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 …
Whether or not I’m ‘special’ is open for debate. But I certainly will be a guest, and I am an author. Most importantly, I can’t wait to spend time with the book-loving devotees of Dymocks Camberwell next Tuesday 3 September at their First Tuesday Book Club, to speak about all things Emerald Tablet. 6.30 at …
Look, I don’t mind admitting that I was a bit scared to interview Meaghan Wilson Anastasios because she is so incredibly clever, but oh my, we had the best chat! Listen in here: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/so-you-want-to-be-writer-podcast/ I do find the thought of me being scary strangely appealing, particularly when I’m attempting to strong-arm the 6’3” son into …
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 …
What do you make of this? A couple of Christmases ago, I’d just packed the manuscript for The Honourable Thief off to @macmillanaus. The day for the giving of gifts arrived, and my husband gave me this box. Not just any box, though. Applied to the front was a picture of Achilles’ shield. And inside …
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.
Why celebrate? Well, yesterday was the anniversary of that magnificent day in July when I was fortunate enough to land this spectacular human being. We were married in a turret of a Crusader castle overlooking the Aegean in the Turkish town of Bodrum… for the history buffs amongst you, Bodrum was the ancient city of …
Forget where I’d LIKE to write. The question they should ask is where I actually end up writing. Where I’d LIKE to be writing is in my book-lined study, on my antique French oak partners’ desk. Instead, I’m beside the ball pit at Lollipops indoor playground, supervising my completely fabulous daughter and niece as they …
Jock Serong is an exceptional Australian writer. He also needs to stay away from the native wildlife. Should I have helped him escape the clutches of New Zealand’s tuatara? Possibly. But he’s a living fossil, and an endangered one at that, for God’s sake. He needs to be handled carefully…. the tuatara, I mean. Jock’s …
Jeffreys Books in Glenferrie Road, Malvern was my refuge as a child. While other kids were sinking their hard earned pocket money into whatever it was that other kids were buying in the 1980s, I was investing in books from Jeffreys. I still have half a shelf’s worth of dog-eared Penguin Classics I bought there, …
Meaghan Wilson Anastasios 