'Pa Joe's Place' Reviews

30 September 2012 - Friday Abumere - Guest Author


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Quote of the day:


"An old man was asked what had robbed him of joy


the most in his lifetime. He replied ...


"Things that never happened!”


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G'day guys,


Today I provide an interview with a humble African author who hails from Edo State, Nigeria, Africa - Friday Abumere. Welcome, Friday. Tell us how it is in Nigeria ...


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Friday Abumere - Guest Author


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TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR
WRITING JOURNEY.


 My names are Mr. Friday Abumere, I hails from Edo State, Nigeria. I am happily married and blessed with children. My journey into writing started six ago


 WERE YOU A GOOD READER AS A KID?


 Yes


 WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?


 I became a writer six years ago as I have said before, it all started one evening as I was preparing to go to work, when a message drop into my mind that I should write a book. At first I ignore the message, but this kept on disturbing me until I got to my place of work, I pick my pen and paper and started writing.


 WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?


 I enjoy been a writer when out of nothing, I was able to make something that has to pass
wisdom, knowledge and understanding to the readers.


 WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?


 As a new writer and a beginner is always difficult, because you can never get any encouragement from anybody.



WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?


 I was a computer engineer and I work in a hotel.


 WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?


 My greatest achievement now is that my dream of six years ago has became a reality.


 WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?


 Presently now I am working on (wiser than the king) is the title of the book.


WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Is God that inspires me.


 WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?


 Fiction


 DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?


 Yes, nothing good that comes easily, they must be focus, believe in themselves and God.


 DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?


 No


 


DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?


 No


 DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?


No, I can write at any place, if I want to write, but provided the place is cool and calm.


 WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?


 My greatest joy In writing is when the book is completed, then I pass it to people to read
first. The feedback I recieve is always amazing.


 WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?


 My favourite author is God all mighty, because he is the giver of all good things in life,
wisdom, knowledge, understanding and inspiration.



WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?


My greatest compliment I have ever received from my readers. They all says I am a wonderful person and a writer.


 WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?


 No bad comment.


 WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?


 Yes, those of us that were not born with golden spoon, we passes many difficulties in life. Which may be different from any other person in the environment.


 HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?


 One and the title of the book is (who to blame) and is available online in the Booktango
bookstore.



HAVE YOU WON ANY PRIZES OR AWARDS?


 No, but hoping to win.


 WHAT DID THEY MEAN TO YOU?


 To win any prize or award is not an easy tax, but that show good the writer is.


 OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?


 If I am not writing, I  work with computer.


 DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?


 Yes


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Friday’s contact points:


LinkedIn:


http://www.linkedin.com/pub/friday-abumere/43/44b/a0b


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Booktango:
http://bookstore.booktango.com/AdvancedSearch/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=friday+abumere


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Clancy's comment: Thanks, Friday. Appreciate you dropping by. Keep up the good work - CT


Keep writing!




I'm Clancy Tucker



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29 September 2012 - Michelle Worthington - Guest Author


Copyright - Clancy Tucker (c)


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Quote of the day:

"Adventure is worthwhile in itself."


Amelia Earhart


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Michelle Worthington


- Guest Author







G'day guys,


Today I welcome an Australian lady who calls herself an 'Author & Shoe Diva' - Michelle Worthington. Michelle has two boys, but finds time to write. Welcome Michelle. Tell us more ...


WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?

I have always wanted to be a writer. My first picture book, The Bedtime Band, is based on a poem I wrote when I was in Grade 5. When my children were little, I read a book to them every night to help them get to sleep, and I love reading books myself. I think that helps to make me a better writer.


WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Stories pop into my head at very strange times and places, so I have a pen and notebook with me at all times. I wrote The Pink Pirate for my neice Georgia. When I was her age, I had a vivid imagination, just like her. My world was full of dress ups, make believe and books, unlike a lot of the other girls my age. The message I want to share through the pink pirate is you can be anything you want to be, as long as you believe in yourself. Also, never underestimate the power of pink.

The Bedtime Band is a picture book I wrote for my sons, Jordan and Cody. It tells the story of what the animals in the bush get up to when we are sleeping. I love this story because it has a musicality and beat to it and the illustrations are beautiful. Sandra Temple is an award winning wildlife artist and I we are working on another book together to be released in 2013 called Possum Olympics.

