Mr RIght and Other Mongrels Archives - Page 5 of 11

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Photo Friday

December 26, 2019

2/8/2013

I thought I’d start a new trend on this blog called photo Friday. I’ll try and get a photo up that relates to my novels or my writing life (Be warned you may see lots of coffee cups). Yes I know it’s Saturday in Sydney but it’s still Friday in lots of places and I did take these on a Friday so I’m going to pretend it counts.

Yesterday afternoon I happened to be at the beach with my daughter and her friends. This beach features in Mr Right and Other Mongrels briefly. Allegra often takes her morning un around to this beach. She’s certainly not alone. This is a very popular pathway to ride, walk or run.

The beach is also a popular spot to snorkel and scuba dive and yesterday the water was warm and crystal clear and there loads of international tourists making the most of it, and a few locals.

Anyway my walk down to the beach had me thinking about hidden treasures tucked away in some of our favourite spots and how we associate certain images with certain places and often miss the other aspects of a suburb or town or setting.

So here are a couple of other images from the same spot. I’m not the world’s best photographer and I was balancing towels, shoes, snacks, picnic blankets, a bowl of watermelon and bottles of water as I took these.

Mr Right and Other Mongrels

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Betty
2/8/2013 04:01:29 pm

Nice to see where Allegra hung out!

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Balancing writing and summer vacation

December 24, 2019

1/22/2013

Sorry I missed a Taste of Tuesday. It will be back next week.

It’s January here and the equivalent of the US summer vacation. What that means is no routine (and believe me when I say we are one of the last routinised homes in Australia anyway), people in and out, the desire to make the most of the summer and somewhere in there an urge to start the year off on the right food.

I normally don’t plan to achieve anything in January with my writing. Experience has taught me that honestly I’m better off to give myself a break and come back hard in February rather than feeling guilty all month.

This January I decided to set myself a few writing goals and I must say I’m falling short. I’m also working my regular part-time job which I’ve not done before so that needs to be done and that’s enough time away from the fun and frivolity of summer for me.

Add in the fact that my lovely daughter starts High School (Yr7 in Australia) and I am all too aware next summer she’ll want to spend more time hanging at the beach with friends than she will with me, so I’m trying to make the most of the now. I think perhaps I should be doing that guilt-free.

Meanwhile I am plugging away at re-writes on Alphabet Dating, albeit a bit more slowly than I’d like and I sure hope I can show you the cover soon!

That photo above is a place Allegra and Teddy visit in Mr Right and Other Mongrels, they actually dine there. If you’ve read the book you’ll know which scene I’m talking about.

I know I’m not alone in my quest to find balance over the summer months…I wonder how others do it with any success? Any advice would be welcomed.

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Summer in the city

December 24, 2019

1/18/2013

It’s a very hot summer in my little corner of the world this year. Yesterday Sydney had it’s hottest day on record – ever. It was 46degrees celsius which translates to 114 degrees Fahrenheit. That is hot. I really like the heat but that’s too hot even for me.

Of course that day was exceptional. I was meant to write or rather to edit Alphabet Dating yesterday but I could not think straight and as that book is set in wintery climes, well it was too much for my poor heat-addled brain to take on.

The heat has meant we’ve been hitting the beach and the Harbour a lot, which has been lovely. I thought I’d share with you a few shots I took last weekend when we were out on our boat.

Not for any reason other than it’s nice to see other parts of the world and how other people live. Well, I think it is but I am a notorious sticky-beak.

And while I have your attention I thought I’d let you know Mr Right and Other Mongrels is free right now Jan 18/19 2013 on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0086L8NBS

That’s my family on the boat or off the boat in my daughter’s case.

Clearly there are no oysters left…just shells.

Comment

Jenn j McLeod
1/18/2013 04:04:22 pm

Did someone say summer? You know me and the seasons. I titled the first part of House for all Seasons ‘surviving summer’. I must have known something. hope you are surviving the heat. And do I recognise good old Sydney waterways?

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When life becomes research

December 24, 2019

1/5/2013

When you write one of the really nice things is that everywhere you go you get ideas for your books and stories. As I write contemporary fiction a trip to a cafe, a walk on the beach or even a visit to the library can be considered research.

What would my main character order? Who would walk along this beach? Why is she at the library using the free wi-fi? How would she feel about that annoying storytime singing in the corner? Wistful? Frustrated? Would she wonder why she gave up singing?

Sometimes of course you have to go out of your way to visit interesting places and spaces your characters might go to. In the novel I wrote for my NaNoWriMo this year one of the characters lived within walking distance of the famous Sydney pool pictured above and decided to swim there regularly. I don’t think that novel will ever see the light of day but my family and I visited the pool this weekend. It’s a really great pool and has a wonderful location so I can see myself including it in a future book. Research and life came together for a fun day out.

