Mothers

Today is Mother’s Day in Australia—14 May 2023, so let’s celebrate mothers. Where would we be without them? Happy Mother’s day to my mum. Note: the woman in the photo is not my mum, but a much-loved ancestor.

Now for my confession. Mother’s Day has made me reflect on how mothers appear in my books.

Unfortunately, too often in novels, mothers can be plot devices, used to set up a particular story—wicked witch, kindly soul, cipher, siren, competitor, collaborator, destroyer of dreams, or creator of hope. Regardless, they have a huge impact on the lead protagonists either though their presence or absence. And I don’t mean actual presence or absence in the book. They can loom without ever appearing on the page or uttering a word.

In Taylor’ Law & Grace Under Fire—The Anderson Sisters, Ella and Grace’s mother is a wonderful woman, who had a tractor accident some years ago and has struggled with her health since. Her health is her defining feature. Her husband borrowed money to pay for her medical care, and in turn was swindled out of prime farmland in exchange for the debt. The impact this has had on her daughters’ choices is significant, especially their ability to trust. Ella left university to help with caring, but also to provide extra income for her family. Her passion is justice. Grace’s passion is the family farm, and she’s determined not to lose another acre. There are also two mothers who died before the books open, a third who’s made mistakes, and a fourth is a single mother who struggled to make ends meet.

See how cavalier I am with mothers.

In Planting Hope, July 2023, mothers are largely invisible. Invisible in the sense that only one physically appears in the book. But mothers are omnipresent because a theme is how gardening can help children dealing with the impact of domestic violence. Planting Hope does include a tart, no-nonsense grandmother who’s irresistible.

Lela’s Choice, December 2023, has two main protagonists. Lela’s beloved mother died young, while I’m pleased to announce that Hamish’s mother is alive and kicking, and mentioned, as is his whole family, very positively.

2024 brings my next series – Choosing Families. You can guess from the series title that some of the characters might be less than satisfied with the family members they were born with. Talking about mothers can trigger nightmares or the deepest love and everything in between.

Oh dear! Rest assured love does conquer all, and there’s plenty of lightness to be found in my books. Also friendship and passion in the twists and turns.

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Editing Planting Hope

Breaking news: the winner of the March 2023 giveaway is Elita M, Queensland, Australia. Congratulations Elita.

I was sweating on edits for Planting Hope. I’ve already published two books with Inkspell Publishing, Taylor’s Law and Grace Under Fire—The Anderson Sisters, and developed a good working relationship with my editor. For Planting Hope, I was assigned a new editor and wasn’t sure what to expect. Everything was up for grabs again.

There are broad categories for the edits any book needs:

With thanks for definitions of the types of editing to publicly available advice from Tucker Max, Scribe Media & The Institute of Professional Editing & conversations with writing colleagues.

  • developmental editing occurs early in the process and helps you to organise your ideas, get the structure right, and make sure the book works. You can have this conversation without a finished book
  • evaluation or structural editing is still at a high level, looking at plot, structure, pace, characterisation, viewpoint, and narrative
  • with content editing you’re starting to get paragraph markups, pointing out errors or concerns in flow, construction and grammar, whether your voice is consistent, and the tone is right for your intended audience
  • line editing does what it says, looks at each line in your book to see if the words you choose tell the reader what you want them to know. A line editor might tighten your prose, identify clichés, and fix wonky sentences
  • copyediting is about spelling, punctuation, grammar mistakes, and making sure your book follows the relevant style guide—essentially UK or US English. Copyediting polishes your book to a shine
  • proofreading comes after your book has been professionally formatted; the last chance to pick up any errors.

Some editors combine the first three under the heading substantive editing. Other editors combine content and line editing.

So, there was I sweating on what my new editor might suggest. For the moment, I’d completely forgotten that I’d done a helluva lot of editing before submitting this manuscript to Inkspell Publishing.

I entered multiple competitions including competitions for the first 1,500 words, for the first chapter, for a synopsis, for the full manuscript, and even for the first kiss. I got good, bad, and constructive feedback and suggestions about areas for improvement, including layering of back story, characterisation or deep POV; even suggestions for online courses with different teachers I might learn from. I took some. For the first kiss competition, I was the readers’ choice at the end of the first round. I didn’t win that comp, but having readers choose me was a great incentive to keep working on the manuscript.

In 2019, I asked Lauren Clarke CREATINGink https//:www.creatingink.com for a beta report, a high-level report addressing plotline, characterisation, location and setting, and overall writing style.