My third children's picture book is called Yellow Dress Day and was released in September this year. It is written for a little girl called Ava who has Rett Syndrome and proceeds from the sale of the books will go to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation. My stories are like the ones I used to read when I was young. They may have what could be described as an old fashioned style, but they have a timeless message. I get my story ideas from my children, from talking with other children, beautiful places and things and from my life experience.

All my books are available at my website www.michelleworthington.com


DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?

Being a busy Mum of two boys and working full time, I don't get a lot of time to sit still. But I write in little pockets of time during the day or at night when the boys have gone to bed. I don't have a very good memory so when I get an idea, I need to write it down straight away.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?

 I love Australian authors because I think they write with a unique humour and empathy that is very rare in modern writing.  Australian picture books had their golden age in the 1970's when I was growing up. Mem Fox's "Possum Magic" illustrated by multi award winning artist Julie Vivas, David Cox's "Tin Lizzie" were the staples of my school and home bookshelves. "Who Sank the Boat?" by Pamela Allen , "Diary of a Wombat" by Jackie French and Alison Lester's and Margaret Wild's fabulously simple and engaging stories were to follow, including a stream of Mem Fox classics. A whole generation of Australian children like me grew up reading these books by authors establishing themselves firmly in a growing market.


DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?

Take rejection as a 'not this publisher and not now' and if you have a passion for writing, learn and share constantly with fellow authors and develop a community of like minded people who can support you to achieve your goals. Learn how to market yourself, not just your book. Developing an online presence and learning to market yourself as an author and in turn your publications is now par for the course of becoming a successful writer. All I can say to my fellow aspiring authors is to take courage from the fact that emerging Australian fiction, non-fiction and picture books are some of the best quality ever produced. The new generation write with heart and a uniquely independant voice. Never give up hope that your book could be the next 'classic'.

WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?

My greatest compliment came from a little girl when I was doing a storytelling at my old primary school. She had a huge scowl on her face as she was being herded into the library for what she obviously thought was yet another boring author to read their silly book to her. When she saw my pink high heels, she smiled at me and said, “you are much prettier than Mem Fox.”


PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

I am working on my first picture book app, called Captain Cody Catapult and the Stuck Pig, so watch this space. www.michelleworthington.com 

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Clancy's comment: Thanks, Michelle. Keep up the good work - CT.



Keep writing!

I'm Clancy Tucker.




28 September 2012 - EILDON - A Great Place to Write


Copyright - Clancy Tucker (c)


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Quote of the day:

"It doesn't get any better than this!"


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EILDON




-  A Great Place to Write


G'day guys,


Ever wondered where writers live? Many famous writers have lived in exotic places, far from where they were born. It is said that Ernest Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois, but spent time in Kansas City, Toronto, Canada, Italy, Spain, Cuba, Paris, France and Key West, Florida. He died on 2 July 1961 at his own hands.


Today I'm promoting the small town where I live and work - Eildon. It's not exactly exotic, but it certainly has served my purpose - it's quiet. Leave Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, drive through the picturesque Yarra Valley, noted for its wineries, head over the Black Spur, observing tall mountain ash and monstrous tree ferns and arrive at Eildon in less than two hours. There is no doubt that Eildon is Victoria’s best kept secret – the jewel of water sports. Nestled in a valley of lush trees and farmland, is a town that provides more recreational water than any municipality in Australia. Massive Lake Eildon is currently 94% full and all streams are running high on their banks.


This is Australia’s fishing mecca where brown and rainbow trout, redfin, perch, Murray cod, roach and tench can be caught in and around the township; whether you’re a bait or fly fisherman. Snobs, Rubicon and Goulburn rivers, plus the massive weir or the upper and lower pondages are a fisherman’s delight. Don’t forget. You can fish in our large pondages for those three months when the rivers are out of bounds to fishermen.


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Copyright - Clancy Tucker (c)


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Boating of all forms can be enjoyed year-round; whether it’s a tinnie, a jet-ski or a houseboat. Water skiing is always popular here because Lake Eildon is so large – five times the size of Sydney Harbour – 576 kilometres in circumference, with more than eight boat ramps for easy access. Eildon boasts some of the best caravan parks in Australia. Two of them are located right beside the Goulburn River. Boutique hotels and B & B’s plus motels, hotels, holiday flats, cottages, cabins, camping facilities, full service, or self catering is also available. You choose, according to your budget.


