Dear reader, I have truly been missing in action. The man of the trucks (MOTT) and I have returned safely from our first overseas adventure, safe but firmly bitten by the travel bug.

The dirt, dust and litter was at first overwhelming, and yet, once I met the local members of the Revival Fellowship, I was overwhelmed by an immediate connection.

My first impression of Honiara was a crazy taxi ride from the airport to the motel. We packed into a small station wagon with “TAXI” stenciled onto the door and took off at break neck speed. Driving lanes on the highway were apparently only marked as a suggestion, as trucks, mini buses, what seemed like hundreds of taxi’s and flash 4WD’s jockeyed for position and nosed their way onto packed roundabouts. No speed limit, seat belts or rules about riding on top of loaded trucks. We raced along, past small ramshackle markets, held under awnings, shacks and even brightly coloured umbrellas. Thongs being the national footwear, and if you are unfortunate enough to have one break, then you can continue on, with one.  At first everything seemed totally insane, but by the time we left it felt vital and alive rather than dingy and scary. It’s amazing how perceptions can change so quickly when you get to know individuals.

So reader, I’m sure you can understand why I’ve begun working on a mystery set in this enigmatic wonderland. Can you fail to imagine how it would feel to walk past those pineapples? Those pineapples are the sweetest thing you’ve ever tasted by the way. Did I tell you about the fruit? I’ve never tasted anything like it reader, our Australian fruit tastes like someone forgot to put in the flavour.

Sorry reader, back to my story. So while “On the River Bank” sits and proves, I have plotted out a possible short story, a mystery, set in the hubbub of Honiara’s busy streets and markets.

So stay tuned reader, I may just publish it here, for you to read, I’ll think about that for a bit, but right now, it seems like a good idea.

I’ve been thinking about the style and genre of popular movie’s and books that are out these days.

Not being one really all that interested in statistics, though I think the statistics on this issue would be really interesting, I’ve not even looked into that side of this topic.

The statistics aside, have you noticed Reader that in a time when, particularly here in Australia, we have no real threat to our existence, we love to read books or watch movie’s that fantasise and sensationalise war, hunger, deprivation? Or take us deep into an alternative reality. I know there are individuals who live in dire circumstances, who’s day to day life is a struggle, but generally, in Australia, we have a pretty easy life. Even the homeless man who has been wandering around Maitland for the last twenty or so years is well nourished, he’s pretty dirty and smells, but he’s not starving.

I once saw a segment on a tv show stating that women of a certain age, I think they meant middle aged, in the mid 1900′s liked to read romance.

and women of the same age bracket, now like to read crime stories.

I’ve been chatting to some young friends, ranging in age from mid teens to mid twenties, and I’ve noticed a real draw to fantasy in the girls, romance of course, cue “Twilight”  and even “The Hunger Games”. As for boys, well boys still love blow ‘em up and smash ‘em down. But the games they play on play stations and Xbox and whatever other game consoles are out there, are so graphic and violent it amazes me.

We seem to crave a view into a life that’s different from our own, a fantasy world one way or another, an escape from the boring hum drum of our own reality. When I think about it reader, even the book I’m writing is a fictionalised and romanticised telling of life in the new colony of New South Wales. Writing it is an escape from my world of bookkeeping and trucks.

We all like to read stories and watch films about an alternative life or circumstance to how we live and what we know. So I wonder, what does this say about our social and economic situations? Do our reading and viewing choices reflect the contrast with our reality?

Just saying . . .

Hello again, it’s hard to believe we are halfway through April and on the slippery slope into May. Reader the speedily approaching month of May means mayhem for us in the Beavan household. We are going to be flying out for our first overseas jaunt on the 1st and as is always the case around here, it means the MOTT ( Man of the Truck) will most likely slide out of the Freightliner at about midnight of the 30th of April.

Our plane leaves at 7am on the 1st of May, so we need to be driving to Sydney at around 2am. I so love planning things around our transport business. It’s always guaranteed to be close to the wire.

As for my writing, well reader, I’ve done a small amount of editing, but even more exciting, I have come up with a starter for a plot for a second book. How’s that, I’ve barely begun editing the first and my head is running away on a new adventure for Maddy and Daniel.

