Category: A Novel Adventure

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How sunrise and sand will save lives

There was definitely movement at the station when the word was passed around that some of the mob were headed to the beach! These two (around the corner from me in Queensland, where I’m staying for winter) were keen to make the trek to Bondi Beach with me. But they clearly had their work cut out for them eating that paddock flat!

So off I went, following The Herd of Hope — and what an experience!

 

What an honour to have been involved as an Ambassador for The Herd of Hope.

Those who follow me on social media probably got tired of hearing me talk about organ donation in the lead-up, but talking about the issue is what we need to do more of.

More than talk, we need action — action from the government for better regional health services, AND action from YOU, too.

You might THINK you’re a registered donor, but are you really?

NSW no longer includes the organ donation opt-in option on driving licences. Instead, you need to REGISTER YOUR INTENTION HERE. (Maybe readers will leave a comment below about the other states and the organ donation process.)

What I did learn through my involvement is that Australia has the highest success rate in the world when it comes to transplant surgery, but we have the lowest donation rate. That means people are forced to wait, and wait, and wait.

The people I met — both organ recipients and the families of organ donors — were so inspiring and their stories both heartbreaking and triumphant. I will remember March 17, 2018, for the rest of my life. (And until that last breath I plan to speak out and keep doing my bit for rural communities.)

Those who have read my stories, or who follow my travels in Myrtle the Turtle, know how much I love small towns and a happy ending. And these ladies will have a happy ending. This mob, who were a little shy at first (probably wishing they’d brought their new-season swimmers with them) will forever be The Herd of Hope and, as such, will live a special life on Undoolya Station (Alice Springs). You can sponsor a cow, too. They are all tagged and ready to have your name/company assigned to them.

There is a lot more to The Herd of Hope than a day on the sand in the sun.

Please take the time to check out The Herd of Hope and maybe see how you, too, can help. (It can be as simple as spreading the word.)

If you can donate, be assured every person in The Herd is a volunteer and every dollar donated goes towards their efforts to achieve the medical services needed in rural Australia. It is a registered charity that takes no wages, no administration or service fees. The money goes where it needs to go.

What now for The Herd?

The event is over, the conversation ongoing, and The Herd of Hope organisation will continue its fund-raising and awareness activities, with donations helping to fund research (at University of South Australia) into counselling services for organ donor families and transplant care nurses in the bush. The Herd of Hope will also support the creation of a network of transplant care nurses for regional organ recipients, who are often hundreds, or even thousands, of kilometres from appropriate care.

While we all shared a minute of silence on the day, let’s not stay silent when it comes to organ donation.

For more, including the cows’ first step onto the sand (video), go to http://www.northqueenslandregister.com.au/story/5297409/donor-families-find-pride-and-comfort-in-herd-of-hope/

 

 

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Vanessa Carnevale – Portrait of an Author

The Memories That Make Us is a delightful romance story. Meet the author. Vanessa and I are on a mission to bring the ‘lost memory’ story back into fashion!!

Q: Vanessa,as pose and composition are important factors for a portrait, choose what kind of ‘look’ would you like for your portrait.

  1. On a chaise lounge (Kate Winslet/Titanic style)?
  2. Fully clothed in a rocker (Whistler’s Mother style)?
  3. A close up of your face (Girl with the Pearl Earring style/Mona Lisa)?
  4. In all your formal finery befitting your ‘authorly’ status (Regal style)?
  5. Other?

I’d say 3, or a variation on 1 where I’m lying on a hammock on the beach in the Maldives reading a book, living the perfect life in a place that quite literally, feels like paradise. (I visited the Maldives on my honeymoon and would so very much love to go back again one day. Maybe for my portrait!)

Q: *Snap* I just took your photo as a reference for my portrait of you. Tell us where you are and what you’re wearing. (Be honest.)

I’m sitting in the alfresco with a cup of tea, enjoying the gorgeous sunshine, and a gentle breeze. I’m wearing a t-shirt, comfy pants, and my hair is pulled into a messy bun. Totally glamorous!

Q: Given a choice, what precious item would you want to be included in a portrait of you?

I don’t tend to have strong attachments to things (though I do love teacups, and of course books) so I’m not really sure! Does a smile count? In all honesty, I’d probably be more concerned with choosing the perfect background for it. Somewhere beautiful and relaxing. Maybe by a lake in a beautiful garden setting or something!

