Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

I spent most of the day working, although I squeezed in time for a bike ride. My novella is about 1300 words closer to the end and I’ve polished another three chapters. It doesn’t sound like much when I write it but I was pleased with my day. Oh, and I also wrote a blog post for Nalini Singh. I’m a guest there later in the week. It took me a while to decide what to write about. Sometimes inspiration takes a hike.

Mr. Munro and I watched an episode of Alias Smith and Jones. Unfortunately the last of the first season so we have to wait to buy the next one. I left Mr. Munro watching the special features on the Flushed Away DVD. I did watch the man explain how to make a slug. That was interesting. Oh, and I saw the dancing slugs rapping.

I had an urge to bake a cake tonight. My father gave us heaps of carrots so I made a carrot cake. Yum! That’s the verdict.

And finally, the BBQ saga continues. Mr. Munro still can’t make up his mind

Hubby is on a search for the perfect barbeque. It must be reasonably priced, have three burners, a side burner, have a hood and be stainless steel. He dragged me to five – yep that’s FIVE – different shops selling barbeques on Saturday. I tell you, I know more about the things than I ever wanted to know. I think he’s narrowed down the options but I wish he’d just go and buy one. I am so NOT a shopper.

It rained off and on for most of the weekend. Yes, it’s supposed to be spring but Mother Nature is keeping us all guessing. It’s been so windy I haven’t attempted to get out my bike. After a few hairy bike rides battling the wind I know better. I did get quite a bit of polishing done on my book. The second-guessing is still present but I’m ignoring it and pushing onward. This morning I did some work on a novella and this afternoon I’m back to polishing. I’d like to finish the novella this month – that’s the plan anyway.

I also did a little reading. I read Up Close and Dangerous by Linda Howard. I went off Linda Howard for a little while and this is the first of her books I’ve read for at least a year. This one was really good. I totally loved the characters and I didn’t see the twist coming at the end. I read late into the night to finish it – proof of how much I enjoyed it.

I also read Bound by Sasha White. I’ve been meaning to read one of Sasha’s books for ages and grabbed this one while we were in Hawaii. It’s first person with a slight submission element. Once again, I loved the characters and enjoyed the plot that went along with all the hot sex. I thought Sasha did a great job and I’ll be looking for more of her books.

What did you do for the weekend? Anything interesting? Any good reads recently?

I’ve spent most of the week polishing manuscripts. One is complete, apart from a final read through while I’m struggling a little with the other. It’s a 100,000 word manuscript. I know it needs work and I think I know how to make it a better read. I need to layer the characters a little better so their actions make sense and make my chapters flow from one to the other. In other words I need to work on ending hooks and chapter openings a bit, plus there are a couple of plot points that need smoothing. The trouble is I’m starting to second-guess myself. Honestly my confidence is so fragile sometimes and at other times I’m fine. I think it’s time for some positive news to boost my confidence. Hello?? Anyone listening out there?

Does anyone else second-guess their writing? Are you more confident with some books than others?

A sample from my info bank. I’m not big on how-to books because they usually end up making me second guess myself but these are some of the titles I’ve purchased over the years for reference purposes.

1. Cause of Death by Keith D. Wilson – a writer’s guide to death, murder & forensic medicine. What can I say? I like to sprinkle bodies in my books.

2. Collins Pocket Reference Astrology – the essential guide to your astrological signs. I like to use this when deciding on character traits. I might not mention a star sigh in my book but I still use this book a lot.

3. Deadly Doses by Serita Deborah Stevens with Anne Klarner – a writer’s guide to poisons. Poison is an interesting way to kill off characters.

4. Courtesans by Katie Hickman – I have a fascination with English history and intend to try my hand at another historical soon.

5. Lascivious Bodies by Julie Peakman – a sexual history of the Eighteenth Century. I’ve mentioned this one before in a previous TT. It’s an interesting insight into the past.

6. The Kama Sutra – Pocket Idiot’s Guide by Ron Louis and David Copeland – very handy for an Ellora’s Cave author.

7. The Family, Sex and Marriage in England 1500-1800 by Lawrence Stone – another historical reference book.

8. The SAS Urban Survival Handbook by John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman – I’ve used this quite a bit in writing contemporaries.

9. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary – I use a dictionary most days. This one is good because it has the date the word was first used. I like this better than an online one because then I don’t get distracted!

