Spring is Here!

Hayfever sufferers unite!

This year it seems the countryside has conspired against everyone afflicted by hayfever - must have been the good rains we've had - and every plant has decided to flower and spread its pollen far and wide.

But who can resist a beautiful flower or two? And I love jasmine.

Thought I'd share some snaps I've taken of the flowers in and around my garden.







And a Rosella who likes sit on my fence and tease my cats.

POISON KISSED - Erica Hayes

Erica's Bio

Erica Hayes. That's me. Author of the Shadowfae Chronicles.

I live in the luckiest country in the world. I've done law student, air force officer, editorial assistant and musician. And now I have the best job in the world -- imagining.

In my stories, magic and wonder abounds. But the mortal world is an enchanted place too, if you know how to look. I've laughed atop the Great Wall, sported with the gargoyles at Notre Dame and gazed up awestruck at the Great Pyramid. Let me share that sense of wonder with you.

Just because you don't see it right away doesn't mean it's not there. So laugh under the stars. Dance in the rain. Howl at the moon. You never know who's watching.

Stringer Literary Agency represent my writing to the world.

Now that you've read Erica's bio, here's her interview!

Who is Erica Hayes?
Well, that’d be me :) I live in Newcastle, and I write dark, sexy urban fantasy/romance. At the moment, I’m on holidays in France. It’s a tough life.

Who influenced you or what appeals to you about this genre?
I love the action, as well as the romance. And I like to explore the dark and dingy side of magical.

Share a bit about your next release, where can we buy it?
My new book is called POISON KISSED. It’s a story of unrequited passion, betrayal and revenge — but also of redemption.

It’s out today, September 28 (yay!) and in Australia you can get it (for now) at specialist romance and fantasy stores. You can read about it at my website: http://www.shadowfae.net/poisonkissed.html

Tell us a bit about the hero/heroine.
The heroine, Mina, is a banshee, and in my world that means ‘kick-ass’ — she’s got a lethal voice, a toxic kiss and whip-smart fighting skills. She works as a a gang enforcer for her boss, Joey, on whom she’s had a desperate crush since he saved her life years ago. But Joey is cold to her, and she’s convinced she’ll never be good enough for him. Her deepest desire — apart from Joey’s love — is to hunt down and kill her mother’s murderer.

Joey’s a snake-shifter, and he loves and loathes his creature in equal measure. He’s chilly and standoffish with Mina, reluctant to let her close in case his gang rivals use her against him, and because he fears she’ll shrink away from the monster inside him.

Their relationship is tense, passionate and angry. They fight a lot, but they can barely keep their hands off each other. And that’s just in the first few chapters :)

What’s next for you?
I’ve written book #4 in the series, entitled BLOOD CURSED, which should be out early in 2011. So I’m cooking up ideas for book #5, and I’m working on a new space opera story.

Where to now?
I’m doing a blog tour over the next couple of weeks. Tonight Aussie time (28 Sept) I’m at Bitten By Books and on Thursday I’m at Sidhe Vicious.

Big thanks to Kylie for hosting me on her blog today :) 

It's been a pleasure, E.!

Beyond the veil of magic, a fairy otherworld pulses with glamour and dark beauty... It's a place where passions run deep and dark — and death is just one kiss away...

Mina is a banshee whose greatest power lies in her siren song. She's beholden to her boss Joey, a snake-shifter who once saved her life and now employs her as a gang enforcer. She refuses to upset the fragile balance between them by admitting that she longs for him, that his embrace is the only thing she craves more than revenge for her mother's death...

When Mina learns that Joey may have been involved in her mother's murder, fury threatens to spill out of her, note by vicious note. She and Joey have always trusted each other to stay alive, but now she's not sure what to believe. The evidence stacked against him — or the one man who haunts her dreams and burns in her blood... 

Now, as an extra bonus and very cool thing, Erica is giving away a copy of POISON KISSED. To be in the running leave a comment about the interview and good luck. Winner will be announced 10th October on this blog.


 (*PLEASE NOTE: Erica's on holiday in France, so the winner of her POISON KISSED give-away will have to wait until she comes home - around Oct.17th -  for her to post it to them.) 

Want to find out more about Erica? Visit her website! 

Erica's SHADOWFAE CHRONICLES include:  

Book 2

Book 1

Mullaley Public School celebrates 125 years of schooling!

Today I attended Mullaley Public School's 125th Anniversary and what a fabulous day it was!

Native Rose arbour at the entrance to the school

Mullaley PS established 188

Mullaley (pop.approx.200) is a small rural village located about 40 kilometers from Gunnedah in northwest New South Wales, Australia. Many of the students who've attended the school over the last 125 years have come from the village or off properties surrounding the village.