Q: With acquired savant syndrome* featuring in my next novel, I’m curious . . . If you were to wake up from a coma one day to find yourself totally obsessed and a genius (in something other than writing, of course) what would you want it to be? (music, painting, languages, maths, touching your toes while typing, etc)

I really wish I hadn’t given up piano lessons when I was a young girl. I should have listened to my mum! I’d also love to be able to paint watercolour (like Mia in The Florentine Bridge) so it would be either one of those things. One day I’d really like to do some watercolour classes. I find painting to be very relaxing, and helpful for my creativity.

Q: If you happened to wake up one day and be a genius with a paintbrush, whose portrait would you want to paint and why?

Oprah’s! I love her and find her and a lot of the guests she interviews very inspiring. Could you imagine the conversation one could have with Oprah while working on her portrait?! Yes, I’d definitely love spending time with Oprah. After I do my painting lessons of course. In case the genius thing doesn’t happen.

Q: Your preferred medium would be?

  • Oil on canvas
  • Watercolour
  • Pencil/Ink
  • Pastels
  • Kiddy crayons

Watercolour! I love the gentleness and fluidity of it. I follow Melbourne artist, Louise De Masi on social media (I have a few of her botanical prints in my study) and she makes it look so easy.

Q: Picasso once asked the question: “Are we to paint what’s on the face, what’s inside the face, or what’s behind it?” In my next novel, the artists says to 58 y.o Ava, “A mature person has depth of character and it’s their layers, built from life’s lessons that interest me the most—when wisdom replaces curiosity and experience replaces youthful exuberance.”

Q: What two traits would you hope an artist captures in a portrait of you?

I can’t wait to read this book! What a lovely line. This is such an original question that has given me much to think about. I think our eyes say a lot about us, and I’m quite the dreamer, so I’d probably be gazing up at the clouds thinking about my next book. I also like to think I have a lot of love to give, and love is precious, so somehow, maybe the amazing artist might find a way to convey that, too. And of course, I’d want it to radiate happiness, too.

Q: Because every fireplace deserves a portrait, in whose house would you hang a portrait of you as a surprise and what would they say?

Probably my mum’s because she’s the only one who would probably get excited by it!

Q: Keeping in mind that lucky recipient of your portrait, how would see yourself framed?

  • Minimalist or no frame at all – just the canvas (take me as I am)
  • Modernist – chrome, nothing too fancy
  • Sophisticated – warm, wood, old world
  • Flamboyant – go all the way and gilt-edged!

Sophisticated! (Looks at her t-shirt and comfy pants! Ha!) Really, I chose this one for the warm, wood, and old world qualities. That feels like a good fit for me.

Q: Finally, if someone was to add a plague/title your portrait, how would it read?

A: Just my name would do!

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Vanessa Carnevale is a freelance writer and novelist who has contributed to The Green Parent, The Huffington Post, Muse, and Italy magazine, among others. Her debut novel, The Florentine Bridge, was published by MIRA in Australia in 2017. She was a finalist in the Best New Author category for the AusRom Today Readers Choice Awards 2017. She lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

When not writing, Vanessa loves to travel and often finds inspiration for her stories in locations outside her hometown of Melbourne. She is also the creator and host of Your Beautiful Writing Life retreats held in Australia and Tuscany, Italy. She loves tea, and flowers, and often dreams of escaping to the country.

YOU CAN PURCHASE A COPY OF The Memories That Make Us here. (http://bit.ly/2neuMb1)

Connect with Vanessa on her website: www.vanessacarnevale.com or Facebook www.facebook.com/vanessacarnevalewriter 

If you enjoyed Vanessa’s post, why not share it? Or you might like to subscribe to my newsletter for, well, news! (right)

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Now… Before you go, I have some more author portraits to celebrate the release of my 5th novel (ebook now available) and print on March 19 in Australia/NZ and April 5 overseas.

Check out my Book Room for info about A Place to Remember.

 

*Acquired savant syndrome, in which a person acquires prodigious capabilities or skills following dementia, a head injury or concussion, epilepsy or other disturbances.

 

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Imagine a movie that reunites the McLeod’s Daughters cast!

I have! A girl can dream, can’t she?

Dreaming was what Liane Moriarty did when struggling to conceptualise the right character for her Little Big Lies #2. (More on that later.)

I also had a huge, impossible dream to be published and in 2013 House for all Seasons was #5 top-selling debut novel. So it’s fitting to have my BOOK #5 released on the same day as my debut. TODAY – March 1. (The ebook of my 5th novel, A Place to Remember, is ready to read.)

