I was shocked to see how long it's been since I posted here! I'm really bad at social media. 

Since last time I've actually retired from teaching - although I'm writing this in a classroom as a relief teacher. I only do a couple of days a week so I can put more time into my writing ventures. This includes my mm romance, but I'm also doing some work in screenwriting which I'm really enjoying.

So what prompted me to actually post? You guessed it - a new release! Finally! Anyway, my new title is called Furborn and involved a whole lot of world building (fun!). The Furborn are fox shapeshifters living in country Victoria (Australia) - sheep country. Please check it out and there is also a link to a rafflecopter giveaway that includes an autographed copy and some handmade jewellery.

I will post again soon (promise) about my trip to central Australia - The red heart.

​Izzy

I'm back in writing mode! It's not that I get writer's block or anything, but there are times when life simply gets in the way. 

Anyway, I finally managed to finish a manuscript - a novel length manuscript.

A while back I had a short story called Snowman in a Dreamspnner Press anthology. As often happens with me the characters simply wouldn't be quiet - even at the time it was a struggle to keep them contained in 10,000 words. Poor Jamie got put on hold again while I wrote the tale of Caleb and Paul, but it meant I was able to talk about something I love - horses. Oh, and a gorgeous barista named Stewart. I submitted it a week ago, so fingers crossed it gets the thumbs up.

Jamie is back on the agenda and progressing nicely. 

So far 2013 has been a very strange year - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the just plain terrifying! But I'm still around and getting my writing mojo back on.

Low-lights has been about health. Three more skin cancer ops for starters! Luckily they were all removed and, although I have to go in for checks every three months, I'm feeling pretty positive. I simply have to remember to stick to my vampire ways!

The highlights have been many - challenges that I set myself and achieved! I will gradually include them on the website and am going to have a new page of events.

What this space - I promise I'll update a lot more regularly and include snippets and sneak peaks.

Quite a while ago I promised updates and sneak peaks at the third book in my A Note in the Margins series - Jamie's story. Well poor Jamie was put on hold while I worked on something else, but the boy is pushy and loves to chat. As a result I have had to get back to telling his story! It is going to pick up the tale directly after Twelve Days.

I promise to do regular updates while I'm writing! Please forgive typos as this is a work in progress!

Sneak Peak:

“Is it a real kiss if it’s under mistletoe?” Jamie asked as he unrolled the top of the brown paper bag and lifted out David’s half of their salad sandwich.

David sat forward in his chair among the second hand books and listened, just as Jamie knew he would. Even in the days when he was still on the streets and rarely responded to the young man’s ramblings, Jamie always knew that the quiet homeless man had listened. It seemed a long time since those days and David was clean and a whole lot healthier, but some things hadn’t changed. He still listened, and Jamie knew that David cared.

“I mean, it wasn’t even real mistletoe. Does it make a different if it was just plastic holly?” Jamie continued and looked down at his half of their shared lunch, taking a bite while the question hung between them.

“Did it feel real?” David finally asked.

“I think so,” Jamie said with the hint of a naughty smile. “It wasn’t just a peck and he didn’t have to kiss me, because it wasn’t actually mistletoe.” The smile broadened. “And he had really soft lips.”

David reached down to retrieve his coffee mug from the floor and took a sip. “Sounds like a real kiss to me then,” he said and bit the corner of the sandwich.

Jamie giggled. “I think so too.”

They chewed on their sandwiches each lost in their own thoughts, each thankful for the company. That was until their quiet contemplation was shattered by a loud expletive from the front of the store. Jamie looked up grinned at the string of grumbles that followed it. “I think John’s Christmas spirit left with Santa.”

David cocked his head and made out things like “bloody mess” and “damn tree.” He smiled and shook his head. “Don’t let that fool you. John is enjoying himself.”

“Getting rid of all the Christmas stuff?” Jamie asked while he leaned forward to peek around the bookshelf.

“No, John loves being here, in the shop.”

A little further forward and Jamie could just make out John going through a box of books at the front counter. The frown lines of his outburst already gone from his face as he rifled through a stack of pristine diaries.

“Margins really has filled a hole for him,” Jamie mumbled and ducked back just in time to avoid being caught when John looked up. He shared a smile with David knowing how much the small bookshop had done for him too. “I always said this place housed more than just books.”

When I was a little girl I was taught a rhyme that has stayed with me all my life. I remember feeling very bad for the old man.

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat,
Please do put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny,
then God bless you!

If you are able, please help out those less fortunate this Christmas. Even a smile helps.

Izzy
xxx

I'm sitting in my hotel room in Brunei all packed and ready to fly home to Melbourne. The TV is on the news and I'm watching the progress of Hurricane Sandy. All my thoughts and love are with my friends in the US. Stay safe.

I just signed up to try Nanowrimo. I signed in a few years ago and didn't manage to get a lot written, but this year I'm determined!

Wish me luck - I think I'll need it!

It has been an amazing few days at GRL in Albuquerque. I have been lucky enough to meet some very friendly and inspirational people.

So far I managed to survive the author Q&A session without sounding too silly (I hope) and my Peace, Love and Plot bunnies bookmarks were snapped up very quickly from the swag tables! Yay!

Later today I get to do an author reading and think I'll do something totally new that isn't out. So if you're at GRL you get to hear it first! I'm so nervous, but have to be brave!

More later!

Izzy