Some research is harder than others. I have been asked if Mr Right and Other Mongrels will have a sequel and I hope so. Honestly I think it requires a trip to L.A. for me to do ‘reserach’ because Allegra and Teddy were headed off to L.A at the end of the last book. It’s twelve years since I was last in L.A so I don’t think my memories or information on the town are accurate enough.

I think getting the research right is important. Visting as many locations as you can, tasting the food your characters eat so you can describe how their face might move and how they night feel or react if they eat something of a certain texture all adds to the story…oh yes and it makes life more interesting as well.

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Happy New Year and a ‘Taste of Tuesday’

December 24, 2019

12/31/2012

It’s already January 1st in my corner of the universe and it’s Tuesday.

This year I’m starting a new weekly post on Tuesday’s called “A Taste of Tuesday”. I’m inviting authors to submit an extract or a taste of their novel, answer a few food related questions and include a recipe – maybe one that relates to their novel or something they eat to get themselves through writer’s block…something related.

So I thought I’d go first.

Taste of Tuesday – a food-related author interview

1. Do you prefer sweet or savoury foods (ie cheese or chocolate)?
Easy for me I’m a savoury girl all the way. Look for me by the dip or cheese at a party.

2. Red wine or white? (wine obviously)
Red baby…though good champagne will never be refused.

3. Do you have a favourite food memory?
I have a couple. When I was a child my grandmother made an apple pie she called an Apple Charlotte. It was a pie with a very short crust and also it had chocolate icing..it sounds weird but it was heaven. She used to visit us when Iw as little and bring it to my house just for me on a ferry and two trains. I don’t think it is a coincidence my daughter is called Charlotte.

My most amazing meal ever taste-wise was in a tiny hold in the wall family restaurant in Assisi, Italy. I ate truffle pasta and it was heavenly.

4. Does food feature in your novel(s)?
In Mr Right and Other Mongrels Allegra likes to cook organic, in Hearts Afire the lovely Cassie is a caterer and in my next novel Alphabet Dating Serena has an obsession with soups, so I would have to say – yes!

5. What recipe are you sharing with us and why?
I’m cheating. I actually have my own food blog so I’m going to add the link. You can pop on over to see lots of my favourite recipes…for example today I’m making the ribs featured on the site!

(I’ll come back and do a new post here on Taste of Tuesday when Alphabet Dating is released).
mysydneykitchen

Excerpt -Mr Right and Other Mongrels

My mother, however, was going nowhere. Worse than that she kept leering at Teddy, which simply made me uncomfortable.

I really didn’t know what was going on with Teddy and me but I surely didn’t want anything going on between Teddy and Moonbeam.

“Teddy, do you want to help me get some dinner together?”

“No Allegra, he can stay and keep me company.” She was good.

“How about we both help Ally out.” What a guy.

So we piled into my small kitchen with her standing a bit too close to Teddy for my liking.

“So what are we having?”

“Potato gnocchi with tomato sauce and a salad.”

“Cool, what can I do?’

I had already cooked the potatoes so I put Teddy to work mashing them. And I pulled down a jar of sauce I had made from organic tomatoes earlier in the summer and put it on to simmer.

Teddy looked at me quizzically “You jar your own sauce?”

“Uhmm yes”. I was always kind of embarrassed by my love of cooking. It makes me seem like a possessed potential housewife or something. I mean I know you don’t go to a club and discuss organic cooking; it doesn’t get the men flocking. Ultimately though I just like to cook and eat well.

“Well, Allegra, that being the case I may have to marry you.” He winked just so I’d know he wasn’t serious. “I’ll grow the veggies and you can make the sauce.”

I noticed Moonbeams dark eyes got a tad darker and flashed a bit wilder.

“I don’t know that there is room for a veggie patch in my flat or your designer terrace either for that matter,” I laughed.

“Well, we’ll just have to move to the country.”

“Sorry can’t leave the shop.”

“I’m heartbroken,” he feigned distress as he mashed. “I offer to give up my lucrative TV career and to grow veggies and marry you and you won’t leave the bookshop!”

***
You can read more about Allegra and Teddy in Mr Right and Other Mongrels.

Comment

Anne R. Allen
1/1/2013 11:03:10 am

This is such a fun idea for interviews–a creative new twist for getting to know an author and introducing new books. I came over from the Facebook “Official Chick Lit” page. Happy New Year!

