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

If you want Fidelity - GET A DOG!

'If you want Fidelity – GET A DOG' are the words of Christopher Ryan who is a psychologist and co-author of the New York Times best-seller, Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality.

Christopher Ryan is in the country at the moment as part of ‘The Festival for Dangerous Ideas’

After listening to Christopher Ryan on 'Hack' yesterday about his thoughts on monogamy: how it’s kind of unnatural for the human species to remain in one relationship - it got me to thinking (that’s a dangerous idea in itself). It got me to thinking is this guy right? Surely, we can live happily ever after in monogamous relationships never thinking or straying or divorcing.  Is this why divorce is so high? 

My gut instinct is to say ‘NO’ we are and can be a monogamous society and find love, be in love and stay in love and loyal to the ONE person til death do us part – isn’t that the traditional vows of marriage?  I don’t know coz I changed mine, and then I chose not to get married second time round?  Why?

Hmmm…anyway, it got me to thinking about the stories I write, the characters and their relationships, the books I read, the movies I watch. Whenever there is strong characterisation you will usually find some kind of love triangle or dilemma around love and monogamy.  And don’t we just love those stories. Will she/he? Did he/she?  What if we like all three characters involved in this super love triangle – who do we bat for?  Someone’s gonna get hurt?

Here's an example of the kind of stories we seem to fall in love with.

Why do we love these stories so much if we are in fact monogamous by nature, wouldn't we hate the voyeuristic nature to these stories and wouldn't we be constantly angry with the character who chooses infidelity or does Christopher Ryan have a point?  

Have a listen to this interview with Christopher Ryan - fascinating stuff.

Have you read his book?  It’s an interesting debate – what are your thoughts?  Love to hear from you :)

More about the festival here:

Midnight rambler thinking about why my characters behave the way they do?

Why I'm not blogging...



Building a website is the 'too hard basket'



Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read this post.  I’m not blogging at the moment for two reasons and wanted to let you know that I’m not ignoring you dear followers or being slack.  I’m simply trying to achieve the following:

• Recover from this very nasty viral infection that is really, seriously and literally messing with my head;
• And because I no longer wish to blog on this site.  I’m in the process of building a new website – which is like taking forever!  I blame the headaches J or it could simply be my inadequate brain to take in all the technical stuff of making a more functional site.

Anyways, the theory is if I keep blogging here I will never finish the new site.  So I will aim to be up and running as fast as possible given the two reasons above and hope to see you in the blogosphere real soon.

Take care my lovelies and if you subscribe to this blog or are a facebook buddy or a fan of my facebook page or follow me on twitter – you will know when my new site is up and running.  Which will be ultra soon - Inshallah.

Midnight rambler moving into creative space ♥

Going down the rabbit hole...

'The Rabbit Hole is a three-day, 30-hour writing frenzy where participants aim to write 30,000 words OR the words 'The End' - whichever comes first!'

And it starts tomorrow.  I had planned to be a part of this worthwhile event.  Since this was announced I have moved, been sleep deprived and commenced full time work, not to mention I can barely make my way to my desk to write.  Clearly, this is no excuse to not be a part of The Rabbit Hole event.

I will write.  Absolutely, I will -  but rather than aim for the above as I would have given better circumstances - instead I will dip in and out over the weekend.  Check in on the facebook page and see what's happening.  Go here for more info and maybe you might like to sign up.  What a great way to spend a weekend.  Allowing yourself the freedom of expression without interruption, or chores, or distractions.  So watch the facebook, the tweets but don't get caught up or procrastinate.

This is your opportunity to dig on down the 'rabbit hole' and actually put some words on the page.  Go Queensland Writers Centre for bringing this together! Let's make it a productive weekend of getting in touch with your creativity and enjoying the wild abandon of writing in a frenzy.

Have fun to all you participants and even I expect to achieve some words this weekend.

Midnight rambler preparing for some disconnection from the mess and chaos that surrounds me :)

Why can't I get this right?

