What I’m Reading

It’s been a while since I’ve written a what I’m reading post, possibly because I haven’t been reading a whole lot. However I did recently discover that I can get ebooks from my local library and I’m very excited about trying it out! There are suddenly so many options. 🙂 I have been making may way through Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter series​ …

Writing about social issues

I had my wonderful critique group last Sunday and one of my friends made the comment about my writing having my trademark social issues focus. It made me stop and think for a moment. I don’t actually set out to write about social issues, the story just kind of goes that way. Elle in Under the Covers was a survivor …

When did you want to become a writer?

I’m going to the Rockingham Writers Centre beginners writing session today to chat about how to get started, stay motivated and set goals. It got me thinking about when I decided I wanted to become a writer.  I was always a huge reader as a child. I remember my Dad taking me to the Fremantle Arts Centre one weekend. I must have …

The idea behind Break the Rules

People often want to know where I get my ideas from and the one for Break the Rules came to me back in 2009. I suspect I had just finished reading Bad Ground: Inside the Beaconsfield Mine Rescue, which as the title suggests is about the Beaconsfield mine collapse which occurred in Tasmania in 2006. One man tragically died, and …

Changing Reading Habits

When I was a child, I read a lot. Any spare minute had me with my head in a book as I devoured series like The Babysitter’s Club, Famous Five, Secret Seven, Sweet Valley High and more. I loved immersing myself in new worlds and one of my favourite things was to pore over the Scholastic book club pamphlets and …

What I’m reading

In the second half of the year I became quite neglectful with my reading. Usually I’ll have at least one book on my must read list for each month but that fell by the wayside as I was trying to meet deadlines. So while I was preparing for my five-week trip to Ecuador I decided I would make up for …

What’s your least favourite part about writing?

The part of the novel that I find the hardest to write is the ending. The beginning is easy – I’ve got a great idea and I’m excited about the project and so I dive in full of enthusiasm and gusto. This is also the section that I’ll read over the most, tweaking as I go and my critique group always …

How much research do you do?

Well that depends on what I’m writing and how much is needed! I deal with research in a couple of ways. If I know which story I’m writing next, and I know there are a couple of areas I’ll need to research, then I’ll try to find a book that I can read while I’m finishing off my current project. …

Which comes first – Plot or Character?

It’s a good question and it depends on the story. For What Goes on Tour it was character. I had the idea for a rock star whose rock star persona wasn’t who he was at all. I liked him so much that I then needed to figure out what kind of story would work for him and who would be …