Absent Authors

Hi Folks

Well , it seems like winter has finally arrived.  If you are following me on Facebook you'd know I've been very busy.  Firstly, with my oldest daughter in her last year of high school we are trying to focus on her needs... but with the year starting out as it did, with not one but two major flood events, the cruise (which was fun despite hearing about the floods and being unable to get home) and youngest daughter starting her new part time job... life continues to be hectic.

Beyond my writing commitments, I am also a member of the local Rotary Club so that takes up a lot of my spare time... but I have been busy. 

I also have 6 chicks growing nicely.  At just over 3 weeks, they are now in a brooder box, where they are kept warm, fed and watered.

There they are! All fluffy and cute and getting their first feathers.  They will stay in there another 3 - 4 weeks until they are big enough to go out into a pen with lots of shredded paper. 

They've about quadrupled in size since hatching... 

And I think Winter has finally arrived... 

Today it is so cool and wet.  I think many of us are over that whole wet thing right now.  This is the view from the back steps.  The lovely lush green look has left the grasses in the cattle yards behind us and become a drab olive.  But we have to be patient as we suffer through this next season. At least it isn't as bad as sweltering through summer.  (Which is not my favourite season.) 

Even Teddy has got into the act with his tshirts.  The nights are cooling down and on cold days he snuggles into his shirts. As you can see though, he's not exactly overly concerned, is he? Oh and I'll only be intermittently online over the next week... I'm heading for ... Tasmania!  Checking on my parents and attending a conference with the darling hubs... So if I get a few minutes, I'll try and upload some pics of that too.

Apart from that... Writing... Yes, I'm still working away, though at the moment I'm working at the dining table while we have the chicks in the brooder... 

I've finally finished the rough draft of Dark Souls!  After 18 months I am soooo pleased to say "The End."  It's horrendously dark... and in need of a very heavy edit.  But I won't be getting to that in the next few weeks.  

I've also submitted the sequel to Blame The Wine and fingers crossed my lovely Total-E-Bound editor Sue loves it.  It's not anywhere near as light but it promises a bumpy road to love.

And I'm working on a piece, currently titled A Bar In Paris... Oh this one is really different... 

I also have a couple of Blog Tours lined up and ....

I'm going to be on radio again!  Tomorrow night I am joining Elaine Raco Chase on Triangle Radio's Authors Corner. More details soon, and I even promise to upload the link to the pod cast. If you happen to be around at 10.00 pm Eastern, make sure you log in and listen. This is my first ever US radio interview and I'm stoked!  There's also an added treat for listeners!

With a range of books releasing between now and August I'm beavering away at the computer. So keep an eye out... follow my facebook or twitter pages for excerpts and updates (and other little things!).  Just click on the links at the top.

So that’s all  my news...

I’ll be back again soon!

Imogene

Winter/Summer what's the difference?

Man...it's freezing again today. They tell us that the temps are going to start dropping again this week. I knew it was too good to be true. *sigh*

Meanwhile, I am reliably informed, it's sweltering in New York. But right about now, I'd settle for Spring weather. Actually I settle for 10 degrees warmer, even. I can't seem to feel my toes half the time...

But today's blog is more a quick look at the way weather plays a funny part in Australian authors lives vs those living in the UK and USA.

Last month I participated in the Science Fiction Romance Brigades Summer Solstice Blog Hop (which is really funny because I was freezing my patooties off here while putting it together) and I am due to participate in a Summer Scavenger Hunt soon (right smack dab in the middle of winter - frosts and all!) Yes, for us here in Australia it is mid winter. So I'm writing scenes and blogs about summer while wearing my usb warming gloves. Usually while sitting in the warmest winter 'jamas I own, in bed.

5 major differences:

Food:

Salads and Barbeques vs Casseroles, Roasts and Fresh Bread

Clothes:

Bikinis, Shorts and Sarongs vs Jumpers, thermals and bed socks (don't forget the mittens!!)

Drinks:

Ice Cold Tea and Milkshakes vs Hot Chocolate (but the marshmallows help)

Activities:

Swimming & reading beachside vs board games inside & romantic fireside interludes

Shoes:

FlipFlops (Thongs) and sneakers vs Boots and warm slippers

Soo... yes, I will be thinking slightly envious (and warming) thoughts of you all over there, while I quietly turn into an ice block over here...

And to news...

Starburst is finally complete (well, sort of...) It's still horrendously rough, but the bones are there now. Next week... when it's warmer... when the kids go back to school... Nope, I won't be procrastinating here...much :)



But it feels pretty good to be able to say it :) So that episode of my life is closing - there only being one short story to go... and then that universe is complete.

Imogene

Midwinter In Queensland & Summer blogs.

You know, I am participating in Midsummer blog hops...the SCP Summer Scavenger Hunt... and it is the cold midwinter here.  I am currently sitting in bed with warm socks, warm pajamas and my dog snoring at the end of the bed.

It seems funny, that somehow, somewhere, in the northern hemisphere they are wearing shorts and flip flops and basking in the warming rays of the sun.  Today, was wet, drizzling and overcast... Tomorrow we are going to reach the heights of around 9 degrees ... in Fahrenheit that is something like 48.2. By any standard that is cold. (Trust me if I had icicles to put into the font, I would!)  Oh and the temps are still dropping.  Gulp.

So...where will you find me in June?  Maaann... I am actually going to have a slightly quieter month.  I am participating in the SFRB Midsummer Blog Hop (in the middle of winter), gearing up for the Secret Cravings Scavenger Hunt and my group of friends from Hotter Than Hades and I are running our first competition and you get to participate.

Apart from that, I will be on my Facebook page.  Oh yes, and the next set of edits for the Star of the Fleet should be arriving soon.  :)

But to keep you looking, I thought I would share a lovely picture that epitomizes for me what I am missing in winter:

 

This is Fraser Island in summer.

As the crow flies (ie in a roughly straight line) about 200-250km (125-155 miles) away...Look at those beaches and the beautiful blues and greens.  

However, here in Gayndah, frosts are the go each morning as the cattle moo and low on the wind.  Even the birds are later rising. 

Well, I hope that gives you an insight into where I live and the cool/cold/freezing winters.

Until next time...

Imogene.