This is a pic of the current state of my office/creative space.  What do I do?  Do I write? Do I blog, answer emails, connect with my online community, unpack?

Writing should be number one priority, right? I'm a writer! But of late my priority has been the day job (without that the bills don't get paid) packing and moving - without the boxes I live in limbo - great when travelling not so great when bogged down with responsibilities and financial commitments, and did I mention the constant interruption of tradies - repairs galore!

Needs some attention...

This time poor business is a constant juggle for me switching between the practical, creative, and business mind.  It would seem I don't manage my time well at all, yet in the work place - time management is one of my strong points - so what's that about? Am I just one of those crazy, creative people that constantly distract themselves with other things, like life, which leaves me in this constant flux of creative frustration!

How am I supposed to eat healthy food...

How do you manage your writing/creative time when big things take over your life?  All tips, thoughts, ideas are hugely appreciated.  Should I start by acknowledging what I do do with my time?  I've now blogged (tick), dealt with the oven technician except now I have no door so can't cook - so that's only half a tick, dishwasher repair (still working on that one) Air con service (tick) unpack a box or two, or three (tick) even God forbid a coffee break and relax over the latest edition of Writing Queensland? Not looking likely!

What am I doing wrong?  Maybe I should just get drunk and dance on the beach?  Thoughts...

Midnight rambler juggling too many balls...

A step or two backwards...

Many apologies for not blogging of late.  Considering my last post I’m not doing very well am I?  I was all geared up with Twitter, facebook and building my author platform…so where is it?  I haven’t taken a hiatus from social media intentionally. 

I’m sorry that I haven’t been communicating.  Life simply has got in the way of creative pursuits, much to my annoyance, as my life is mostly made up of working full time with ridiculous starts at 4.30am.  For those who know me personally – you know that this hour of the morning is normally my bed time…talk about a challenge!

I have been researching website options, hosting, vlogging and doing a ton of reading on the subject but and there’s a big BUT!  I find between juggling the full time job and family commitments it all very time consuming.  I know you’re supposed to be able to set up a blog within a few hours – I think I’m too fussy.  I spent hours scouring templates and happy with none of them!  Do you see the problem here? 

So my planned activities for Easter just didn’t happen.  The new blog is still not up and the website not even close to being built. 

How about you?  Did you achieve all that you planned over Easter and did you rest and relax and enjoy?  We have another long weekend here in BrisVegas so for us Brisbanites another chance to catch up on things that got missed last weekend.

I’m still in the process of creating some groovy slideshows of my travels to Egypt from way back in 2008.  Still not completed yet as we speak and I need them for tomorrow night for travel movie/photo night at friend’s house…nothing like a deadline to get me moving.  I really need to address this.  Really – it’s almost three years since that glorious trip and I still don’t have it all up and ready to present.  I will have by tomorrow morning though.

I’m uploading and burning as I write this to you J And after tomorrow night, the plan is to get a 'new look' blog up and running by the end of Monday night.  Fingers crossed I can make this happen and fingers crossed you no longer have to read my posts on this site.  I’m planning on something new, fresh and maybe even a little funky J

Best keep going…I will check in with you on my progress over the weekend…so maybe one more post on this site J

Midnight rambler slowly making progress…

Ten reasons why every author should blog...

This post believe it or not has been surrounded by a lot of indecision.  Last weekend I had the good fortune of attending a workshop at the QWC on Blogging and Social Networking with Joanna Penn

Why the indecision? because it was damn amazing and insightful it really reinforced why I need a new blog/website – like NOW!  So the question was: Do I build a new blog site before I make anymore posts or keep posting on the existing one until I have the new one up and running?  It’s all fraught with problems because if I keep posting to the old format while working on the new one – my old one continues to grow when in fact I want to archive it. 

And since now I have returned to working full time with a 4.30am rise and shine, and sadly no, not to write (I wish) my routine is totally out of whack.  I was working nights so you can see what this might be doing to my body clock let alone finding time to build a new blog/website. 