There was quite a crowd - I've been told between 400-500 people attended the day - parents, past and present students, past teachers and principals, and community members. Those I talked to had very fond memories of their time spent at the school.

Tambar Springs SES unit

Mullaley PS staff in period costume

MP Peter Draper & Principal Tony Johnston

Cookbook & updated History book

Mullaley Rural Fire Service vehicle

Some of the events featured today included performances by the students (dancing, singing, play acting, maypole dancing), an official book launch for the Mullaley Remembers history book and Mullaley 2010 Cookbook, photographic and static displays of old school memorabilia, open classrooms, time capsule opening and cake cutting by the oldest ex-student & youngest present day student.

Wood-turning display

There were also a variety of craft stalls, a wood-turning display, several antique cars & tractors and the local Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service vehicles display. 

Happy Anniversary Mullaley PS - may the school continue to educate students for the next 125 years!

Balloons in school colours

PROMO: Erica Hayes

I'm so excited! Aussie urban fantasy/erotic author, Erica Hayes returns for another visit to my blog.

September 28th is the release date of POISON KISSED, the third book in her Shadowfae Chronicles series.

Erica is generously giving away one copy of her book to one lucky reader.

So, come celebrate with us. Mark that date in your diary, folks!

New Zealand trip

Here's the last of the photos from my trip to New Zealand!

Lovely ferns of NZ

Which way will I go?

The stunning Coromandel western coastline

Eeny, meenie, miney, mo...

Sulfur coated rocks

Maori meeting house

Rugged coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula

Black swan

WIP (work in progress)

I'm knee-deep in writing my new work in progress (nicknamed PLANET X for want of a better title). I thought I'd share the blurb with you. Keep in mind this is a first draft so in the long run this may not be the final version, but it'll suffice for now! *grin*

A DANGEROUS PARADISE
Independent planet Veora, on the outer reaches of the universe, offers wealth to any brave and wily enough to survive its desert wastelands and dangerous predators to mine valuable powerstones, an alternate energy source in high demand.
LOST AND ALONE
Eshani believes love is for fools. A convicted thief, sentenced by the Federation to serve out her time on Veora, she unexpectedly makes a life for herself there. And discovers a man who forces her to question her jaded beliefs. But can she learn to trust again?
OUTLAWED AND HUNTED
Kaedan Onne, a GenEn soldier, was bred to be the best. His whole life has been spent honing his genetically modified skills to perfection. When the Federation deems his kind too dangerous to remain alive he chooses to run. Now with a price on his head, Veora offers Kaedan isolation and anonymity, a refuge.
Until he meets Eshani. Her tough, cynical exterior hides a vulnerable, sexy woman. He knows that to give in to the fierce attraction between them compromises his safety, his chances of living a life in the only place he’s ever dared call home.
FREEDOM AT A PRICE
Veora may be the key to their salvation, but with unknown forces fighting for control of powerstone mining, Eshani and Kaedan must risk their hearts, their freedom and their lives to fulfill their deepest desires.

How's it read, folks? Would you be interested in this book based on this blurb?

CRAFT: How To Write a Synopsis...Without Turning Homicidal!

What a great title, eh? It certainly caught my attention.

Need a guide on how to write a synopsis? Gracie O'Neil is the author behind the idea. She's giving the whole series "How To Write a Synopsis Without Turning Homicidal" away as a freebie on her website.

The pdf document is a step by step, examples-constructed-and-deconstructed guide on how to write a high concept, back cover blurb, 1pg, 2pg, 4pg & 8pg synopsis.

A VERY useful resource for any writer to have - I highly recommend it.

"Red for Romance" (RWNZ Cocktail Party)

 A few photos to mark the RWNZ's "Red for Romance" cocktail party - what a great night it was!

2010 RWNZ conference highlights

The final results of the 2010 RWNZ Clendon Award...

1st Place

Wendy Vella

2nd Place

Michelle de Rooy

(also Readers' Choice Award recipient)

3rd Place

Soraya Nichols

20th Anniversary - a time to celebrate

Wendy Vella

Michelle de Rooy

Soraya Nichols

An audience captivated by Christopher Vogler

Weaponry display - a popular workshop

Alex Logan from Grand Central Publishing

FORBIDDEN Winner!

To all who dropped by to say hi to Christina and I - thank you.

And to those who shared their preferred ancient destination to explore - a double thank you. Some days (nah, most days), I wish I had a time machine. You know, so many places, so little time...

Anyhow, by random draw from a (clean) coffee cup, the winner who gets to claim the giveaway copy of FORBIDDEN is...

Mel Teshco

Please contact Christina on ChristinapPh (at) gmail (dot) com - no spaces.

Congratulations & happy reading!