10. The Secrets of Sexual Body Language by Matin Lloyd-Elliot – who knew we gave away so much by the way we stand or look at each other?

11. What Men Really Want by Susan Crain Bakos – straight talk from men about sex. Very interesting book and great for writing male characters.

12. The Big Book of Filth – 6500 sex slang words and phrases – this is always good for a laugh. It has little cartoons throughout.

13. Baby Names for New Zealanders by Anne Matthews – once again, I prefer a book rather than searching for the perfect name online. Less distraction that way!

Do you have favorite research books you wouldn’t be without?

We all know this, right? Men do things and think differently than women. I’m currently doing an online course with author Virginia Kantra. Just an aside, if you have an opportunity to hear Virginia speak at a conference or workshop grasp it with both hands. She’s an awesome speaker. Anyway, at the moment we’re talking about male behavior as it pertains to writing the male point of view.

I think it’s difficult to get this right, which is part of the reason I’m working on it with my writing. When men speak it’s straight to the point, they cuss and swear, they don’t ask many questions on the whole, don’t talk just for the sake of talking and aren’t keen on asking for directions. I find the subject fascinating.

In my opinion Nora Roberts writes great male characters, as do Virginia Kantra and Suzanne Brockman to mention a couple more.

Here are links to a couple of “male speak” articles that you might find useful reading:

Guide to Male Speak by Virginia Kantra

Male Point of View by Keri Arthur

The Male Point of View – All About Romance featuring an interview with Bob Mayer.

How are you at writing male point of view? Can you think of any other authors who write great male POV? Any comments or good advice to share?

I’m blogging over at the Dynamic Trio today. Check out my post here.

I’m October’s featured author over at Sierra Dafoe’s website. You’ll find the interview plus excerpts here

While you’re there check out our joint contest. We also have a chat coming on Oct 23 at the Sierra Club. I’d love to see you there!

I watched the start of a program tonight called How To Look Good Naked. I watched for about five minutes before I changed channels in disgust. It was about a woman who hated her legs and butt so much that she’d worn tights both summer and winter for years and never appeared naked in front of her husband. Whenever they made love she wore tights because she hated her legs so much. They asked her to strip to her bra and panties and honestly, she looked fine to me. She was very pretty and while she was a traditional pear-shape, there was nothing wrong with her that I could see and my hubby agreed.

They showed a group of seven women arranged in body size and asked her to slot herself in where she thought she would fit. She put herself at the larger end of the scale when in fact she was the second smallest of all the women in size.

I just don’t get this! Are we all so brainwashed that we think small and skinny is perfect? The seven women they showed all looked fine to me as well. Yes they all had curves but they looked feminine! Advertisers need to stop with their airbrushing and photo manipulation. Quite frankly, perfect is boring. If having curves is a flaw, then too bad. I vote for curves and natural body shapes. I was so angry with the woman I wanted to shake her. I see a book coming in the future…my future…

Both hubby and I like the Dove ads that show women in all their various shapes and sizes. They all look beautiful to me.

Opinions? Comments?

1. Zanzibar – off the coast of Tanzania, East Africa. We spent three nights here in different hotels because most were booked out. On the first night we stayed in a nice hotel and they became steadily worse. The last one was a windowless box with a lone ceiling fan to stir the hot air. Our friends had a rat in their room the first night – we often have a retelling of the rat story when we meet, and the rat has grown with the telling but it still cracks me up. What I remember most about Zanzibar are the night food market, the beautiful carved wooden doors in the old town and the fragrant smell of spices along with glorious sunsets and the silhouettes of dhow sails.

2. Jersey Islands – off the coast of France but an English island. Mr. Munro and I visited here while I was recouperating from cerebal malaria. I remember feeling weak as a kitten with less stamina. We visited Gerald Durrells’ zoo, which was a highlight for me. My favorites were the tamarins.

3. Samoa – we visited Samoa this year, and I can’t wait to make a return visit. It’s not very touristy and is laid back and relaxed but the hotel staff weren’t on island time. We visited Robert Louis Stevenson’s house and I enjoyed that as well as spending time reading and doing nothing. Good times!

