The Nigella Effect

Hello, I posted this on my writing blog HERE along with my daughter's Princes and Pirate party but thought I would also post Nigella here.

Yesterday I took an impulsive break from my edit and attended the very packed Nigella Lawson book signing at David Jones.

When I say 'impulsive' I mean very last-minute decision to go. I literally shut the laptop and ran for the train wearing my comfortable writing clothes (read 'scruffy'). I arrived at David Jones just as the signing was starting and thought I had found the end of the queue until the frazzled-looking security guard kindly showed me the end of the queue was way, way, way, way, way back snaking around the shopfloor.



Ever the optimist, I jumped right on the end and began making new friends as we waited patiently in line for the domestic goddess herself.



It was a lot of fun to observe normally too-cool-for-school Sydneysiders going slightly crazy over Nigella. She is obviously well-loved in Sydney.



In our house alone, David loves her, as does my Daisy and I have all her cookbooks. Well, I have now that I bought Express yesterday. My middle-sister who has been going blind for years is also potty over Nigella and has been following her movements from her country house in Tasmania since she arrived. I think she admires her for her tenacity in tough times as well as her domestic artistry when it comes to the kitchen.



Amongst the madness and fun, the ever-game and smiling piano player played on in David Jones You can see a better post HERE where more shots were taken including of the smiley piano man .



A sales consultant had fainted. Whether from the excitement of Nigella or from the crowd, I'm not sure.

All good things come to those who wait. It was my turn to meet Nigella when the woman in charge realised I didn't have my book purchased for her to sign. Total chaos! I quickly had to buy one from a valiant sales consultant.



And in the above image you see Nigella smiling at a scruffy looking writer as I threw myself at her like an excited puppy-dog. Note that big smile even though she has been smiling and signing for close to an hour by this stage.



And for those who are curious of what she was really like, I can divulge she has beautiful, pale skin, intelligent, kind eyes, and a very down-to-earth and warm persona. I was thrilled. Too often, I've met famous people who disappoint in real life but Nigella is the genuine article. She may adopt a character for the screen but her charm was sparkling through as she interacted with the people who had queued patiently to have their moment with her.



As I left the store, I was intrigued to see the staff member still lying on the floor nearly an hour later obviously waiting for the ambulance. Hopefully that woman is okay.



I remember when I saw Jerry Hall in the street once. I do love the very Sassy Jerry Hall and I was so impressed by her strut and the way she worked the gawking crowd. There were a bunch of workmen to who she waved and they began singing out to her. She was incredible. Being a person who tends to prefer to observe others, I'm often impressed by those who court fame. That Jerry Hall moment worked its way into my book when my bohemian writer, Pearl in the 1930s thread, struts her way down the main street of my Tasmanian sea-fishing village. Pearl may be clothed in the fashion of the 1930s but I was also seeing Jerry Hall as I wrote, long blonde hair swaying, high heels clicking as she sashayed through a modern-day Sydney street.



Who would you wait in queue for to grab a moment with? When it comes to celebrities it's obvious I'd wait days for Johnny Depp, Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter.



But I was very glad I got a chance to finally meet the sensational Nigella!



Returning back to my edit, I submerged myself back into the world of Pencubitt in the 1930s and was surprised to have a call from the school. Was my daughter sick? No, she was waiting with the Office Reception as I had totally forgotten to collect her.



Such is the effect of the brush with fame for us mortals. I've never forgotten to collect my daughter and so that's what I call the Nigella Effect.

Follow Me to Queen of Preens and Autumn Fires

Hello,

Have you missed me? I've found it difficult to get around the blogs lately due to my edit deadline but if you have missed me - follow me HERE I've been busy editing but still found time to blog about recent family holidays, preening Queens, writing, award ceremonies, and of course Johnny Depp. My edit is coming along nicely and nearing the end but if you want to find me at the moment, I'm in the world of my writing blog. I do miss my pink blog but it's easier for me to blog on my writing blog as I'm editing. Hope to see you there. xx

Fabbo Friday and Exciting Spaces

This week in the steamy heat I went to meet my editor at my agent's house. I wrote about that HERE at the official writing Blog. But speaking of books with beautiful covers, I am mad about the new Frankie book SPACES.