So I’ve decided to post on the old blog for this post (new one is coming) because the things I learned from the workshop was just too good not to share. 

Ten reasons for starting and/or improving your author platform:

1.       A blog is a website with special powers

2.       Bloggers are a powerful community

3.       Every writer should blog – here’s why

4.       People connect with faces – Vlog!

5.       Online networking with other Authors, Bloggers and Marketers 

6.       Online presence with quality content

7.       Baby steps…it all takes time to grow your business

8.       WordPress, Blogger is all free and great to get started but as your business grows consider owning your site – here are some of the reasons why

9.       Social Media isn’t a fad, it’s a fundamental shift in the way we communicate. Check out this amazing video.

10.   Embrace the Twitter – its power is extremely effective for online networking and promoting your business/brand.  Here are some great tips

What are you doing to promote your author brand?  Please share your tips and/or ideas - I still have soooo' much to learn :)

Midnight Rambler embracing the twitter...

Been rejected lately?

About a week or so ago I received yet another rejection for a short story that’s been out and about for a bit with pretty favourable feedback but not getting picked up and I had one of those moments – you know how it goes: ‘You’re crap – give it up’.

I drank coffee, as you do, and sat in silence, staring at the wall.  I think I might have even sighed in there a few times J and thought:  ‘Give it up – give writing up because it’s just too bloody hard!  The hours, the sweat and tears, to what – get rejected yet again! ‘

How many times would you put up with your best friend or lover, husband or wife – reject you over and over and over?  You wouldn’t right – so why do we keep writing?

I don’t know about you, but for me I think sometimes I’m just plain and simply, quite mad.  Crazy loon, insane, lunatic!  So where was I?  Oh, yeah, sitting, staring at the wall.  I mumbled and grumbled a bit and I definitely swore a few times – Mitzi my cat understood and then it was like – ‘okay, so when was the deadline for that play?’



Mitzi practising the art of patience...



Yes, I told you I’m insane.  Here’s why – I’ve been working two jobs of the day job variety in recent weeks - if you count writing then I was juggling three.  Anyway, I’ve been pretty knackered of late, with working nights in one job and getting up at 4.30am for another and of course writing towards this deadline!  The deadline was the 31^st March and I was running out of time – oh hell, I hadn’t even finished the play on Tuesday and it was supposed to be gone on Thursday and oh, wait – I need to sleep coz I’m working two jobs!

Somehow, I pulled it off.  I made the deadline and even rewrote the ending twice, and still woke up in time for work!  I can’t testify to the quality of the play but I was passionate about the story when I wrote it, so from an organic level it was good work.  From an editing, and beautifully polished masterpiece level – well probably not so.  But there ya go – it’s gone.  I was happy I pushed through even though I’m severely sleep deprived but that’s pretty normal for me anyway.

And what was the point of this blog post?  Oh, yeah – seems I don’t let rejections get to me after all.  Just when I think I’m ready to give it all up – I just shrug and get back to work.  Unlike the rejection of a friend or lover, of which I would not put up with, I find the rejection of my stories as the universe’s way of letting me know I have to work harder!  That’s just crap, I know – haven’t I worked hard enough?  Of course, but then it’s all subjective anyway – so sometimes it just means getting on with it, not rewriting it, or ditching it, but getting on with the next project.  Persevering and rising to the challenge which in the end just makes me increasingly determined.  So I do what I know my peers would advise me to do.  Write. Edit. Submit.  And do it again and again and again until…

Yep, I told you I was insane.  How about you?  How do you deal with rejection?

Midnight rambler getting ready for the next project….

2010 Aurealis Awards - Finalists announced!

Huge congrats to all the nominees.  There are just so many great names on the list - I want to give a 'shout out' to all of you!  Such an impressive list. 

