coming out of the cave *

[adelaidesean]

I've been quiet lately, for which I apologise. (Writing 100,000 words in four weeks doesn't leave time for much else, although somehow I did manage to buy a house in there too. More on that later.) I just thought I'd quickly point out a couple of official appearances I'll be making in the coming months.

WORD: 21-23 March
This is the inaugural writers' festival for the Adelaide Fringe. Other guests include Anna Funder, Richard Flanagan, Shaun Tan, Fiona McIntosh and D M Cornish. I'm in the spotlight for a "Meet the Author" on the 21st, an industry panel with Fiona McIntosh on the 22nd, and a masterclass on the 23rd. If you're in town for WOMADelaide, the film festival or the rest of the Fringe, come along! WORD is going to be a hoot, with highlights such as "Read Dating", poetry and prose slams, performances by actors of authors' work, and other fun events to look forward to.

Sydney Writers Festival: 28 May - June3
The program will be announced April 14. I'll post the details here when they are official.

Also, the Australian Society of Authors is running elections for its Board of Management. I've put my name forward, so if you're a member of the ASA and are thinking of voting...well, you have been warned. :-)

* The subject line, btw, is a tip of my hat to the spoken intro to Frank Zappa's live performance of "Cheepnis", in which he talks about B-grade monsters emerging from their lairs to do battle with a movie's wide-collared protagonist (the inspiration for my current userpic.) This is a bit how I feel at the moment. I can be a bit of a cave-dweller at times, especially when I'm working to a tight deadline. Hopefully life can now get back to normal...

Comments

[gumnut.livejournal.com]

100,000 words in 4 weeks????? Is this average for you? ::is stunned:: Congrats in any case :D

I'm seriously pouting that I'll be missing the Word event. I'll be in Melbourne of all places. Talk about bad timing on my part. Hope it is a successful event for you and everyone else.

And good luck with the elections :D

Nutty
(who had to comment cos of your word count, sorry :D)

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Is this average for you?

Not at all. I'd normally write that much in about four months. This deadline has been especially tight. I'm feeling a bit stunned myself...

That's a shame you won't be at Word. A great time will be had be all, I reckon. :-) I hope you have fun in Melbourne instead!

[gumnut.livejournal.com]

Well, in that case I give you extra applauding :D That is one hell of a word count.

Yes, I'm muchly annoyed at my timing. I promised myself I'd go to the next major writing event in Adelaide since we do seem to be fortunate to have such a range of arty festivals here. And eh, I don't like Melbourne much. I'll be through there as fast as possible and out the other side. Hubby has an airshow to visit there, then we're off to Canberra and Sydney with the my camera getting a workout along the way.

But I do hope you enjoy it and I'll keep an eye out for reports on how it all went :D

Nutty
(at work, drat it)

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

There's always the SA Writers' Festival to look forward to in October (iirc) down in the beautiful Onkaparinga. Make sure you're in town for that one! :-)

Sounds like a great trip you have planned. Lots of people rave about Melbourne, but I, like you, have always been a bit underwhelmed. I like my friends there, and there's undoubtedly lots to do, but the city doesn't give me the charge that Sydney does, for instance. It's probably genetic...

[gumnut.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I was wondering when that was ::scribbles note in diary:: Will be there.

I don't know why, but I find Melbourne dark and at times a little dingy. It is also a very big city and I swear although I'm born and bred in Adelaide, I'm a country soul at heart. I'm not a fan of the bustling crowds.

But Sydney, though sprawly and continually reminding me of a rabbit warren in the suburbs (bless the people who planned Adelaide), I do like. Actually I was considering stealing the Harbour and bringing it back here, but it would have blown my luggage allowance.

And there is sun, which is the factor I think prejudices me against Melbourne the most. I need my light.

And I'm rambling. Blame it on the fact I'm at work and that I haven't written anything decent in days.

Oh, and congrats on the house! I'd been thinking about your comment regarding bank loans and freelance writing and how annoying circumstances can be. I'm glad you found a solution.