So, the message is…“Imagine and it will come.”

That’s my motto and with ‘producer Posie’s’ blessing, I’m going to share my movie version starring the McLeod’s cast. (See Posie’s note below.)

Here comes HOUSE FOR ALL SEASONS – THE MOVIE, starring…

I’m not sure why I didn’t think about this before now, unless it’s because, lately, I’ve been bingeing on my favourite TV series and wondering where the cast members of McLeod’s Daughters are these days, or maybe because I just watched Aaron Jeffery’s portrayal of Chopper Reed (creepy, but a Logie contender, for sure) and wished I could watch more TV shows with ex-McLeod’s cast members. (I think I spotted Brett Tucker in a US TV show the other day.)

So, I Googled the McLeod’s cast and when I saw how they’d aged – beautifully (haven’t we all?) – I thought . . .

Hang on a minute! Those actors are at the perfect age to play my four characters out of House for all Seasons – a story about . . .

Four women,
Four lives unravelled.
And the truth that binds them forever.

Bequeathed a century-old house, four estranged friends return to their hometown, Calingarry Crossing, where each must stay for a season at the Dandelion House to fulfil the wishes of their benefactor, Gypsy. But coming home to the country stirs shameful memories of the past, including the tragic end-of-school muck up day accident twenty years earlier.

At the Dandelion House, the women all discover something about themselves and a secret that ties all four to each other and to the house – forever.
***

Now, forgive me for saying so, but with House for all Seasons having a reunion theme, the idea of reuniting old cast members from a much-loved show is a bit of a no-brainer.

What do you think?

Can you imagine an ensemble cast that might play the four characters?

I have . . . (and feel free to give me your thoughts in a comment).

Bridie Carter or Jess Napier can play Sara – a breast cancer survivor afraid to fall in love; (Aaron Jeffery MUST play Will, ex-footy hero and love interest! Must, must, must!)

Zoe Naylor or Jess Napier would make a great Poppy – a tough, ambitious journo still craving her father’s approval;

Rachel Carpani would be great as Amber – a spoilt socialite addicted to painkillers and cosmetic procedures;

But I think Lisa Chappell is the only person who could play Caitlin. She’s perfect to play a doctor frustrated by a controlling family and her flat-lining life. (And the character who is, helped by hunky vet, played by Myles Pollard or Brett Tucker, who solves the mystery).

(and let’s not forget Sonya Todd (Meg), who would be a great ‘Cheryl’.

***

Of course, I’m dreaming, right?  As if that will ever happen! But it’s what we writers do. We use our imaginations all the time, in different ways, includes picturing our stories on the big screen. More recently, I fantasised about The Thorn Birds cast reunion as I wrote A Place to Remember. And I’ll let you in on a secret:  Rachel Ward and Matilda Brown inspired my characters as I wrote Ava, and her daughter Nina. Imagine THAT? Rachel, Bryan and Matilda Brown all playing together in the movie version.

Ah, yes, a girl can dream.

But you know what?

Publishing a book was a dream once, so I know they do come true.

And about Liane Moriarty stryggling to conceptualise a character…

It was Liane’s sister, Jaclyn, who suggested she try imagining an actress in the role to help her get inside the character’s head. Liane imagined Meryl Streep and, yep, you guessed it, Meryl heard about it and signed on for the role!

So keep dreaming, people (and keep hoping these amazing actors come back to our screens one way or another.

***

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED – WINNER ADVISED* – More books to win coming soon for newsletter subscribers.

To celebrate the anniversary of House for all Seasons, I’m giving the ENTIRE SEASONS COLLECTION away to anyone who signs-up to my newsletter BEFORE 4/3/18. 

(Those already signed up will automatically go into thE draw.)

(*Aust. postal addresses only, sorry*)

And no…

Sadly there will be no more discussions re a McLeod’s Daughters return. A message from Posie, herself (via Facebook Fan Page.)

P.S. Posie, thank you for letting me have a little McLeod’s fun. 

Meeting you in 2012 was a dream come true, too!

Respectfully yours, Jenn J McLeod (The Lost McLeod Daughter!!)

A Place to Remember – set on a central QLD cattle station over three decades is now available – in ebook. See my Book Room for where to get it.

“The author encapsulates both the Australian way of life and landscape perfectly, crafting an authentic, heartwarming, and rugged saga (that is) reminiscent of master storyteller, Judy Nunn.”  AusRom Today

CLICK for various BUY links