Oh, how I look forward to these Awards every year and while it is sad to see them leave Fantastic Queensland in BrisVegas - it will be exciting to see them in Sydney under the new umbrella of SpecFaction NSW and organisers: Nathan Burrage and Susan Wardle.

And while I say it will be exciting to see the awards in Sydney there are no definites yet that I will be attending.  I don't even want to think about that possibility although I know I could be leaving it a little late to buy tix and find cheap accommodation.  If the universe is on my side - I will trust that it will be possible and I will be winging my way there come May J

Don't be like me and risk missing out. Check out all the details here:

And the nominees are:

2010 Aurealis Awards --‐ Finalists
CHILDREN'S FICTION (told primarily through words)

·         Grimsdon, Deborah Abela, Random House

·          Ranger's Apprentice #9: Halt's Peril, John Flanagan, Random House

·          The Vulture of Sommerset, Stephen M Giles, Pan Macmillan

·          The Keepers, Lian Tanner, Allen & Unwin

·          Haggis MacGregor and the Night of the Skull, Jen Storer & Gus Gordon, Aussie Nibbles(Penguin)

CHILDREN'S FICTION (told primarily through pictures)

·         Night School, Isobelle Carmody (writer) & Anne Spudvilas (illustrator), Penguin Viking

·          Magpie, Luke Davies (writer) & Inari Kiuru (illustrator), ABC Books (HarperCollins)

·          The Boy and the Toy, Sonya Hartnett (writer) & Lucia Masciullo (illustrator), Penguin Viking

·          Precious Little, Julie Hunt & Sue Moss (writers) & Gaye Chapman (illustrator), Allen &

·         Unwin

·          The Cloudchasers, David Richardson (writer) & Steven Hunt (illustrator), ABC Books(HarperCollins)

YOUNG ADULT Short Story

·         Inksucker, Aidan Doyle, Worlds Next Door, Fablecroft Publishing

·          One Story, No Refunds, Dirk Flinthart, Shiny #6, Twelfth Planet Press

·          A Thousand Flowers, Margo Lanagan, Zombies Vs Unicorns, Allen & Unwin

·          Nine Times, Kaia Landelius & Tansy Rayner Roberts, Worlds Next Door, Fablecroft

·         Publishing

·          An Ordinary Boy, Jen White, The Tangled Bank, Tangled Bank Press

YOUNG ADULT Novel

·         Merrow, Ananda Braxton--‐Smith, black dog books

·          Guardian of the Dead, Karen Healey, Allen & Unwin

·          The Midnight Zoo, Sonya Hartnett, Penguin

·          The Life of a Teenage Body--‐Snatcher, Doug MacLeod, Penguin

·          Behemoth (Leviathan Trilogy Book Two), Scott Westerfeld, Penguin

BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK/ GRAPHIC NOVEL

·         Shakespeare's Hamlet, Nicki Greenberg, Allen & Unwin

·          EEEK!: Weird Australian Tales of Suspense, Jason Paulos et al, Black House Comics

·          Changing Ways Book 1, Justin Randall, Gestalt Publishing

·          Five Wounds: An Illustrated Novel, Jonathan Walker & Dan Hallett, Allen & Unwin

·          Horrors: Great Stories of Fear and Their Creators, Rocky Wood & Glenn Chadbourne,McFarlane & Co.

BEST COLLECTION

·         The Library of Forgotten Books, Rjurik Davidson, PS Publishing

·          Under Stones, Bob Franklin, Affirm Press

·          Sourdough and Other Stories, Angela Slatter, Tartarus Press

·          The Girl With No Hands, Angela Slatter, Ticonderoga Publications

·          Dead Sea Fruit, Kaaron Warren, Ticonderoga Publications

BEST ANTHOLOGY

·          Macabre: A Journey Through Australia's Darkest Fears, edited by Angela Challis & Dr Marty

·         Young, Brimstone Press

·          Sprawl, edited by Alisa Krasnostein, Twelfth Planet Press

·          Scenes from the Second Storey, edited by Amanda Pillar & Pete Kempshall, Morrigan Books

