Strange Sunrise

Last week outside our kitchen window, I woke up to this ominous-looking phenomenon. No, it’s not a tornado, water spout or smoke stack. But clouds clashing with the sun (or vice-versa) as it crept up the horizon. Spectacularly menacing I thought and worth a few shots for sharing. Fumbling with the camera, I didn’t think I would capture it in time as cloud formations roll across the sky so swiftly and deceptively. The image lasted a few minutes before it faded and disappeared altogether. (Sorry about the large size image but medium just didn’t cut it. Haha.)

And if you think these images are impressive, then they would fall to the bottom of the pack as soon as you engage with these!

Auckland Writers and Readers Festival: Writing instruction from the experts.

Here are a few writing instructions I learned or was reminded of from various author events I attended at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival last weekend:

• Peter James: Short chapters are better than long chapters. They encourage readers to keep on reading especially if the next chapter is only a couple of pages! Suitable for thrillers/suspense. (doesn’t work if you own a Kindle)
• Greg McGee and Emily Perkins/Jeffery Eugenides: Punctuate your novels with humour – comedy in the tragedy is important for readers.
• Andrew McCarten: Talking to yourself is OK. It’s common amongst writers.
• Andrew McCarten: Read your work aloud for inbuilt musicality.
• Andrew McCarten: Less is more, especially in a first novel.
• Greg McGee: Before beginning your novel, choose your voice  (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd …) carefully.
• Greg McGee: Understand the difference between a reliable and unreliable narrator in your story.
• Witi Ihimaera: Always reference or acknowledge other writers’ work.
• Dame Stella Rimington: Authenticity
• A.D. Millar: Hints at not writing your debut novel in first person narrative as readers and critics will think it’s autobiographical.
• Men Adrift – Roddy Doyle: Runs every day and eats well.
• Sebastian Barry: Lost my notes but wow, can he sing and act, too. Talented and brilliant Irishman.

If you link here you can find out more about the above local and international authors.

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You can link here to read my two crime fiction short stories.

From Blogging to Goodreads

Lately, I haven’t commented on many blogs as much as I’d love to or kept up with all those great blogging projects. I’m too bogged down (and loving) with writing my short stories and novel. I know I’ve mentioned the latter before but just so I don’t keep repeating it, my presence here will now be few and far between. You can find out what I’m saying or doing from my other links (Facebook writer’s page, Goodreads, Pinterest, Twitter) where I’m slightly more active, and I don’t have to spend hours putting a blog post together, providing links, then rewriting and editing before publishing, and at the same time pulling my hair out because my IP is slower than an old snail. But my stories will take precedence, at least for the next while. By the way, I do run another blog Joanne Ganley Writes where I’ve pinned up my two latest short stories (it’s just a matter of copy and paste). These will be added to the collection I’m currently working on and later, published as an ebook.

This is me at present – inside the bottom igloo of books.

6th May: I was trolling through my old blog (Blogger domain) and according to its blog statistics, discovered that I had written 230 posts with 18,184 page views! So if I add the 93 blog posts here at WordPress with 6,942 views-to-date, I’ve blogged, in the past two and a half years, more than 300 posts with 25,000 page views! I know that’s a pittance compared to those more prolific bloggers out there, but hell, I’m pretty stoked I got this far.

THE FACELESS by Vanda Symon (Review)

Vanda Symon is the author of the Sam Shephard detective series set in Dunedin, New Zealand. The Faceless is a stand-alone.

Bradley, a middle-class man with a young family, struggles to cope with his job after major restructuring due to the recession, and the pressure of a domineering wife back home. One night after a bad day at the office and emotionally out of control, he cruises the streets of Karangahape Road and picks up a young hooker called Billy.

Max, a homeless man of self-imposed exile, always watches out for his friend Billy as she does him, like father and daughter. But when Billy goes missing, the only way to find her is to face the reality of his past – ‘a Pandora’s box of epic proportions’ that could destroy him first.

Billy, an artist, abandoned by her parents and living on the streets, wakes tied to the wall of an empty, dark and cold concrete room. Her captor will be back soon but when? And what will he do to her? Who will ever find her here?

Symon pens a more tightly-wound, darkly embroidered story compared to her detective series.  Set in Auckland city, she paints a picture of the homeless – the day to day living, the vulnerability to violence, the desolation. She also captures themes of guilt, shame, love and loss, abandonment, making choices or personal responsibility, finding the strength and fortitude, restoring faith in humanity.

The Faceless draws you in on many other aspects – the three main narratives; its compelling nature; the emotional ride; the masterful balance of character, plot and pace; and that combined, the delivery of a superb crime story that will leave you breathless. For me, this is Symon’s best work yet. Highly recommended.

ANZAC DAY – lest we forget

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, originally commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who served and died in military operations for their countries.

