5 December

5 December

This will be my last posting until after Christmas.  I’m heading out of town on vacation day after tomorrow and am working through all those last minute ‘to do before I go’ things.  I am looking forward to catching up with family before coming back to spend Christmas with my family here.  I didn’t think it would happen, but it looks as if they’ll be spending Christmas with me.  Thank goodness.  I think Christmas is all about spending time with those you love.

We haven’t had much summer weather as yet and when we get a taste of it, the cool weather seems to take over.  Last week I resorted to winter clothes and turning on the heater!  Today is more like summer.   Crazy weather!

I enjoyed a shopping tour in the Southern Highlands on Saturday, stopping at markets at Goulburn, where the wind was so cold and not a scrap of sun to be seen.  We moved on to Berrima, very windy too, but at least there was some sunshine.  We had another couple of stops, one at a huge Christmas fair outside of Bowral.  Black clouds threatened, the wind continued to blow, but at least there wasn’t any rain.  Apparently, they’d had such bad weather the night before that the fair was in danger of being called off.  What a disaster that would have been.  Final stop was a lavender farm shop.  It was a good day out though, and I managed to do most of my Christmas shopping.

I have an interview at http://nancyehenderson.tripod.com/nancyehenderson/  You might like to read Nancy’s blog while you’re there.

If you feel like a chat, join the Champagne authors Sunday night socials – 9 pm est (Canada (Ontario)) – in Australia that’s 1.00 pm Monday, daylight saving time in the Eastern states.  Check out www.champagnebooks.com and join A Champagne Toast to find out what’s going on with the Champagne authors.

I hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas.

Until later, take care everyone.

Joanie
Joanie

joanie_macneil@hotmail.com.auwww.bookswelove.net/macneil.html
www.joaniemacneil.blogspot.com
Become a Romance Writer - TopJobGuide(R)
www.topjobguide.com.au/TopjobGuide/Samples/Romance_Writer.html
 

November 27

Hi everyone

I’ve had another busy week, what with a surprise birthday party for a friend, a glamour photo session, meeting another friend for coffee, seeing Flight Plan which I really enjoyed, doing an interview, and attending a Professional Speaking course. That’s only the fun stuff.

When my friend turned up at the designated place for a drink before dinner, she had no idea we were all hiding, waiting expectantly to see the look on her face when we called out ‘surprise’.  Her husband and children and another friend or two worked very hard to pull the evening together.  Her son hired a limo to take her to the restaurant.  There were interstate visitors.  She didn’t suspect a thing and had a really lovely birthday.

My friend, Emma Robertson, has had her first novel published.  Wits End Before Breakfast!  Confessions of a Working Mum.   The blurb on the back says it is “a riotous celebration of modern motherhood, from the first contraction to the last straw.  This book is for every working mum who wonders if she’s doing the right thing – and how much longer she can keep on doing it.”  Publisher:  Lothian Books www.lothian.com.au

My web page has been updated, in you care to take a look - www.bookswelove.net/macneil.html

I’m going on holidays in a week and a half and have quite a long list of things to do before then, including some letter writing and Christmas Cards.  Will be in touch before then.


Cheers
Joanie

19 November 2005

My good intentions of updating my blog weekly sadly disappeared into a haze of work, dance rehearsals, meeting friends for coffee and goodness know what else.    Some of the items I had listed to write about have now passed and are not worth a mention.  Not much writing done lately, I’m afraid.  Hope to remedy that in coming weeks.  But then, there are the preparations for holidays, Christmas….all those things that steal our time and occupy our thoughts.

Last weekend my belly dance group performed at the Belconnen Festival.  It was a perfect afternoon for outdoor activities.  The stage consisted of flat slabs of board, hinged by metal strips.  By the time it was our turn, the wooden floor was very hot underfoot, not to mention the metal strips.  Following our comments, other barefooted performers chose to dance on the grass.  A sensible decision.  We did look good though, with our colourful costumes and coin belts jingling.  The audience seemed to enjoy the performances.  

I also went to see The Merchants of Bollywood, which tells the history of the Indian film industry.  A fabulous show, a nice balance between dialogue, humour and dancing which became more fast and furious as the show progressed.  Certainly plenty to keep the audience mesmerized.  I felt exhausted from watching dancers.  Of course, the costumes were just beautiful.

Can’t say as much for the male streaker who did a lap of the carpark after the show.  As someone said, he should have got himself a tan first!

Hope to catch up next week.

If you have a moment, pop over to www.bookswelove.net and check out their contests.

‘Bye for now

Joanie

How quickly the weeks seem to fly at this time of the year. Today, the weather is finally taking on the feel of summer. An ad in our free community paper reminds us that by 15 November, Christmas is only six weeks away.

Yesterday was my dad’s birthday. He would have been 80. I thought about him a lot and wondered what he would have made of the big race – the Melbourne Cup, held every year on the first Tuesday in November. And the winner, a mare, has won the race three years in a row. Her successes have made history. The event is promoted as ‘the race that stops the nation’, and it does. Crazy that we all love to celebrate a horse race. But I suppose it’s tradition, and those of us who don’t normally gamble our money will usually have a flutter on the Melbourne Cup, either through the betting agencies or sweeps. Pretty much everything stops from lunchtime on. There are parties and lunches, culminating in a viewing of the big race around the nearest big screen or TV set.

I went to lunch with work colleagues at one of the clubs where there was a fashion parade and prizes for the best hat and best outfit. As soon as the race was run, and winnings collected, people disappeared. I went shopping, then on to what is a regular family dinner in the evening.

The outdoor setting I’d ordered for my balcony was delivered today. Now that the weather is improving, I’m looking forward to sitting out there and reading or writing, or just daydreaming if that’s all I feel like doing. It’s great to see the place so green after the winter and spring rains. It’s supposed to be a very hot summer this year – lots of fuel for bushfires.

The other thing that happened today was that on my way out, my door closed behind me, the lock jammed and I couldn’t get back in again. Luckily I had my car keys so could drive to the agents, about 5 minutes away, so they could arrange for their handyman to come take a look. He replaced the lock and the lock on the screen door as well, so now I can leave the wooden door open and enjoy the benefit of the lovely breeze flowing through.

That’s all for now.

Cheers

Joanie

October 23

I’ve been meaning to start my own author blog for ages, and am feeling very pleased that I’ve now accomplished that.

The last few months have been busy ones, writing wise. I attended the Romance Writers of Australia National Conference in Melbourne in August. Had a wonderful time catching up with friends, enjoying the wonderful ambience of the Langham Hotel and of course, learned a lot from the workshops. I also gave a workshop on Showing and Not Telling in romance writing.

In August, my book No Boundaries, was released by Canadian publisher, Champagne Books – http://www.champagnebooks.com/ The reviews have been positive. If you’d like to take a look you’ll find them at The Romance Studio www.theromancestudio.com/ and Coffee Time Romance www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/NoBoundaries.html and at Fallen Angels Reviews http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/July2005/Jessica-NoBoundaries.htm

Four of my novels published with DiskUs Publishing are now available in print and have new covers. These can be viewed at www.cafepress.com/diskusbooks/639180

My first non fiction book, Become a Romance Writer, TopJobGuide(TM) has been released by Australian Associated Publishing House in association with Australian College QED
www.topjobguide.com.au/TopjobGuide/Samples/Romance_Writer.html

Earlier this month, the Canberra Romance Writers and the Canberra Speculative Fiction group combined for an evening of readings as part of the ACT Readers and Writers festival. It’s interesting to listen to the different ‘writer’ voices. It’s amazing how different your work sounds when you read it aloud.

That’s it for now….

Joanie