When I won the 2019 NZ Pacific Hearts competition with Grace Under Fire, I chose to use my prize, a full edit by NZ editor, Lesley Marshall https://www.editline.com.nz for Planting Hope.

In 2020, I asked V I Peace for a content edit, email v@vipeace.ca or through her website www.vipeace.ca

My new editor has provided her edits—nothing worrisome in plot, pacing or characters, more a focus on a copy or line edit. So, I can thank a lot of people for getting me here. This edit has made me re-examine my manuscript differently and identify new areas for improvement, a better word choice, a shift in dialogue.

I so want this baby to succeed. There are a few reasons, but that’s a story for another day.

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The Anderson Sisters-Giveaway

In March last year, I’d barely begun my writer’s journey. I was feeling my way. I’m still feeling my way, but I’ve learnt a lot.

Things that have changed between then and now?

  • Taylor’s Law & Grace Under Fire (The Anderson Sisters) are published, available as e-books and paperbacks, and I’ve received some truly lovely reviews
  • I have publishing dates for four more of my books in 2023 (Planting Hope—July & Lela’s Choice—December) and in 2024 I start new series—Choosing Family (March & July)
  • I’m now on Instagram, and that’s a challenge when I’m more about what you see is what you get rather than glitz and glamour
  • juggling writing, promoting my work, working on covers, editing for contracted books, and simply living has become a more complicated enterprise. Just what is the right balance?

Things that haven’t changed?

  • I’m enriched and encouraged by the support of my loved ones, other writers and readers
  • I never get tired of hearing someone say they love one of my books, be it an editor, publisher, reader, or competition judge
  • I still need technical advice on the pitfalls of social media and Judy L Mohr remains a constant source of useful information. I started with Judy’s guide Hidden Traps: A Writer’s Guide to Protecting Your Online Platform, and continue to get useful information via  her blogs Black Wolf Editorial Services
  • I value V I Peace’s advice on content—for me that’s about improving the beginnings of my books, identifying if the internal/external conflicts are believable and will carry the story, consistency of characterisation and deeper POV. V provides feedback on shorter or longer excerpts depending on the content issue I’m seeking to resolve. I doubt if Masquerade (Inkspell Publishing, March 2023—Choosing Family, Book 1) would have made it to press, if it hadn’t been for V’s incisive, direct, but always constructive feedback. And I wanted that book to work. You can contact V by email v@vipeace.ca or through her website www.vipeace.ca

GIVEAWAY: To mark my first year I’m giving away a copy of Taylor’s Law & Grace Under Fire (The Anderson Sisters) to a new subscriber to my website before 20 April 2023.

Australia—paperback or e-book (winner’s choice); International—e-book.

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Taylor’s Law—Postscript—22 months later

“How did you convince Tess to keep a secret? She usually blurts out everything she’s seen, heard or done during the day.” Ella’s marriage to Jake had given Tess the security to blossom.

“I was strategic. Took her for an ice-cream after pre-school yesterday. Figured she wouldn’t last twenty-four hours. I asked if she could look after Kit, while I took you away for a night. Said I wanted to give you a surprise.” Jake sent Ella a sideways grin, his voice a rumbling caress. “She said she’d need help. We negotiated, and agreed nana and grandpa could help.”

That mix of bass and desire and joy in his voice still gave Ella goose bumps. “Did you tell Kit?”

“He’s a good listener for a two-month old. I went over the details with him. Got his okay.”

“You’re crazy.” She giggled.

“Aren’t you going to admire my planning skills?” He waggled his eyebrows.

“I’m already a devotee of your attention to detail, your focus on a task, and your staying power.” She slid her hand up his thigh.

“I didn’t bring you here just to get you naked.”

“‘Just’? So naked’s in the mix.”

“I may have packed that negligee Grace gave you when Kit was born.” 

Ella had tucked it at the back of her drawer rather than get baby dribble on it. “I liked the silk drawer-string pyjama pants she got you.”

“They’re in the bag.” He reached for her hand, becoming serious. “I wasn’t sure if surprising you was a good idea?”

“I loved surprises as a kid. Until I discovered they weren’t all good. A night alone is bliss. The last time we were out of reach was—?”

“Never.” Jake squeezed her hand before releasing it. “We’re not now. I have plans, and they don’t include you worrying about the kids. The main house has internet and phone. Peter can reach us if needed. We can be back in an hour.”