Maybe you’d like to do some camping, kayaking, canoing, bush walking, hiking, horse riding, mountain climbing or rafting. We have the lot. Of course we do. That’s why the Outdoor Education Group’s national headquarters are based here. The OEG runs activity courses for hundreds of kids every year. Oh, don’t forget a visit to Mount Pinninger, ten minutes from our township - a place with sensational views of the mountains on one side and Lake Eildon on the other.


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'The Earl of Eildon'


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Eildon has a hotel called The Golden Trout which offers typical pub fare at reasonable prices. Out of the exterior decking you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Lake Eildon poundage and surrounding hills whilst enjoying some Snob’s Creek wine and locally grown olives. The Eildon township boats an excellent eatery called The Best Gourmet Café. The head chef, Max has a woodfire pizza oven and makes his own pasta with fresh and flavoursome ingredients. The food is delightfully filling for all the people that have outdoor activities in hand and need sustenance. Everyone is catered for including the sweet tooth with a range of home made chocolate mousse or baclava washed down with some Vittorio coffee.


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King Parrot - a super friendly local


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Aqua is the name of eatery up the winding road going towards Lake Eildon’s spillway. Aqua offers exceptional views of the lake and is a favourite with the locals - delightful on hot summer days. Enjoy a cold crisp chardonnay on the deck overlooking the lake after a vigorous day water-skiing.


Alexandra, the township 25 kms up the road from Eildon has four hotels to choose from, one specialising in parmas. Café Alex (the locals term for Alexandra) offers excellent coffee, cakes, snacks and an all day breakfast if you so desire. The Dairy café, a charming cottage that has been restored and is surrounded by a lovely picket fence offers a simple fare of snacks, coffee and tea. In nearby Acheron is a beautiful restaurant called Rennie’s which offers fine food and wine. This delightful establishment offers attractive indoor and outdoor dining.


If you drive past a home and see a guy on a veranda, head down and slashing words with a red pen, you'll probably see me. So, what are you waiting for? Don’t be shy. Come and join us, and spend some time in paradise. You deserve to visit us and we’d love to see you.


Here are a few more photographs of our local friends.


- Copyright Clancy Tucker (c)


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Baaaah!




Sponsored by -





Like most Australian rural towns, we also have some characters: 'Fruity', 'Digger', 'Hooky', 'Tiny' 'Gremlin', 'Barney', 'Oscar' and many more. The above photograph shows Mark Howard, the local real estate magnate, in our local cemetery. Mark has introduced a string of giveaways to aspiring clients, including free cemetery plots with any property purchase. The smooth-talking, sharp, quick-witted property seller has offered other bonuses to perspective clients: paying for house-warming parties, river cruises, dinner packages - even a set of steak knives. Naturally, Mark offered the cemetery plots with a promise that they would provide 'Heavenly Views'.

Mm ... good one, Mark!


I'm Clancy Tucker ... sitting in Eildon, doing my best to boss words around, hoping I will not need a cemetery plot with 'Heavenly Views' for quite some time.



www.clancytucker.com.au


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Copyright - Clancy Tucker (c)


'Lower Pondage - Eildon'



27 September 2012 - Sarah Hardie - Guest Author

 


Quote of the day:

"Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment."


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Sarah Hardie - Guest Author





G'day guys,


Today I welcome an emerging writer from Wellington, New Zealand - Sarah Hardie. According to Sarah, 'I work in the media industry in Wellington, the coolest little capital in the world (according to Lonely Planet). When I'm not working, I'm either reading, writing or procrastinating." Welcome, Sarah. Great to have a Kiwi as a guest. Now, tell us about your life as a writer ...


TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.

I’ve always been a bit undecided on what I wanted to do with my life, so after I came back from overseas four years ago, I decided to study journalism because I knew I was alright at writing and I loved photography. I was a journalist for two years before my conscience got the better of me and my job began to compromise my morals, but during the two years I wrote quite a few feature articles and discovered I had quite a talent for writing – I was actually told that I was too creative in my feature articles – so I decided to just start that novel I’d always wanted to write.

WERE YOU A GOOD READER AS A KID?