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2013 the writing year that was

December 24, 2019

12/30/2012

It’s New Year’s Eve and as we all know it’s a time for reflection if we choose to let it be.
Looking back on my year a whole lot happened in the writing zone for me.

I blogged pretty much the whole year and with pretty consistently. Along the way I got to meet and interview loads of wonderful authors and grill them about their writing process and learn about their books so that was a whole lot of fun.

In May of course, I launched my first book Mr Right and Other Mongrels which was quite a trip! It’s been en entirely positive experience and I learnt so much from going through it.

I also learnt that even you would think getting the second book out afterwards would be easier – surely I learnt something from the first one – that was not the case and Hearts Afire ended up taking three extra months to hit the shelves as a result of a series of delays. That’s why when people ask me when is the next book out I’m now very reluctant to say a date or even a month out loud because I’m now aware that I could be speaking nonsense.

Anyway Hearts Afire eventually hit the shelves in October and that has been a whole lot of fun as well.

Thanks to all of you who bought, reviewed, blogged, tweeted or shared the news of my books to the universe. I deeply appreciate your support.

I’ve learnt a bit more about promotion via social media along this journey and have met some amazing people out there in cyber-space which has been lots of fun. I’ve met some wonderful authors and some cool readers as well.

I’ve also done lots of wonderful things as part of my writing year. I had a great weekend away with members of my writing group back in February.

I attended several events at the Sydney Writers’ Festival in May and hung with some wonderful friends and authors.

I went to the Gold Coast for the RWA in August where I had an amazing time and met some wonderful authors – some whom I had ‘met’ in cyber space and some who were entirely new to me. It was a wonderful experience.

I’ve also been lucky enough to attend book launches for several old friends this year including Edwina Shaw and Pamela Cook.

So if 2012 was anything to go by I expect to have an exciting time in 2013!

Here are a few snapshots of the year that was.

Some of the Writers’ Dozen in Milton in February for a writing retreat.

Virtual book launch for Mr Right and Other Mongrels.

Hearts Afire paperbacks!

Catch up with Favel Parrett and Edwina Shaw in Sydney. Two of the Joondi 8.

With the lovely Pamela Cook at her December book launch.

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Merry Christmas – have a bargain book or two

December 24, 2019

12/23/2012

This Christmas I’m participating in this sale with authors at anindieaffair.

Pop over there to read about the books and the 12 authors participating with over 20 books at $1.99.

Both my books will be available for just $1.99 through December 26th or Boxing Day (Australian time).

If you haven’t already take the opportunity to download Hearts Afire or Mr Right and Other Mongrels. If you do I’d love you to pop back and let me know if you enjoyed them.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas, or Festivus and best wishes for a wonderful 2013 filled with love, laughter and books.

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A catch-up and a review of my free days on Amazon KDP

December 24, 2019

12/18/2012

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009V2UKWQ
I know it’s been a bit quiet here on the blog this past week.

In Australia the festive season coincides with a mad scramble for everyone to get all their work done before Christmas, when most people have their summer holidays/vacation and also the end of the school year.

This year my lovely daughter is finishing Primary School. Here our school system runs a bit differently than in the US for example and we have no middle school so they finish Primary school at the end of 6th grade and head straight to High School. The end of primary school means farewells, dinners, graduation ceremonies and in my case – lots of tears.

Just before the madness began last week I had my first experience of Amazon KDP’s free days with Hearts Afire. If you have a book enrolled in this program you can have 6 free days a month.

I’d never done it before so I did lots of reading about other author’s experiences and what they did to maximise the opportunity. The reality is you’re aiming to reach people who don’t already know about you when you do something like this not your mother or your friend from the office.

There are lots of websites, twitter services and facebook pages that let readers know about free books every day so I made a list of them and contacted as many as I could. Some you need a certain number of reviews to qualify for, others need a week’s notice, some want you to pay so you need to look at them on a book by book basis. I didn’t do any paid services because honestly I had no idea if that was worth it for me.

I chose a weekend because I thought it would be easier for me to keep track of what was happening. I also felt people have more time to read on weekends. I don’t know if that’s true or not and I do know lots of people download books just because they’re free and never read them as well, heck I’ve even done that myself.

So how did it go? By the end of the two day’s sale I was #3 in free contemporary romance and #8 in the free Amazon store which was pretty amazing. That meant over 15,000 people had downloaded my book. That’s pretty amazing really.
As a writer your goal is to have people read your work…of course you’d prefer they paid for it…but actually the objective after the joy of writing is to find an audience.

So I wondered how that would affect my sales when the book was back at $2.99 which is still not a huge cost for a book, is it?

It’s now 10 days later and the book was up at around the #1,700 mark in the Kindle store right after the promotion ended.