So much loveliness it makes my heart ache. It's filled with inspiring, creative people and their lovely spaces. People like Allison from Lark, Emily Chalmers from CARAVAN and Tif from Dottie Angel. All the pretty, whimsical, retro-twisty you would expect from FRANKIE.

It is now time for Mangos, chilled grapes, sun-hats. The streets are already so hot you melt a little when you walk.
I have to keep my head down and work very hard on my edit which arrived this afternoon via courier. Next week however, I am having a private audience with Allison Dubois from Medium fame, so I'll try to pop in to tell you about that.
In the meantime, I'll aim to keep the writing Blog updated.

Thanks for visiting me and here's another Johnny Depp image to see us into the weekend. xx
Johnny Depp image source

Magnificent, Marvellous, Mighty Monday and The Bromleys

Hello,

I'm on a research trip to the mountains. I don't have computer access or television there. So there's no distractions. It's bliss to write, dream and feel my characters begin to form. I can sense them gathering together for 'Currawong House'. The strike of matches, a prolonged and piercing scream. The smell of turps. But it's very early days and they're not revealing themselves fully yet. At times, they tease me with little hints that they are forming. I need to go to the mountains to wait - and listen.

On Saturday night I saw - compliments of Daily Imprint Blog - Songs for Sylvie at the Seymour Centre.
Torri Dixon-Whittle is one of those people who are so fab and so inspiring, you nearly have to lie down to absorb their fabness. She is the wife/muse of Australian artist David Bromley, whose paintings you can see above. I do love his nostalgic, slightly moody children.
Tori is also an artist - you can find out more about her from this interview at The Daily Imprint Blog, which if you're not following - then JUST DO IT! Nearly every day a lovely inspiring, fab arty person is interviewed by Natalie Walton. She has a varied bunch of totally cool and interesting people from Nikki Gemmell to India Hicks to Clare Press. And she has just started another Blog, Frontliners, which I love (as I'm a long-time Selby fan). Frontliners is a house Blog which features the houses of totally fab and cool-as-cats folk without their homes being too stylized for the shoot.

I can't leave you this week with more inspiration to savour than the Bromleys and Daily Imprint. Have a super fab week and I'll look forward to visiting you all when I return.
Thanks for popping in. xx
david bromley's art source
bromley family photo source
torri dixon-whittle image source

Chit-chat Wednesday and Belinda Alexandra and Miss Flower Potts

Belinda Alexandra is a very lovely person and writer. She's also represented by my agent and it was Belinda who first inspired the gratitude cuppa. Every afternoon, I take time out to sit in my garden and sip tea from a lovely tea cup, whilst I give thanks for everything in my life. I've come to really enjoy this ritual, as too often we're running around focused on the seeds rather than the harvest we've already reaped.

Times have changed. Once after signing a book contract I would have celebrated with a tattoo. I have two tattoos; one for my fantasy trilogy and one when my daughter was born. After signing for Poets Cottage and Currawong House last week at my agent's, I found myself not in a gritty tattoo parlour but in T2, which for tea addicts like myself is heaven. I bought Licorice Legs, Just Lavender and Just Rose. The Just Rose is divine. Roses in a cup.

I also bought three new friends to store my teas and Miss Flower Potts.

My normal tea pot is Miss Violet and we have enjoyed many cups together. But I am in love with Miss Flower Potts and her chirpy gypsy company. She reminds me of the folk singer Donovan.

And so with thanks to the lovely Belinda for her gratitude cuppa tip. I now have a new friend to enjoy my ritual with. And it's a far less painless way to celebrate than the tattooist's needle.

Thanks for popping in. xx

rose image source

belinda alexandra image source

I am flying. Poets Cottage has sold.

I am flying. I am finding it difficult to take in at the moment, even though I've known for a couple of weeks. Today - Spring Equinox - I spent the morning at my agent's signing a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan.

I am swooping over the chimney tops and breaking apart clouds as I say those words again. I've been writing now for six years out of contract. Poets Cottage took me three years to write as I struggled with juggling motherhood and writing.
It has been three years since I stood outside the 'real Poets Cottage' in the Tasmanian evening light watching the full moon rise over her roof and the shadows move in the garden.

She gave her story to me then and I passed it on.

I am soaring with my dreams amongst the stars now. Swoosh! Swoosh! Watch me swoop!

