Inspiration, Part 9

More visual inspiration used for my current work in progress:

 

 

Not much else to report: just working lots, and so very, very* tired.

 

I did, though, see something interesting the other day when I was walking down the street to file documents at the Federal Magistrates' Court.

 

There was an elderly woman with a trolley. In the trolley wasn't groceries. Nor a pet dog. Instead, in the trolley, there was a life-sized cardboard cut-out of celebrity chef Curtis Stone.

 

As I walked past I asked, 'Did they let you take him home did they?' (they being Coles as I don't think anywhere else would have a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Curtis Stone).

 

She smiled and said, 'Let's just say that this is the only boyfriend I'm getting, love.'

 

It was hilarious, but also a little sad.

 

Maybe Coles should start handing out free Curtis Stones to all old, lonely women that shop at their store.

 

But I'm still intrigued. Did the lady steal Curtis, or buy him?**

 

...

 

 

*Here you may insert 'very' as many times as you like.

 

**I wonder if it cost her under $10. Oh, the irony.

Inspiration, Part 8

More inspiration of inspirational proportions. All have been/are being drawn upon for my YA Manuscript.

The Blogger Next Door Series, Part 2

Photo sourced from Megan's website

For the second post in this series I interviewed the lovely Megan Burke, who has a blog here. She also has a website. I suggest you check both of them out.

BC: Why do you blog?
MB: I blog because I have lots of opinions!! I used to work in a bookstore and read heaps of blogs. My co-workers quickly became sick of me talking about what I’d been reading so one day, bored, I decided to make my own blog!

BC: When you first started blogging, did you have a theme in mind about what the blog would be about? Has that changed over time as the blog has progressed?
MB: I knew it would be about books/publishing, and evolved into focusing on YA. As I’ve – in the past year or so – started going to heaps of literary events (launches, author talks etc) I’ve started writing about those too.

BC: Congratulations on being chosen to be the official blogger for the Williamstown Literary Festival! You seem to be involved in so many things at once Megan. Where do you find the time, let alone the motivation? (I know my secret is a redundant 1980s time machine, but don't tell anybody.)
MB: Thanks! Working for WLF was great fun.

There’s this rumour (started by Fiona Wood) that I have an identical twin – I’m not denying it!!

Seriously, I love what I do and therefore can make time. I love helping people and volunteering and learning new skills and meeting new people.

I can’t imagine not doing it.

This year, I’ve started a new course and actually have to study and do homework (unlike last year’s course where I left everything til the last minute and still got HDs!). It’s taking me a while to realise I can’t keep up the amount of activities I did last year as I don’t have time. This really saddens me and at present, I *still* haven’t backed down, yet I fear the day is fast approaching.

 BC: You've mentioned on your blog that you are currently editing your manuscript. How exciting! Are you able to give us a little snapshot of what it's about? (To ambiguously describe it in six words would earn you innumerable bonus points.)

MB: No-name girl, small town, emotionally abusive.
(And I’ve finished editing it! Currently it’s with three beta readers)

BC: Lastly Megan, what advice would you like to implant into the minds of aspiring writers and bloggers, and where do you hope to see yourself in five years time?
MB: Advice! Ummm... There’s all the standard ones (don’t blog just for free books, write what you know/love etc) and I guess these have served me well! Do it because you love it, not out of any form of obligation.

Five years time – definitely with a publishing contract and doing post-grad at Sarah Lawrence.

BC: Thanks so much for the interview Megan, and best wishes for the future.

In other news, Lili Wilkinson's latest book A Pocketful of Eyes has just been released, which is quite exciting considering an interview with Lili about her book Pink should appear on this blog shortly. Also, Romi Foster is holding a competition where you could win a free book. Pop over and see what you could win here.

I also suggest you make author Andrew McDonald's asterisks welcome by clicking here.

Inspiration, Part 7

Here are yet more images that I've used as inspiration for my YA manuscript. The first is sourced from this blog post by Steph Bowe. 

In other news I've been inherently busy at the moment, mostly working but managing to still write a little each night.

Which image is your favourite?