MoP, Day 5

waves mulching the shore
into a soup of
life, fresh and current
and death

shards of what once lived
preserved over millennia
a cocktail of salt and sand
pieces of an ancient earth

like man-made glass
jagged edges worn smooth
Nature is patient
until we are all returned

to what we once were

MoP, Day 4

(AN: This one is inspired by the heat, as it is literally too roasting to think of anything else. Red fireant hotwater chilli dog. Okay, I'm done now)

perspiration

a crashing collection of sibilance

in the mouth

and in the slickness

between valleys of flesh

MoP, Day 3

hissclinkwatersteel

Victoriana bustles
and spaceman helmets

an army of bronze cogs
in a steampunk paradise

MoP, Day 2

the vapours of the dead
rise, mingling with
blooming flowers of poison gas

blood red, Agent Orange,
the purple
of a bruise

trees of flame burn
hearts of mortal meat

and civilisation hums
on the edge of a new day

Poetry

MoP (Month of Poetry) takes place in January and is coordinated by Aussie children's author Kathryn Apel and you can find out more about it here. I have decided to take part for the first time this year (which also helps with #4 of my NY resolutions - see previous post) but I haven't formally signed up. I'm just going to potter along quietly and post them on my blog as I write them. At this stage I plan to post all of them here, that is, one a day, but if for some reason I decide I'd rather not attach it to a blog with my name, if it turns too personal or something, I'll keep it to myself. Disclaimer: I AM TERRIBLE AT POETRY. You've been warned.

So, numero uno:

moon, fat, yellow
hanging wet and spider-like
windows made of tree branches
and stars
glowing
an upside-down sun

On the eve....

So here we are, pretty much a year to the day since I started this blog and a lot has changed, and a lot really hasn't. I kept going with the blog! Ha! New Years Resolution 2012 TICK TICK TICK. It doesn't matter that the posts were shamefully few and far between since I got back from overseas, I think I averaged about one a month or something so it COUNTS.

And overseas! The best trip of my life. Health concerns not counted of course, but I have to thank God for not letting such concerns ruin my trip. I saw some of the most amazing places in the world and I have an absolute swagload of memories to share with my friends and my boyfriend, who (BEWARE: MUSH) I have grown to love properly and more than I thought possible. Not that I didn't love him before. But I now realise that love needs to be challenged in order to appreciate the strength of it correctly. We have been together for over three years now and its only recently that we experienced our first real speedbumps and I'm pretty happy that we did. Because our relationship didn't fall in a heap at the first sign of trouble. My parents have been married a few years short of three decades and I have only now woken up to the fact that all relationships take work, and no relationship - none, NIL - is always trouble-free. That's life, peeps. Okay, relationship rant is over now, but seriously, yay my boyfriend. I love him. <3

I finished a book! (I actually finished two, but one of them was so completely and utterly woeful that I stuck it in a drawer and haven't touched it since). And I sent the first bit of the decent book to an agency and they requested the whole thing!! And I'm still waiting to hear from them sooooo....*crosses fingers, toes, all manner of appendages*

I continued with my Masters and have reached the conclusion that I probably won't finish it and perhaps it is not for me. An unfortunate decision to reach after the time and money spent on it so far, but again, LIFE! No matter.

I've started a new job which I already know will not be a full-time career prospect, and it has presented its own set of challenges, but I am committed to it for as long as 2013 goes the way of suiting it in my life. I am feeling a bit crazy, as though I'm standing on the ledge over the rest of my life and I need to make some kind of important career decision before I jump into it, but there are so many things floating around my head that I can't decide which option to snatch out the air. (Hopefully) time will tell.

SO: 2013.

I don't like making huge sweeping numbers of resolutions (I used to not do resolutions purely because I didn't want the pressure of sticking to them) but I have just a couple of bits for the coming year.

1. Cook more (this I am probably least optimistic about, but dammit, it's going on the list)

2. Lose all my cortisone/holiday weight (I have the exact number in my head and a loose plan, but that's my business *sticks out tongue*)

3. Write a novel, or at least a manuscript, that I can show my grandmother/elderly friends without blushing and wishing they wouldn't read it.

4. Keep blogging, but more frequently.

And to you all, people I love and hold near and dear, people I don't know too well, those I don't much like at all, and to anyone I have not yet met, I wish only the best and brightest things for you in 2013. Have a great year. xoxo

Meeting another literary hero

So a couple of nights ago I went to see Kate Morton speak at the State Library. For those who don't know, Kate Morton has four books published (the newest, and the reason for the book tour, is The Secret Keeper), is one of the best paid Australian authors (so I've read), looks like a supermodel and is just about the sweetest person in the world. I have read all her books and I really enjoyed them, but The Secret Keeper was extra special, just as good as her first offering and my all-time favourite, The Shifting Fog.

Kate Morton

Elyse and I were the youngest people there by about 30 years, but I'm sort of used to that, having made author-stalking a sort of hobby. Kate Morton spoke beautifully. She is one of the most articulate people I've ever met, incredibly lilting in tone. Her accent is Australian, with the 'properness' of a British accent thrown in and it makes for delightful listening, particularly when she reads her own prose.

She spoke about the writing process, and how she allows herself 3-4 months of research, where she reads books, watches films, locates diaries and other sources from the time period and just generally gets to know the era. Then it takes her about 10 months to write the book. The whole thing sounded heavenly. Imagine having the opportunity to completely immerse yourself in a period of history that you loved, then invent some amazing characters and storylines and play with them for a year or so? That is why I'd like to be a writer, so if anyone could manage to make that dream come true for me, that would be great. Thanks.

She spoke about things in her life that influenced her work, and what it was like living with another creative soul (both working from home) and how she does motherhood and writing. She told us about the false starts in her writing career which gives me hope for my own. Afterwards she signed our books and I turned into a blushing, stuttering person with crazy eyes but she was really sweet. I told her that I loved the new book and that I had wanted to read it before hearing her speak because I'd been to author talks when I hadn't read the newest book and I wished I had a frame of reference to what they were talking about. And then she agreed with me and Elyse told her that I had introduced Elyse to her books and Kate Morton said I was a good friend and I blushed some more and grinned like an idiot and then we left and I could breathe normally. It. Was. Awesome.

And I'm totally reinspired to write.

Yes, I know it's backwards. I took it in the webcam. Geez.
It says 'For Emily, A pleasure to meet you - happy reading!'