As I sit here at my desk, writing my final newsletter for the year, I look out at the dreamy blue ocean and feel very blessed indeed.
It has been another busy year, with all the usual work of writing and talking and teaching and raising my lovely family complicated by massive renovations to our house. All year I've had to try and step through that secret doorway into the world of the imagination with the constant, staccato beat of hammers and nail-guns punctuated by the roar of electric saws, and small showers of dust and broken plaster descending on to my desk. We had days without electricity, cooking on camp-stoves and eating by candlelight, and weeks without running water so we were washing up in buckets. I think I now have a much deeper appreciation of just how hard life would have been for our ancestors!
View from what is now our bedroom!
I have begun writing a new novel, with a working title of ‘The Sword of the Storm King'. This is my first line (which, of course, may change!):
"Being a prince was no fun at all, Peregrine thought moodily, staring out the arrow-slit at the pine trees shivering in the snowstorm. Especially when you're the son of a king without a kingdom."
I love starting a new novel. At this point, there is a lot of daydreaming and wondering and playing with ideas, and scribbling in my notebook, and poring over old books looking for inspiration (for example, I've been reading about eel-fishers and peat-cutters and famous women silversmiths in medieval times.) I'll soon settle down in a strong writing rhythm (I hope!) and watch with amazement as the story begins to unfurl.
A page from my notebook for 'The Sword of the Storm King'
I've had some lovely news about 'The Puzzle Ring', which has been shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel of 2009. I am so thrilled to be shortlisted and of course I hope I win, though the competition is fierce! The other books shortlisted are A Small Free Kiss In the Dark by Glenda Millard, The Museum of Mary Child by Cassandra Golds (who I interviewed in an earlier newsletter), 'Leviathian' by Scott Westerfeld and 'Scarecrow'
by Sean Williams – four wonderful books by four wonderful authors. So wish me luck (I'm going to need it). The winner is announced 23 January 2010 at an awards ceremony in Brisbane.
I've had my usual busy few months with lots of public appearances including at the Freecon SF convention in Blacktown, the Waverley Literary Festival, and at the Manly Writers Group. Robert Salisbury, who runs the MWG, videotaped the interview and you can watch it on YouTube if you like. There are five separate video clips, showing me talking about the writing process, where I get my ideas from, and reading some of my poetry.
Otherwise, I've been very busy with the Book Week celebrations, visiting about a dozen schools in the Sydney area, and helping the CBCA (Northern Suburbs) branch organise the first Northern Beaches Literary Festival which I hope will continue to grow and flourish.
Jeni Mawter, Lisa Forrest & Kate Forsyth at the Lateral Learning Christmas party!
I also gave the keynote speech at the Children's Book Council (Northern Suburbs) Christmas dinner, which was such a wonderful night. I was talking about the Power & Importance of fantasy Fiction, a topic close to my heart.
Kate giving her speech at the CBCA Northern Suburbs Christmas dinner
Next year is shaping up to be another huge year. For those of you who want to know what courses I'm teaching, there's a workshop at the NSW Writers Centre at Rozelle in February, called 'Blasting Through Writer's Block'
Then I am teaching another five week course 'Creative Writing Stage 1' at the Sydney Writer's Centre starting in April.
Then, most exciting of all, I'm undertaking a week-long Writer's Lab retreat at the Skyros Centre in the Greek islands. Yes, in Greece!
The Skyros Writer's Lab is the oldest and most highly regarded writer's retreat in the world, and has been taught by writers like Margaret Drabble, Alison Lurie, Hilary Mantel, Sue Townsend, and Marina Warner ... and now Kate Forsyth! My course is running for one week from May 29th to June 5th so escape the winter blues and come and join me!
Just before I fly off to the Greek islands, I'm appearing at the Sydney Writers Festival in the School Days program, along with ... wait for it ... drum roll ... Anthony Horowitz, Andy Griffiths, Leigh Hobbs and my beautiful sister Belinda Murrell. I am so excited, particularly, I must admit, about appearing alongside Anthony Horowitz. Apart from the fact my sons suddenly think I'm really cool, I'm a huge fan of his TV shows 'Foyle's War' and 'Midsomer Murders', and his many adaptions of Agatha Christie books.
