The Writer’s Life | Fiona Palmer

Archive for the Category »The Writer’s Life «

Feb 2011

With the girls

Yes that wonderful time came around again…bookclub. The gang met at our host house for the night. (A few girls missing from the picture and Catherine was too busy taking her own pics!) Thanks Di for a brillant night and the fab choc dessert birthday cake. (I love the fact that there were only 5 candles…not 32!)

I even made a wish! Talk about feeling very spoilt and having a ball…bit of a late one, but so worth it. I think we managed to talk about books, a few times. Then when my book came out (as its our next read…well not for me…I need a break from it!) we were in fits of laughter as bits of Heart of Gold was read out. (It was cringe worthy!!) I must say its an uncomfortable feeling having your words read out…especially the naughty bits!

The girls looking to see if they know anyone in it! Thanks Ladies for a super night out and all the birthday wishes!

Category: Events, Heart of Gold, The Writer's Life 2 Comments

Feb 2011

First Chapter

By Fiona

Hi all, well the first chapter is up for Heart of Gold. You can read it on the right under the book cover. –> –>

This was my view over the weekend in Esperance. Went down for my sister in law’s wedding, which was also on the beach. It was beautiful and we got to catch up with everyone and spend time with our adorable niece.

The colour of the water was amazing…hopefully we will go back again soon. I didn’t get any writing done but now that school has gone back…yes, I took a very quiet minute to enjoy my empty house…I will now get back into the edits for Sarah’s Journey. Also have to start organising my launch details etc, so will have them up shortly.

Those in WA who would get a copy of The Wagin Argus would have seen the big picture of the new book and details about the launch. I will be having a few launches, as well as booksignings in Perth, Busselton and maybe Margaret River on the week of the 14th March. Will keep you all in the loop.

Category: Everyday Life, Heart of Gold, The Writer's Life 4 Comments

Jan 2011

Work

By Fiona

Okay, for those of you who are wondering what i’ve been up to since finishing the first draft on Sarah’s Journey…well work! I’ve taken two weeks off work…shop work, not mum or author work….and managed to sand back and re-varnish our front doors and re-oil the deck. Yes, my back is soooo sore but it had to be done.

I don’t know about you, but it was worth it, as it all looks vibrant and almost new again. I even bee’s waxed our french doors, which is the second set of doors, that go into our bedroom. I love the smell of bee’s wax floating through the house…my husband, not so much.

But its not all hard work! I went into town yesterday and caught up with family. A new baby Hicks to cuddle and gush over…yes, i’m one of those clucky people over babies. What can I say, I can handle a bit of baby poop and vomit…argumentative, rude, naughty 7 and 5 year olds…not so much. (And they are no where near teenagers yet *sigh*)

While doing all this ‘other’ stuff, my writers brain is still ticking over, have no fear. Already trying to fine tune some thoughts for the fourth book – a little more research is needed yet before I can write my outline. Then there is my YA book I wrote I would like to go back over and do another draft on. But today I really need to get some bookwork done. Just looking at the pile of bits is making my head hurt. So off I must go, before I find something better to do….like the six books on my TBR pile. x

Category: Everyday Life, Family, Only in the country, The Writer's Life One Comment

Jan 2011

Heart of Gold

By Fiona

Here is the cover for the new book due out on the 28th Feb this year. I love the old shearing shed in the background, i’ve been in a few that look similar so it’s nice to have something that relates.

Also below is the trailer for Heart of Gold…just a little something so you know whats to come. x

heart of gold trailer

Category: Heart of Gold, News, The Writer's Life 23 Comments

Dec 2010

Xmas

By Fiona

On Saturday we had a visit from Santa and the whole town and more rocked up to watch the kids get their presents. Can you believe there are just over fifty presents under the tree!!! We were most upset to find the mice had a munch on the red velvet on Santa’s chair but we were able to hide it. It was a great night but I was totally worn out and now we have just under another year before we need to think about organising the next one.

It’s forcast as a ripper hot one here for Christmas (38-40) so we are lucky to be heading to the coast. Wost thing is packing up all the pressies…only to bring them all back lol. Looking forward to sitting by the beach with a good book. And i have lots to pick from as I have about seven to read!! hmm don’t think i will get through them all in a week! I’d love to get through one!

Any way I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. I love Christmas for the fact that it brings families together. Also I wish you all the best for the New Year. Great things to come in 2011!!

I have put up the trailer for Heart of Gold on my facebook page, but it will be up on the website in January for those who don’t fb.

Category: Heart of Gold, Only in the country, The Writer's Life, Uncategorized One Comment

Dec 2010

My desk

By Fiona

This is my little area for writing. It used to be the desk with my sewing machines on it…but they have been put into ‘permanent’ storage! Lets face it…I can’t sew to save myself…just a few running repairs is the best I can manage.

I usually park my butt in the chair, sometimes light a smelly candle and bung on some music. Although the music has to be in the background…if I have it too loud I end up getting lost in the song…and not my characters. I have draws for ideas, my past books and future stories, RWA stuff in another and my current info next to my computer. I have a diary of the year so I can plan out the books…need to have the seasons right. Also water…if I don’t have water on hand I tend to get hungry and end up side tracked by food. Writing isn’t the best job for keeping fit…hence I always wanted an outside physical job so I didn’t need to excercise.