I always had my head buried in a book. I always got excited about having my reading test at school each year because my reading age was the highest in the class every time. I also loved being read to as a kid. I remember asking my mum to read to me even when the bedtime stories had stopped without me noticing it and I was told I was “too old” to be read to, but she still read to me whn I asked, even after giving me a bit of a weird look – by that time it was a nice thick novel.

WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?

I think I’ve been a writer my whole life, I just didn’t know it. You learn a lot from reading a lot and sometimes I wish I’d started writing seriously earlier because my brain is so overloaded with ideas now that sometimes it’s hard to sleep.


WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?

Having complete creative control, being able to create anything or anyone I want, and making people think outside their comfort zone.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?

Procrastination.

WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?

I’ve done loads of things since I finished school seven years ago. I’ve worked in retail stores, temped in offices, studied art and design, worked at a place that prints photos onto canvas, went to the States for three months to work at a Jewish summer camp and traveled. And, as I said before, I was a journalist for two years, and not I’m still working in the media industry designing newspaper pages and editing other people’’s stories.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?

Since I haven’t actually published my novel yet, my greatest achievement would probably be the lovely comments I get when I put excerpts of it up on my blog. Everyone’s always very encouraging and it keeps me soldiering on.

 


WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

I’m the kind of person who has so many ideas, so little time, and I can’t work on one project at a time. So at the moment I’m working on a novel that has the potential to turn into a three part series – it’s a time travel story based in Wellington, NZ (where I live) and covers the first and second world wars and the present day. I’m also working on a sweet little mystery/romance told from the point of view of a jar of jam sitting forgotten on a dusty shelf of a cafe in small town NZ – I’ve pretty much been writing that one on my blog. Lastly, I’m working on a non-fiction project with the working title “Guardians of the Cross” which is about a small NZ town called Tinui which was the first place in the world to have an Anzac Day service in 1916 (Anzac Day is NZ and Australia’s remembrance day). There is a cross that sits on the town’s highest hill, looking down on the town that once sent 2,000 men to war but now houses just 20 people but up to 800 people from all over the country go there on Anzac Day, so I’m telling the story of Tinui’s commitment to the Anzac  tradition and the story of the men and one woman who died at war.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Everything. Little everyday things. I see things that most people would think ordinary and suddenly I’ve got a whole storyline or a whole novel writing itself in my head. Everyone and everything has a story to tell. I also like to study people, that’s how I create my characters. I’ve always been a people watcher, watching every little hand gesture, expression, nervous tic.

WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?

It’s hard to say really. It’s a mix of adventure/romance/thriller/mystery. I don’t like to limit myself too much because I’m not entirely sure which genre is my strength yet.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?

If you’ve always wanted to write a novel, just do it. Just take a deep breath, relax, and let the words come. Don’t even worry if the writing itself isn’t up to standard, that can be fixed later with editing and advice, it’s getting the ideas out of your head and on to paper that matters.

 


DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?

Yes. It’s awful isn’t it? I feel like I’m betraying myself by not writing. It’s like I’ve lost a limb. But I think the best thing to do about writer’s block is don’t force it, the ideas will come back, it just takes time.

DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?

No, I write whenever I can because I also work full time and have a busy life. I’ve recently discovered Google Docs, which is a godsend because if inspiration seizes me I can jump on the nearest computer and it’s all there online.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?

Not really. My writing places are the couch, the dining table, bed, lunch break at my desk at work. I have a dream writing place though  -  a little shack with big windows that look out onto a lake or a beach or that’s buried deep in my (future) back garden, with a really comfy chair and a huge desk.

 WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?

Letting the words flow and knowing that one day someone, somewhere is going to be moved by my words.


WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?

It’s hard to choose just one, so I narrowed it down to four!

1.       Dr Seuss, because he had the guts to make words up, and his work is timeless. I grew up with his books, and so will my future children, and hopefully their children.

2.       Katherine Mansfield, because she was fearless and refused to conform to the ideals of the time (early 1900’s) because she wanted to enjoy life, have sex because she wanted to, travel alone, fall in love over and over again and write stories about it all. She died at 34 years old and is still regarded as New Zealand’s greatest ever writer.

3.       Joanne Harris, her words are just so beautiful. Her novels are so beautifully crafted, sometimes you get so lost in the beauty of the words that you forget what you’re reading about.

