We have MORE birthdays coming up! MORE? Yes, MORE!

Chesh and Calli's Birthday Party
:-)

12th of December
4pm onwards
Our place!

BYO Booze (we shall have some softdrink, OJ, and maybe even punch if we get enthused!)
BYO meat/meat substitute/whatevs, and we shall do up salads.

If you need my address, please email me or ring 0414 762 9oh4 and with any luck I might get your cal!
:-)

Otherwise, post here. I also need to know allergies/intolerances for salad prep.

My 4yo just told me 'girls don't work' as to why Nanna couldn't possibly be at work right now.
*grumps*

Gosh! Where do we start?

We had a huge pile of kids, and heaps of adults. I had made a whole bunch of pirate ships and swords and wands, and we had facepaint ready to go as well. I made a treasure map! A map! There was treasure in the PIT OF SNAAAAAAAKES!

I declared the party a success before we even go to the treasure hunt! Or the heaps of pirate cupcakes! The kids all had a fantastic time, and I really enjoyed myself too.

The funny thing is that we're so used to putting on the TV, and playing Dragon Hunters during/after parties that once we'd done the one and half loads of dishes (yup, that was it!) and cleaned up, we snuggled in together on the couch and watched Dragon Hunters on the new TV! And it was STILL SO VERY PRETTY! Prettier even! Awesomecookies!

Happy Birthday Smallfry!

OMG what a rollercoaster the last two years have beem Happy birthday, and gorgeous wishes all day long. I love you very much!
(Both of you LOL, Sharkbait too!)

I didn't know there were hotels that had a limit of 3 people max. Makes finding accomodation in them a little more difficult!
:-)

Nyssa has cleaned up the chat and proudly presents it for your delectation:

I just posted a blog with a link to the clean PDF version of the chat available for download (please, private use only!).

Here's the topics covered:

• What do you look for in a client before signing them on?

· Electronic Submissions

· What are the trends now and how does it look in general for the fantasy genre

· people predicting the end of agents as the publishing industry gateway

· democratic publishing process

· Does anyone see a way to make publishing profitable?

· Does the US buy books that are set in Australia (urban or rural)? There has been some rumours that the US are against Aust settings, even with big names like Bryce Courtney.

· If a novel sells well in Germany, is it likely to be picked up in the US?

· Reworking characters and race for US markets

· Kerri Arthur's stories do very well in an international market, and they're set in Australia. Is this an exception?

· How has the global crisis effected buying international books?

· These days’ universities offer creative writing degrees, honours, masters, and doctorates. Is this a good thing for the publishing industry?

· If a successful author disappears for a few years, does the time gap make it hard to get published again?

· ‘Write what you know’, or don’t?

· How do you break in to be classed as a one of the 'core authors' of a publishing house?

· How many books to be a bestseller

· Does a track record from the small press or literary magazine angle count towards your bigger picture as an author when you're going to acquire a book?

· Authors who refuse to accept editorial suggestions

· Are less likely to be picked up in the States if their genre boundaries are blurred

· Kevin: Closing Thought

· Retreat Questions:

o What you need

o What you get

o The importance of contact

o Are you ready

o Advances comparison Aust/US,

o Support

o Obsession

o The love affair of writing and dealing with “well are you making money from it?” or “why not get a real job?”

o Contact details and website

I want to listen.

Tonight I was going to do a listening circle at Femmeconne, where I would just sit ... and listen. Every one is welcome here, please tell me anything you wish, a story, a lie, a cheat, a re-telling of a story with a new ending, whatever.

Comments are screened.

Cicily and others will be opening themselves up for chatting at A Writer Goes On A Journey's chat screens - log in now to say hello!

The chat now also includes Michael Signorelli from Harper Collins and agent Robert Guinsler!

Michael Signorelli
Michael Signorelli is an editor at HarperCollins Publishers. Michael lives for fearless yet disciplined fiction and believes in a bright future for publishing.