We are now nearly a week a way from Christmas so I wish you all a wonderful time and all the best for the new year! I’ve done all my Christmas shopping so the stress is over for me. Already have a few new books to read…so i’m very happy. Also the new cover for the book should be able to be posted up soon.

Category: The Writer's Life, Uncategorized, Writing Leave a Comment

Sep 2010

Newdegate

By Fiona

Well I spent two days in Newdegate for the field days…and boy was it cold. I was lucky to be invited to attend as this year they had set up a Women in Agriculture tent. It was a brilliant idea and I got to meet so many wonerful people. Victoria Brown was one of them. www.victoriabrownpoet.com.au A wonderful lady and a born entertainer. I had the pleasure of listening to her perform a few poems and my favourite was The Local Elders Man. She hails from Esperance way, a friend of Fleur’s. Even though Fleur couldn’t make it, Esperance was represented well.

We also got to hear from the Rural Woman of the Year, Sue Middleton. Some great topics were discussed! Also the tent had poems, short stories and photo’s of women in agriculture. A large map sat on a table for everyone to pin a flag on where they had come from…very interesting.

In our special tent was a chef who was cooking some marvoulous things, the aroma certainly set my tummy off. Wednesday arvo we had a local Hyden farmer cook some steaks to go with the beer tasting. My husband brought the kids over and they got their faces painted, show bags, special balloons and their fair share of fun. Your wallet is sooo much lighter when you leave. I finally managed to dodge the rain to get my bacon spud from the van and a bag full of donughts. Yep, I was in heaven lol.

Category: Books, Events, The Writer's Life Leave a Comment

Aug 2010

Events

By Fiona

Sept 1-2

I have been invited to the Newdegate Field Days on the Wed 1^st and Thurs 2^nd, and so has Fleur McDonald. I was talking to Fleur this morning and she said she can make it for the Wednesday, which will be great. We will have all day to catch up! So if anyone is coming along, drop by and say hi to us. I will have books available too and hopefully so will Fleur.

Looking forward to catching up with lots of people, field days are great for that. I was told that all the sites have been booked out so that is a great sign. They have done a lot of work with Women in Agriculture as the theme. Heaps of great things happening and available, I’m sure I read pampering…I love that word!! Next week all the details come out with The Countryman….and I believe an article on moi. It’s an interview which I did a few weeks back and the photo was taken a few months before that. She took a heap of photos so I’m interested to see which one they picked. It will feature my second book in paper form with yellow sticky notes hanging out of it.

Sept 5

And on Sun 5^th I will be in Nyabing at the Golf club at 2pm to have a few drinks and nibbles for a good ol’ chit chat. If you’re in that area, details should be circulating.

Category: Events, The Writer's Life Leave a Comment

Aug 2010

Melbourne

By Fiona

Before we went to Sydney for the RWA conference we stopped off in Melbourne to stay with my hubby’s nan in Yarraville, not far from the west gate bridge. Williamstown is also nearby, which we stopped at for fish and chips and treats while we looked over the water at the city.

While there, we went to Camberwell, where Penguin has its office and we got the tour and meet many of the people I email. I now have faces for all these names. The kids managed to behave until the last fifteen minutes so then we caught some trams to the Melbourne Museum.

I loved seeing the Titanic Artefact exhibition. Seeing the room re-creations of the first and third class and the grand staircase were amazing. The kids loved touching the wall of ice and my hubby liked the construction parts and the huge spanners. (the kids rushed through at a million miles an hour…so if you’re thinking of going, don’t take your kids if you can!! And Blake set off one of the sensors, no doubt breathing heavily over the glass box – ‘That’d be our boy’ said hubby. lol) But when we got out to the rest of the Museum we found Blake his dinosaur bones and he was happy! He didn’t like the room with all the stuffed animals…I didn’t like having to answer all his interesting questions either!

Category: Family, The Writer's Life Leave a Comment

Aug 2010

Romance Writers Conference

By Fiona

Well I had so much fun at the Romance Writers Association Conference in Sydney. Look at where we were right on the waterfront at Coogee! On Thursday I attended a workshop and we had Wendy Harmer – http://www.wendyharmer.com/ – who is an author of chick lit, hen lit and YA books and a well known comedian. Yes she had us in fits of laughter as she showed us some of her nags from her book Nagging for Beginners. Hilarious stuff.

We had one of the writers from the Underbelly series talk and many others. We were fed well also…one of my favourite parts…the choc éclairs were scrummie.

On Friday afternoon it was the big book signing event and I was positioned next to Bronwyn Parry. It was great to finally meet Bron along with Helene Young who you can all find on http://www.outbackromances.com/

I also got to meet Bec Sampson who was in an online critique group who helped crit the first few chapters of my book that’s due out in March next year. Yes MARCH next year….i can’t wait.

I spent some time with my publisher and met another Penguin author Katherine Scholes. I got her to sign my copies of her book too. Already finished one and loved it.

I will have some more photos and updates of my trip but when my husband returns home on the weekend with my camera.

Category: Australian Outback Romances, News, The Writer's Life 2 Comments