Winter Reads Time!

Winter is just around the corner here in Australia, and the cold has visited us in the South East Corner of Queensland to give us a taste of what it's going to be like when it really hits!  But in other parts of the world, you're welcoming the Summer days... the long, hazy, lazy days of summer where the afternoons stretch good'n'long and don't ever seem to end.  

So, my question for you - my followers from all over the globe - today is:  what are you planning to read through the middle of the year?  

Me? I have some great plans.  Some include my iPod; as I scored myself a gift voucher from Paul D. Dail (have you guys entered his competition below to score yourself a free copy of his new e-book 'The Imaginings' yet?  If not, do and do so, I've got a copy of it off Smashwords and am enjoying it totally!).  Then, I thought to get my nose into 'Dandelion Wine' by Ray Bradbury to remind me of warmer days long gone.  I have other books on my Mt TBR by the office door of the likes of 'I Am Leather-Man' by Ged Maybury & Anna Venczel and 'Touchstone' by Letitia Coyne; both books I do plan to read over Winter.  

So, there's my Winter Reading Pile all organised.  I haven't named many as I love to absorb my reads more than zoom through them.  Have you got any books you'd like to get through this Winter/Summer?  Of course you do... leave a comment and let us know of them and it might lead the rest of us to find more to read as the year goes on.  Until my next post, happy reading!  

Erotic and Romantic Fiction

Romance has come a long way since the days of Mills and Boone where women bought the reasonably-sized books and read them and they were written by a handful of women and some men.  They were light romances for the ordinary housewife who would get time to sit down and read just before bed or whenever they had time to read during their busy day.

However, times have changed a lot, and so has the way romance has been written.  It's hot, sexy and very descriptive... and yes, it's meant for not only the ladies but also the men too.  So, when 'Fifty Shades of Grey' was published, it caused plenty of waves in society of its content and why it was published.  But it also brought a lot of people who read erotica out of the woodwork.
But not all erotic writings are the same.  I've read 'Fanny Hill' which was written by a man for men in the late 1800's and it was a book which was banned for many years due to its content.  However, I was given my copy by my Grandmother who had bought it for her husband in 1984 for his birthday; and it was a reprint of the unabridged edition!  And what an amazing piece it was to read!  I never thought my Grandparents would read anything that kinky; but really they are just like anyone else, they were young once too.
But Grandma had a large collection of Mills & Boone books at her house and I was amazed at how many were well-thumbed and that she often re-read a few of them because they were just good, old-fashioned romance stories that were girl-meets-boy kind of thing.  It's probably why she loved 'The Sound of Music' so much, it went along the same lines of Mills & Boone novels.

However, the typical romance novel is now a lot more descriptive.  It highlights how each person is feeling, their every move, clothing removal and everything else in between.  There's a new section of romance called Erotica and it sits alongside the typical romance section in bookstores and is taking off through e-books sales.  It's not because we're all perverts, it's because we're all wired this way.  Romance and erotica has come out of the shadows of being sinful, and become something to be read because it's good for us in a way.  For some of us, we write it - but would never tell anyone because it's something to keep quiet - while it's a big seller. 

So, do you read romance or erotic books - or are you too shy to say?  Until my next post, happy reading.    

Paul Dail Giveaway

Paul Dail is a great writer from Utah who I contacted to let know that I reviewed his flash fiction recently.  He was thrilled to know I had gone to the trouble of tracking him down and had a look at my blog post; and loved it!  He posted it onto his Facebook page and onto his own blog as well!  

Very cool!

But what's cooler still is that he is offering up a free copy of his new e-book 'The Imaginings' to the first three followers of my blog who'd like a copy.  All you need to do is contact him on his e-mail:

pdail73 at gmail dot com 

I wish you all luck in being the first three who score a copy of his e-book!  He'd love to also hear from you guys too on his blog Paul D. Dail - A horror writer's not necessarily horrific blog

I hope you guys enjoy the book!  Until my next post, happy reading!
 

Annual Book Count

Over the last few days, I've gotten in and counted up my book collection.  I've had over 1,000 books over Christmas, however, that number's dropped just a little to 991.  Even though it's not over that magic number I thought I had, it's still a lot of books to have in my office.
This doesn't include the books in my kitchen or my lounge room... just the ones in my office surrounding me.  I do wish I could do more to accommodate for more books as I do love to collect them and wish to keep them for future generations; especially the collectable ones.

So, how many books do you have in your collection currently?  Or don't you know and fear to count them all?  Or do you have an approximate number and hope you're close?  Until my next post, happy reading! 

Australia's Best Blogs Announced!

Last month, I posted up that I was taking part in Austarlia's Best Blog; and I hoped you all voted for me - and any other blogs you loved as well.  I just received the e-mail from Random House of the winner for 2013!