Robert Guinsler:
Robert Guinsler has been with Sterling Lord Literistic since 2000. His primary interests include literary and commercial fiction, journalism, narrative nonfiction with an emphasis on pop culture, science and current events, memoirs, and biographies.

Come, hang out, and chat!

- bread
- a christmas tree cake
- minimuffins (vanilla this time)
- sausage rolls
- 2 trays of cookies
- a mess

Cecily Janus hosts a glorious writers retreat in America and is bringing it to Australia!

Others coming with her are Gary Heidt from Signature Literary Agent, Justin Taylor from HarperCollins, Kevin Doughtten from Penguin, Michael Signorelli from HarperCollins, Timothy O'Connell from Random House and Robert Guinsler from Sterling Lord Literistic Agency.

So what is it? A 15,000 word manuscript consult, one on one with a publisher or agent. 

Extract from PDF:
Traditional conferences offer you minutes, if you’re lucky, with professionals you need to connect with. If you get those precious minutes with them, often times, they have no idea what you’re doing as far as your writing nor do they know your goals as a writer. As a writer at Writing Away, you’ll receive feedback on over 15,000 words of your manuscript from each of the talents.

By the time you arrive, your manuscript has already been read, analyzed and feedback is completed. And this feedback isn’t given in the form of a letter...It’s given in the form of a one-on-one consultation that has no set limits on time nor is limited to cramming in too many authors in one day.

To further the experience, all of the talent stays in the same location with you. They eat meals with you, take time to get to know you and figure out what would be best for you as the next step in your career is launched.

**SPACE IS LIMITED! SIGN UP NOW. $1,000 USD down is required to hold your place after acceptance through registration process and payment plan available but all fees must be paid within 90 days of reservation. I am willing to work with writers on payments so that if need is demonstrated, they may attend. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: 5% off of total cost if registered by Jan, 15th 2010.

Next Saturday at 11am on A Writer Chat Rooms, we’re having the host, the publisher from Penguin and possibly one of the agents to come on and chat not just about the retreat, but the industry. Chat is free, of course. You don’t even have to consider the workshop to come along to it.

The chat on Saturday now also includes Michael Signorelli from Harper Collins and agent Robert Guinsler

To get to the chat, go to http://www.awritergoesonajourney.com/, hover over 'WriteSpace' and click on Chat Rooms. You do NOT need to sign up on site to join in on the chat (and ignore the bit about asking for a password.)

OR

http://awritergoesonajourney.com/chat/FlashChat_v4712/chat/flashchat.php

Notes from me: There's heaps more information on the webpage located here:

http://www.awritergoesonajourney.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=blog-title-click-to-edit.html&Itemid=254

http://www.awritergoesonajourney.com/images/73/WARAUSSIE-updated.pdf

Please feel free to let as many people know as possible!

(Text lifted from A Writer Goes On A Journey Blog)

Gosh, one more week! Still finalising things, but it's all happening. If any one would like to be my support person for Saturday, please feel free to let me know.
:-)

I have just posted an amended version of last year's What To Bring List. Let me know if I have missed anything!

It's just under 2 weeks away now! I hope you're all feeling excited! 

It's supercheap this year at $80, with day passes at $35. We'll provide tea, coffee, milks and fruit, and it's up to you to provide your own food.
:-) 

We're at Bickley Brook again this year, so we all know it well! Feel free to check out the programme

Highlights this year include discussions on Goal Planning/Life Planning, Art, Home Preserving and Holidays. Activities include skipping rope, bocce, and once again, art!
:-)

If you're coming, or thinking about coming, please come over and fill out our poll on tea, coffee, and attendance. We're hoping to have a tea sampling party one afternoon, and would really love your input! 

Tagged by catundra

A. List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
B. Tag seven people to do the same.
C. Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you tag "whoever wants to do it".

1) I love event organisation too.

2) I read The Last Stormlord in one day.

