This Mutant Life

Writing is an adventure for me, in much the same way reading is. I love the surprise of discovering how my characters will behave when they find themselves challenged in certain ways and how they fit into different environments. So my writing tends to touch on many different genres. 

The novel I have been working on for nearly a decade now is Young Adult Distopian Fiction, but my short stories have crossed crossed through horror, science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, children and adult fiction.  

Neo-pulp is the latest which I have tried to mould my words to. A clever and very talented writing friend of mine, Ben Langdon, has put together a neo-pulp fiction anthology in two parts and invited me to submit a piece.

This in itself was a challenge, as in the past I have only really ever written stories as they have come to me. I don't usually sit down and write short stories with a purpose or genre in mind, but I am always up for the challenge. 

The story which evolved from that reasonably excruciating process is called ‘Immortal’ and I am pleased to say it was accepted for the anthology.  It’s pretty exciting to be included alongside some very talented writers.

Part One, This Mutant Life is available now 

and Part Two, Bad Company, which will contain my story, will be available soon.

More info can be found on Ben’s website and blog

Post Varuna

Time moves along so quickly doesn't it? 

I guess it does when you need more of it, and then when you only have an hour left until knock off time that one hour can take forever. 

My magical time at Varuna was some time ago now. It seems like a blip in my distant past, but I don't want it to slip by without me acknowledging what an amazing experience it was.

If I could have written a description of a perfect retreat for a writing mother I couldn't have crafted it better. Ten days to write, bush walk, drink tea and finish a thought in what ever order I wanted, whenever I wanted. Wonderful food, cooked for us by a beautiful and thoughtful woman, and best of all the wonderful company of four other writers.

It wasn't a breeze though. Actually, I found aspects of it quite confronting and revealing. After being at home for the kids for eight years, having the opportunity to sit down and work for a long period of time, without interruption, was very difficult. It took me a couple of days to find my rhythm. 

That was my room, up the top

Also daunting was being in a house steeped in writing history. Sitting, knowing that many great published authors had sat at the same desk, slept in the same bed, written great, and I'm sure some not so great sentences, in the same space I was in. There were many moments of feeling like an intruder. The little voice inside somewhere whispering, 'This is a mistake. You shouldn't be here. You're work is not worthy.' But do you know what. Thanks to the wonderful HC editors we worked with, and mostly thanks to the other wonderful woman I shared the time with, that little voice is gone. I don't know about gone for good, but certainly gone for the time being.

Then there were the ghost stories. Mostly centred around the room I was staying in and visitations by Eleanor. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep, despite sitting up in the middle of the night and politely asking Eleanor not to make an appearance as I didn't think I had a strong enough constitution.

I guess once it is out there, it's just out there.

Here I am now, back at home after a very unproductive winter. I have contracted the children not to catch any more viruses! 

Spring is here and I plan to make use of her. 

Thank you to the wonderful people at Varuna, Arts Australia and HarperCollins for the wonderful opportunity. 

Bundeena

Some photographs I took around Bundeena late last year, while visiting my gorgeous, talented and always supportive friend Teressa.

It's only 7 weeks until I fly to Sydney and head to Varuna for the development program. Nervous. Excited. Shit scared really.

Catching up

I'm a little behind myself at the moment. Well really I feel like that most of the time. Always trying to catch up. Sometimes that's okay, sometimes it's not.

Back in spring last year Daniel's school had a wonderful spring fair which propelled me in to craft land at a great speed.

These some of the little creations I whipped up. It was such a frenzy that I am still finding my feet - and I have to say I am a little burnt out. I haven't picked up a crochet hook or a piece of felt since. Phew.

One can have too much felt in their life!

Starting to get the urge again, just in time to start making for this years spring fair.

Can I call myself a writer now?

You'll never guess what. 


A little while ago I put forward my novel, for a manuscript development award, through Varuna and Harper Collins. To my complete surprise it was shortlisted just before Christmas. Then, just two days ago, my story was chosen as one of the final five. 


