Sick of excessive scrolling through literally hundreds of pics, I’m gathering some of TJ’s baby pics here. It’s two-fifths of TJ because they’re only from his first year, and he’s now two and a half.
Category Archives: Daily Awesomeness
Honesty
I’ve been thinking about the kind of racism that personally benefits me. I live in Canberra, Australia. Despite my various health issues (that’s a whole ‘nother story… or is it?) I live in a 4-bedroom house that is “mine” in the sense that the mortgage is mine. I have a car, and two kids, andContinue reading “Honesty”
In the mean time…
I’m still struggling to get my head together in a variety of ways, both assisted and hampered by a family holiday last weekend. This was the third time we’ve been to the “Captain’s Cottage” rental house near Bateman’s Bay, and we managed to get all the grandparents plus my Uncle Jim to join us forContinue reading “In the mean time…”
Whyyyyyyyy?
It’s taken a few days for me to get my head together enough to blog again. Louisette is slightly bewildered by all the people who have given money to charity because of her generosity. She knows she’s done something special, and as far as she’s concerned life is normal now (even if she’s going withoutContinue reading “Whyyyyyyyy?”
Four years
I’m crying, but it’s not sadness. My husband Chris and I have been following the US election with increasing horror today. We both chose not to speak openly in the car on the way home, because our kids were with us. We exchanged a few careful words, and I asked Chris to drive. He knew without askingContinue reading “Four years”
Romance stats from “Choices”
My day job is writing for Tin Man Games. I’m co-writer on “Choices: And The Sun Went Out” and writer on “Choices: And Their Souls Were Eaten”. They are both serial/subscription phone app stories (with the banner name of “Choices: And The Sun Went Out” on itunes and Android), that release a new piece ofContinue reading “Romance stats from “Choices””
Conflux 2016
Conflux is Canberra’s speculative fiction conference. It happens every year on the October long weekend (even when that means starting in September, like in 2016 and 2017). Each year features guests of honour from around Australia and the world; panels on a variety of topics (including deliciously blatant fanfests); workshops; book launches; pitching sessions; aContinue reading “Conflux 2016”
Tick Tock
The mechanical spider was built by Justin Gershenson-Gates at A Mechanical Mind. The image was used with permission (Image 2 is filtered). https://www.facebook.com/amechanicalmind/ https://www.etsy.com/shop/amechanicalmind/ I’m figuring out images for my newest interactive story, “Stuff and Nonsense”. Images are easier if they’re linked to a url. So thisContinue reading “Tick Tock”
“Stuff and Nonsense” cover
I’m learning Twine while writing a game for the IF Comp. If I want to put an image into the game, the simplest way is to link to a url. Specifically, this one. Probably. If I’m doing this right. Photographer: Jody Cherry (Exposure Studios) Hair & Make-up: Jody Cherry (Cherrish Hair & Make-upContinue reading ““Stuff and Nonsense” cover”
Weak Words
I haven’t posted any writing advice in a while, possibly because a lot of my work is out there now and anything I say is likely to be hypocritical and I’m scared of people pointing that out. But here is a great, simple, well-explained infographic on words that should be dragged out and shot. TakeContinue reading “Weak Words”
Adventures in Melbourne
Last Friday morning I flew to Melbourne, meeting my Tin Man Games workmates in 3-D for the first time. I flew home Saturday night. On Saturday I ran a social meet-up before the Participatory Storytelling Panel at the Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival. I’ve been wanting to go to Melbourne for a while, and itContinue reading “Adventures in Melbourne”
Drinks with umbrellas in them
The other day I saw a random stock photo of people sitting on banana lounges by a pool sipping tropical drinks from pineapple halves. I don’t have a bucket list (the last thing I need is another to-do list) but I immediately tweeted that my life was incomplete because I’d never drunk out of a pineapple.Continue reading “Drinks with umbrellas in them”
Choices: And Their Souls Were Eaten
I’ve been working very hard on this story app for Tin Man Games all this year, and I’m incredibly proud of it. The beginning is free, and the rest costs a few dollars (or a LOT of ads if you choose that option on Android). It’s a subscription story that releases a new section eachContinue reading “Choices: And Their Souls Were Eaten”
Stop LARPing, this is serious
I mentioned here that I was thinking of writing a fifth steampunk story, called STUFF AND NONSENSE. The gritty origin story: I was part of the heyday of White Wolf role-playing here in Canberra, when around thirty people showed up to each game, and we regularly travelled to meet other groups and role-play together inContinue reading “Stop LARPing, this is serious”
Dancing, Duelling, Delicious: The official book launch for HEART OF BRASS
You know what’s cool? Nurofen tablets are sugar coated. * HEART OF BRASS had her official Book Launch yesterday as part of the inaugural Canberra Writers Festival, an absolutely huge event. I was written about (with a cover image) in Canberra Weekly magazine (96,000 readers!) and in the Canberra Times, as well as various otherContinue reading “Dancing, Duelling, Delicious: The official book launch for HEART OF BRASS”
Tick, Tick
I’m counting the hours until the launch, and desperately hoping I sleep through most of them. It’s been a crazy few weeks (not even a month!) since HEART OF BRASS was released. There are hundreds of moving parts to the launch, each with their own unique quirks, and my publisher and I and the CanberraContinue reading “Tick, Tick”
The Adventures of Pirate Captain Louisette
My four-year old daughter is an excellent storyteller, and I’ve had an idea for a while of helping her create her own story. Since it’s Book Week this week and she happens to have a pirate costume on hand, I was inspired to take action. I asked her some prompting questions like, “How can weContinue reading “The Adventures of Pirate Captain Louisette”
Book Launch
It’s a week and a day until HEART OF BRASS is officially launched here in Canberra, as part of the alarmingly enormous inaugural Canberra Writers Festival. Saturday 27 August 10:00-11:00am Ferguson Room, National Library My friend and fellow Canberra fantasy author Robbie Matthews will be doing the formal introductions and playing the book trailerContinue reading “Book Launch”
Out now in glorious 3D
HEART OF BRASS now exists in physical form. I’ve seen it. The first time I had a book accepted for publication was sixteen years ago (and it never happened). I’ve had another book accepted for publication (contract and all) since then, and it isn’t published yet either. So you can imagine that it still doesn’tContinue reading “Out now in glorious 3D”
Saving Real Lives With Fictional Heroes
How did people cope with misery and trauma before they had video games and Netflix? Exactly the same way—with stories. One of the brilliant things about fantasy is that already-universal themes of good versus evil, overcoming impossible odds, or falling in love feel even more universal to the reader. The mutant powers of the X-MenContinue reading “Saving Real Lives With Fictional Heroes”