the rain falls on me... not so much Spain

Well, I'm not certain about that but with 33 ml here today we're kinda swimming to and from the car. kids loved the puddles though. I don't need to worry about Spain weather cos hubby got out of his trip. yay. For me more so than him I suspect.

I LOVED the conference. Such a brilliant buzz and met so many great people and caught up with good friends too. What a weekend. i came home with 2nd in the Emerald award too and was thrilled.

Have been editing madly to send away chapters from my pitch and now that's resting I have a new idea calling. i just need to work out how it starts...

Do you know your opening line before you open the file??

Sydney and Spain

Am just about bursting with excitement. This time in two days I'll be in Sydney for the RWAus conference. It's my first and i can't wait. i feel like I know so many already thanks to the wonder of the internet. I'm looking forward to catching up with/meeting some great writing buddies. And I can't lie, I think there'll be some family missing too.... when I have time.

Less exciting, for me, is that hubby is out doing me on the trip front and might be off to Spain in a few weeks for work. I reckon Sydney is just as good!

Who's coming to Sydney? Who would rather head off for Spain?

=)

Making Time

Nope. Alas I don't have a secret to share about adding hours to the day. Sorry if I got you here under false pretences.

I have a hectic few days coming up with 6 couples and their 10 kids (all under 5) coming here for dinner tonight, party tomorrow and in-laws visit all day Sunday. usually I'd just give up on writing since it's impossible when the kids are awake and we're busy through their sleep times, but today I'm determined. Somehow over the next few days I'm going to make time.

For writing.
Really, for me.

Not sure how yet but I'm determined to write at least 1500 words.

How do you make time?

TARA and June Challenge

Ok, so my excuse for the terrible lack of posting is that i have been busy trying to keep up with the June Challenge we down under types like to keep our winter warm with. So i signed up for 40k in June.... so not going to happen. But you know, some days I do reach target and it's great and it's 1334 words i wouldn't otherwise have.

I had a story planned and then the day before went for a different one. So I'm all about Kate at the moment. Perfect Kate who used to think she was, well that her life was perfect but turns out it really isn't. Could be a good thing too.

On a different note I found out I finalled in the TARA contest so am very happy with that news. Certainly brightened a glum week where hubby was snowed under with work and the kids were playing up cos they didn't get to see him. I find it hard to switch from being frustrated and trying to keep the kids from bickering to developing a love story...

How does real life affect your word count?
Oh, and do you like my new template thingamy?

=)

SENT!!

So the requested full is on it's way to New York with lots of good wishes to help it on its way.

Now what to do?

I think some reading to refill the well and there's always some critting for my lovely CPs. On a different note my YA experiment finalled in the TOM contest so i should get stuck into that. And there's a new catagory idea i've mapped out.

Maybe i'll read while i'm deciding!

Last weekend i attended Romancing The Novel - a one day Romance workshop/conference here in Adelaide. it was wonderful (and exhausting) to talk writing all day. There was even dinner afterwards!

The workshops from the fab Anna Campbell and Yvonne Lindsay were lightbulbing and i learnt heaps just chatting to all the wonderful local SARA authors we have (Trish Morey, Anne Oliver, Elizabeth Rolls, Amy Matthews and Claire Baxter - who i sat next to at dinner and have already devoured one of her wonderful books that she signed for me.).

Bring on August and the conference!!!

Lovecats

My dogs, Lion and Mat, are starring at Lovecats Downunder today. Please have a look, it's a part of Lion's plan to take over the universe!

The pic is from a few years ago. before we had kids we'd travel Australia and stay at places that were pet-friendly so the lads could come. It's a bit harder now but they're still adored family members.

Busy on the writing front polishing SIG after the Special Edition pitch. Gail was lovely and the other pitchers helped me keep the nerves under control, mostly. Still a bit stunned by the request cos it was about 2am my time and i'm scared the whole thing was a dream!

=)

5-5-5 Thingy and Emmy

This is: 5 questions, 5 answers, 5 blogs to tag.

So here goes:

Question 1: Where were you five years ago?
1. Pregnant with Princess 4.
2. Living at our little yellow cottage that was almost falling down
3. Two dogs and no kids (well a half). Now kids outnumber dogs
4. Doing my teaching prac for the degree i hope never to use
5. Feeling sick (see point 1 - 9 months of it!).

Question 2: What is (was) on your to do list today?
1. Host my mother's group (4 years and we meet every friday!) - check
2. Survive 11 kids trapped inside cos of the rain - fail... I'm stuffed
3. Collect MIL new purple laptop (keep away Rach) - check (but since when is 11am between 2-5 pm?)
4. Crit some chapters - fail.... but there's still time
5. Write something - fail.... throat sore and head is pounding

Question 3: What five snacks do you enjoy?
1. nacho cheese rice thins (low fat!!)
2. Grapes - like them in a cup next to me while i write
3. Coke zero... my 'yay kids are napping treat'
4. Far too much of the Easter chocolate!
5. Custard (but maybe I only want that cos my throat is sore)

Question 4: What five (4) places have you lived in?
1. Seaview Downs, Adelaide
2. Somerton Park, Adelaide
3. Glenelg, Adelaide
4. Nth Plympton, Adelaide... That's it... all within 15km....

Question 5: What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?
1. Hire my MIL to nanny my kids
2. Travel
3. Look after my family - make sure they were all sorted
4. Donate to charity. There are sooo many good causes
5. Shop

Not sure there are 5 people who read this who haven't been tagged. If you are one, please consider yourself tagged.

On a different note, I was thrilled to final in the Emerald award. it means a lot. I know there were some excellent stories who didn't get through so I appreciate the luck involved and am thankful.

=)