Nutty
(verbal diahorrea)

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Banks become a lot friendlier when someone with a regular salary (ie Amanda) is part of the equation... :-)

I'm very excited about the house. Can't wait to get into it. I've been living in this old place for over 8 years, and it's definitely time for a change.

[gumnut.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, yes, I have a distinct memory of our bank guy completely ignoring me in the interview and focussing on hubby who had the money. I was not impressed to say the least, but hey, that's the way things are. ::mutters a great deal::

Waiting to get the keys is just so....I want in now, I've signed my life away, let me in now! The wait's a pain, but once you get in there and sit down on the floor of your empty loungeroom and have your first meal on the carpet...::grin:: It's a great time.

Hope you have fun.

Nutty
(not at work, watching Supernatural when she should be writing)

[shadowsandice.livejournal.com]

Congrats on housies!

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's been an exciting and terrifying time!

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Hello, we'll try and get to see you at the Writers Festival in Sydney. I'm delighted to hear that they are inviting an author that isn't a bestselling literary type (not that you books are not literary or bestselling, but I mean books like The Shipping News or The Sea: books beloved of middle class book groups everywhere.), or a crime writing type (the only genres that the SWF ever seems to cover). I'm hoping this might mean that the organisers are starting to pay attention to science-fiction and fantasy, two of the biggest selling genres in the world. Enough of my ranting.

If you need a bed, we are 1/2hour bus ride from the CBD. Let us know at saraswati at optusnetdotcomdotau

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Hey, thanks. I think they'll be putting me up at a swish hotel for the days I'm on the program, but that's a very generous offer all the same. Maybe another trip. (If the ASA gig comes off, I'll be in Sydney a lot.)

I was a guest of SWF in 2002 (from memory) at which they had a great panel featuring Garth Nix, Kate Forsyth and someone else I'm embarrassed to have forgotten now, discussing the continued relevant of The Lord of the Rings. So spec fic does occasionally creep in. This year is the 10th anniversary, so it should be pretty speccy!

[jack-ryder.livejournal.com]

And remember there are strange and obscure horror films to watch when you're up (and have some free time!)

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Ooooooooooooooooooh. (I am shuddering with delight at the very thought.)

Reposted due to bad spelling

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Yes. Please, come and watch strange films. I'll even cook you dinner. If you need referees for my cooking skills, ask Cat and Rob.
Just tell me what you are allergic to and/or won't touch with a barge pole (eg cabbage, brussel sprouts, fish, pumpkin, spoo, etc)

Re: Reposted due to bad spelling

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Mmm. Sounds great!

What's "spoo"? That's my shopping list abbreviation for "shampoo". :-)

Re: Reposted due to bad spelling

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

You haven't eatched Babylon 5? It's a food liked by both Narn and Centari, but they can't agree on how to cook it. Spoo is the most depressed animal in the Galaxy.

Re: Reposted due to bad spelling

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Ha! I'd completely forgotten about spoo. Thanks for the reminder. Its been AGES since I last watched B5.

[deborahkalin.livejournal.com]

100,000 in four weeks? Dude! Time for a Bex and a lie-down! ;)

And congrats on the mortgage - how terrifying! I hope a furniture warehouse doesn't move in next door this time.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Dude! Time for a Bex and a lie-down! ;)

I wish! :-) But yes, that's certainly what I feel like right about now.

I hope a furniture warehouse doesn't move in next door this time.

God yes. That would be a disaster. I'm going to post soon about the things I won't miss about living in the city centre. Bed E Buys (http://www.bedebuys.com.au/index.php) will be one of them. Grr.

[gloripebbles.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the word count (figured you were using/focusing your daily word use for good not evil purposes). Oh yeah and the house too. The joy of mortgages and being responsible for any maintenance/repairs.

So...did you fry many synapses or myelin sheaths?

Hmmm at the SWF, I could contemplate going for once (I get told of it being on every year. Mothers get like that.)

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

So...did you fry many synapses or myelin sheaths?

I'm amazed I have any left.

Or do I? :-)