Jake spotted the sign first. It was simple—cottages for rent—and some contact details. The road wound lazily through native bushland. Ella identified eucalypts, she-oaks and grass trees and smaller bushes she couldn’t name; the space closing in behind making the main road a distant memory.

“I remember you once said to me ‘it’s as if you’re holding your breath in the city and when you get to the farm, you let it go’.”

“I’m happier in the city these days.” She pressed a kiss to his upper arm.

Arriving at a typical farm gate, Ella climbed out to open it, then closed it behind the car, stopping to inhale the pure scents of Australian bush on a hot summer’s day—the sharp antiseptic of eucalyptus with its hint of citrus, the curry smell of sifton bush, and wood smoke from someone’s distant stove. The silence was broken by the buzz of cicadas, but the peace and serenity of being in a bush setting invaded her entire being. Being in a new place was surprise enough—joy enough.

“I already know I’m going to love this place.” Pulling the car door shut behind her, Ella lowered the window.

A few minutes later, Jake turned onto a side track. “Nearly there.”

“Want me to shut my eyes?”

“Nuh. I want all your senses engaged.” Another curve and Jake brought the car to a halt about fifty metres from a small stone cottage. A veranda stretched across the front with two rough-hewn planks forming steps. Yellow and red flowering grevillea spilled over the ground in front; a superb blue wren hovered.

“It’s gorgeous.”

“I’ll park up the side. So I don’t block the view.” He gestured to the water glinting at the end of a short track and an escarpment rising on the other side of a slow moving, shallow river.

“I might spend all my time on that veranda.”

“Wait until you see inside.”

“Show me.” Ella waited at the foot of the steps until Jake took her hand.

“Door should be unlocked.”

Ella pressed her free hand to her chest. “Can I say, ‘thank you’, now?”

He tugged her up the few steps and pushed open the door. “After you.”

Standing in the middle of the single room, Ella turned a slow circle. “It’s got everything. A big bed, armchairs in front of an open fire.”

“We won’t be needing the fire.”

“Maybe some other time,” she winked, continuing her inspection. “A kitchen with all the basics.”

“The banquet’s in the ice-box. Bathroom’s out the back. The place is completely off-grid.”

“It’s perfect.”

“Look up, Eleanor.” Jake pointed towards the roof. Above the large bed was a huge, clear window with an expansive view of the sky. “Shutters slide across in bad weather. We’re not expecting bad weather tonight.”

“You remembered.” Ella kicked off her sandals, climbed onto the bed and settled with her head on the pillow. Still looking up, she patted the spot beside her.

“I always promised you we’d make love under the stars.” Jake left his loafers at the foot of the bed, and crawled towards her, until his head blocked the view. “We’ve got the night sky and a comfy bed. The stuff of fantasies.”

“Have I told you lately that I love you?” Ella stroked his cheek.

“Every day. In a million ways. Tonight’s for you, Eleanor.”

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2023 is here

Not everyone celebrates the new year on 1 January. In 2023 Chinese New Year falls on 22 January, Islamic New Year in mid-July, Jewish in mid-September, while other religions and states celebrate the new year on other dates. Not everyone is looking forward to what’s ahead. The world is beset by war, exploitation, inequality and climate disasters impacting unevenly on populations—things I find impossible to ignore.

But on some days I also need to draw breath and take a few hours away from the real world—even optimists need a little escapism from time to time, need to give ourselves a happy ending, even if it’s fleeting. That’s why I read and write romance.

In 2023 Inkspell Publishing will release three of my books (available for pre-order or purchase on My Books page):

  • Grace Under Fire—the second Anderson sister’s story (7 February 2023) e-book and paperback
  • Planting Hope–a standalone novel (July 2023)
  • Lela’s Choice—a standalone novel (December 2023)

2024 will bring a new series. At this stage it’s tentatively a five-book series looking for a name. I’ll be seeking suggestions when I’m further along. But I like single titles as well. So there will be a few of those in the ongoing mix.

And it’s hard to tell if it’s more or less stressful with each book. Will my readers like this one? Hate this one? Abandon me? Stress and excitement are intimately intertwined in the publication of a book.

A book, written by me, which I can hold in my hands. Wow! That’s a dream come true.

I’m also branching out in 2023, trying to get a bit more brand recognition. It sounds weird for those words to come out of my mouth. But to keep publishing I need an audience. You can find me on:

Join me in 2023.