This came about on Saturday when I went for a short drive, about 2 hours,  with Dave in one of our trucks. We headed out towards Denman via the Golden Highway. We were testing the truck up some steep hills as it had been having a few fuel consumption issues. Dave told me we would go up a particularly long steep hill called “Ogilvies”  as is was a long pull for the truck. Apparently this is a good way to see how the motor was performing? Depending on which gear you use to travel at a particular speed. . .  I guess he knows what he’s talking about! But the point of this is that the name Ogilvie rang a bell. Somewhere in my research I remembered reading the name. Then I remembered, I’d read it in George Wyndham’s journal.

This a portrait of George Wyndham, Hunter River settler and founder of the famous Wyndham Estate Winery, originally called Dalwood Estate and a prominent setting in my novel, “On the River Bank” (working title).

Then I saw a sign reading “Dalswinton” then another “Merton” and these too set my memory bells ringing.

William Ogilvie (above) was an early settler in the Valley and founder of the township of Merton. This gave me an idea for a new adventure that could take Maddy and Daniel further up the Valley, visiting the settler’s and the village of Merton, now called Denman.

I might just have to throw in a bit of mystery and I’m salivating with plots and plans for my newly-weds.

I’ve not done a lot of writing this last week reader, I’ve had all sorts of things happening that just have sucked away my writing energy.

It’s ok though, because I have managed to do a lot of reading and Internet browsing. I’ve been searching for examples of fashion and dress for the good folk of 1832. Can you believe it, everything I’ve read shows lovely pictures of Jane Austin’s Regency period, 1795 – 1830, then there is the Victorian Era, 1837 – 1901.

So reader where does this leave my Maddy in 1832, is she stuck on the river bank with nothing in particular to wear? How can we have a girl dressing herself in a bark hut when the whale bone stays were just on the way back in??

Why does it matter? It matters reader because if Maddy has to dress herself, how does she get herself into her clothes like this without a maid?

And these beauties couldn’t have done this alone.

It seems that the fashion history books kind of just mumble over the exact period that I’ve chosen to use as my story setting.

Above are some of the few pictures I’ve found, and my research has promoted the necessity to rewrite some of my girl’s back story, because I’m pretty sure some assistance would have been required.

And I haven’t even began with the men’s fashion yet . . .

There have been conversations flying about on a Facebook writer’s group “Wordcount Warriors” about Donald Maass, and his thought provoking questions.

1. Why are you writing this novel?

These questions, to a new and unpublished writer are not only thought provoking, but to be entirely truthful reader, they are terrifying.

Who cares about my story? I do, and I know a few wonderful friends who have read my first draft,they care. But in the big wide world, why does this story matter?

Does it really need to be written?

Well reader, I’ll try to give you honest answers to these questions. Answers that will establish my motivation for keeping this story alive.

As I’ve said before, I decided to write a short story set in my local area to kick start my writing again as I had stalled on a YA adventure novel. My research led me on a merry dance and I was soon discovering so much interesting information about the importance of the Hunter River (or Coal River as it was initially called) to the success of the colony. This led to reading about the individuals and the interesting antics that went on. The attitudes of the new colony were a far cry from the social hierarchy they were familiar with and this brought about a new social dynamic.

Imagine being raised with servants and lower classes that barely were worth your consideration, only to move to a land where the same people now were to be considered your equal?   What if you moved to a land where everything was incredibly different to your previous experience, the very land and the weather every bit as much your enemy as the bush-rangers and hostile natives who had been uprooted from their own lands. I began to imagine it, and a story grew from my imaginings.

This is a story that should be told, simply because it’s one that hasn’t ( to my knowledge) been written about in a novel. There are so many accounts of bravery, comedy, heartache and overcoming scattered about.The floods, fires and gunfights with bush-rangers.  I want to bring them all together in a fictionalised story that shares the page with real events and real people.

Visiting local homes built in the era of my story is such a great thing to do, and I have a valid reason for traipsing all over the countryside. Research reader, that’s what it’s all about, and this weekend I went to Tocal Homestead.

