More Kiwi humour

Another YouTube video showcasing a touch of New Zealand humour which I saw on Shelley Munro’s blog:

 

 

I can’t imagine why people were offended when it first came out

More from Diamonds Down Under–another editor Q&A

We have a Q&A with Diana Ventimiglia and led by Jan Colley on the Diamonds Down Under blog this week. All commenters will go in the draw to win either a critique by Diana for their work or, if you’re a reader rather than a writer, a gift pack of books from the DDU authors.

 

Remember too, the critique from Senior Editor for Silhouette Desire, Melissa Jeglinksi, is still up for grabs. Make sure you you comment on that blog to be in to win.

101 Must Do Weekends in New Zealand

I was crusing blogs tonight and visited Shelley Munro’s and was tickled pink to see this You Tube Vid of an advertisement that’s screening nationwide at present.

 

 

Want to come and visit? Word from the wise, watch the coastal roads! LOL!

 

 

Writer’s Doubts

I spotted an excellent blog, by Nicola Marsh, on the Pink Heart Society blogsite last weekend. To read it, click here!

There’s some excellent advice and suggestions.

 

I think too often we let our fears hold us back from what we’re truly capable of. Kate Walker once told me, “Be Brave!” So I challenge any of you who like to write to do the same.

6 Things I Love About Writing Romance!

I’m blogging on the Diamonds Down Under Blog this week about the 6 Things I Love About Writing Romance. Post a comment and be in the draw to win a copy of my most recent release, another Waldenbooks Best Seller, Tycoon’s Valentine Vendetta!

Something for nothing?

I’ve had some interesting comment on my book piracy blog and yes, there will always be conflicting views over what is perceived to be right (or acceptable because hey, it’s not murder), and what isn’t.

This guy sums it up for me. Sure, it’s not exactly the same thing, but it’s not so far removed either. 

Which are you? Early bird? or Night Owl? or Something In Between?

I’ve never been an early bird person. My eyes and my thought processes just don’t want to take it. The earliest I’ve ever willingly dragged myself out of bed to start the day was 4:00 am and then only to catch an international flight (the jetlag starts from the minute I wake up, I swear!) This week I had the questionable delight of getting up at 5:40 am as youngest progeny is trialling for an Open A netball squad at her high school. This wouldn’t be a problem if eldest progeny didn’t have an early class at Uni and had to take the kids car into Uni for the day, or if eldest progeny had her full licence and could take her sister up to school in time for 7:00 am training. And, since the man of the house came in early from night shift and was already in the depths of sleep (lucky fellow!), it fell to me to get my youngest up to school on time.

Now, you’d think that an hour and twenty minutes would be sufficient time for a sixteen year old to get ready and get up to training on time, wouldn’t you? Especially when she’d packed her bag with uniform, books, towel, bathroom gear, sandals, etc. last night. Well, wouldn’t you?

Suffice to say, my darling youngest child is not an early bird either. We made it at 6:59 am and as I drove back home, in the dark, listening to the news bulletin that I usually lie in bed and listen to before I get up in the morning I realised she must really really want a place in this squad to get up this early.

Of course there are benefits to getting up early. By rights, I should be able to get more writing done, and since both progeny finish school and Uni later, on this wretched early start day, I get a bit more time in the afternoon as well. But I’m so tired! Maybe I should nap instead

On the ‘bright’ side–I got to watch the most beautiful sunrise through my office window. There’s a bit of a cloud base and I could see golden/pale apricot rays in broad strokes breaking through the cloud here and there. If only the digital camera wasn’t in the bedroom with the sleeping man of the house I could have shared it with you all too. Maybe next week…yawn. But that will be my last shot because (yay) after next week eldest progeny will have her full licence and guess who’ll be chivvying youngest along to training in the morning! Ha! If that doesn’t get her ready in time, nothing will :D

I used to be a night owl, and there are times I still make it (usually deadline times) but now I think I’m very definitely something in between. So which are you, early bird, night owl, or something in between?

Reminder–Diamonds Down Under!

Just a reminder to everyone that the Diamonds Down Under blog is offering great prizes for people who comment, i.e.:

1. On the Q&A with Melissa Jeglinski (Senior Editor for Silhouette Desire) there’s a critique to be drawn 15 June. If you haven’t commented yet on this board, and you’re keen to get some editorial feedback on your work, do so you can enter the draw!

2. There will be a Q&A coming up with Diana Ventimiglia (Associate Editor for Silhouette Desire) on 20 April, with a critique to be drawn 27 April; and

3. This week we are featuring a blog with Robyn Grady, one of Silhouette Desire’s newest authors who also writes for Mills & Boon Modern Extra (soon to be called Modern Heat). Anyone who comments on her blogpost will go into the draw for an agent critique with Jennifer Schober of the Spencerhill Agency (if you’re an aspiring writer) or a copy of one of Robbie’s recent titles (if you’re a reader.)

You’ve got to be in to win! And don’t forget that each month clues are posted for our treasure hunt prize. The beautiful diamond puff heart pendant bearing a total carat weight of diamonds in all their sparkling glory! The clues are up for January, February and March.

Bits and Pieces

Saw this news item in an online newspaper today. Lesson to be learned, don’t leave your partner sleeping at the movies! 

UPDATE TO THE ABOVE NEWS ITEM: Check out this link. Seems the course of true love doesn’t run smooth…

Best thing that happened to me this week? Getting my author copies for the Australia/New Zealand edition of Tycoon’s Valentine Vendetta. To see the down under cover treatment, or to order from eharlequin australia click here.

Best book I’ve read recently? Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter. Great story!

Best movie I’ve seen recently? Assault on Precinct 13. Seen it before and I’ll see it again. Excellent character portrayals. Sometimes I like to watch a movie with the sound off just to observe the body language. Did this with Monster-In-Law a couple of years ago and it was amazing how many cues you got just from the body language.

What’s up in your world?

Dinner with friends

Sometimes we let our lives get so busy that we skim our friendships with others. I’m shockingly guilty of this and tend to withdraw very much into myself, staying home, writing. Socialising has become something I do very rarely so it was a real treat to catch up with a group of writing friends last night at a wonderful Italian restaurant (we won’t discuss the Neil Diamond/Frank Sinatra want-to-be solo artist) in Auckland’s Mission Bay.

But aside from the wonderful food and the great company and much laughter, it made me realise that while I don’t ‘miss’ socialising when I’m staying at home and writing, I really do still miss out on so much in my friends lives. I’ve become horribly insular. While everyone was deeply familiar to me, and definitely are people I feel happy and comfortable with, I felt as if I was, in many ways, a total stranger to what’s been happening with them in their busy worlds.

And how often does that happen? Too often, I think.

I’ve been cocooned in my own little world and not been in touch with people as much as I ought to and, really, there’s no excuse. Deadlines will always be deadlines, I still need to meet them, but I need to meet those other really important matters in my life as well. I need to make time for the important people in my life before I miss out on even more of what’s happening in their worlds, or worse, miss out on them completely.

What’s that word? Balance. I need more balance.

This week I had a contact from an old school friend, someone I haven’t seen or been in touch with for more years than I’m prepared to admit to in public, and we’re going to meet for lunch in a couple of weeks. I’m looking forward to it because we have so much to catch up on and so many memories to rehash.

What about you? Have you missed being in touch with old friends? Or are you one of these fabulous people (which I’m aspiring to be from now on) who manages to remain in contact within the confines of busy and demanding life?