Tag: Author Portraits

Posted on by — 1 Comment

I have a confession …

I once said, at the very start of my publishing journey (back in 2012) that I would never do the new-fangled thing people called ‘blogging’. I disliked the word (and therefore the concept) because no matter how I said it—“I need to blog” , “I have a blog” , “It’s time for a blog” —-it just didn’t sound inviting.

Eventually, I relented and I did blog—a lot. I’ve even missed the process, and so here I am, years later, asking …

Do you read blogs? Should I start again?

I used to have so much fun expressing my thoughts (the weird, the whacky, the sometimes wise and always wordy). I only stopped because Facebook seemed to be the place to go. But if you’re like me you’ll be finding social media, and particularly Facebook, very hit and miss when it comes to keeping up to speed with your favourite people. I mean, who wants to wade through TEN ads to finally finding ONE post from someone you follow? Not me!

I’m starting to think the book-loving community might have had it better in the good ol’ days when authors blogged on our websites–a place that has no faceless controller banning us, and no creeps spamming, stalking or cloning us. (And we can all do with fewer marriage proposals from uniformed servicemen, and from overseas doctors wearing scrubs!)

I’m in the process of shutting down my newsletter due to cost increases. (I send so few newsletters these days.) As such, I’m hoping those of you wanting to keep in touch will re-subscribe to my new newsletter, or to my blog.

As I revisit my BLOGS + FEATURED AUTHORS posts (see the menu above), I’m reminded of all the fabulous and often personal stories from some of our favourite Australian Authors (some of whom were just starting out at the time) like: Lily Malone, Tess Woods, Kim Kelly, Rachael Johns, and Pamela Cook. Also before they were big names, I had fun grilling: Jaye Ford, Annie Seaton, Sara Foster, Natasha Lester, Fiona Palmer, Helene Young, Maggie Christensen and Nicole Alexander. (So many more feature throughout the 6 annual blog series: Author Harvest, My Blog Crawl, Author Bar Yarns and Beer Nuts, A Letter to Myself, and Author Portraits.)

The question remains… “To blog or not to blog?”

Do let me know you like my posts, and I’ll BLOG again. That’s when I’m not:

  • busy writing a new story (titled Saving the Moondance Drive-in and inspired by the small country town of Jericho, Qld),
  • shouting from the rooftops that my 4th audio book is now out (see below);
  • and releasing a new edition of The Other Side of the Season (and with a cover I love.

 

 

 

 

 

So, there we are then! My first blog in years. Perhaps I’m getting my groove back.

That’s all from me from chilly Stanthorpe – our home for a week. Wherever you are, may you be blessed with good books—and good friends who allow you time alone to read them.

Or if you’re a listener…. Click to preview the opening chapter of The Tides That Lie.

Jenn and the J xx

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Portrait of an Author – D.M. Cameron

Welcome to my fun Q&A where you’ll discover new things about some of our favourite authors. I’m delighted to welcome the very talented D.M. Cameron to my blog series that celebrates an art form other than creating beautiful books — and that’s painting. 

As my latest novel is a love story about a sitter and a reluctant artist, I’m into all things arty right now. I hope you like this … my Portrait of An Author.

Welcome D.M.,

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

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

A: Other – Maybe a Gustav Klimt type of portrait with pretty colours and angles…

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.)

A: In front of my computer in my pyjamas.

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

A: My debut novel…pretty precious to me at present as it has only been out a few weeks and I still like touching it and holding it.

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)

A: A singer. I can’t sing but I love singing. My whole life people have politely asked me to stop singing. I am that bad, I was even kicked out of the school choir.

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?

A: Joseph Campbell. The knowledge this man held seems infinite. His work and consequent belief system changed my life.

Q: Your preferred medium would be?

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

A: Watercolour

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?

A: My sense of wonder and joy.

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?

A: One of my favourite Australian authors – probably Tim Winton. He would say – ‘Who the hell is that?’

