We've had a run of weather just recently - a couple of tropical cyclones up north and this last weekend we had some pretty severe storms come through South East Queensland. This photo above was taken a few weeks ago and shows what it looks like when it comes. The terms apocalypse or Armageddon come to mind.
Mr Greene had gone down to the farm for the weekend, taking the senior dog while I stayed home with the puppy. She's still a little bit small to take yet - she fits through the fence - never good when you're still a baby. Luckily, neither of us managed to get much in the way of damage, or traumatised dogs as the weather moved through. Our last dog was extremely storm phobic. She could detect the atmospheric changes about two hours before and she would glue herself to me, and not let me out of her sight. Lots of people check the weather radar for storms - I used to get an early warning and her instinct was never wrong. Today is looking unsettled again. I'm trying to get everything done in case we're in for another big one. Wish me luck. So, this year I decided to do the Year of the Novel (online), run through the Queensland Writers Centre. Meet Kane and Delia - the main players in my contemporary romance that I chose to write as my project for the course. I'm enjoying the course and I've learned a fair bit. I wish I had more time to devote to it. There are online forums and chats etc and I'm missing out on those. I can't spend time there and keep up with the work. My aim is to use the course to produce a short sweet romance suitable for publication by 30/9/15 and submit it by 31/12/15. Wish me luck. Hello from the editing cave!
After a bit of a break away from my futuristic manuscript I'm back editing it again. The problem with this manuscript - the futuristic readers say too much romance, the romance readers say not enough romance, too much world building. Add in some comments about backstory and introspection and my self-diagnosis becomes "This is one red hot mess". So what to do? The characters are great, the plot works - all I need to do is try to get the balance right and then this baby can go out into the real wide world. The plan is to keep working on this until the end of April and then reassess where I am up to. Wish me luck. Woohoo!
I'm excited to share the news that my short story "Secrets of the Past" made it into the Little Gems Anthology. Look at that cover. Isn't it gorgeous? Little Gems 2015 will be available in August 2015 and I'll post an update with an order link as soon as its active. In the meantime, here's a glimpse of Peridot and Xavier. Xavier was surprised at the kick in the guts that Peri's eyes, shimmering with tears, delivered. She had gorgeous eyes, green with a hint of gold and fringed with dark lashes. Every memory he had of her was of those eyes - alive with laughter, or serious and shadowed......Peri didn't look like either parent, she had the colour of the ancient Analizians - fiery red hair with pale skin and green eyes. This checking in on the blog is working. I'm making progress with most of my 2015 goals. So here's February's update:
1. Little Gems - The judges are busy filling in score sheets, so we wait patiently. I haven't touched this story since I sent it, and its now in the queue for expanding to novel/novella. I love these characters so much. 2. Year of the Novel - Course work is all caught up and I've started writing the story. Haven't submitted all of the requirements, but its getting there. And I've started writing the story. 3. Futuristic in edit - Took the start back to my crib group and they're happy, so I keep going down this path. It's still like amputating a leg. 4. Protect my writing day - Yes, and the sense of achievement last week after a whole day spent writing was a feeling I'd like to bottle. 5. Running - A few more jogs, another 6km run - I'm wavering between making a non-negotiable plan and just running when I feel like it. I think the plan is the way to go if I want to improve. 6. Balance in my life - Yes and No. 2015 is not looking any less hectic than 2014, its just a different type of hectic. For now though, I'm happy to have a bit of down time when I can catch it. As we roll into Autumn, I'm looking forward to cooler weather, being better organised and letting the writing flow. |
Fiona Greene AuthorWhen you set out on a journey and night falls, that's when you will discover the stars." Archives
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