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A Pearl of an Idea

pearlMeet Pearl…

No, not that pearl!

 

Pearl is actually the daughter of an oyster farmer in my latest novel, The Other Side of The Season.

Pearl is an example of what we call in the business – a secondary character. This means she was created to support the lead characters, providing them with, among other things, a way to express themselves, to help foreshadow events, or to provide background while still moving the narrative forward. Sometimes, however, a secondary character can go rogue.

Another example of a secondary character is Alice, in Season of Shadow and Light. I created her after I’d finished the initial draft, actually re-writing the manuscript to add Alice as a “nanna/babysitter” to six-year-old Matilda, thus freeing up Paige, the mother, to get on with the story without readers saying: “But where’s the kid”.

Like Alice, Pearl has found her way into the hearts of readers. One reason might be because I let her hook up with Jake, and Jake is, well, I’m told he’s just adorable. But Pearl is pretty special, too, because she’s a little different. And I did that on purpose.

Pearl is a person born with albinism. Some of you might be more familiar with the word ‘albino’ but as I leanred when researching this character there are misconceptions and lots of misrepresentation in certain media about his inherited condition. I wanted to do my bit towards correcting this. It’s said the pen is mightier than the sword and I believe authors have the opportunity to make a difference in the world. Literature can start conversations and lead change. Through their stories, authors provide people with a safe place to explore social differences that they might not otherwise understand or encounter. With all four of my novels I’ve been inclusive, using fiction to normalise that which society may see or label otherwise. I do this by including characters with differences — although not focusing on the ‘different’ or applying a label to it. Acceptance comes from understanding. If things like sexual orientation, illness, race, language, physical traits/conditions and psychological issues are included into everyday fiction maybe they will one day become ‘the norm’.

Dr Shari Parker - TOSOTSYou might have noticed I thanked Dr Shari Parker in my acknowledgements. If you Google the name, or go to the Albinism Fellowship of Australia website, you’ll learn a lot more about living with albinism and the importance of ending the myths created in some books and films that depict people with albinism as evil villains or supernatural freaks. I am very appreciative of Shari’s assistance.

Dr Shari Parker: “Albinism is an inherited condition where the body produces less than normal amounts of melanin – a substance that gives skin, hair and eyes colour. About one in 17,000 Australians is born with albinism and about one in 75 carries an albinism gene. If a carrier mates with another, they have a one-in-four chance of a baby with it.”
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/albinos-think-its-time-the-world-played-fair-20111007-1ldvk.html#ixzz4CxDT37C9
Follow us: @theage on Twitter | theageAustralia on Facebook

SOSAL B format
Alice steals the story
SOSAL final
Pearl steals the story

 

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And the winner is…. Blog Tour Wrap-Up

Three books

Thank you to the book bloggers, authors and readers who joined in my blog tour and made it such a great celebration.  I wish I had more books to giveaway.

The winner of the 3-book giveaway is: Melissa Woods.

If I wasn’t exhausted enough from the huge blog tour, yesterday I returned home from a 13 day road tour.

No wonder I’m feeling tired!

Because Season of Shadow and Light is a such special story to me….

… I enjoyed all the Q&As. If you want to know more about the story’s characters or you want some insight into my writing of this novel, you may want to check out these posts.

Book Blogger Q&A:

Duffy The Writer asked me about Alice and I didn’t know how to answer. Then this happened.

Fiction with a side order of food: Shelleyrae from Book’d Out has me talking food and hugging carrots!

Writing on the road: I’m chatting to Tien’s Blurb about my gypsy life.

Reading, Writing and Riesling: I mean…do we need anything else? Just add some fun travel goss.

Kathryn’s Inbox: Kathryn White asks me about the title concept of Shadow and Light (among other things!)

Sam Still Reading: Visit the real pub that inspired The Billabong Hotel in Coolabah Tree Gully.

Road Trip To Revelation: Rowena Holloway takes a road trip with me. Hop in, buckle up, and hang on as I take readers through some storyline twists and turns.

Write Note Reviews Author Insight: Monique has me tapping out my favourite songs and spilling the beans.

I chatted to some special author friends:

Jennifer Scoullar’s blog – I was six the day a horse ate my buttons

Margareta Osborn’s blog – Smiles

Lisa Heidke’s blog –My Blog Post of Whys and Hows

Cathryn Hein’s blog – Friday Feast and talking about a real dish!

Café Carla – Author Q&A

Helene Young – The inspiration behind the book

Loretta Hill – A letter

(NB: the 3-book giveaway on these blogs is now closed)

Industry Reviews for Season of Shadow and Light

Book Muster Down Under

Duffy The Writer

Book’d Out

Tien’s Blurb

Reading Writing and Riesling

1girl2manybooks

Kathryn White’s Inbox

Sam Still Reading

Write Note Reviews

Rowena Holloway

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I never expected wonderful today. Then this happened . . .

Without a mum to share the day I never expected wonderful today. Then this happened . . .

Maybe it’s fitting that it’s mothers’ day, because what I’m about to share with you involves a mother who loves her son.

It’s been a strange few days here in the caravan park knowing there are about five people currently reading Season of Shadow and Light. I walk by their site and see their heads bent over the book. Sometimes they look up, wave and call out what bit they’re up to.

‘Definitely weird’ as little Matilda in the story would say!

I’ve had some terrific online feedback and read wonderful reviewer comments about this novel, but I’m afraid nothing will ever compare to what just happened.

One of those readers in the park came over to our van. She wanted to tell me how much she enjoyed the story. More importantly she wanted a way to thank me for telling Alice’s story.

She said, “It’s not much. It’s only small.” Then she handed me this pin.

Rainbow pin

You see this reader has a gay son and for twenty-three years she’s fought for him, protected him and loved him. She talked about the challenges, the battles, the difficulties, and she told me about the poems she would write that had once helped her and others around her, bringing greater understanding and acceptance.

Times have changed (there’s still a long way to go) so she’s fighting still, using her words in letters to politicians and helping to end bigotry and bullying in schools.

This pin might look small, but it is huge and  I am overwhelmed with pride right now and so touched.

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