Obsessed with Deadwood

Have just finished watching the first season of this great show and am so obsessed that I am leaving parties early to watch more lol. Love Calamity Jane and all the larger-than-life characters. Also have to admit that this is the first western-themed show I've actually watched and it's great! Brothels and bar fights and dirty bodies and bathhouses - gross but very interesting! Also interesting is the romance between a young widow and the town sherriff. I always love young widow stories, something darkly romantc about them.

So between being glued to Deadwood and reading Shadowfae by Erica Hayes (which is also obsessive-compulsive) I am getting little to no writing done atm. Luckily school holidays are on their way!

Pen Names

To pen-name myself or not to?

I am not sure what to do. Was thinking of maybe using H.C. Murat as my pen name but then no one will ever know my name when I meet them - could be awkard? What are other people's thoughts on pen-names?

My first Romance Writer's of Australia (RWA) Conference

Had a fantastic time in Sydney and couldn't beleive my luck to be walking around between so many talented authors (No 1 New York Times Best-Selling included). I could hardly believe that all these people were in the same room and by some great twist of fate I had ended up there too. Have to thank all my lovely friends from the North QLD Romance Writers for introducing me to this wonderful world - Helene, Barb, Bec, Alice, Shannean and Mervet (and Amanda and Cathy)! Was fabulous.

I had my pitch appointment with one of Australia's leading publishers last week and made it through without choking on my tongue or wetting myself which made me really proud haha. I was also encouraged to submit my manuscript to her children's/YA dept which was even better. Was amazing to see editors and agent sitting on a panel and hugely useful to hear them speak.

Loved the Paranormal and YA sections but also have to say that my imagination was sparked by all the talk of Steampunk and Gaslight Fantasy. All the publishers seem to want it and I just happen to have started a novel which would fit in this genre. So now for more research and crazy scribbling of ideas - will keep you posted!

getting ready for Sydney

Bought some scarves and now to find some boots! So excited!

Crazy August

Well have started my Masters in Creative Writing (now into week 2) and finding it not at all like my first degree - I actually look forward to doing the reading and exercises this time around which I guess all comes down to 'following your bliss.' I used to have a sign posted in my classroom that said 'do a career that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.' Finally really feel this way! And while I haven't technically established a career in writing I feel I am on the way to doing just that.

So follow your bliss...

Off to Romance Writer's of Australia Conference in Sydney next Thursday and have a pitch spot with an amazing editor of a BIG publishing company which is terrifying  - but I'm too curious to turn it down.

Also reading Louise Hay's 'You Can Heal Your Life' and finding it very powerful. What an amazing teacher and leader. Learning a lot from her philosophy!