·         Godlike Machines, edited by Jonathan Strahan, SF Book Club

·          Wings of Fire, edited by Jonathan Strahan & Marianne S. Jablon, Night Shade Books

HORROR Short Story

·         Take the Free Tour, Bob Franklin, Under Stones, Affirm Press

·          Her Gallant Needs, Paul Haines, Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press

·          The Fear, Richard Harland, Macabre: A Journey through Australia's Darkest Fears

·         Brimstone Press

·          Wasting Matilda, Robert Hood, Zombie Apocalypse!, Constable & Robinson Ltd

·          Lollo, Martin Livings, Close Encounters of the Urban Kind, Apex Publishing

HORROR Novel

·         After the World: Gravesend, Jason Fischer, Black House Comics

·          Death Most Definite, Trent Jamieson, Orbit (Hachette)

·          Madigan Mine, Kirstyn McDermott, Pan Macmillan

FANTASY Short Story

·         The Duke of Vertumn's Fingerling, Elizabeth Carroll, Strange Horizons

·          Yowie, Thoraiya Dyer, Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press

·          The February Dragon, LL Hannett & Angela Slatter, Scary Kisses, Ticonderoga Publications

·          All the Clowns in Clowntown, Andrew McKiernan, Macabre: A Journey Through Australia's, Brimstone Press

·         Darkest Fears

·          Sister, Sister, Angela Slatter, Strange Tales III, Tartarus Press

FANTASY Novel

·         The Silence of Medair, Andrea K Höst, self--‐published

·          Death Most Definite, Trent Jamieson, Orbit (Hachette)

·          Stormlord Rising, Glenda Larke, HarperVoyager (HarperCollins)

·          Heart's Blood, Juliet Marillier, Pan Macmillan

·          Power and Majesty, Tansy Rayner Roberts, HarperVoyager (HarperCollins)

SCIENCE FICTION Short Story

·         The Heart of a Mouse, K.J. Bishop, Subterranean Online (Winter 2010)

·          The Angaelian Apocalypse, Matthew Chrulew, The Company Articles Of Edward Teach/The, Twelfth Planet Press

·         Angaelian Apocalypse

·          Border Crossing, Penelope Love, Belong, Ticonderoga Publications

·          Interloper, Ian McHugh, Asimovs (Jan 2011)

·          Relentless Adaptations, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press

SCIENCE FICTION Novel

·         Song of Scarabaeus, Sara Creasy, EOS Books

·          Mirror Space, Marianne de Pierres, Orbit (Hachette)

·          Transformation Space, Marianne de Pierres, Orbit (Hachette)

Midnight rambler visualising plane tickets, Aurealis tickets and a lovely room near the venue :)

GIVEAWAY - STEPHEN KING BOOK UP FOR GRABS!

I'm currently writing a story that is set in a poverty stricken rural community.  I'm playing around with a couple of titles.  I've decided to put the call out to you, dear readers. 

On the top right hand side of this blog is a voting poll.  Vote on what title you like best, then add a comment to this post why you chose it? 

The most original response against the title I choose will receive a 'brand new' copy of Stephen King's BLAZE.

Start voting :)

Midnight rambler will announce the winner on Sunday 27th.

A dramatic change of direction...

I’m finally in possession of the March Market edition of WQ. 

There are some fabulous articles inside:  Marianne de Pierres talks about how to be a series contender; JR Poulter goes global; Anita Bell discusses formatting.  A great article on Educational publishing by Pamela Rushby; romance by Valerie Parv; finding your niche market with Cat Sparks and Somerset author guest, Kate Hunter explores why writers’ festivals are so important.

And…

If you’ve ever thought about writing a play - you might like to check out my article where I talk about how stepping out of your comfort zone can be a highlight in your career.

You can read these articles and more by subscribing here and if you’re already a subscriber then you will agree with me - this is a great issue J

Midnight rambler is feeling inspired