Fairytales published!

I have just spent the last week getting the fairytales I wrote for my daughter uploaded to Amazon, so they an be ordered as books. They are now 8"x10" paperbacks with my watercolour and ink illustrations. This is a series I call, Modern Fairytales, as despite the dragons, fairies, witches and giants, the messages are empowering and the plots unpredictable.

 'The Princess and the Dragon'
When a terrible Dragon threatens a peaceful village,
no one reacts the way they are supposed to.
A joy to read, this beautifully written tale has all the magic
and drama of the old-fashioned bedside story, but when it comes to plot, get
ready for surprises.
A metaphor for the challenges faced by the children of the 21st century, 'The Princess and the Dragon' has important lessons in Dragon-fighting for adults and children alike.
Cherie Pugh wrote 'The Princess and the Dragon' for her own feisty princess, and based the colourful illustrations on traditional European woodblock prints.


 'The Musical King'
A fairtytale for modern children.
Everyone complains that the King loves only music, but when he
falls for a strange lady, he risks his whole Kingdom.
How far will he go to make everything right again?
With watercolour and ink illustrations inspired by medieval art.





'The Princess and the Giant'
A giant turns the life of a beautiful princess upside down.
But sometimes change can be a good thing.
A modern fairytale that spurns tradition, providing guidance for 21st century
children.
Beautifully hand-illustrated with ink and watercolours by the author.

'Mary Read' - Library Talks

I had a great time doing the library talks on 'Mary Read'.
It was lucky I had the practice of such a small, cosy group at Caboolture, because almost 30 people came to the Redcliffe talk! I was nervous, but there were a few familiar faces in the crowd, and it all went very well.
I sold most of my books, enough to order another 20 through Amazon. I have been encouraged to approach the alternative Avid Reader bookshop in Brisbane, to see if they will sell 'Mary Read', and I am now awaiting their answer.
Thanks to everyone who came, and to Tina Cavanough from the Moreton Bay Libraries for doing such a great job of organising this event.

Library Talks - The True Story of the Pirates of the Caribbean

I am in the middle of giving a series of lectures in local libraries, on the Caribbean pirates. This is to promote my novel 'Mary Read - Sailor, Soldier, Pirate'.
The first talk was at Caboolture Library, and though only six people turned up, three bought books, and all were very encouraging and interested. David Adams also bought Russell and I coffee, and entertained us for over an hour with an interesting discussion on history - did you know 3,000 women fought in the trenches of Flanders in World War 1? Me neither. A really great morning.
My next talk is at Redcliffe library tomorrow at 10.30am, with 20 people booked in, so I'm glad I've already had the practice with a smaller group.
Then: Monday 10th February at Burpengary Library at 10.30am,
         Saturday 22nd February at Albany Creek Library at 10am.

David Jowsey is reading 'Heat'!

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I made it to the Maleny Festival of Australian Film last friday, partly because I really wanted to see Aaron Pederson in 'Mystery Road', and also because the producer, David Jowsey was guest speaker.
Hoping that he would be an approachable kind of guy, I printed off the screenplay of 'Heat', and emailed him the sysnopsis in advance.
David started it off with an amusing talk on the making of this low budget movie. As Holden wouldn't sponsor them by giving them a police car, they hired one from Avis, replaced the new panels, mirrors and windscreen with second hand ones, shot the hell out of the car, put the original bits back, and returned it to Avis.
'Mystery Road' was a stunning movie: beautiful, powerful, riveting and menacing.
Aaron Pederson's performance was utterly convincing. The director, Ivan Sen, has conjured outstanding realism, not just from the stellar cast, but also from aboriginal children in the Queensland towns they were filming in.
As soon as the movie finished, I spotted David on the pavement outside, congratulated him on the film, and asked him to read my script.
He couldn't have been nicer, and promised to read it within the next few weeks.
I now have my figers firmly crossed and am checking my emails three times a day, in hope.

Re-Write of 'Heat'

I finished reading 'Screenplay: Writing the Picture' by Russin and Downs, and found it brilliant, particularly on the structure of screenplays, and how to build up the suspense (Part 2).

I learnt so much I had to rip my screenplay 'Heat' apart, again, and re-structure. Just by deleting the scenes that had nothing to do with my central theme, and by moving half of a particularly dramatic scene to just before the climax,  the whole thing became much more intense.
 
Not sure what to do with it now I've finished it. A deep breath, a few days painting, and then I'll think of a strategy.
Someone once told me that the writing was only half the work, selling it was just as much work. I would say its more like 20:80. Getting through the door of Screen Queensland has proved impossible so far. Maybe I should just track down Jane Campion and thrust it at her!