What's what and Who's Who in W. A.

[Demelza]

Oh...a bit late, but happy Mother's Day to all the other mums here. I seem to have had a busier Mother's Day than usual :D

[Susan]

Hello, I have just joined this group. My dream job would be to own and work in a boutique book store. I am a member of a book club that meets monthly and love the get together, although sometimes the person leading the book discussions limits it to reading reviews of the book. This month's book is a challenge for me to read- The Secret Lives of Dresses- I am finding it too 'chick-lit' for me! Still, I am only about 15 pages in so it may grab me soon:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Welcome Susan, lovely to have you with us.... I hope you find you enjoy The Secret Lives of Dresses with your bookclub. If you'd like to head on over to this thread http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3... you can introduce yourself, so the rest of the group can welcome you as well:)

[Demelza]

Hi Susan - nice to see another West Aussie.

[Chantal]

Hello I'm a couple hours south from Perth ;)

[Deb]

Hi Susan. Did you finish The Secret Lives of Dresses?
I am struggling with my book club book. It is Rise and Shine and it is going no where for me. I have read over 100 pages and none of the characters ring true to me. I need to finish it by Monday, but I have almost come to the conclusion to forget the book and read something I really want to read.

[Deb]

Hello to Chantal. Have you had a lot of wind and rain recently?

[Chantal]

Yes! freezing over here. Sun comes out n goes down every ten mins it seems lol...

[Susan]

Hi Deb. I haven't read one more word!:( I will try tonight.

[Deb]

Is it really worth the effort to read the book Susan?
Then again, it might be very good once you get into it.
Good luck.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

One of my favourite romantic suspense authors Helene Young will be in WA at the end of this month... here's the tour dates.... http://www.getreading.com.au/whats-on/

[Deb]

Are you going to hear Helene Young? I just had a look at the dates. The closest library (to me) has a session in the morning. Can't make that. I always like to hear authors talk about their books and how they write.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

She's wonderful Deb, I was thrilled that she is heading to the west for you guys. I've heard her talk a couple of times, and will go again when she's next near me. She's such an inspiration!

[Jeanette]

It's freezing here in the south west. Two degrees tomorrow morn. It feels like that now.

[Deb]

Have you had a lot of rain today? It is coolish in Perth and has been rather dark for most of the day. Makes you just want to sit with a hot drink and a good book. Unfortunately, I can't do that at the moment.

[Jeanette]

We had a lot of rain early this morning but now it's just cold. Thank goodness for heating.

[Lily]

I'm in Margaret River and it's bloody cold down here too. I *think* Helene Young is in Bunbury tonight. I don't think she's getting any further south on this tour.
Nice to meet people in this group.

[Deb]

We haven't turned the heater on yet (in Perth), but I might be tempted soon.

Has anyone read anything good recently by a WA author? A couple of months ago I read Breath by Winton. Really enjoyed it.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Deb wrote: "We haven't turned the heater on yet (in Perth), but I might be tempted soon.

Has anyone read anything good recently by a WA author? A couple of months ago I read Breath by Winton. Really enjoyed..."

Deb, the lady in the post directly above you is a WA author! Just check her profile and you'll find her books:)

[Lily]

Thanks Brenda!
Hi Deb - I am in WA and I do have some books published, but I'm a long way from Tim Winton in both genre and calibre!
My new title is called The Goodbye Ride. It's a contemporary romance novella (@ Amazon) and it happens to be set over a long weekend... if you were in the mood for something light and fast this long weekend in West Oz.
Cheers
Lily M

[Katie]

I'm another WA author, though at the moment I'm having a very hard time writing. My fingers are too frozen!

[Aimie]

Hi all, describe myself in 6 words... That's tough.. Here goes...
Wife. Mother. Reader. Writer. Okay I'm struggling with words five and six so I'm gonna o with 9 words.... Brit Born. Queenslander Brought up. :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

For anyone wanting to check out Lily and Katie's work, just go to their profiles...that way they don't have to promote their work here;) Thanks.

[Deb]

Always good to hear about WA books and authors. We need to have them promoted more!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

If you go to the author section Deb, they are all promoted in there:)

[Katie]

What's everyone got planned for the long weekend? I have to clean the house ready for a special visitor, but because I work for a Catholic school, I get an extra day, so I can't complain. Being a farmer's wife, there was never any chance that we might go away.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Why do you guys have a long weekend this weekend?

[Deb]

It use to be called Foundation Day in Wa but now it is Western Australia Day commemorating the foundation of the Swan River Colony.

[Deb]

Katie, why do you get an extra day off? I work in a Catholic school as well. Is it your 'Catholic Day'?

[Deb]

I will be marking, marking and marking over the long weekend. Reports are coming up quick! It is panic time. Not much time to read except right before bed.

[Katie]

Deb wrote: "Katie, why do you get an extra day off? I work in a Catholic school as well. Is it your 'Catholic Day'?"