I'm still in shock.


So in May, I will head to the Blue Mountains, for a 10 day writers retreat, where I will meet with a HC editor.


I'm not sure that I can yet fully comprehend this. They liked my work! 

Does this mean I can call myself a writer?

nearly there

Slowly slowly. The bench tops have been poured and polished and look fabulous. Only another couple of weeks and we will be able to move in. Touch wood. It's been eighteen months!

the not so lovely

Today we witnessed something truly and utterly disturbing. It was something that I have witnessed before, but had wished my children to be sheltered from forever. 

How does one explain domestic violence to a six and a three year old?

Just up the road from our school, while buckling my kids into the car,  a young boy, about 12, was involved in a horrendous and violent argument with his much older sister.

Every fibre of my body was torn, and that sick feeling of uselessness is still nestled deep in the pit of my stomach. I so wanted to help this boy, who was sobbing through obscenities. His adolescent frame was hunched on the ground, cowering over his fallen bike. 

I wanted to help him, but I could not move. For moving left my own children vulnerable. I buckled them in, closed the doors and watched, making sure that my presence was felt and that it would somehow curb the fury.

The police arrived, but the boy had become extremely aggressive. He was filled with the rage of a grown man. His young face distorted, his muscles tense, hands clenched. 

How does a child come to know that kind of rage?

The boy was running up and down the road, two policemen fencing him in while another came to take my details. I told him that I had not seen the argument start, but the boy had taken a 'flogging.'

The mans response stunned me.

'I doubt the boy is blameless,' he said. 'He's known to us.'

What does that mean exactly? That he has made some mistakes and deserves to be beaten? That he is somehow responsible for his actions, or reactions, even though he doesn't yet have the capacity to think as an adult?

While giving my details the boys parents arrived. His mother stepped from the beaten up car and started screaming words that have no place in any language.

And while hearing these words flying between mother and son, and father and sister, all that was left for me to hear was the resounding story that was left floating in the spaces between.

Tonight I feel so, so, sad. Somewhere in my little town is a boy who has had his life stolen. Had his choices peeled from around him, by the people who are supposed to love him and nurture him.

steiner v's state

Well, it seems as though we have decided to take our son out of state school and enrol him into class one at the local Steiner school. 

Even though I know this is the right decision, I feel like such a traitor. His current school is such a lovely little school, he has some lovely friends, and I have made  some lovely friends, but in the end, it is what it is, and it isn't right for Daniel.

Then I think, I should stay and try to make a difference, to support the school and contribute to change. But when is that going to happen? I can't see it happening in the short term, when it is important for my children.

When will our leaders realise that our children are children, and stop treating them like little adults. Stop pushing academia on them. Let them learn at their own pace, and stop pressuring teachers into an unrealistic and unproductive curriculum. 

The change has to come from a national level. It seems to me that there is only so much one individual can change at a local level.

my creative space

It's that time of year again...

when I convince myself that even though I have struggled to do anything crafty all year, now I will miraculously be able to make all our christmas gifts.

So I have embarked on that journey, as mad and overwhelming as that may be, because in the end, even after all the late nights, it is so nice to give someone something you have made, with love.

The kids are in on the project to, although they seem to be lacking in enthusiasm already.

Pop over here for more crafty inspiration

Thanks to Roald Dahl's 'Georges Marvelous Medicine' my children are into mixing up all sorts of wonderful potions. I am terrified they will get to it and mix something dreadful while I am not looking, and then drink it, in hope of growing out through the roof of the house. Thanks Mr Dahl!

AHGGG

What is it about builders? I was warned and I didn't believe. They all told me, "watch out, they won't do what you want. They will do it their own way." But we talked to our builder. He seemed great. He was happy to do all the little things I wanted. Happy to use low VOC glue and recycled wood. Happy to follow the Specs. That's what he said.