4. Little Barrier Island – one of the Hauraki Gulf islands not far from Auckland, NZ. It’s a conservation island housing many of NZ’s rare native birds and the tuatara. A special permit is required before you can land. Once you’ve landed the DOC staff herd new arrivals into a classroom and shut the door before searching all bags for mice, stoats, ferrets and rats. Yeah, right! Like I’d cart any of those around in my pack. *shudder*

5. Tasmania – part of Australia and a couple of hundred kilometres south of Melbourne. This one isn’t tropical but it’s interesting. Tasmania was used as a convict colony and some of my distant relations were sent here for minor offences such as stealing a petticoat and receiving stolen goods. There’s lots of history, some of it very cruel.

6. Norfolk Island – another Australia territory and also used as a place to put convicts. Also had relations here but this relation was a marine guarding the convicts. Also famous because of the Bounty settlers.

7. Ireland – the Emerald isle. It’s definitely green and it rains a lot. A bit like New Zealand really. Heaps of interesting history and beautiful scenery. I have found memories of narrow roads, hedgerows and the villages of colored houses plus the castles and the Celtic monuments. We used to stop every morning for a cup of tea and scones. Yum!

8. Isle of Sky – not really an island these days since it’s joined to the mainland by a bridge. I remember the barren landscape, the shortbread at the hotel and the weird colored water that came out of the tap because of the peat. It was also really cold!

9. Vancouver Island – not far from Vancouver. We visited the Butchart Gardens and were given umbrellas after buying our tickets. It poured! But it was still pretty. I also remember a very nice chocolate shop in Victoria, the main city. We hope to return for a more in-depth visit next year after conference.

10. Roatan Island, Honduras. We took a break here during our Central American trip and had a relaxing three days doing not much! The snorkelling was excellent. We also took time to go kayaking.

11. Hawaii – our most recent trip. I just loved Hawaii. It had everything. Sun, sand, swimming, great scenery…

12. North Island and South Island, New Zealand. Okay, you knew I had to fit my home island in here somewhere. Here’s a photo of the Goat Island marine reserve north of Auckland. And one of Mount Cook, in the South Island, the highest mountain in New Zealand.

13. Rangitoto Island, off the coast of Auckland, NZ. A dormant volcano and the youngest in Auckland’s field of volcanoes.

Islands still on my wishlist: Madagascar, Crete, Galapagos Islands.

Which islands would you like to visit? Which islands have you visited and really enjoyed? (I might need to add to my list)

I managed to get my Brava entry off and entered in time, which I’m quietly pleased about. Now all I have to do is chew my fingernails along with the other 300 plus entrants.

If you’re in a writing competition mood check out Dorchester’s latest contest. They’re looking for SHOMI books and contest details are here along with a forum and details about the books, both current releases and those coming in the next few months. I have Wired by Liz Maverick on my to-read pile. I must hurry up and read it because this sounds like a great line combining romance, thriller, science fiction and fantasy all together in one book.

Our weekend was a busy one. On Sunday we visited family and invaded my father’s house. Hubby took his brothers whitebaiting and in the afternoon they went pig hunting. It was a bloodthirsty type of weekend. The whitebaiting wasn’t that successful. I think they caught about nine fish and since they’re really tiny that’s not even enough for a meal for one person. You’re probably wondering what whitebait are – I did a post on my bravejournal somewhere about another expedition but I’m in a hurry so here’s a link to whitebait – catching them and the photo at the bottom is what they look like. We generally eat them in fritters, and I’m not a fan. When I was a kid I used to drown my fritters in tomato sauce (ketchup to you guys) so I couldn’t see the eyes.

Mr. Munro found a Maori adze while he was wandering around searching for pigs and he’s proudly showing it off to everyone. They’re actually quite common on my father’s farm as well as middens (old garbage dumps) full of shells from shellfish feasts.

And finally, I’ve been reading Lauren Dane’s Reading Between the Lines, which I think releases today. If you read my blog you’ll already know I’m a Lauren fan and I really enjoyed reading this one. It’s set in Ireland and the hero and heroine are both Fae. The story starts out with the hero Conall under a curse. Hayley the heroine releases him from the curse and the fun begins. As with most of Lauren’s books there are family secondary characters who are both a delight and a challenge to our hero and heroine, plus there’s a threat and lots of adjustment needed before our couple find their happy ending. I really loved these characters. Really, go and check it out at Samhain Publishing today.