Yes, Deb, our Catholicity Day. We generally take it on the end of a long weekend. Normally it would mean that I got two weeks off because I only work Monday/Tuesday, but I'm doing relief for the rest of the week, so I have to work. Awww!

[Deb]

Very nice having a long, long weekend Katie. Doing relief for the rest of the week won't seem as bad.

[Jenn]

Katie wrote: "I'm another WA author, though at the moment I'm having a very hard time writing. My fingers are too frozen!"

I'm on the east coast. If you want warm, you might enjoy my next Monday Meme. I post them to Facebook/Twitter. Lily Malone knows about my Monday memes.

[Deb]

I've just started reading, My Life as an Alphabet by Barry Jonsberg. So far, really good and has me hooked. I have the book in my dressing gown pocket and try to read a couple of pages while I am doing other things.

Back to marking student's work now. Much rather read.

[Katie]

Jenn J. wrote: "Katie wrote: "I'm another WA author, though at the moment I'm having a very hard time writing. My fingers are too frozen!"

I'm on the east coast. If you want warm, you might enjoy my next Monday M..."

Can you tell me more, Jenn?

Deb wrote: "I've just started reading, My Life as an Alphabet by Barry Jonsberg. So far, really good and has me hooked. I have the book in my dressing gown pocket and try to read a couple of pages while I am..."

Ah, marking...one reason relief teaching is better for me! No homework.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Deb wrote: "I've just started reading, My Life as an Alphabet by Barry Jonsberg. So far, really good and has me hooked. I have the book in my dressing gown pocket and try to read a couple of pages while I am..."

My Life as an Alphabet by Barry Jonsberg sounds interesting Deb.

[Deb]

Katie, I am drowning, drowning, drowning in marking. To make matters worse, half the students forget to put their names on their work! I am going crazy!

My teaching goal this semester (and probably for the rest of my teaching career) is to help students to remember to put their name on their work. I need ideas and strategies and anything else that will help.

[Jenn]

Katie wrote: "Jenn J. wrote: "Katie wrote: "I'm another WA author, though at the moment I'm having a very hard time writing. My fingers are too frozen!"

I'm on the east coast. If you want warm, you might enjoy ..."
I've had a meme series based on my novel - a fun promo thing (without a Grumpy Cat in it LOL). I tweet and FB them. You can check out my winter one on my FB author page today https://www.facebook.com/JennJMcLeod..... and a slide show on my website if you want more!! Not sure how many people I amused, but I amused myself (and Lily!)

[Lily]

Jenn J. wrote: "Katie wrote: "Jenn J. wrote: "Katie wrote: "I'm another WA author, though at the moment I'm having a very hard time writing. My fingers are too frozen!"

I'm on the east coast. If you want warm, yo..."

I am always amused by Jenn J Mcleod, Katie! I hope you're enjoying the long weekend Monday here (meaning here in WA).

[Jeanette]

A cool spring day here in the south west. The sun tried to warm things up but the nippy breeze had other ideas. I'm currently working on the 2nd draft of my WIP and procrastinating as you can see :)

[Deb]

Hi Jeanette,

Just got back from Bunbury. Quite a lovely weekend down there, even though you did need something warm on for the breeze. Even went to the Boyanup antiques fair and came home with a book I haven't been wanting to read and a piece of Remued pottery (that I collect). Good weekend all around.

[Jeanette]

Deb wrote: "Hi Jeanette,

Just got back from Bunbury. Quite a lovely weekend down there, even though you did need something warm on for the breeze. Even went to the Boyanup antiques fair and came home with a..."

Sounds great, Deb. Good buys!

[Renae]

Hi All :-)
I'm in Geraldton...umm nothing happening that I know of...but every third Sunday is the Greenough markets, and there is a guy that has a trailer load of second hand books. Great way to find new books and add to my collection, without hubby busting me.

[Deb]

Hi Renae,

Those trailer loads of books can be deadly! Just too easy to increase your book collection when the books are a good price. Then you soon find out that you need to buy another bookcase!

[Deb]

Love the Perth Writers Festival! It certainly rolls around fast each year. Anyone going?

[Deb]

For the last couple of years I have gone to the family day on Sunday, which has a lot of free sessions. Saw some great children's authors last years.

[Lily]

This weekend a group of West Australian authors launched a new Facebook group to promote WA writers and let readers who enjoy WA authors and WA settings find each other. The group is at: https://www.facebook.com/heartsnwined
Romance, fiction, and fiction with romantic elements is probably the main book styles so far, but even WA poets can find a home here.
We will also list WA writing events and festivals - like the one coming up later this month in Margaret River (my neck of the woods).
You're welcome to visit at Facebook, or we have a Twitter tag @heartsnwined

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Good luck with it all Lily:)

[Deb]

Always good to promote WA authors. People don't often realise how much talent we have over here.

[Lily]

Deb wrote: "Always good to promote WA authors. People don't often realise how much talent we have over here."

Thanks Deb - and thanks for coming over and liking our new page. Feel free to introduce yourself there, and tell as many friends as you like.