3) I use the spellchecker a lot

4) I have nothing new to say

5) Four people have asked me if I am doing Nanowrimo this year

6) This is hard! 

7) I hate bejewelled but sometimes it's the only thing I can handle doing.

I am alive! Still! Yay!

Last night I harvested! I got some broad beans, some swiss chard in red and yellow, and eyed off some lovely looking beetroots. My eggplants are growing, and I bet the f^%$ing snails are growing fat. The celery is disgustingly happy, which it would be since I don't like it a lot! LOL! Great in cooking (ie stocks and stews and casseroles) but not just for eating by itself. Yecch. But I have my swiss chard and greens down pat. I followed Jamie Oliver's instructions in Italy, but in the end I just use french dressing these days. :-)

Chesh's mum has come to pat us and help us out. She is a whirling dirvish of activity, which has been wonderful and frustrating. Frustrating because I can't help in the garden, or int he kitchen, or chasing the kids as much as I would like. Wonderful because she has helped ease some of the workload on Chesh, which has been brilliant, as well as eased some of the workload on Mum too.

Last night was another drug free night. I'm having more drug free nights than non-drug free nights, which is great. I'm pleased with how I'm staying positive. I haven't had many down moments, and those I did sort of resulted in a vague wish that I was still in the hospital. :-)

I am already wishing November was over! OMG the workload ahead! Thankfully it's all stuff that has me in front of the PC, but OMG I do this to MYSELF! I have been looking at projects for christmas presents. Like I need another project.
:-)

I think today I learnt that I need to spend more time in bed.

Bed's still not quite at the bored to tears stage, and I actually slept more than I expected to. My pain levels are nicely low too, so I guess Bed and I are going to be even better friends for another day or so.

I had a rather awesome dream where I was a pilot of a ship. The ship would sometimes make a male form, and be difficult, sometimes demanding I wrestle with him before it would take off and things like this. Kind of like the ship who sang, but with more porn. Heh.
:-)

I have been completely unable to do *anything* other than FB games and sleep. This is kind of annoying, because so many people were like "Eh! Keyhole surgery, you'll be up and about in a week!" Except tomorrow is a week, and I intend to spend most of it in bed. Again.

I'm pretty positive though. I am feeling very well supported and loved by many many awesome people in my life. I feel guilt cos I have nothing exciting to talk about, so I try not to talk about my tummy all the time LOL John has done an absolutely STERLING job in mealplanning, gettting the kids organized for daycare and cooking and everything. I am so pleased, this has meant I really have had the time and space to heal. It's an absolute godsend. Absolutely brilliant.

I read a book today! I need to write a review of it, but OMG I read a book! It was a kids book, very easy reading, rather cool. I'd happy consume the other five in the series if they were a) out already and b) on hand. :-)

I think the lying in bed all day has been rather good. Less pain tonight, which is exactly why I was trying to all day in bed thing, and I am feeling a little bit mentally sharper every day. My apologies to any one getting deluged with FB notifications, I do try and tell the programes to skip any they ask me about, and don't know how to turn off the ones that don't ask me if it's OK.

I am still completely out of it. I know I had some conversations, and some of them even made sense. I picked up J :-( he's been very upset. I think both the boys are very upset and they're showing it in different ways. i think V is too scared to touch me or anything and it's putting a real dampener on his normally sunny moods, and J is much clingier than he has been in a long time. 

I'm killing time until I feel better. I'm kind of dizzy and very vague. Bejewelled is almost beyond my mental capacities. All I want is chocolate. :-)

Intimo have released a very cute underwear set of a satiny material with red lace trim, which is made of a pattern with wire models all over it. I don't think Ihave the lamguage to explain this correctly, but check it out! If you're into sewing, have a look. It's the first big pic down the page.

http://www.intimo.com.au/page/the_instyle_collection.html

It goes from a 8 - 16 in the cami, 32 -38C-DD and boyleg briefs are in 8 - 16. Very cute! 

I haven't done enough planning for Christmas yet! Nooooooooo!