We're 10 days away now. From the release date of Out of the Cages: the 1st July 2018. How do I feel? Like I've been holding my breath. Like dropping over the finish line of a race I never thought I'd finish. Like a kid, one hand in the popcorn bucket, waiting for the movie to begin. It's exciting and oddly surreal too. We're holding the official launch of Out of the Cages on the 7th July, at 7pm, in the Big Hall of St Marys Anglican Church, in St Marys, NSW.
We'll have book signings, chats, chai tea, and supper. And I'll share some of the journey behind this book; the research, the writing and what I learned along the way. I'd love to have you there! RSVP's are great (to assist with the supper preparations) and can be made by sending me an email, or via the Facebook event.
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The countdown is well and truly underway for my new novel, Out of the Cages. Over the last month I've been doing those final little (and not so little) tasks that editors send my way: like slowly reading through the uncorrected proof and double checking details. The novel will be off to the printers soon, if it hasn't been sent off already. July 1 is the official release date.
I'm looking forward to planning a really special launch for this book - it's been so long in the making and so many people have supported me over the years and encouraged me to keep going. I'm excited to be able to share the celebration of this book with those who have helped along the way! If you haven't yet read the blog Rhiza Edge asked me to write for their website, you can find it here. I share a little more about where the story for Out of the Cages came from. And if you're a Goodreads member, you can now add Out of the Cages to your 'Want to read' list! Can you see him? The tiny gecko? Hanging by his toes?
I'd been doing some jobs around my parents' home while they were away. Watering the pot plants on the deck, checking the fish were still swimming and clearing the post from the letterbox etc. It was time to add some scraps to the worm farms, so I lifted the heavy brick that had been keeping the worm farm lid secure. And I saw this little guy. So tiny. His chubby fat gecko toes gripping the black plastic. He glanced up at me with those big shiny eyes and made a run for it! 'Careful!' I called after him (yes, I have a habit of talking to lizards). But he didn't listen. he just panicked and leaped off the worm farm - dove off into oblivion - or at least that is what it must have seemed for a little guy that small. He's dead, I thought. Surely he's dead. But I looked closer. Bent on my knees and there he was. Gripping for dear life by his back feet to the stalk of a stubborn wild violet. Never have I been so impressed by such a small creature! I wonder if we grab the opportunities we hurtle past with such incredulous faith? When my daughter was one year old, my husband and I went to live in Nepal. We had gone to support the work of a local health and development organisation and ended up living in the city of Pokhara, west of Kathmandu, for five years. We were there in a challenging, yet important period of time for Nepal as they experienced the end of the civil war and their revolution. We had arrived in the Kingdom of Nepal and left the Republic of Nepal. It was a privilege to have been there at that time.
I have many, many treasured memories of our years in Nepal and made some life long friends. You cannot live in a place like Nepal without being changed by it, without it lodging in your heart. And for myself as a writer, it obviously had an impact on what I wrote.
This my first post for the new website.
Exciting! And a big welcome to you.
I'm glad to have you along and to share some of my writing adventures as I launch my new site, under my new author name, in preparation for some new books due out soon.
But, a new author name? you ask. Well yes. Let me give you a little bit more info. |
My blogI've named my blog 'Meander, wonder, wait' because sometimes that's what a writers life feels like. Full of dreams and ideas, stories that take the long road to publication and a lots of waiting along the way. But there's another reason I felt this was a good blog title and that's because all of life (and not just the writing part) can feel rushed and harried. Us humans need regular reminders to slow down, think deeply, dream and ponder. That's what I'm hoping this blog will be about; opportunities to go slow, wander through ideas and wait well no matter where we are. Categories |