The Spring Equinox is a time of balance, contemplation, celebration and giving thanks. I have a lot to celebrate tonight.

Other things in my life are not so good. The shadows are there with the ongoing health problems of a close family member.

But tonight I will wave to you from the sky wherever you are. If you look out of your window to the night. I am smiling back. xx

chagall image source

Magnificent, Marvellous, Mighty Monday and Sharks, Yellow Roses and Sophie Dahl

Hello,
I spent the weekend working on a crime short story for the annual Sisters In Crime competition. The sunshine was as glorious and light-filled in Sydney as my story was dark.
Here are some lovely things inspiring me as I start my week.
Vintage-style yellow Rose Wallpaper. This lovely paper was recently in the latest Australian Notebook magazine. I do love yellow roses. I've sent for samples of this one (Eglantine) as I'm planning on papering our laundry area and our outside writing shed (Sparrow Chateau). Regular readers will know we've built an outdoor writing shed in our small terrace backyard. Because I've been working on Poets Cottage, I haven't had a lot of time to decorate it. However, we are going to take down our old Hills Hoist line in the next couple of weeks and install an old-fashioned Granny line to open up the space before Sparrow Chateau, so watch this space. I've also ordered the pink and red floral Eglantine for our bedroom. I do love vintage style floral wallpaper. And this one is so beautiful: olde-worlde but with a modern twist and snap.
The Scribe never fails to inspire me. He recently returned from diving with the Great Whites for a story for his magazine. Here is about to enter the shark cage. He went down with the sharks not once but five times and in very choppy conditions as well. He was safe from the sharks (some who he said were bigger than cars). However, a tuna did take a bite out of his finger.
If you care to see a short footage of one of the sharks, it's on his Blog here.
And I can't wait for Sophie Dahl's Cooking show which is coming to Foxtel on September 20th. I think she is the prettiest woman alive, she has the greatest cheekbones. The show sounds wonderful with its literary references and nostalgic blend. I loved her book, Playing With The Grown-Ups.
I hope your week is filled with old worlde glamour, creative and thrilling adventures.
Thank you for visiting me. xx

wallpaper eglantine image source:

sophie dahl image source

Fabbo Friday and Inspiration Boards and Daisy Lane

Hello,
I'm just about to start my new book which is a Young Adult. I always like to assemble a mood board filled with inspiring images when I begin a new book. The images of course aren't meant to be taken literally but rather suggest a palette of colours and energy I'm trying to create.
I can't tell you what the book is about for obvious reasons. I can tell you what it's not about.
There are no vampires.
It is not a dark, psychological brooding mystery with a murder or suicide at the base.
It contains no wizard or witchy schools.
It is not a historical novel.
The idea for this one has been simmering away for about a year as I worked on Poets Cottage. It's always a very exciting time when I start a new book. It really is a lot like giving birth. I like to create circumstances around me to help the book emerge as smoothly as possible. We are coming into a waxing moon at the moment which is very good for starting new ventures.
For the next week or so, I'll take a break from the Blog to get my word count up as high as I can whilst the Scribe is away swimming with sharks.
And for my Fabbo Blog post this week it does not get any fabbier than Allison from Lark. Regular readers will know how much I love her online store and Blog. She has recently begun a new line called Daisy Lane. (How totally perfect!) Her Blog post here explains all her detective work in beginning Daisy Lane. Allison is a woman of vision and I'm so happy that people like her are out there changing the shape of business and how we shop.
And signing off with another man I'm always glad is a part of this amazing planet at this time: Mr Johnny Depp
May this be a time of luminous new beginnings for you wherever you are in the world. xx
All Daisy Lane images via Lark
Johnny Depp images via Depp Impact

mood board images via Google Images

Chit-chat Wednesday and The Wish Box

This has been a shaggy, dreary and harsh winter. We've all been sick in our inner-city abode constantly: the Scribe since March when our dog died (although we think his health may be related to a dive he did), and Daisy hasn't been at school for over a week so we get to play together at home.
Here is a Magic Wishing Box she made where she placed all her wants and wishes into it. (Many more wishes than I photographed here). Her wishes are always for very cute things such as bunny rabbits, eleven sisters and a Prince to kiss her and take her to a castle.
I have some good news. My agent has read Poets Cottage and is happy with it. Now she's going to start offering it to publishers.
My Wishing Box is blowing a trumpet, dancing on spindly glittery legs. Unlike my daughter, I only have a few wishes inside my box.
I do feel as if something good is going to happen.
Sniffs and Coughs from Brick Hospital. Thanks for visiting me. xx