Tocal Homestead built in 1841.

A local house that was contemporary with my story’s setting. There were several homes built in the same era as fictional “Shelby”, one was Dalwood House, we’ve been there before, Tocal and another is Windermere House, I need to contact the owners to gain access there. I am fortunate to have a small degree of prior contact with both houses.

I used to work at Tocal Agricultural College where Tocal Homestead is located and know the Principal and Manager Cameron Archer slightly from my time there. I’m reasonably confident that I can approach him for some assistance as he has already written several books relating to the history of Tocal and the convicts assigned there, I’m pretty sure he will be happy to help me with my own research.

One of the first things you notice on your arrival reader is the noise and funny smell! If you look down into the gully, you can see that the place is dripping with bats. I’m not exaggerating reader to say there would be a good kilometre or more of gulley filled with them.

Aside from the bats, Tocal is a beautiful place steeped in Australian Colonial history, here are some interior shots of the house. You can visit yourself, here is the web address, http://www.tocal.com/index.html

The Hall with beautiful staircase.

Drawing room.

The first settlers lived in crude bark or slab huts, then this small brick building was built as the first homestead at Tocal.

Tocal's first homestead, built in 1830's

As for Windermere House, my mother used to cook for the bus tours that visited the  Hunter Valley’s oldest homestead, so I have met and spoken to Peter and Lorna Capp on several occasions over the years.

Still approaching someone to have a sticky beak around their home is a bit daunting, but I need to be brave and just do it. There’s no historical accuracy for the feint hearted reader!

Dear Reader,

My life is considerably more isolated than it ever was, writing is a solitary existence. Not lonely reader, but mostly alone. I am fortunate that while I write and spend most of my time alone, I can also write with my husband watching tv (flicking channels) beside me.

If you think about it, most jobs involve some degree of interaction with others. Writing does too, but not while you’re actually writing. You spend a lot of time in your head, thinking about characters, what they look like, what are their motivations, why they are doing what they do. Then you scribble it all down, have piles of notes, either electronic or hard copy, or both if you’re like me

Then comes the doubt demon, sitting on your shoulder, pointing out that your writing is rubbish, that you are a housewife, stick to that! Well that’s what my personal little beastie says. Reader, the very essence of writing is what causes so much agony. We work alone, with people we’ve mostly made up. We have no workmates cheering us on, or pointing out bits we’ve missed. Helping us learn the skills needed to be efficient and useful to an employer. Working alongside us.

We do have ever patient husbands, sisters, friends and family who we can bore spit-less. At least I know I do reader, but essentially, it’s a pretty much flying solo.

And then along came such things as face book and twitter, who’d ever heard of a blog? I mean reader, what is this about? This thing has taken the world by storm, and now as a writer, I couldn’t even imagine being without the interaction I get from these.

The likes of social media sites have allowed me to connect with published writers, editors, even agents. I have become friends with people whom I’ve never met face to face, but have copies of their books. What’s even more marvellous reader, is they take an interest, they encourage and give the odd kick in the pants when it’s needed.

So mockers, go right ahead, we writers would be still sitting chewing our pencils without our word wars and fb friends. I think, quite possibly, that these sites help get more writers writing and help to keep the doubt beasties at bay.

What do you think reader?

I have a huge list reader, and to be totally truthful, I’m not sure where to start.

I know I’m going to read through my manuscript, I’ve already started that, but from there, where?

1. Scene Cards
2. Story Arc
3. Time Line
4. Character Cards (complete these, as they are started)
5. Play dumb games on face book?? (no no no!)
6. Research all those important historical points
7. Just begin editing and re-writing

And all of this is just the beginning reader, just in the editing, I will need to check points for historical accuracy. Insert new scenes to create bridges between incidents. Re-write scenes that just don’t make sense.

No reader, that’s not my new hair do. . . it’s how I feel when I start to think of what I do next. (PS, please someone – move that cow!)

I know reader, none of this is really that difficult, it’s more a case of where to start. I know, a journey of thousand miles begins with one step, but in which direction do I head?