But he didn't. He hasn't. None of the Tradie's have! They have all just gone off and done their own thing, and now are pissed off at me because I am making them do it again. If they had just done their job in the first place, it all would have been OK.


Oh what a naive fool am I.

my creative space

Who knew renovating could be so stressfull? OK. Everyone does! But honestly, I didn't excpect myself to be having anxiety attacks over light fittings.

Turns out I have very expensive taste and I guess that is what my anxiety attacks are really about. I'm not good at making decisions that are reasonably permanent and cost lots. I'm good at the easily changeable, cheap, op shop kind.

Of course it doesn't' help that I have two very distinct sides to my taste palette. There is the more eclectic, just a bit messy and chaotic side, which likes loud clashing colours, crazy mosaics and granny rugs. This is in competition with the super clean lined, minimalistic, neutral coloured designer in me.

So how then do I make the two huge enamelled green industrial shades I have work with the sleek brushed silver wall lights I have just ordered. I'm just going to throw it all in the pot and stir, so stay tuned! 

All in all it's all going well, perhaps a little slower than expected. It is extremely exciting to see it all taking shape.




For more creative spaces visit kootoyoo

my creative space

It's been a while since I've been here. During the craziness of trying to renovate in the wettest winter in years, children, writing a novel and life in general, the blog has slipped down the list of proirities. Actually, I need to write that list out soon and reorganise it. I suspect these are a few other things that could be bumped to the bottom, or removed altogether, like perhaps house work or picking up after other people.

My little girl turned three in August, and after much deliberation about what to giver her, with one week to go, and in a completely delusional state, I decided to make her a Steiner style doll. And I did it too!

I decided to make it with the kids, instead of keeping it a surprise, and I was amazed at how much they enjoyed the process. Eloise has an extra little bit of love for this doll, knowing that she had taken part in her conception. 

We are pretty proud of how Dolly turned out. She is made out of my old white nightie, dyed in tea - with some spices to give her a lovely aroma. The wool stuffing I had lurking in a box in a dark corner, under some other 'stuff', and the hair I had left over from a crochet project. We made up the pattern as we went along with thanks to many websites on the subject. I'll list them soon, for those who might be interested. The lovely dress was found in the local op shop, knitted by someone with love.

This was another project that I started a while ago. The green apple pants by 'mer-made-it' had been grown out of and I couldn't bear to let them go. So, out came the scissors and the needle. The waist was let out and then I crocheted some extra length on the bottom. 


The hilarious thing is that it got put aside for a little while. I did a few stitches here and there, and then it waited for me to sew the ends in. In the meantime Eloise grew, and she grew and she grew, and the pants only just come half way down her shins. She wil still get another spring out of them though. 

What are you up to this week? Play along at kootoyoo.

my creative space

As with many of you out there, we are experiencing a very wet and cold winter school holidays, so all my creative stuff at the moment is centred around the kids. We have been having such a lovely time. We did some very unsuccessful, but fun, wet wool felting, box creations, photography, drawing and yesterday we turned the kitchen into a potters paradise. Seriously, I think it is the messiest the kitchen has been for a long time and that is a serious statement.

 I had forgotten just how wonderful it is to play with clay. We did some really great faces and tomorrow, hopefully we will decorate them.

Daniel my 6 year old loves the camera and I think he has quite the eye. These are not just random. Every single shot he did had great composition - some a little blurry, but then so are most of my shots these days. It's hard work taking shots quickly when you hate using the flash! I do quite like blurry photos as well though. They really do seem to catch the essence of my life much more than sharp photos do.

pop over to kootoyoo to play along.

my creative space

I have this very lovely wool from the very lovely Bendigo Woollen Mills. Hmm, what to do with it?

I was thinking that I might have a go at a crochet version of Leonie's wrap, but my bust is significantly larger than her pattern, so I am wondering if I will have enough wool. Perhaps I will just keep taking more lovely photo's of it instead.

Orange is just so wonderful and warm and sunny, don't you think?

Visit Kootoyoo for more creative spaces.

