Author Archives: Felicity Banks Books

Killer Idea (PG story)

Detective-Sargeant Hobson shrugged off a trailing end of crime tape and straightened up to his full height. The flat was only slightly larger than a shoebox, and had slightly less inside. Grey carpet, grey walls, no curtains. He dismissed robbery and diagnosed poverty instead. There was a mattress against one wall, covered in crumbs. AgainstContinue reading “Killer Idea (PG story)”

Young Symphonists on Strings

Liza Picard’s Victorian London book quotes the following advice for elegant young ladies: “Playing the violin-cello is of course out of the question, while the violin, while not so openly obscene, necessitates an awkward position of the head and neck which is not recommended.” Today, it is difficult to imagine anything more elegant than stringed instrumentsContinue reading “Young Symphonists on Strings”

Steampunk Lego

Don’t say I never give you anything. On Empire of Steam, there is an entire world of steampunk lego history (seriously): Over here, there’s a whole range of lego items, including this steampunk toilet: And weburbanist has gathered the best of the net together – here are my favourites (weburbanist discusses them, too):

Don’t have contacts in the biz? Don’t worry

Last year I spent a bunch of moolah and time schmoozing across Australia, and I ended up with personal contact (handshakes, names, cards) with staff from four of Australia’s six big publishers. I now have enough data to tell you what those contacts mean to me so far: *drum roll* Drastically longer response time. I am personallyContinue reading “Don’t have contacts in the biz? Don’t worry”

The ex-boyfriend, and an incident with a broom handle

I like my ex-boyfriends. Mostly because I’m only attracted to interesting, intelligent people who don’t hold grudges. Also because I am an interesting, intelligent person who doesn’t hold grudges. One of my exes is now good friends with my brother, and has also run into CJ at work (which pleases all of us). This exContinue reading “The ex-boyfriend, and an incident with a broom handle”

BBQ at Pine Island

Bil (Brother In Law) and his girlfriend visited Canberra last weekend, and gathered their friends and relations for a barbeque at Pine Island. It was quite peculiar meeting the girlfriend because I know she reads this blog (which is really flattering  – and makes me think, “Oh dear. What horribly embarrassing things does she already knowContinue reading “BBQ at Pine Island”

Mmm. . . cheap Easter eggs

Today’s awesomeness is one many of you are familiar with – and all of you can enjoy today. In fact, I command that you do so: Descend upon your local shopping centre for massively discounted Easter produce. Excellent. I bought “jelly eggs” – that is, cheap jelly beans slightly adjusted in shape. What a brilliant marketing ploy. InContinue reading “Mmm. . . cheap Easter eggs”

An Australian, an American and a British girl walk into a Chinese recording studio. . .

This video was recorded by a British girl and features an Australian man and an American woman recording a dialogue intended to assist Chinese students learning English. It singlehandedly explains all the Chinglish you’ve ever seen. As you watch, keep in mind that they were not allowed to alter the script in any way. EnjoyContinue reading “An Australian, an American and a British girl walk into a Chinese recording studio. . .”

Talking the steampunk talk (PG)

The Victorian Era was a time of miasmic fog, elegant manners, and the criminal classes. The slang of the time was often colourful (to say the least). I took most of the following list from “A Long Way Home” by Mike Walker (and the rest from “Victorian London” by Liza Picard and my own nautical days), choosingContinue reading “Talking the steampunk talk (PG)”

How to be awesome (here)

Today’s article is written by Nathan Bransford, who is a writer, ex-agent, and social media expert. It’s called “How to write a good blog comment” and I can heartily confess to rampant self-interest in sharing it here. Let’s begin: The art of writing blog comments may at first blush seem like a frivolous and unimportantContinue reading “How to be awesome (here)”

Hosting Christian Passover

My family has two feasts each year: Christmas and Passover. Both are hugely significant. In some ways Passover is more special because I’ve never knowingly met another family that celebrates it – so there’s absolutely no commercialisation (not even presents – not even *gasp* chocolate!) I blogged about our Christian passover ritual last year, andContinue reading “Hosting Christian Passover”

Get it right – this time

I knew before I began my steampunk novel that I would need to learn a whole new set of rules when it came to my Koori character, Matilda (you’ll notice that’s not a Koori name – names are just one taboo area). A week or two ago I attended a lecture (in the gorgeously squished building above) byContinue reading “Get it right – this time”

Top Ten FREE Awesomenesses

It’s finally here! The ultimate awesomenesses for my poverty-striken peeps. I’ve marked with an asterisk those I think are worth clicking on (either for stylish writing or for pictures). And without further ado. . . 10. Feed ducks 9. Blob/No Plans 8. Join the Library and Read Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan trilogy* 7. Lord of theContinue reading “Top Ten FREE Awesomenesses”

In the beginnings. . .

Time to hide in your box, quivering in terror. Today we’ll be visiting the Pub Rants blog (“pub” as in “publication”, you lush) for the bad news about beginnings: 99.9% are rubbish. You can tell an experienced writer because they don’t bat an eye when someone says, “Send me the first two hundred words ofContinue reading “In the beginnings. . .”