4.       Diana Gabaldon, because she creates such vivid characters who you feel like you know personally, and she makes your heart break for them. She also weaves so much history and action into the story that you physically cannot put her books down, you have to know what’s coming next.

 


WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?

I get a few comments on my blog when I post excerpts from my projects, but my greatest moment was a few weeks ago when I posted a summary of my three part series and asked my readers, “Would you read this book?” and I got nine comments – the most I’ve ever had on a post – and they all said they can’t wait to read it.

MISSING SINCE TUESDAY by Sarah Hardie

It's the year 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand, where orphans Duncan and Sophia Grant live quiet, often lonely lives. He studies history; she struggles through a thankless government job.

Duncan meets a chatty, popular girl named Maria who is drawn to him just as he is drawn to her, despite their polar opposite personalities. Their fragile partnership is doomed from the start, and is shattered one day at Wellington's rugged south coast where Maria slips and falls into the violent sea - or so they think.

On his death bed, Duncan's grandfather tells him the secret of the rocks - they have the power to send people back in time and, determined to save the love of his life, a frantic Duncan, who is slowly losing his sense of reality, finds himself in the midst of World War Two.

Worried for her brother, Sophia follows and begins her own love story with Arthur, a railway worker taken into the arms of the New Zealand army by call of duty, who has also lost the love of his life, though to murder, not accident. Once Sophia and Arthur's paths cross, powerful secrets are revealed and as they and Duncan and Maria chase love through time in a world turned upside down by war, one must pay the ultimate price to save the rest, whose lives will never be the same.

WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?

Haven’t had one yet!

WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?

Oh yes, I’m influenced by everything. When you write, you’re essentially writing about life, no matter what genre. Unless you’re writing about aliens, the core of any good story is good characters, and the only way to learn about creating characters is to observe them and to experience them in your own life.


OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?

Photography, painting, reading, baking, cooking, music, road tripping, camping, and so much more – I like to squeeze every little drop out of life and try new things all the time.

IF YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE ENTIRE WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

I would get a massive group of people together and we would all sing John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s song “Give peace a chance”.

DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.

Either frolicking on the beach on a scorching hot day with my favourite people or curled up on a comfy couch with a good book, a cup of tea and no noise except the rain outside.

WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST ASSETS AS A HUMAN?

Empathy, understanding, love, and a willingness to always keep your eyes and mind wide open to the world, ready to face anything and ready to enjoy everything.

IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE IT TO BE? WHY?

My partner, because he’s quite good company. And he’s super strong so he could hunt for food with his bare hands and rip trees out of the ground and chop them up with his biceps to build us a shelter...and it would be a good chance to go skinny dipping and not be seen...

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

So many plans. Go travelling (Europe and UK this time – 2014!), get married, buy a house, get a dog, have some babies, publish my books.

 


Sarah's contact points:


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Website: http://youmaysayimadreamer-sh.blogspot.co.nz/


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Twitter: @sarahcornflake


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Clancy's comment: Well done, Sarah. Keep going. You seem to know where you want to be - CT.






I'm Clancy Tucker.


Clancy Tucker’s Book Appeal – McGrath Foundation


Clancy Tucker - Victoria x 1 paperback


 Jasha Levi  - NJ, USA - x 3 eBooks


Kim Stedman - Western Australia x 2 limited edition hardcovers


Kathleen O'Dwyer - Western Australia x 1 paperback


Peter Frederick - Victoria x 1 paperback


Sylvia Massara - Sydney – 5 sets of 4 novels


Errol Broome - Victoria x 4 books


Cindy C Bennett - Salt Lake City, USA - multiple eBooks


M. C. V. Egan - USA - multiple eBooks


Dr. Judith O'Malley-Ford - Queensland - 1 x paperback


Julie Murphy – Victoria – 2 x books


Michelle Worthington – Queensland - 3 x books


Rune Woodman – Sydney – 2 x books


Katie Flannigan – Victoria – 1 x book


Julieann Wallace – Queensland - 1 x book


Melissa Wray – Victoria – 1 x book


 Corinne Fenton – Victoria – 1 x book


Pauline Luke – Victoria – 2 x books


Trudie Trewin – Queensland – 1 x book


Jack White – Western Australia - 1 x book x 2 DVD’s


 


26 September 2012 - 'ELF' - Early Learning is Fun

 


'ELF' Reading Day at Eildon - 17 September 2012


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Quote of the day:

"Those who insult others are usually describing themselves."