Instead of telling you all about this blog in detail, I thought it best to show you the link and you can view all the blogs that made it to the top in their own categories:

Australia's Best Blogs for 2013 

I enjoyed taking part; and I hope to take part again next year.  Until my next post, happy reading!

Racing Along!

Life is a race - sometimes.  But today, I've been invited to a writing race.  This is where I sit down for 3 hours in front of the computer and write as much as I can for that time.  Then, I report back to a Facebook events page and tell my friends (who have also taken part in this race) what I got done.  It sounds like a great way to get myself working on my books and to move my pages along.  I can't wait!

But!  (isn't there always one?)

The time I've gotta do this is during the time of 'Supernatural' being on television.  So, I'll be sitting down this afternoon and doing my 3 hour writing race.  It'll be something I can't wait to do; making my day completely full.

So, if you write, what do you do to keep yourself going?  How do you keep from your work going stale?  Do you take part in writing races or Poetry Slams online (I did that once on Facebook between 8pm and midnight and came out with the best work I've ever done; and ended up putting it into my poetry books).  Let us know - if you're a writer or a teacher of creative writing - how do you keep yourself or your students writing and creating? 
For me, this is one way.  However, I have books to help me and I just keep on plugging away at storylines.  I also have other hobbies which tap into other parts of my brain to help me tackle my writing from another angle, to help me slow down a little and make sure I don't see the forest for the trees instead of being too close to the work.  Well, until my next post, happy reading!   

Hidden Genres

I've been very busy lately.  Busily reading and writing and busily cleaning my house up too.  I also did my annual book count - which came to 991 books here in my little office.  I did have over 1,000 books last year, but I do remember giving away some too, so it's brought the number down by a few.  

I am busy with a few things around the place while I'm reading, however I have mis-placed a few books in the house.  And while I have been tidying up, I've found them!  I found 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins hiding under a few things on my coffee table.  How long that's been there is only going to be a wild guess of mine. 
Then, by the door, I found 'Crossing Paths' by Debbie Robson, 'Kim' by Rudyard Kipling and then, I added to that a book Mum and I searched high and low for at her place:  'Dandelion Wine' by Ray Bradbury.  Mum had put it 'somewhere safe' which happened to be in their overstuffed bookcase by the front door.  

Well, it's been a couple of days and each time I've tidied up something, I've dug up a book or two, or a magazine I've been looking for.  And I've been searching for these thing for weeks... and they're showing up now!  Amazing what happens when you're organising yourself for something else to happen in your life.
And what is the something else that's going to happen for me?  I'm heading into hospital in mid-June for a minor operation, and Mum's going to be looking after me for the next week after I return home.  So, my place has to be in some kind of order to have her stay here with me.  Anyway, what books have you found around your place when you've cleaned up, you've sworn you've lost and yet they've been hiding from you all this time?  Until my next post, happy reading!   

'Free 5 Flash Fiction' by Paul D. Dail

I've been reading some great work lately, and it's not been through my regular means... it's been through free e-books off iTunes, just to be different.  And I found one that totally up my alley which was short, short fiction:  flash fiction - horror fiction!  How very cool is that? 
'Free 5 Flash Fiction' is five short, short stories which are well-written which - by the end of each one will make you wonder exactly how the author came up with them, with such wonderful twists and turns which gives you a horrible shiver up your spine.  Most certainly well worth a read in my eyes. 
Now, normally, I get rid of a book once I've read it, but this time around, I've kept this one on my iPod because I think these stories have resonated with me in some way; and I like that about an author.  Each story has nothing to do with each other, and have totally different feels from each other; and yet the same author wrote them all.  I'd love to read longer pieces he's written - if he's written anything longer - and see if he's able to keep the same feel about his longer work as in his shorter works.  
Paul D. Dail has included a blog in the introduction of his e-book and I'll include it on the sidebar for all of you to have a look at in your own time.  I will be looking at what else there is to read of his works in the future to keep you guys updated with this author.  I do hope to see more of his books soon.  Until my next post, happy reading!  

April Book Buys!

First I must apologise for being a day late in this.  Yesterday, my heart was not in it because it was the anniversary of when I brought my dear little bird home from the pet store 8 years ago.  And I really didn't feel up to writing or doing anything upbeat.  So, please do forgive me (actually, all I did yesterday morning when the alarm when off was pull the covers over my head and wish the day went away... yeah, I really didn't want to be anywhere near humans let alone a computer). 

But today is different.  I don't know how, but it is.  I've been out for a walk and the sun and breeze has made me look at my world differently.  And besides, my neighbour's cat came and sat on my lap, snuggling up to me at the back door seats; as though he knew something was wrong.  How sweet is that?  yeah, I itched like nothing else later on, but how could I resist a snuggle from a dear little cat like that?