We missed dawn parade but watched services and other remembrance events around the country on Maori television. In our laps, some nourishment, a plate of ANZAC biscuits with a cuppa tea and coffee. Then later in the day, we drove out along Awhitu peninsula and watched the sunset, stopping at various points on narrow country roads to capture a glorious view. I managed a few.

Blog Stats/Blind Assassin/Writing Update

Every now and then I suss out my blog stats – ‘referrers’, ‘top posts and pages’ and ‘clicks’ (outbound links). ’Search engine terms’ grab my attention the most and make me giggle, for example:

• what do we call a police dog
• five foot police book
• novel extract fell asleep and started snoring

And these are the most searched entries I’ve had in the past two weeks:

1. Five Foot and Fearless by Liz Williams
2. Scarlet by Leigh Marsden re an interview I had with Leigh in July last year. Leigh has just released her second novel Crush, published by Penguin. (You can read her latest Q&A interview in the NZ Herald titled ‘let’s write about sex, baby’ right here.)

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What I’m reading: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. (It’s not on my tbr or Goodreads list, this was on a whim.) I first read TBA, a multi-award winning novel, when it came out in 2000. It’s such a long time ago I can’t remember the plot, but vaguely remember the main character, Iris Chase.

The Blind Assassin flows like a smooth river, sometimes a wondrous cascade, and you’re on a trip, in a boat riding that river, that cascade, absorbed by every paragraph, scene and chapter, you just don’t want to get off. When I first read TBA, I wasn’t aware of writing technique, language style, the nuts and bolts of writing. Nowadays and inevitably, I read with an objective view. Reading TBA for the second time, I have a much deeper appreciation and admiration for Margaret Atwood as a writer. I could sit in that metaphorical boat again and again. TBA is an epic tale, compelling, spiced with mystery and betrayal. A brilliant read. (Atwood runs a blog here, but the last post dates back to April 2011.)

My writing status: I’m feeling slightly bushed from putting such a high writing expectation on myself. A collection of short stories for an ebook. A novel-in-progress. So much research. Keeping this blog updated, reading other blogs, putting in an appearance on my other links. Struggling to hold a life outside of writing and reading. Some people can do it all, I’m just not one of them. I’ll be slowing things down from now on.

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You can link to my crime fiction short stories here.

THE FRENCH CAT by Rachael McKenna

Cats, with their snooty, beautiful faces, their sensuous bodies, their lethal paw swipes, snuggly purrs and aloof, unreadable natures, are a challenge to any photographer.

The opening to successful New Zealand born photographer, Rachael McKenna’s endearing book, The French Cat. I chanced upon this book today, on the way to pick up my own cat from the vets. I barely riffled the pages or checked the price before swiping my credit card. The charming cover design (above), hardback, yet soft like a cushion between my palms, was too irresistible to ignore. Needless to say, the photography is delightful, and so is that scent of freshly printed paper, and feel of glossy A4 pages between the fingers. So weighty and tactile, even sobering, compared to the almost feather-light e-reader I’m now used to.

McKenna photographs French cats (moggies and ‘gutter cats’ or strays) in their natural habitats, against a background of old-world French villages and rustic charm that we in the southern hemisphere can’t get enough of. There are quotes to relish by 19^th century French poets, novelists, artists … some were cat lovers, and there’s a small and apt insert in the centrefold called Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault. Cat lovers everywhere will adore this book, a real treasure to own. Makes a lovely gift. More about Rachael McKenna here.

WORDS DOWN UNDER

The Auckland Writers and Readers Festival is the biggest annual literature festival held in New Zealand. This year, as opposed to last year, crime fiction seems to have found some recognition. International authors, Peter James (Detective Roy Grace), A.D. Miller (Snowdrops) and Stella Rimington (ex head of MI5) should get crime fiction fans scrambling for seats.

I missed out on seeing Norwegian crime writer Jo Nesbo when he was here about a month ago. I’ve just finished his latest crime novel Phantom (Detective Harry Hole) – hardboiled, and a brilliant, sometimes emotional read. Wasn’t Michael Connelly here, too, or was that Michael Robotham? Perhaps both. And a few other international crime writers. It would’ve been good to see those guys and gals converging in one place at the same time, but that’s wishful thinking.

As my taste in reading extends to other categories of fiction, I’d be keen to attend some of those sessions that include local writers such as Paula Morris (based in Scotland), Fiona Kidman, Emily Perkins, Paul Thomas …

There are 70 events that take place over a period of five days (9-13 May). More information here.

I’m not sure if I’ll make it though. I’ve just spent $100 on an upcoming one day workshop called The Ebook Journey – your book in the future. There are plenty of well-known people in the industry who will speak at the workshop – industry perspectives, publisher’s perspective and experience, author perspective and later, a chance to talk to them and other experts. I think the money will be well spent. I’ll have to tighten my budget in another area to attend the AWRF. You always come out of a festival buzzing with fresh ideas, new information and most of all, heaps of inspiration.