Fabbo Friday and Fab Flick Enid

This is the first movie I've ever watched that I had taped to view later and straight after viewing it ordered from Amazon. It was always going to be a winner with me for the following reasons.
Helena Bonham Carter.
Enid Blyton.
The frocks. Yes, I know thanks to the post on The Washerwoman's Blog that they're not authentic vintage and are Cath Kidston's but I still loved them.
The mystery of what was the 'truth' in the Enid Blyton story.
Enid Blyton’s two daughters, Imogen and Gillian, tell vastly different stories of their mother. They may as well be describing different women. I found that idea so fascinating that it formed quite a large part of the plot of my mystery novel, Poets Cottage. I've always been interested in families’ varying points of view and how that can shape and alter future events . The family unit is such a potent dynamic to work with even when things seem to be in balance - when they're not, it's gold for a Tale Peddler.
The Scribe loathed the character of Enid in the film and some of the scenes are painful to watch. In particular, the scene where Enid has her tiny fans around to enjoy romps and a Blyton tea whilst her banished daughters look on from a distance longingly.
It's interesting to know that the film had to wait to be made until Gillian (daughter who always loved and supported her mother) had died. This left more control to Imogen (daughter who was much harsher in her judgements of Enid).
I am far more forgiving of Enid than the Scribe, who wasn't raised on a diet of Blyton books as I was.
I adored Enid with a passion that I still have to this day. I get misty-eyed thinking of midnight suppers in boarding schools, scummy food with chocolate cake, boiled eggs and lashings of ginger beer. Rabbits holding cosy tea-parties in trees. Fairies hiding in dolls-houses. Talking tea-pots, smugglers, gypsies, wishing-chairs, French-mistresses, argumentative teddy bears. spoilt children and Cherry-tree farm. When I see the words Kirren Island, my heart gives an excited thump.
She gave my childhood (which wasn't always idyllic) some magic, mystery and excitement.
Enid knew full well the power she had on young minds around the world. She took that responsibility seriously. One of the great things about being a mother is I get to revisit all the Blyton worlds and watch my daughter falling under the Blyton spell. Daisy has adored her books from about two. There isn't another storyteller who holds her interest as much as Enid Blyton.
I have no doubt that Enid neglected something to enable her prolific writing (about 700 books in all).
Which raises another question I've been musing over - do you neglect your own children if you know you can make millions of children around the world more joyful, imaginative and caring beings? Which legacy is ultimately more important if you are a writer who has this talent to awaken the imaginative mind?
Have you seen Enid? Let me know if you have what you thought of it. Love or Loathe Enid Blyton? I thought Helena was inspired casting for Blyton. She's English to the core and watching her walk, the manner in which she spoke to people in the film – it was very true of a lot of writers I've met.
Here's a link to a newspaper article on this topic. There was a rather good article on this on the UK Telegraph several years ago but it's been removed.
And my favourite new Blog for the week is a Swedish woman by the name of Chez Larsson. She has a stupendous Blog if you are interested in organising, culling and making life neater around you. I badly need her services. Her post on magazines was particularly impressive. Here's a link.
Signing off for another week with the incredible duo of Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp.
Enjoy your weekend. Hope it is filled with family, fun and lashings of ginger beer. xx
"Mothers were much too sharp. They were like dogs. Buster always sensed when anything was out of the ordinary, and so did mothers. Mothers and dogs both had a kind of second sight that made them see into people's minds and know when anything unusual was going on." (The Mystery of the Hidden House.) - Enid Blyton

