Today our news in New Zealand is full of Sir Edmund Hillary, an ordinary man who was extraordinary. He died today from a heart attack at the age of 88. Sir Ed was brought up in Tuakau, the small town where I lived for part of my life and went to high school. In a coincidence, the story I’ve just sent off to Samhain is set in Tuakau. Sir Ed climbed Mt Everest years before I was born, but I, like many New Zealanders, really admire his achievements. He will be given a state funeral.
In writing news I finished my story targeted to Samhain for the Red-Hot Summer anthology and sent it off. Submissions closed yesterday and successful authors are notified at the beginning of February. Luckily it’s not long to wait. I’m getting very impatient in my old age.
This morning I pulled out the Middlemarch story I started in December and reread the 10,000 words I’d completed, editing as I went. I’m actually really pleased with it and will continue with it next week. During the afternoons I’ve been working on a tiger shifter story and putting my storyboard lessons into practice. While storyboarding is good in theory, I’m finding it much harder in practice. This method of plotting has, however, highlighted some conflict difficulties and I’m pondering about whether to change my contemporary idea into a fantasy. I haven’t written fantasy before but I think my initial idea lends itself better to this genre than contemporary. If I set it in the present day I think readers would need to suspend disbelief a bit too much and I’d lose them. I shall continue to ponder and fill out my storyboard. If you’re puzzled by storyboarding here’s a link.
And this week I’ve read some wonderful books. I read Lauren Dane’s Wolf Unbound, which I highly recommend. I loved it. I’ve read Lora Leigh’s Hidden Agendas. I really liked this book, much better than the previous one in the series (Dangerous Games) because the hero appeals to me more. He seems more sympathetic than the hero of Dangerous Games. I thought Lora Leigh did a great job with the character emotions. And at the moment, I’m reading Dangerous Grounds by Shelli Stevens. So far this is great, and I like both the suspense plot, with the man who is holding up coffee stores, and the two main characters.
I hope everyone has a fun weekend. Hubby is going fishing so I’ll be able to get some work done on my Middlemarch story, and hopefully fill in the dreaded storyboard a little more. What are you up to for the weekend?
I’m in the middle of Shelley Bradley’s storyboarding course. Very cool to see everything all laid out, but not sure I’ve got the hang of it just yet.
Very sad about Sir Ed…
Good luck with the Samhain submission, and have a great weekend :)
by Wylie January 11th, 2008 at 7:09 amgood luck with the Samhain sub.
I heard about Sir Edmund, I did a little tribute to him on my blog. I’ve admired him for many years, many, many years.
So I was bummed to hear he had passed.
I took the story boarding course I love story boarding. It rocks
by Amy Ruttan January 11th, 2008 at 7:15 amI heard about Sir Edmund too, he will be remembered.
Shelley goodluck on that writing and the sub!
I’m taking Shelley Bradley’s storyboarding class. I haven’t started on my homework but I will soon, LOL.
by Red January 11th, 2008 at 7:34 amShelley! You’ve been tagged!
Check here for details:
http://debbie-mumford.blogspot.com/
And congrats on getting that story submitted!
by Debbie Mumford January 11th, 2008 at 7:43 amI’d heard about Sir Edmund, but I didn’t know he was from over there! I really really hope you get into the Samhain antho. They’re a fantastic publisher to work with.
And thanks for reading my book
I hope you enjoy it. I have Lauren’s on my TBR list. I buy and stock up, and then read in spurts. Hmm that sounded attractive. 
by Shelli Stevens January 11th, 2008 at 9:13 amVery sad about Sir Ed. I thought of you and Amy when I read about his passing.
And congrats on the submission to Samhain! Fingers crossed for you.
by Christine d'Abo January 11th, 2008 at 10:32 amIt was great to hear that Sir Edmund was a real gentleman and that he wouldn’t confirm that he was the first on Everest until Tenzing Norgay passed away.
I’ll be doing more shopping this weekend. The sales are getting better.
by Jane January 11th, 2008 at 12:39 pmShelley Bradley’s Storyboarding course is really good. I highly recommend writers try it out, especially if you’re struggling to find a method that works for you. I’m finding it difficult but it’s helped me focus and discover a problem with my story idea up front.
Sir Edmund Hillary made a huge impact on all of us here in NZ and of course Nepal. Until his death, he was the only living New Zealander to feature on our money. He is on our five-dollar note.
Thanks for the good luck wishes for my Samhain sub. I know the competition will be tough but figure I have a story I can submit elsewhere if I’m not successful.
Jane - have fun shopping!!
by Shelley Munro January 11th, 2008 at 1:41 pmI read about Sir Edmund on the internet. What a great person.
by Estella January 11th, 2008 at 3:23 pmI hadn’t heard about his passing - how sad. Thanks for informing me.
This weekend I’ll be writing a review of Strong and Sexy by Jill Shalvis (great book) and finishing reading Sex and the Psychic Witch by Annette Blair (so far another great read).
by Bailey Stewart January 11th, 2008 at 3:46 pmGood luck with your Samhain sub, Shel!
I’m spending this weekend editing my para and watching Series 3 of Battlestar Galactica (I’m addicted, what can I say?!)
by Christina Phillips January 11th, 2008 at 11:39 pmEstella - yes, he has made a great impact both here and overseas.
Bailey - sounds like you have some great reading lined up!
Christina - good luck with the editing. I’ve never really watched Battlestar Galactica. I should since I’m a sci-fi fan.
by Shelley Munro January 12th, 2008 at 1:51 amI’m still prodding and poking at that short story that wants to become a chapter in my novel, but I think I’ll give up on it. I’m just not a short story writer.
by Gabriele January 12th, 2008 at 10:14 am