Jay Huff


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'ELF' - Early Learning is Fun


- My Local School


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I spent some time at my local primary school on the 17th September, as a guest author for ELF Reading Day. ELF - Early Learning is Fun. I've been involved in this since 2005 and have loved every one. Wow, what a great day. I was in the company of kids from 5 to 10 years of age, and seven teachers to keep an eye on me and make sure I didn't misbehave. I arrived dressed like Smokey 'Gun' Danson, the main character in my latest book - dressed in moleskins, boots, a Tasmanian Bluey and an Akubra hat. Either side of me was a tall banner that depicts my book cover.


A Community Reading Day involves groups of children and staff from local early childhood services (kinders, childcare centres and primary schools), dressing up and making their way along the main street of town or another appropriate area.  At pre-arranged times the small groups of children and adults will stop at various places (businesses) to have stories read to them by local identities and business people. The event usually lasts for 2 hours.


Little 'ELFS' being read to by local business people.


The aim of the day is to share the enjoyment of reading stories with children and to promote awareness of the importance of reading in everyone’s lives and our local community. The Community Reading Day is a core activity of the ELF (Early Learning is Fun™). Today, was an absolute gem. All of the kids were dressed as Harry Potter, footballers, fairies, karate experts, ninjas and swash buckling pirates. After a very brief and simple spiel on what I do as a writer, I let the kids ask the questions. Here is a sample of questions they asked:

Why did you become a writer?

How long does it take you to write a book?

Did you take the pictures on your book?

When will your book be made into a movie?

My name is Molly. (name of my main protagonist's girlfriend)

Do you wear that hat when you write?

Is your book sad?

What's the name of your next book ... and the next ... and the next?

Did you design your book?

What's the story about?

What inspired you to write a historical fiction novel?

Did you do lots of research?

Do you know Enid Blyton?


 Cute 'ELFS' at the Post Office


I asked the kids some questions as well. The one that emitted the most interesting answers was, 'What do you like to read?' Answers:

Real life stories.

Stories about swords.

Adventure stories.

Fighting stories.

Fairy stories.

Hero stories.

I don't like reading.

Animal stories.


CT handing out bookmarks to the masses.


One boy advised that he draws cartoons. He also advised that his best friend writes. So, I suggested that he and his friend work together and maybe become cartoonists in the future. Another boy was very confident; obviously a keen writer. He actually told me how many words he'd written in his latest story: 898 words.

After an hour and approximately 50 questions, I handed a signed copy of my book to Dean, the School Captain who made an excellent speech. I then offered each child a bookmark - the matching one that goes with my book. Today was a great day - always good to mix with my clients. Kids are great teachers, and the kids on this day were very well behaved. Probably the best comment I heard was one from a young girl, 'Clancy, my mum loved your book. It made her start reading books.' Mm ... interesting comment coming from an avid reader. I know her mum well. Every time I see her she asks for my next book. Sounds like I must be doing something right, eh?

Many thanks to the teachers and staff at Eildon Primary School, especially the students. It was an absolute pleasure.

Keep writing!



I'm Clancy Tucker.




CT handing a signed copy to Dean, the School Captain.




Clancy Tucker’s Book Appeal – McGrath Foundation




Clancy Tucker - Victoria x 1 paperback


 Jasha Levi  - NJ, USA - x 3 eBooks


Kim Stedman - Western Australia x 2 limited edition hardcovers


Kathleen O'Dwyer - Western Australia x 1 paperback


Peter Frederick - Victoria x 1 paperback


Sylvia Massara - Sydney – 5 sets of 4 novels


Errol Broome - Victoria x 4 books


Cindy C Bennett - Salt Lake City, USA - multiple eBooks


M. C. V. Egan - USA - multiple eBooks


Dr. Judith O'Malley-Ford - Queensland - 1 x paperback


Julie Murphy – Victoria – 2 x books


Michelle Worthington – Queensland - 3 x books


Rune Woodman – Sydney – 2 x books


Katie Flannigan – Victoria – 1 x book


Julieann Wallace – Queensland - 1 x book


Melissa Wray – Victoria – 1 x book


 Corinne Fenton – Victoria – 1 x book


Pauline Luke – Victoria – 2 x books


Trudie Trewin – Queensland – 1 x book


Jack White  - Western Australia - x 1 book x 2 DVD's



25 September 2012 - Alan Goldsher - Guest Author


Copyright Vicki Tyley (c)


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Quote of the day:


"The difficulties of life


are intended to make us better, not bitter."


