This is a continuation of my post about my visit to Hobbiton in Matamata. Part one is here. I was busy taking photos of Hobbit holes and my surroundings and saw something moving. It took me a moment to realize the pheasant was real and it was busy feasting on the vegetables. This is the frog pond. During filming the frogs made it challenging to hear the actors. Sir Peter Jackson paid someone to...
As a New Zealand author, I’m afraid I’m a bit of a trial to my editors. I keep slipping Kiwi speak into my manuscripts, mainly the contemporary and paranormal ones. When I get my edits back there are comments about “head scratching” and lots of question marks. Here...
Today I thought I’d take you on a virtual trip to Egypt, on a trip down the Nile. Our ship was small, and it looked a little plain compared to some of the other floating palaces, but it was very comfortable. We saw lots of felucca, the traditional sailing...
My guest today is Rebecca Royce. She’s been on tour with her book Love Beyond Sight, and this is her last stop. Since her hero is a wounded one, I asked her to tell us about writing a disfigured character. Comment on this post, and enter a draw to win a $50 Amazon...
Writers spend a lot of time waiting for decisions from editors, agents, publishers. Hurry up and wait. I’m not very good at waiting. Just saying, but patience or impatience makes a good topic for a Thursday Thirteen. Thirteen Proverbs About Patience 1. Patience is a...
New Zealanders and Australians celebrated ANZAC day today – the day where we remember our fallen soldiers, and in particular, the soldiers who lost their lives at Gallipoli during World War One. At this time of the year I like to bake a batch of ANZAC biscuits. It’s...
The white wedding dress made with silk and lace is a twentieth century tradition, and the cynical among us might say that those who work in the wedding industry have embraced the elaborate white gown for commercial reasons. In past centuries, couples would wear their...
