MY BLOG HAS MOVED

My new website is finally up and I will be blogging and sharing other interesting things over at the new site.  You can find me here.  


I look forward to you stopping by.


Midnight rambler saying goodbye to blogger...

Update...

Well it's been a month since I posted anything and quite honestly I haven't wanted to blog as you know I'm in the process of building a new site.  Well that process is taking awhile isn't it?  Way too long, I say but there ya go...I'm stuck between a rock and hard place.  Do I blog frequently and stick to the same old format which I'm growing to dislike by the day or do I wait to blog on the new format? which BTW I hope will be so much more fun than this site.  Lots more interesting and engaging and I do look forward to your feedback once it's up.


In the meantime just updating and letting you know that life has just gotten in the way and hopefully I will be back on track (I was on a roll for a bit) and then I derailed.  I could just put up the blog page but...and I wouldn't mind your opinion on this actually but...I didn't want a blog and all these incomplete pages attached to it while I add content...what are your thoughts?

Alan Baxter's presentation on blogging.
Picture: Midnight Rambler

I have had some great writerly experiences lately - I've subbed a couple of stories, about to sub a YA novel, have been to the Digital Writers Conference as part of the Emerging Writers Festival which was totally awesome.  Here is a great overview of what happened by Alan Baxter   


It was at this conference where I fell deeply and madly in love with twitter.  It was one of those moments where we'd been skirting around this crazy online half-hearted relationship and then BAM - it all clicked and I fell in love.  Here is the perfect post about understanding twitter by Alan Baxter again, and when you've read it you will know why I love it sooooo' much.  You can follow me here if you're interested :) 


In a week's time I'm attending the Amplified Author Bootcamp presented by if:book Australia, another exciting weekend.  As an emerging writer I'm finding the whole digital medium pretty damn exciting and I want to learn as much as I can so I can make informed choices of how I want to share my stories and of course share knowledge via my facebook page, twitter and here, well no, not here but on my new website - when it's up :)


Anyway, that's it for now and I hope to be blogging thick and fast before the end of the year on my new and improved fandangled site.


Until then...midnight rambler putting head down, bum up and getting the new site under way....

We'd rather fight with music - choosing when the rhythm warms...

Where hip-hop meets reggae, where jazz is played with dirty hands, where a Cuban line meets an Aussie rule, where nothing seems in place but sounds like many places played in one earthy chord. This is the island where THE CAT EMPIRE was born. (Written by the band in 2001)

The first day in October has seen a massive shift for me.  Such a good day on so many levels and the icing on the cake was seeing The Cat Empire celebrate 10 years of LIVE shows along with 1,500 other people at the Tivoli in Brisbane.


I could write a review on the band, the gig, the venue but it's best said here. And I have kinda talked about these guys numerous times over the years.  You can read more on my blog here and here.


Watch the video here for a teaser of just how good these guys are.



I can literally talk about this amazing group of musicians forever because (and this is not just my opinion) they have been hailed as being one the best LIVE acts in the world.  I love their albums but their gigs are something completely different - a spirit and magick that has to be witnessed to understand the true essence of who The Cat Empire really are.  They're a group of guys who leave their egos at the door.  Their on-stage presence is powerful, uplifting and the most talented bunch of musos in the world.


I've lost count of how many times I've seen them perform LIVE.  Every Brisbane gig I'm there :)  And every gig is completely different than the last.  Even though you may have heard a song over 100 times, they will put a unique spin on it every time.


Which brings me to why I'm not writing a review about The Cat Empire but more about a project I've been working on for over twelve months inspired by The Cat Empire songs.  I've written three of the planned twelve stories.  I'm a bit behind schedule - it was supposed to be one story a month for a year but somehow life got in the way.


My stories are not based on the content of The Cat Empire songs as my stories are dark, sometimes supernatural with the horror in the mundane which of course is nothing like a Cat Empire song.  Their songs are full of light and hope and joy and they are the best Australian party starters!


But because of the way my mind is geared I write dark, I write contemporary stories always verging on horror either in the character, situation or place, and for some bizarre reason I'm not sure How to Explain - The Cat Empire songs provide the inspiration.  I'm not sure how Felix or Harry or Ryan or Jumps or Will or Ollie would feel about this but if I change the titles they don't have to know :)


What inspires you in your life whether it be through music, art, words or just life itself?  


Midnight rambler still on a high and dancing to The Chariot