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!

A: Sophisticated – warm, wood, old world

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

A: She lived to write.

And write she has. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Originally an actress, debut novelist, D.M. Cameron, is an AWGIE nominated radio dramatist, award winning playwright and celebrated short film writer. She received funding to begin work on her first novel and was then selected for a Varuna Litlink residency to further develop this initial draft into what became ‘Beneath the Mother Tree’ – published by MidnightSun Publishing. Donna is currently at work on a second novel and taking notes for a third.

www.dmcameron.com

https://www.instagram.com/dmcameronwriter/

https://www.facebook.com/DMCameronWriter/

If you enjoyed this post, why not share it? Or you might like to subscribe to my newsletter for, well, news! (see right) Lots more authors coming up.

Now… Before you go, I have some more author portraits to celebrate the release of my 5th novel, available in print and ebook (worldwide).

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.

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Anthea Hodgson – Portrait of an Author

Welcome to my fun Q&A where you’ll discover new things about some of our favourite authors. I’m delighted to welcome the very talented West Australian writer, Anthea Hodgson, to a blog series that celebrates an art form other than creating beautiful books — painting.

My latest novel is a love story about a sitter and the artist who must paint her so I’m into all thing arty right now. I hope you like this oil on canvas.

Welcome Anthea.

Q: 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

A: Probably a close up of my face. But not a detailed close up…

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.)

A: Track pants, yesterday’s t-shirt (it has a bull’s skull and some flowers on it) my glasses, and the watch my grandmother gave me when I was 11 (and appropriate middle-aged woman sanctioned underwear).

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

A: I don’t have a non-human being one, which will be great in the case of fire, but which does make me sound like a hippy. I think, even though she’s not an item, I’ll choose my writing partner (and full-time Labrador) Possum, because I feel I should recognise all the lying about supporting me she does on a daily basis, all of the redesigning of my home and workspace, and all the dog poo she allows me to collect on her behalf. (She assures me my turn will come). I think we’d make a cosy portrait together, and Possum always appreciates another opportunity to shed on me.

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)

A: I’d have to say, so many things, like maths brilliance and dancing dazzlement, but I’ll say – to be able to play the bagpipes. My dad was a wonderful piper, an instrument he learnt at school in the 50’s, and his playing accompanied our lives growing up. We like to brag he played for the Queen during her visit to Perth, and then at sports days at Yealering, and to the sheep at home on the farm. Even though he was in the early stages of Alzheimers at the time, he even wrote a tune for my wedding. He had a beautiful set of pipes (now silent) sent from Scotland all those years ago, and I’d love to play them as beautifully as my dear dad could. It would be like talking to him again.

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?

A: Chris Hemsworth. Really, you know why..

Q: Your preferred medium would be?

  1. Oil on canvas
  2. Watercolour
  3. Pencil/Ink
  4. Pastels
  5. Kiddy crayons

A: Oil on canvas! It seems very fancy and difficult.

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?

A: Kindness and determination (and a good set of teeth).

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?

A: My mum’s house, and she’d say – Thank you very much. She is very polite.

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

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

No frame at all.

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

Anthea Hodgson. Chocolate professional.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Anthea Hodgson is a country girl from the wheatbelt of Western Australia. She has worked in radio in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane before returning to live in Perth, WA with her husband, two children and doggy writing partner, Possum. Anthea is the author of two rural novels, The Drifter and The Cowgirl, both set in the small farming community in which she grew up, and where she discovered chocolate. But not coffee and wine. That came later.

https://www.facebook.com/anthea.hodgson
http://www.antheahodgson.com/

If you enjoyed Anthea’s post, why not share it? Or you might like to subscribe to my newsletter for, well, news! (see right) Lots more authors coming up.

Now… Before you go, I have some more author portraits to celebrate the release of my 5th novel, available in print and ebook (worldwide).

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.