What this has obviously meant is people have been able to find the book because the sales especially the first three days after the promotion were very good. That was my objective – to be found. I also had sales on Mr Right and Other Mongrels, which I was hoping for, nothing like on Hearts Afire but I’ll take them!

It also meant people found the book to borrow it. Not one person had borrowed the book before the promotion and lots of people have done so since.

Sales have declined slowly but are still much better day by day than they were beforehand.

The upshot is this promotion, for me anyway, was very successful.

Lots of people have said the free days aren’t working for them anymore. My experience was entirely positive. Why? Perhaps because the book is romance and romance readers are pretty savvy. Perhaps because I had never had a free book before so I was ‘new’ to the readers. Perhaps the beautiful cover caught people’s eye. Perhaps because at least some of the promotional pages I contacted did include my book in their free days promotions (though lots didn’t).

Honestly, I don’t know exactly why it succeeded but it did and I’m happy about that.

I’d love to hear other people’s experiences of free days or their thoughts on the topic.

Comments

Marjorie
12/18/2012 06:55:20 pm

I will confess your free offer reminded me to buy your other book. I have not read either yet but wish you all the luck with your writing.

Anna Hackett
12/18/2012 11:05:39 pm

Hi Monique – so pleased to hear your free days went so well! And Hearts Afire really does have a great cover!

Caroline
12/22/2012 04:35:06 am

I just did a free day and was very happy with the results. I have almost 4000 free downloads. I have noticed a significant uptake in sales since the preview. I have also had some loans, and I had none before. I did the same as you with the free preview sites. And I also posted on a few spots on Goodreads and on Amazon itself on the forum. Am considering a second free preview day since the first one went so well.
Reply
Monique
12/22/2012 08:23:53 am

Thanks Marjorie and Anna….
It is an interesting experience isn’t it Caroline…lots to learn and lots to gain from it.

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Summer and the beach in my books

December 24, 2019

12/13/2012

It’s summer in Sydney. I love summer. I’m not really designed for summer what with the red hair and the pale skin and the freckles but I love it anyway.

I love the smell of the ocean, walking along the sand, the sound of waves crashing onto the shore. I love the sounds the birds and the insects make. The cicada song is like a lullaby to me.

What I realised is this love of warmer climates is reflected in both the novels I released this year. Allegra in Mr Right and Other Mongrels lives at Manly Beach and her life revolves around the beach quite a bit.

In Hearts Afire Cassie and Jack find themselves on a North Queensland tropical island also getting some sand between their toes.

There is something so freeing about sunshine and summer, I think it reveals a different side to people and certainly I think it does for the characters in both these books.

Here are some of my favourite beachy photos from this year on the blog…just to warm up those of you in cooler climes.

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Pamela Cook
12/13/2012 10:05:43 am

Thanks for sharing the beach pics Monique. Hopefully we’ll get a decent summer this year and be able to get out there and enjoy it!

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Place in a story

December 23, 2019

11/27/2012
As I was having lunch with my lovely husband on a recent Saturday we had an interesting conversation about place in books.

We’re Sydney people, though we’ve both travelled and lived elsewhere. There’s something about this city that is just magical. It’s the beaches, the harbour and the climate combined I think.

The disadvantage of Sydney, which is also part of it’s charm and really the whole of Australia suffers from this problem, is its distance from the rest of the world.

It’s a very long way on a plane to just about everywhere. Still Australians like to travel, we don’t let this deter us. When you write a story it’s important to have a good sense of place and yet so often in books towns are fabricated. Partly that’s because it’s fun to create your own town or city and sometimes these places are amalgams of real towns or are in fact a real town with the name changed (to protect the innocent – I suppose).

When you write about a real city or town and don’t change it’s name you have to get it right. People will know you can’t get from Kirribilli to say Watson’s Bay in Sydney in seven minutes, people know where the cafes are, how long a train trip takes and whether the 136 bus does in fact go from Manly to Chatswood or not (it does but it’s a very slow bus!).

In Mr Right and Other Mongrels I set the book in Sydney and I left everything apart from a couple of street names the same. (For your reference there is in fact a Dream House Lane in Sydney but it is not in Lavender Bay where Teddy lived but in another Northern Sydney suburb…I just wanted you to know that while it is a very cheesy name it is real.)

In Hearts Afire I used parts of Sydney but I did create the name of the suburb where Cassie lives. That suburb is an amalgam of a few suburbs in Sydney’s inner west. (Feel free to guess which ones). The island on the Reef is based on a couple of islands I’ve visited up there.

So do you like books set in real places you know, or places you might visit or do you prefer a whole new created world?

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