Well, onwards with my April Book Buys we go!  I was very good during the month.  Actually, I didn't go anywhere much until the last two weeks; when I had a fortnight of appointments pretty much everywhere you can imagine... except a bookstore!  So, I kept myself from buying anything right up until the Logan Arts Festival when I became a part of the attractions and helped launch Ged Maybury's new book 'Nosebleed'; and he turned his single book launch into a double book launch by relaunching 'I Am Leather-man'!  How cool is that? 
So, while at the Logan Arts Festival, not only did I get up and bumble my way through a speech that was perfect on paper, but horrible when I read it! I also bought a few books while there - all in one day!  I bought 'I Am Leather-man' - a book I've been meaning to purchase all these years, but haven't - and 'Touchstone' by Letitia Coyne (another Logan City writer who put excerpts of this book onto her website, but I wanted to read the whole thing, not excerpts... so had to wait for the book to come out).  Then, just this Monday gone, I was at my craft group when one of the ladies brought along a box of books.  In her collection, she had a copy of 'Jaws' by Peter Benchley.  What a find!  And the best thing is that it's a second edition!  Very cool!  So, what have you found in your ventures in the last month?  Do leave me a comment let us all know.  Until my next post, happy reading!  

Burnt Out

I haven't been in here lately, and there's a good reason for it.  Over the last fortnight, I've been so very busy that I finally burnt out yesterday while working at the Logan Art Gallery during my volunteer work.  I just felt horrible and I really didn't want to be there.

So, I haven't been reading anything, doing much and even my house is only just starting to see the sight of being cleaned up because I need to cook meals.  But the rest of the place isn't good.  

I'm sure I'll be feeling better soon and back to my usual antics of reading, looking at books and book-related things.  But my system just needs a well-earned rest for a few days... you know, plenty of TLC and I'll be back to my old self again in no time.  Otherwise, until my next post, happy reading! 

Ged Maybury's Book Launch

Yesterday, and over the weekend, was the Logan Arts Festival at the Kingston Butter Factory.  However, I only arrived there for the afternoon yesterday to do a speech for Ged Maybury and it finished up for this year.  

I wish I could have spent more time this year than I did.  But I had a family get-together for the first year that marked the passing of my Uncle Allan from Prostate Cancer last year.  We all had brunch at The Coffee Club at Stones Corner and Mum, Dad and I made it to the Kingston Butter Factory by around 1:30pm.  We managed to have a good look around, grab a coffee and enjoy some great live music while we were there.
And I also touched base with The Logan Writers Group to let them know I had arrived for Ged Maybury's book launch - as I was to launch him and his book with a speech.  However, he hadn't arrived as yet, so this gave me time to sit and relax to take in a talk from the organisers of the whole event.  I enjoyed knowing exactly who was working so hard to have us artists heard.

However, soon enough, it was time for Ged and I to take the stage.  Beforehand, I called Mum and Dad to let them know it was about to happen and they showed up and I introduced them to Ged and Anna (Ged's wife) and soon, he and I were preparing the stage to do the book launch.  I nervously took the microphone from the spokeperson of our group and I found myself full of nerves and fumbling my way through my very organised speech... don't you just hate that!  Yeah, me too.
Well, I made it through and everyone laughed in the right places - especially when I said I was nervous - and finally, Ged had a giggle over my nerves too; as he was almost as nervous as me!  So, I guess they're catching.  Anyway, here's the photo album to the day.  I enjoyed myself... as did Ged, Anna and my folks. Until my next post, happy reading.

Logan Arts Festival 2013     

Logan Arts Festival

The Logan Arts Festival is on this weekend from today - Saturday - to tomorrow.  It's a great weekend to be out and about around the Kingston Butter Factory Art Centre to see the who's who in the arts industry around Logan City.  And I'll be there launching Ged Maybury's new book 'Nosebleed' tomorrow afternoon at around 3pm or so.

So, if you'd like to have a good look at some very talented writers - or just to catch up with other artists as well - drop around to the Kingston Butter Factory next to Kingston Train Station.  It's sure to be a wonderful day out for the whole family as this place is not only an arts centre but also one of the historical sights around Logan.

The Kingston Butter Factory used to be used to produce butter for a good part of South East Queensland before demand became too much in the 1970's; and the place was shut down.  The Logan City Council refurbished it and it's now a museum, an arts centre and houses The Butterbox Theatre (which is rumoured around the theatrical community to be haunted... and believe me when I say, it is.  I've worked at the theatre and seen some strange stuff happen there I can't explain!).  This is a great place to visit even when it's not a grand event such as this; and it's free entry too. 
I can't wait until tomorrow to see the place and the whole festival.  I'll be also uploading photos of the event too for those of you who can't make it there for the day.  Until my next post, happy reading!