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G'day guys,


Today I'm pleased to introduce you to Alan Goldsher who hails from Chicago, Illinois, USA. Alan is  a novelist, ghost writer and journalist. Not only, he is a fine musician. During his 10-plus years as a professional bassist, Alan recorded with Janet Jackson, Cypress Hill, and Naughty by Nature; toured the world with Digable Planets; and performed at the 1994 Grammy Awards. Welcome, Alan.


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Alan Goldsher


- Guest Author






TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.


 I wasn’t one of those guys who started a journal when I was 13, or wrote for my high school newspaper, or banged out three angsty novels in my early-20s.  My writing career was and is a happy accident. I fell into writing after I got fed up with being a professional musician, landing a job as a copywriter for a music marketing company, and that’s music marketing as in, “Buy 1 CD, get 11 for free.”  Much to my shock, I took to copywriting—and I say shock, because I’d never had any writing aspirations or experience—and decided that I should try banging out something more substantial than, “The stellar new outing from Toronto’s own Our Lady Peace is a step forward that’ll have their old fans rejoicing, and their new fans begging for seconds,” so I came up with a crappy idea for a book, specifically a snarky critical examination of the Beatles post-breakup solo careers.  For reasons that remain unclear, a literary agent thought this was a saleable project, so she had me put together a book proposal, which, fortunately for all of us, died in a tragic computer crash.  The publishing industry wisely decided that was a horrible concept, so I decided to write a novel.


 Like practically all first novels, it had an earnest, precious autobiographical element to it, but an indie New York publishing house took a crack at it anyhow.  It got some nice reviews, and sold a few copies, so I did up a second novel, as well as a non-fiction project about the legendary jazz drummer, Art Blakey.  Then came the tech boom, and a whole lot of gigs in which I was vastly overpaid for delivering relatively fun and interesting online content.  (Yes, kids, there was a time when people were paid for writing on the Interwebs.)  After the whole online thing went kerflooey, a friend of a friend introduced me to a literary agent at ICM, who had me ghostwrite a project for the late comedian, Bernie Mac.  Perhaps because I’m a good listener, I took to ghostwriting, and, since then, have been lucky enough to work with some supercool comedians, actors, athletes, food industry heavyweights, and businesspeople.  Simultaneously, I’ve continued with my fiction: I wrote four romantic comedies for a U.K. publisher, and three parodies for a couple of different houses here in the States, the best-known of which is Paul Is Undead, a retelling of the Beatles myth in which Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison are zombies, and Starr is a Ninja.


 This very week, my new book, My Favorite Fangs: The Story of the von Trapp Family Vampires—a remix of The Sound of Music loaded with vampires, succubi, blood, gore, and undead lesbian sex, will be available in the States, but if you live down under in Oz, you can scoop it up at any U.S. online U.S. book retailer


 


WERE YOU A GOOD READER AS A KID?


 Here’s how good of a reader I was: While most blow-off, homework-hating kids hide comics behind their history textbook, I hid Stephen King novels.  I credit my amazing eighth-grade English teacher, one Bill Monroe—and if you’re out there, Mr. Monroe, mad props to you—for opening up my reading horizons, specifically for introducing me to Kurt Vonnegut.  (If it were up to me, all eighth graders would The Sirens of Titan and Slaughterhouse-Five.)  I was a crazy reader then, and I’m a crazy reader now.


 WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?


 As mentioned, I was a musician, specifically a bassist.  I’ve played jazz/hip-hop at the Glastonbury Festival in the U.K. for 100,000 people, Klezmer songs in Chicago for a wedding party of 200 people, and singer/songwriter stuff at a bookstore in central Pennsylvania for zero people.  It was a great ride, and it gave me a career’s worth of writing material, but after 10 years of almost non-stop gigging, I hit the wall.  I don’t bust out my bass all that much anymore, but every once in a while, I do miss the performing aspect of the job.  Thing is, the thought of hauling an upright bass, an amplifier, and a gig bag to a dingy club or a crappy rehearsal room gives me the willies.


 


WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?