images of enid film source

johnny depp and vanessa source

Chit-chat Wednesday and Cosy Days

We've just passed the Winter Solstice in Australia and I've been enjoying cosy days in our little brick terrace. One advantage of a small house is that it doesn't take a lot to heat. These couple of pics show where I've been scribbling in notebooks. They feature a few things I love in a room: black-and-white checkerboard floors, vintage chandeliers (I have a pink one in my kitchen), stained glass window and fairy lights.
I've also:
Finished Poets Cottage after nearly three years since it was first conceived in Tasmania on a family holiday (August 2007). At 93 000 words, it's one of my smallest books but I'm very happy and proud of it for many different reasons.
Visited my hairdresser who must have thought I had died or moved after three months of not seeing me. My new profile pic shows me chirpy now that I can see.
Been writing crime short stories for the annual Sisters in Crime competition. I love writing short stories after finishing a novel.
Lost everything (except photos and my draft manuscripts) in a major computer crash the day after I finished Poets Cottage. I had no computer for a week which was rather lovely when I got over the initial horror.
Bought a few goodies from op-shops and EBay. More to come on that.
Cheered my lovely daughter on in her first-ever sports carnival. Having been totally pants at sports all my life, it was amazing to see how good Daisy was. She won two seconds (javelin-throwing and long-distance sprint) two thirds and a ribbon for good effort
The photo of her running here is a race she actually lost when she turned around to see where her friend was. I love it, because it shows her enjoyment of the race.
I've been reading The Elegance Of The Hedgehog, a wonderful book. Bit slowish at first but if you persist you're rewarded with a magical read. This was my bookclub pick.
How about you? What cosy things are inspiring you or what are you up to? What features do you like to have in a house to feel 'right' in?
Do drop me a line. I'd love to know.
And a reminder that my giveaway closes next Monday and I'd hate for you to miss out.
Thanks for visiting me. xx

Magnificent, Marvellous, Mighty Monday and Massive Giveaway at Tale Peddler!

Hello,
I missed you all and I'm so pleased to finally be back blogging to celebrate the end of writing Poets Cottage. (Yes, it's true! Poets Cottage is finally with my agent!). Also to celebrate Tale Peddler turning ONE. How can this be true? It seems only a few months since I tried to fathom Google Blogger out! And also to say thank you to all the lovely and fab people who have commented, followed, lurked and been there for me in that year as I continued to attempt to fathom the mysteries of Blogger…
To celebrate all these things - I am having a Giveaway!
And so gentle ladies and gents, do not push, poke and become all frantic to get to the goodies. You do have a week.
Up for grabs in the first-ever Tale Peddler giveaway is the following:
1/ A very pretty, cute and lovely purse/make-up bag from one of my favourite King Street shops, Pretty in Pink. Quite appropriate as Tale Peddler began life as a shocking pink colour. To celebrate I have gone pink again!
2/ Not one but three current Australian magazines. This is a great chance for an overseas reader to grab some magazines not available in their country and also for Australians to stock up. I have the wonderful, whimsical, pretty and clever Frankie, and Frankie's older sister still clever crafty and vintage, Notebook. And Australian Country Style with some super country homes and its usual beautiful styling and photography.
3/ And there's also some divine Hedgehog bookplates by the wonderful Emily Martin from Inside a Black Apple. My house is beginning to look a bit like Emily's Blog with all the prints I've been buying. These plate are from Emily's fab Etsy Store here.
4/ And of course, it wouldn't be a Tale Peddler giveaway without Johnny Depp. Here is a sealed DVD of one of my favourite Johnny movies, Secret Window where he plays a writer. It's not one of his more well-known films and the writing isn't terrific but he's in good form and it's a little bit creepy as well.
You know the drill. You have to either be a follower of Tale Peddler or a Facebook friend to enter. If you are on Facebook, leave a comment in the comment box or tick the like box and you shall have your chance.
If you are a follower leave me a comment and you are then eligible. And if you mention this giveaway on your Blog or Twitter and let me know - you get a double chance!
This giveaway is open to all countries, hedgehogs and other galaxies if they so desire.
And the Magic Hat - who normally only ever appears at The Magic Hat Bookclub - has kindly agreed to be the vessel for the lucky duck's name who will be pulled out and announced next Wednesday. And so calling all Lucky Ducks to get your entry in!
I really can't believe it's been a year and I'm still here trying to work out Blogger. I had promised myself to buy a proper Blogging book and I never did. I'm as perplexed by the Blogging business as I was the first day I began Tale Peddler. And I remain eternally uplifted by how much talent, beauty and inspiration there is to be found in the Blogging world.
Thanks for reading and being there in my first year.
xx

