Category: A Novel Adventure

Posted on by — 9 Comments

Writers reveal their writing process

Larissa_EdwardsIt’s great to be taking part in this blog hop on The Writing Process in which different writers answer the same questions about their writing process.

The picture to the left kind of sums up my writing process. Firstly, there would be no writing process without Larissa Edwards, the wonderful Head of Publishing at Simon & Schuster, Aust, who once uttered those words “I love your story”. But look behind her: integrity, confidence, difference, passion and belief. They are all part of my writing process.

Thanks to Pamela Cook, rural fiction author of Blackwattle Lake and Essie’s Way (Hachette), for tagging me. Here is Pamela’s post from last week in case you missed it. Or why not connect with this teacher, mother of three gorgeous daughters, manager of dogs, rabbits, birds, fish and horses, on her website: www.pamelacook.com.au, Twitter: @PamelaCookAU and on Facebook. Pamela lives in the southern suburbs of Sydney and spends as much time as possible at her “other” home in Milton on the south coast of NSW. Her favourite pastime (after writing) is riding her handsome quarter horse, Morocco.

So, it’s my turn now…

1) What am I working on? 

PhotoFunia-930aa9_s user

It’s unbelievable and mind blowing to think I am still being asked to talk about House for all Seasons after 12 months, while about to launch and talk up Simmering Season (April 1), just typed THE END on book 3 in my Seasons Collection – contracted for April 2015, and now plotting book 4 ready for 2016! Yes, this is the glamour life of a published author – NOT! I’ve also fit in a short story for an anthology, a couple of articles for the Queensland Writers’ Mag, and designed some workshops. No one warns you about the crazy hours and deadlines. But I LOVE it.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre? 
While House for all Seasons reviews have made (humbling) comparisons to Monica McInerney and Maeve Binchy, the thing people comment on the most about my ‘Come home to the country’ stories (friendship, family relationships, and small towns keeping big secrets) is the way I balance humour with high emotion, making readers smile and cry and laugh and cry and laugh … but always with a contented sigh at the end.
3) Why do I write what I do?
It just happened. I tried writing romances, but I think my novel’s wry-humoured inhabitants (thx Rowena Holloway for that delightful description) got in the way. (I was giggling in all the wrong places!) Romantic comedy, maybe – which is where I was headed back in 2009 when my characters – filled with guilt and regrets and facing life’s challenges – had other ideas. So now it’s more “Laugh, Cry – Cry, Laugh  Kleenex” genre.
4) How does my writing process work? 
I usually start with an opening sentence and a title and wonder how I can make a story from them. I play around characters, a tag line and a blurb and away I go.
Unfortunately, my opening sentence in Simmering Season is NOT going to go down too well with some House for all Seasons readers. I can only say this…. Give it a chance. I promise you, I will not disappoint.
Well, that’s it from me. Coming up next week, answering the same writing processquestions, is three fabulous authors. I high recommend you look up and follow: Helene Young, Natasha Lester and Zena Shapter. They all love connecting with readers, as you can see, so check them out.

SafeHarbour_cover-1-low-res-676x1024Helene Young – multi-award winning romantic suspense author of Wings of Fear, Shattered Sky, Burning Lies, Half Moon Bay and her next release: Safe Harbour.

Ever wondered what a plane crash feels like? It’s all in a day’s work for multi-award-winning author and airline pilot, Helene Young.  A check captain with Australia’s largest

regional airline, her job is to ensure aircrew can handle all inflight emergencies. It comes in handy for writing fast-paced suspense novels starring feisty women and sexy men. When she’s not writing or flying Helene’s sailing the seas with Capt G and Zeus, aboard their catamaran Roo Bin Esque.

Helene’s twice been awarded the RWA RuBY and was voted Most Popular Romantic Suspense Author by ARRA in 2010 and 2011.

Website: http://www.heleneyoung.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeleneYoungAustralianAuthor?fref=ts

WILOA web sizeNatasha Lester – award winning author of two novels, If I Should Lose You and What 
is Left Over, After. She also teaches creative writing through the Australian Writers Centre, and when she’s not teaching and writing, she spends her time playing dress-ups with her three children.

ZenaShapter300dpiZena Shapter – a British-Australian author who loves putting characters inside the most perfect storm of their lives, then watching how they get out. She likes wild rides through the gulches of adventure that spit you out breathless, and close-to-reality books of the unexplained. She’s won seven national fiction writing competitions (all blind judging), has been published in magazines such as “Midnight Echo” and anthologies like “Award-Winning Australian Writing” (Melbourne Books, 2012). She is represented by literary agent Alex Adsett.

Website: http://zenashapter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZenaShapter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZenaShapter
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+ZenaShapter/posts
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ZenaShapter/

writers 2

 

 

Posted on by — 44 Comments

WIN House for all Seasons

australiadaybloghop2014ENTER HERE

This weekend I’m celebrating  “The Great Aussie Author Invasion” because Australian authors are doing amazing things — here and around the world.

House for all Seasons Jenn J McLeod

House for all Seasons has been so well received by readers (see the reviews here) I have a signed copy to giveaway today.

To enter the draw I ask two things:

1. Leave a comment below with the release date of my next book – Simmering Season. (Not sure? Look here.)

2. Sign up for my newsletter – coz I figure if you’re interested in my stories, you’ll be interested to hear about other books and news with the odd newsy newsletter! See the newsletter sign-up box top right of this page.

Bar Yarns

NOW – Double your chances  – I’ll pop a second entry into the Akubra with your name on it if you add to your comment below that you have either shared this post on your Facebook page (if you have one) or if you Click to Tweet: “Hey, I’m in the draw to win House for all Seasons by @jennjmcleod”

Entries close at midnight on January 28th. Winner announced here, no later than Feb 4th 2013. Australian residents only.

Now, check out Book’d Out for more Great Aussie Author Blog Hop participants.

Grab a snag, a beer, and slip, slop, slap, read.

Now closed. Thanks to everyone. I have posted the winner in the comments below.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Did you love House for all Seasons enough?

Booktopia vote round one
PROOF! It’s really me up there.

Enough to vote? Because it’s that time of the year when Aussie authors find out who loves them. While the past Annual Booktopia List for Australia’s Favourite Novelist process has been a novelty “vote and watch” thing for me prior to this year, it has kinda been a teensy weensy more exciting and significant as I made the initial list! Not only that, I came 4th in my heat (surprising the pants of many people, I am sure – including me.) And what company!

Look, the online voting process is neither robust nor rocket science in its presentation. this is about showcasing the amazing literary talent in thins country. So, well done to the good people at Booktopia for their continued support of people busting their guts to make a mark in this whacky writing biz. It’s a bit of fun, some good old-fashioned recognition and, most importantly, it is exposure on a grand scale for lots and lots of Aussie authors who might have limited opportunities or means to promote themselves. (I actually had no idea I had that many friends! Maybe I underestimated my readers and myself. I even went and bought friends at Woolies. But when stuck them at the computer and said “VOTE” they said their hands were tied!) Friends

I could have waited until the final TOP 50 results are announced to brag about this. But posting a partial (heat) win is much more fun than posting a major bummer post once the winners are announced.

Voting remains open until 5pm this Saturday.  You can vote for any number of authors – not just one. (Just hope I will be one of them.)

And here is the Heat 4 list. Impressive, huh?