 One of the things that frustrated me about being a musician was dealing with creative types who didn’t have the discipline necessary to make consistently good music; nothing was more annoying than going to a rehearsal,
and having my bandmates either unprepared or unengaged. This isn’t something I have to worry about now.  Autonomy is a beautiful thing.


Also, I’m a better writer than I was a bassist, so there’s that.


 WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?


 For me, without question, it’s the business aspect.  The publishing world is frustrating at every level, and I’m not pointing fingers or disparaging anybody’s efforts or decisions—it’s just the nature of the beast.  I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time learning the ins and outs of the industry, and it’s served me well.  It takes a lot of time and effort, but if you want to be a professional writer, it’s essential.



WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?


 My first two works of fiction, while well-meaning and energetic, feel like early-career novels, but the last seven, for the most part, turned pretty well.  If you’re scoring by sales and visibility, you’d have to say Paul Is Undead is at the top of the achievement list, but I love ‘em all…even those first two.


 HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?


 The aforementioned nine novels, two non-fiction music books, a slew of ghostwriting projects, and two ebooks.  Phew!


 WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?


 I have a couple of cool ghostwriting gigs in the offing, and I’m especially psyched to help jazz guitar great George Benson do up his memoir.  I’m also having a great time with Miles Davis FAQ, my overview of the trumpeter’s career, and there’re also a couple of neat fiction things marinating, one of which is based on the time when Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse threatened to kill me because I wrote an unauthorized biography of his band.


 DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?


 A)
Write everyday, even if it’s just a teeny tiny bit.


B)
Learn the publishing industry.  Can’t stress that enough.


C)
Finish something.  At some point, you have to stop tinkering with that novel or book proposal and say, “This sucker is done.”


D)
If you’re having a lousy writing session, just walk away. You don’t want to create negative vibes about your work, and the laptop will be there tomorrow.



 WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?


 I’m a huge fan of Nick Hornby’s early work, specifically High Fidelity and About a Boy, both of which speak to me on an intellectual and gut level.  Nick—and I can call him Nick, because he’s my Facebook friend—knows the male psyche, and can expound about it in a humorous, warm, caring fashion, all while keeping his plots moving forward and dropping in all kinds of hip, unpretentious pop culture references.  Another guy who’s high on my list these days is Jonathan Tropper who, for the last five-ish years, has been bringing it big time.  Like Hornby, when he’s writing about relationships—family, romance, whatever—he’s at once funny, sincere, heartbreaking, and honest.  There are a handful of John Irving’s early books that I go back to time and again, most notably The World According to Garp and The Cider House Rules, and I’m a huge fan of a semi-obscure mystery guy named Ross Thomas.  And of course Stephen King and Kurt Vonnegut hold a special place in my heart, because they were there first.


 WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER
RECEIVED FROM A READER?


 It’s compliment enough when somebody spends their money and time on one of my books.  As a crazy reader, I know how special it can be to pick up a new bit of reading material, and if I can make somebody feel as good as I did when I bought, say, the unexpurgated version of Stephen King’s The Stand, or Vonnegut’s Slapstick, that’s a beautiful thing.


 DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED?


 Publishing houses won’t let your work onto the streets without thorough editing, and luckily, every editor I’ve worked with at a major publishing house has been stellar.  (I’m talking to you, Peter and Jaime.)  My current literary agent, Jason Ashlock of Movable Type Management, is also a great sounding board.


 WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?


 I love multitasking.  If I don’t have two or three projects on my docket, and two or three more on the backburner, I get antsy, so I’ll be staying the course, specifically looking for interesting ghost-writing gigs and coming up with (hopefully) good ideas for that next novel.


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Alan's contact points:


 http://www.AlanGoldsher.com


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As a ghostwriter, Alan Goldsher has collaborated with numerous celebrities and public figures, and he is the author of 11 books, including the acclaimed Beatles/horror/comedy remix Paul Is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion.  He is also the host of BOOK IT with Alan Goldsher, the first ever interactive talk show about writing, reading, and publishing.  Alan lives in Chicago, and you can visit him at http://www.AlanGoldsher.com. To inquire about ghostwriting availability or BOOK IT bookings, please write AlanGoldsher@gmail.com.



Thanks, Alan. Love ya work! - CT


Keep writing!


I'm Clancy Tucker


www.clancytucker.com.au 


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