Chit-Chat Wednesday and Making Lemonade

Hello,
It has been rather a bumpy old start to the year for me. More crumbly old things happening than good but that's okay I do believe when life gives you lemons - make lemonade.
On the crumbly side first, Alfie died and I lost my part-time job which had supported my writing admirably for the last fourteen years. I had began working for a large department store in Sydney when I was at art school. I started as Counter Manager for an Australian aromatherapy counter and then progressed onto a well-known French brand of cosmetics and skin care. I still have no idea of why exactly I lost the job - it was one of those situations where nobody communicates anything to you.
I turned up for my regular shift to find another person in my place. How rude! But not unexpected as sadly this type of treatment is typical in retail. I am more shocked by the fact I was employed there for as long as I was. Consultants are blamed for any drop in sales no matter what outside conditions are. In my best Scarlett O' Hara impersonation, I shake my fist to the sky and vow 'As god and fellow Bloggers are my witness,I swear I'll never work in retail again!'
On the sunny side, I have been watching Midsomer Murders which is a series I came to late. My parents had watched and enjoyed it for years. Being the mad Agatha fan I am, I didn't think it would be my cup of tea but I've come to love and appreciate life in Midsomer. Love the surreal blend of the gruesome and cozy. John Nettles is perfect casting! Of course the true stars of Midsomer are those divine cottages and gardens.
I've been working hard on my mystery, Poets Cottage. I'm very close to sending the entire book to my agent and so fingers crossed it will be sold. With no income at all, publication is even more desirable than usual. I've been loving Poets and enjoying spending time in 1930's Tasmania. The image of the white cottage above was taken when I was on holiday in in Stanley, Tasmania, where I formed the idea for Poets. Two houses in Stanley inspired the two houses in Poets Cottage. If you squint you can make out yours truly, holding up Daisy.
Speaking of lovely houses, I've fallen in love with the blog Posy which a lot of you will be familar with already. During the Easter break, I read a lot of Posy's archives and love the way Jane is so frank about her life, her family and of course her floral, pretty decorating style. Just a lovely reminder of how many great Blogs and people are out there.
Because I no longer have to stand in a department store all weekend (hip, hip, hurray!) I've been loving spending time with my family on the weekends, doing family excursions and bird-watching trips which I shall post about later.
It's a glorious time of year in Sydney with the balmy Autumn weather. So I'm as broke as a church mouse but my soul is now my own and I no longer have to answer to dysfunctional managers. It is time for a new direction for me. I've had far too long doing odd jobs to pay my way with writing and I really have to start to think seriously about retraining in some new field.
But for a short time, I want to enjoy my freedom. Hope all is well with you and if life is giving you lemons, you know what to do with them! Just watch for the pips.xx
Midsomers Image source

Magnificent, Marvellous, Mighty Monday and 'Poets Cottage' inspiration

This week I thought you might be interested to see a few images that inspired my current book in progress, 'Poets Cottage'.
On our last trip to my home state of Tasmania, we treated ourselves to a week in the sea-fishing village of Stanley, renting the historic Captain's Cottage. I'm a big lover of sea-fishing villages and Stanley in many ways is like entering an Enid Blyton book. The town is filled with historic cottages, dramatic seascapes and a large gothic cemetery by the sea. The magnificent Regency-style mansion Highfield has thousands of tales brewing inside it, including a very tragic story of the daughter of the original owners, who was killed when her pet dog dragged her into a fence while leading her around in her toy buggy. And I fell in love with a beautiful Georgian-style house that looks a little like the Bronte parsonage.
My book 'Poets Cottage' was born as I chatted to locals and walked the beach. All the visual elements surrounding me, sheep grazing in cemeteries, cottage-style gardens, the ocean, large houses filled with screams of grief, ghosts that wouldn't rest. Family secrets. Tasmanian devils. Bohemia. Sea-changes. The 1930s. A town where crime never happens... until it does.
My characters were so vivid it was as if they materialized and introduced themselves. And the theme of the book – family secrets and lies, memory and truth – was always there.
The book came quickly. The first draft flowed easily and my agent was happy with the chapters. I’m now working through another draft. I hope you enjoy these few early holiday inspiration shots that inspired Poets Cottage. I shall post some more inspiration photos next week.