under'; no, I don't mean I was belted by my teachers. Although on second thoughts, I was in fact slapped for the most trivial of offences at the ripe old age of nine.

It's okay by me for you to say 'Strine': though I've never uttered the precise word in my life. What does annoy me, though, is the red line my computer insists on making, every time I dare to use an un-American spelling. What cheek!

I must admit, you've shattered me by your observation about those who expect my language to emulate that of Paul Hogan and the like. I was really counting on their support....Oh dear, life's like that, isn't it?

That's a very good question, Lorelei.:)

A few stories: I won't say which: are loosely based on my own experience, though naturally, they're disguised. They're thoughts that have lain dormant, ready to sprout when needed.

One or two have come about because someone: a stranger, perhaps: has sat nearby, and started a conversation with another. A conversation that I couldn't help but overhear. It may have been a tiny shred of information: a place visited, or a suggestion made, even for something so simple as a cup of coffee in a charming setting. Just little things that can trigger an idea that has the potential to be developed.

On the other hand, sometimes: to be truthful, most times: I simply have to put on my thinking cap and think! It just goes from one point of reference to another.

I'm middle aged now, and therefore I've clocked up a fair bit of life experience; enough to be able to pluck an idea from any recess in my brain.

Nicely observed, Jenny!

It seems very likely that the Australian persona is perceived as being represented by Paul Hogan, partly or wholly. What then do those outside Australia make of those books that make scant or no use of this language? Are they dismissed as being unrealistic? Or do readers accept that it's quite possible, even likely, that many Australians speak without use of what has been promoted as our signature sayings?
Like you, I never say "G'day", but having said that it seems to me to be more likely used by males. However, I've never heard my husband Ronald utter it, and few in my acquaintance say it, either. On the other hand, "chooks" is a word I've used, and often heard said by both sexes.
Are "No worries, mate" and "She'll be right" viewed as normal Australian speech , and are they as often spoken as those overseas seem to be led to believe?

So glad you like them, Lorelei! They are not the norm for fiction.

Many years ago, Ron attended workshops conducted by students of Ansel Adams, spending two weeks in Yosemite. His interest and experience in photography, combined with ideas of beauty and simplicity, was put to good use in the creation of the covers. All the featured photos are from sites in N.S.W..

The cover photograph of 'Long and Short Australian Stories' was taken at Cronulla Beach in Sydney on the eve of our wedding anniversary this March. This ties in with the setting of the Short Story ' An Encounter by the Sea'.

What do overseas readers expect to see in an Australian book? Particularly in the language domain? Do they expect slang?

It's both, Nicole.
When I started the first book, '25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia', I had no clear idea of what to do with it, publication wise. My husband's son suggested CreateSpace: he had a friend who had self published with them, and was satisfied with the result. Knowing that it would be on sale through Amazon led me to think that there was a possibility of commercial success.
The best part about self publishing is that there's no fear of rejection. The book is up and running; a fait accompli. With my husband Ron as editor and cover designer, and with the help of his daughter in the setting up, as a family we have total control. It truly is our baby.

I love writing. I particularly love to analyse the result; it's so satisfying to feel you've done well. There are few things in my life more thrilling than being complemented on my books. That being said, writing takes a toll: a toll of fatigue, of being drained. Once I start a book, I stick at it; thereby it becomes my life.

Who would like this book? That's impossible for me to answer.
My husband and editor Ron leads me to believe it's a book for (almost) everyone. I would add the proviso: readers would need to think well of tales that have a ring of truth, of plausibility.Though the stories move along quickly, the interest in them is largely emotional.

As an introduction, I'll just say that 'Long and Short Australian Stories' is what its name implies; a collection of mixed length Short Stories, set in typically Australian sites. Any questions?

I have read a reasonable amount of books during my life, and seriously love words.

My first response to this question is that I wanted to try something a little different from the 'Life and Love' series of Short Stories that we'd published during 2011.