FROM THE INSIDE by Joanne Ganley (2nd short story published online)

Please find below another crime fiction short story (FROM THE INSIDE) for your enjoyment or interest. (You might like to skip the following intro by scrolling to the bottom for the synopsis and link to the story.)

Rather than waiting to finish the set of crime fiction short stories I’m putting together to publish as one ebook, I pondered the advantages of epublishing a short story on its own (via Smashwords). Many aspiring writers are taking this approach. It’s a good idea but for me, epublishing one short story means the reader will experience only what the unknown author wrote in say, 1500 words. I’d also have to do some serious campaigning to find readers (not just writers), something I’m not prepared to do every time I epublish one short story, or two or three as one ebook. I’d prefer the reader experienced the potential or full range of what I have to offer as a crime fiction writer, much like the quantity of work a novel produces to merit a fair judgement, opinion or review.

Now you say, but she’s published them on her blog. Yes, to me, that’s different. This is for my regular visitors (mostly writers) and anyone who happens to stop by. As I mentioned, I’m not campaigning for readers at this point. In the past year I’ve learned a great deal about the experiences of many self-published authors who’ve marketed their own ebooks – most of it positive of course, but one must do their homework first to realise that it’s time-consuming and a challenging endeavour. I find just writing my stories suck up plenty of time and energy. So best to focus on marketing when the time is right.

FROM THE INSIDE is six pages long and contains offensive language.

You may decide to come back later during a pause in your own work or busy lifestyle, but if you decide to take the plunge now, I suggest you grab a cuppa, or perhaps something stronger. Here is a synopsis to whet the appetite:

Marie witnesses a man brandishing a high-calibre firearm and shooting indiscriminately around the neighbourhood. She grabs her eight-week-old baby and hides in the bedroom wardrobe, then calls 111 just as the shooter breaks into her home. Their fate is not only in the hands of a rapid police response, but whether or not Marie can keep her baby quiet.

It is Jill’s first day ‘solo’ as a police communicator. She must deal with the above emergency – a ‘priority one call’, as well as the personal call she’s expecting from her husband, who is planning to leave her … Please continue here. 

FIVE FOOT AND FEARLESS by Liz Williams

I prefer to review fiction than non-fiction when it comes to policing or crime, but sometimes there are a few exceptions like this one. I was so enthralled by the book, I read it in one sweep.

Five Foot and Fearless is unputdownable. Despite the topic of policing, not always an engaging topic, this one draws you in from beginning to end. Liz Williams shares tales of her experience as a member of New Zealand’s Armed Offenders Squad (AOS), a difficult squad to qualify for, and one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.

FFF is an easy read, filled, surprisingly, with laugh out loud moments, and not so surprisingly, shocking, harrowing AOS call-outs.

Williams is the only female among 32 applicants accepted from various policing districts in the country, to undergo the brutal selection course that some will fail in or drop out of. Being a woman and of tiny stature in contrast to her male competitors – taller, heavier and super fit, you’d think would put her at a huge disadvantage. But Williams, a policewoman, a mother, and married to a policeman (also in the AOS), is a woman of determination, stubborness, feistiness and, as her instructor described in his report, ‘intestinal fortitude’.

As she regales stories from the intensive physical training, I found myself cracking up on many occasion. For the swimming component, swimwear had to be worn in the company of 30+ males, swimwear which continually and embarrassingly rode up her bum like a g-string; or struggling – sweaty and exhausted – to carry a male colleague more than her own weight across the finish line, and finally dumping him unceremoniously on the ground; or on surveillance all night in the whop whops, wearing gear that weighs 20+kg (she’s 55kg) and overalls with no She-P, and so forth. I sympathised when she was done, spent, felt like she’d been ‘run over by a truck’ after a long, gruelling day of physical challenges – “I wobbled my way up to one of the guys on my section who had come in just behind me and doubled over beside him, slapping him on the back to give myself a focus other than wanting to blubber shamelessly. It seemed to provoke him, though – great wracking, heaving sobs came out of him, which made me feel much better. I had found my limit, and so, it appeared, had he.”

The first half of the book covers the tough selection process and the second, the harsh reality being an AOS member. A chapter is devoted to the three day Napier siege (2009) Williams attended, in which one police officer was shot dead, and two others and one civilian were seriously injured.

The main thread that runs through FFF, is a young woman, passionate about her job, also a mother, constantly juggling between the two like all working mothers are challenged. Not to mention her other passions – painting, writing and public speaking. Williams tackles her tales with a sense of humour, but never veers from the seriousness of her job and policing itself.

For more information and an update, Kathryn Ryan interviewed Liz Williams over at National Radio.