• Blog

    Musical Monday – ode to New York

    5/5/2013

    Alphabet Dating Mug and Kindle EditionDue to the release of Alphabet Dating this weekend I have songs about New York on my mind.

    If you download the book drop me a line and let me know what you thought. I’m hoping the paperback will be available in a week or two.

    I’ve never lived in New York but I have been lucky enough to visit a few times. New York is a very long way from Sydney so I never seem to get to stay long enough.

    My first trip to New York was on my 16th birthday and I was there for less than a day. That’s a very long story I won’t share with you now but this song will always remind me of that day.
    And because I’m apparently feeling nostalgic on this fine Monday morning here is one of my all-time favourite New York songs from the movie Top of the Town, which I love. ( I may have watched so many old musicals as an early teen that I must admit I’m still a little sad when people don’t break into song and dance routines more often. Maybe I’m not alone, everyone loves a flash mob.)
    Finally here’s one that I think the lovely Serena from Alphabet Dating might enjoy.

  • Blog

    A little update and musical Monday

    4/28/2013

    Alphabet Dating CoverMy blogging hasn’t been to consistent lately. I apologise.

    I had a big weekend with Hearts Afire going free on Amazon on April 26 & 27. My baby made it to #20 in the free Kindle store and #6 in Contemporary Romance.

    I was pretty happy with that because it means lots of people downloaded her and hopefully enjoy her. (Yes my book is definitely a she). Hopefully they like her enough to but either Mr Right and Other Mongrels or Alphabet Dating when it comes out later THIS WEEK!

    Yes I sent that book of to the formatter, and assuming my general technical incompetence and ignorance of Dropbox and file sharing in general hasn’t failed me, the book is now in very good hands.

    If you want to go in the draw for a free e-copy of Alphabet Dating fill in the form on my landing page.

    Finally I heard this Shakira song on the weekend and it reminded me of the main character in a book I’m working on so I thought I’d share it here for musical Monday. The girl in my book has always done everything right but life hasn’t exactly been kind to her…so she can’t quite believe her luck when she finally gets happiness.

  • Blog

    A musical interlude for a sunny day

    4/10/2013

    Beach view from towel
    I was down at Manly today writing and having a coffee. As a writer who also writes for her day job sometimes sitting in the same place day in day out can squash the creativity and a change of scene helps.

    It’s a seriously beautiful autumn day in Sydney and there were tourists everywhere. I have some serious guilt issues and whenever I see tourists in Sydney and the weather is less than stellar I feel very guilty. I always want to go and apologise. Issues man issues.

    Anyway today there was no need at all for that.

    On my way home this song came on the radio and it seemed to fit so well with my current WIP (Work in progress) that I thought I’d share it with you.

    I do happen to believe that love should be easy and shouldn’t hurt but as know in a romance or a chick lit novel the path of true love usually is rather bumpy…that’s one of my challenges in writing actually. I consider my characters to be friends and just like with friends I can’t help my characters to be happy.

  • Blog

    Songs for Alphabet Dating

    3/27/2013

    Every novel, just like a movie, seems to have a soundtrack. (At least the ones I write do).Here are a couple of songs that fit the soundtrack for Alphabet Dating. Who doesn’t enjoy a musical interlude?

    Alphabet Dating CoverAlphabet Dating will be out in April.

    Comments

    Pamela Cook
    3/27/2013 08:21:03 am

    Great clips Monique. Especially love the Billy and Bruce one – two of my favourites singing a legend of a song. Perfect choice for Alphabet Dating! I’m thinking I really do have to go to New York!
    Reply
    Monique
    3/27/2013 10:31:33 am

    I chose the Bruce version for you! We should hit NYC together. There must be a writing conference we can attend in the next couple of years 🙂

  • Blog

    Monday, Monday…

    3/10/2013

    Guess what day it is! Yes feeling a bit retro so I thought I’d add a bit of music to the blog.

    Busy day today interviewing some fascinating people for my day job. I just spoke to a fellow who sometimes drives through the Kakadu National Park to get to one if his offices…pretty amazing!

    I’ve also helped a friend tweak her book synposis, worked on a website design and reviewed the cover for Alphabet Dating.

    That’s my Monday.

    Tomorrow will be Tuesday and I hope to have a treat or two for you!

  • Blog

    An Australian Christmas Carol

    12/22/2012

    Here in Australia we see an awful lot of Christmas images that really don’t pertain to us. We don’t build snowmen, ride sleighs and drink egg nog because it’s hot hot hot at Christmas. Today it’s in the 90’s at my place.

    Most of the carols are all about sleigh-bells, white Christmases and roasting chestnuts a whilst lovely and traditional well, somewhat out of step with our life.

    Here however is one lovely song by the amazing Rolf Harris – Six White Boomers. (On an unrelated note although they looked nothing alike as younger men, my father now looks so much like Rolf Harris people ask him for his autograph.)

    There is also a wonderful illustrated book and CD pack of this so the kids can read and sing along.

    It’s not much of a video so I suggest you listen rather than look.

    Merry Christmas from Australia.

    Comments

    Helen
    12/22/2012 01:47:28 pm

    Thanks Mon, after our Christmas yacht race on Sydney Harbour today, we were discussing who had grown up with this over our BBQ lunch. We had two Germans and two Canadians on board so a new experience for them! HB
    Reply
    Monique
    12/22/2012 03:08:50 pm

    How fun…it’s one of our family favourites here…we like to boom out the chorus!

  • Blog

    Songs for my NaNoWriMo characters

    11/21/2012

    My NaNoWriMo novel isn’t going to plan and frankly the main characters are annoying me…but here is a theme song for each.
    For Ashley – Missy Higgins – Scar.

    For Sophia – Sting – Fields of Gold
    And for the lovely Cat – my favourite character – California Dreaming by the Mamas and the Papas.