When I come back to a book I’ve been working on but had to set aside while I queried and did other tasks, I usually get a pleasant surprise. That is, I can see how it can be better, but I’m also pleased with what I come back to. I build up fears while I’m […]
Harris in Exile: major revisions ahead Read More »
“I do not know what I am doing,” she said flatly. “Mate, what am I up to? I got no fucking idea,” she said, her eyes sparkling. It’s odd that her eyes sparkled as she said that, because eyes can only sparkle when they reflect light. That light is external and has nothing to do
New technique for re-drafting dialogue Read More »
I’ve finished about three weeks’ work, redrafting The Death of Kai Kawiti. The reason for the re-drafting is that literary agents in New Zealand are very scarce. There seems to be just one that’s actually based in New Zealand. The novel already included two UK characters, one of whom goes to New Zealand while the
Death of Kai Kawiti and Other Stories: A Novel is redrafted! Read More »
There are five literary agents in Australia who will look at submissions or accept queries from new authors. Currently I have four novels for sale. One, “The Flooding of Adaminaby” is set in Australia in 2001, and cannot be anything but an Australian novel. So I’m querying it to three of five Australian agents at
Querying and Australasia Read More »
I’ve finished the first part of Harris in Exile. I’ve just reviewed it, and made a few changes to get rid of the most obvious bad writing, and so forth. But I’m reasonably happy with it. I started with a strong short-story idea, that I thought could make a good novel beginning: Karl Marx and
Finished Part 1 of Harris in Exile Read More »
My anti-hero Frank Harris has gone to the Grenadier, a London pub that used to be the officers’ mess for the Regimental Guards, and is now the off-duty hangout for many Grenadier Guards. It’s July in 1880, but then as now you’re likely to find moderately famous people: Madonna, for example today, but Bertie, Prince
The Improbability Field: Polish it till you can’t see it Read More »
I’m currently writing “Harris in Exile”. It’s set in London in 1880, with my anti-hero Frank Harris just arrived in Britain and living amongst the anarchists, socialists and democrats who took shelter in London in the late nineteenth century. As the real Frank Harris did. The story begins with Charles Malato, an anarchist leader of
T I took this pic one evening in the Andaman Islands. I love the colours, and the child’s footprints running along golden sand. I see this picture as kind of symbolising the way I tell stories. But I don’t feel like explaining that just now, coz I’d have to get all sententious and I’m not
Andaman Island sunset Read More »