To say that our country is in the grip of an apocalyptic m oment in its history is not an exaggeration. The feeling of impotence, grief and desperation I’ve been feeling from the safety and comfort of my safe house (literally… my house is safe) in the heart of a smoke-clogged Melbourne is overwhelming. Yeah, …
When I say I’ve always wanted to be an author, I’m not exaggerating. Witness: my first self-published piece of fiction: “the elvse and the showmaker”. Yes, I clearly needed the guiding hand of a good editor. And I was yet to grasp the concept of plagiarism. But, still – I was barely 5. Cut me …
A review that starts like that? Daggers to the heart. Why? Well, imagine you’re a restaurant specializing in satay and a review comes out that starts with the line: “I don’t usually eat peanuts… because I’m likely to go into anaphylactic shock.” Or you’re a producer on Survivor and a critic announces they’ve: “never been …
Writing is such a solitary pursuit. That’s why reviews like this one mean so much. To hear Brooklyn Tayla ‘s enthusiasm for my stories, and love for my characters, is so danged gratifying. She really, truly gets it. And it touched her. Which makes the whole journey worthwhile. Thank you.
If you’re me, it’s my trusty notepad. Yes, I do resort to Siri note-taking when I’m driving and have a brainwave I want to record before it dissolves from my often distracted consciousness. Flashes of inspiration disappear so quickly between mundane, day-to-day concerns like making sure the backyard chicken is fed and the fridge contains …
God, I love this. Laying down the bones of my next novel. Next step being the shuffling around of Post-It notes to work out pacing, and plot reveals. The. Best. Fun. And for those of you who’ve asked whether I’m a fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants writer, or a nail-the-story-down-before-starting type of writer… well, this probably answers your question.
… if I disappear, I’ve holed up here at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers. Can you imagine a more idyllic place to write? And to all of you who told me how much I’d love New Zealand? Yeah. You were right. Don’t gloat. It’s a very unappealing trait.
…. because Melbourne airport this morning is fairly bracing ❄️☃️🌧☔️🥶
People often ask me why I’m a little obsessed with Turkey. Yes, I’m back there again in my new novel, The Emerald Tablet. Can’t stay away. This place – and the people who live there – has a great deal to do with it. Bodrum. Thanks to our beautiful friends, Bahadir Berkaya and Chris Drum, …
Now I know what an elephant feels like. After a very long gestation, the birth of my new novel is just two weeks away. Straddling the politics and history of Egypt, Israel, and Turkey, and set in one of the most turbulent periods of the 20th century, The Emerald Tablet is quite a ride! If …
Meaghan Wilson Anastasios 