So lots of new adventures to look forward in 2010! I feel very lucky indeed that I am living the life I always dreamt of, writing books and having them read by people all over the world. Here at the end of one wonderful year and looking forwards to another, it seems like the perfect opportunity to say thank you to all the people who help make this possible – my wonderful husband who supported me emotionally, physically and financially back in the days before I had a single word published; my beautiful children, who have to put up with a mother whose head is always in the clouds; my brother and sister, wonderful writers themselves, and my parents, for all their love and support; all my friends, who help me in so many ways, taking my children to school for me, stepping in to help out while I'm away travelling, and generally reminding me about what's happening at school and in the
neighbourhood; my agents, publishers and editors both here and overseas, who look after me so well and help make the books shine; and of course to my readers! May you keep enjoying my books for a very long time to come!
The featured writer of the month is Caro Peacock - read my review of her books and her interview below.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, no matter where in the world you are.
Blessed be!
Caro Peacock is the author of a series of historical mystery novels set in the early days of Queen Victoria. Her heroine is an independent young woman named Liberty Lane, daughter of an unconventional musician who names her for the quality he most passionately believes in.
We are introduced to Liberty Lane in the first novel in the series, Death At Dawn. Her father has been killed in a duel, but knowing her father's peace-loving beliefs, Liberty believes he was actually murdered and sets out to prove it. Spirited, clever and stubborn, she poses as a governess at an English country house to try and uncover the truth, and finds herself at the centre of a treasonous plot.
The opening line is: 'Would you be kind enough to tell me where they keep people's bodies?
Filled with all sorts of plot twists, the novel brings both the heroine and her milieu vividly to life. I've gone on and read the next two books in the series, 'Death of A Dancer' and 'A Corpse in Shining Armour.' They too have that brilliant blend of suspense, adventure, history and just a touch of romance. I'd really recommend these to anyone who, like me, loves historical murder mysteries.
Interview with Caro Peacock
Are you a daydreamer too?
Not a lot. I am Yorkshire by origin, therefore a pretty down-to-earth person. 'Stop daydreaming and get on with it,' is a phrase that's stuck with me from childhood.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes, I was one of those awful scribbling kids. It took me a long time, though, to have the confidence to call myself a writer.
Where do you write?
I live in a 350-year-old cottage in a small village, in the part of England closest to the Welsh border. My study is a little room just over the front door, full of old oak beams. My laptop is about the only modern thing in it. If I look out of the window (which I do a lot) I see my old horse grazing in the paddock.
What is your favourite part of writing?
Research. As I write historical novels, I need to do a lot of it and I love it. It's also the period when a book is new and fresh in your mind.
What do you do when you get blocked?
I think of my old news editor, when I was a young journalist. He had a volcanic temperament and an earthy turn of phrase. His reaction to the news that a writer was blocked would have been anatomical and unprintable.
How do you keep your well of inspiration full?
I wish I knew. When I drop a bucket down the well, I just hope it will come up half full at least, but I can never be sure. Reading non-fiction history and old newspapers helps.
Do you have any rituals that help you write?
Stroking a cat sometimes helps. I have two intrusive Burmese, so there's usually one handy.
Who are your ten favourite authors?
Sir Walter Scott, Elizabeth Gaskell, Robert Louis Stevenson, Joseph Conrad, P.G. Wodehouse, Raymond Chandler, Colette, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mary Renault, Walter Mosley.
What do you consider to be good writing?
Like a glass of champagne, clear and invigorating with a lot of energy inside it.
What is your advice for somebody dreaming of being a writer too?
Keep writing with bloody-minded persistence. When you get a rejection, send out the ms to the next person the same day. If you get depressed about your writing, remember that it goes with the turf and will pass.
What are you working on now?
The fourth adventure of my early Victorian detective, Liberty Lane.
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