Pure Genius

WOW!  See more here at Johan Ku Design

My Creative Place

This week I finally finished my little blue hat and I am so so pleased with the result. It is perhaps a little bigger than I envisaged, but at least it is not too small. This was such an easy pattern, I think there will be many more of these hats to come. And I loved how the little swirl worked on the side, my own personal touch.

I am not quite so pleased with this second hat. I'm usually pretty good at 'winging it' with my projects, but this one just doesn't seem to have come together. You see, I ran out of pink cotton, and of course it is a discontinued colour, so I thought I would just make it a bit stripy, a bit different. But I don't know. What do you think? It's all a little bit surfie for me. Fine for my teenage niece perhaps, but somehow a little wrong for a teeny weeny baby.

For more creative wonderfulness visit here.

My Creative Space

I love babies. My own babies and my friends babies. Only after having children of my own did I discover the magic of these tiny bundles of joy. Before children I was completely unaware of what snuggly beautiful innocence they represent. I couldn't understand it in the slightest. Little kids, sure they were cute, liked them. Babies, well I didn't get it. Thankfully I do now.

Having re-learnt the craft of crochet after my babies have grown into little people, I now relish in the opportunity to crochet for other peoples babies.

One of my very lovely friends has just been blessed with twins. Oh dear. At least it's double the love as well, and double the crochet.

Of course this is what I should be doing! Does anyone else live like this? Or is it just me. Everyone else out here seems to be prolific in their crafting, and have time to set up beautiful photo's, and seem to do lots of wonderful things with their kids as well.

On another note, here is our other creative project. Looking like it's not going to meet our September deadline. Oh well.

Eloise and I are feeling a little sad today, because it appears we have lost her (and mine) favourite dress. It was so bright and lovely, and warm. I'll have to try and make another one, but it will never be the same.

It appears that I am as erratic as ever today. Just love this lovely, blurry, wintery photo.

Head over here for more creative spaces kootoyoo.

My Creative Space

This week is all about refilling the well. After a bit of a reading hiatus due in no small part to raising two small children, I have suddenly rediscovered the joy, and lets face it plain addiction of reading. I have of course been reading little bits and pieces, short stories (thanks Cate Kennedy) and the like, but there is nothing like sinking your teeth into a good juicy bit of fiction. One that drags you away from the mundane, and lets you convince yourself that it is OK not to do the dishes just now, or that 1/2 an hour before school pickup isn't enough time to do anything else but read. So needless to say this new found addiction is probably going to play havoc in my already overwhelmingly messy house.

This year is also supposed to be one full of writing for me. I enrolled myself in a year long writing course in a bid to get myself motivated to finish a novel that I started writing before the kids came along. Of course, I feel too guilty to dedicate my little free time to it, so it is happening very slowly and homework will be happening well into the night, the night before, something which I am quite a master at.

On quite a different note, how lucky was I to find this lovely stash of fabric and sheets at the local op shop. The whole lot costing a whopping $4. I love the purple daisy fabric. My little girl is going to be very well dressed next spring!

To see more amazing creative spaces visit Kootoyoo

special places

There are some places that speak to me softly, fill my stomach with funny little butterflies, make me feel warm and comfortable like home, and fill me with inspiration. This is one of those places. I feel so connected when I am here, so content, even if it is only for fleeting moments. Looking at these photos makes me remember that there is beauty and inspiration all around. Now I just need time to indulge the creative urge.

Happy Mothers Day

This is my lovely family. My little girl, my bigger boy and my biggest boy on a sunny morning, on my parents farm at Easter. The farm where I grew up and always thought I would live forever. I think a part of me will always live there forever.

There is something I love about the bright blurry overexposure of this photo. How the light invites my family into the garden like they are some kind of garden fairies. The leaves of the windflowers kind of disappear into each other, dancing in the sunshine, melting in the sunshine. And the greeny greenness of it all.

Lucky me to have this at my finger tips.

Have a lovely weekend.