Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

The writing has been going pretty well. I’m almost 15,000 words in on my sci-fi romance. It’s always fun working on something new, and this time I even have a synopsis. It always helps if I know the direction I’m writing, but it’s never set in stone. I like to make stuff up as I go along, which sometimes means my synopsis ends up very different from the completed book. I also have this point mid-way where I wonder if I’m ever going to get to the length I planned, if I have enough plot. Somehow, it all works out. Don’t ask me how because I can’t explain it at all!

I mentioned the scavenger hunt I’m doing with Rainbow Reviews last week. I’m also participating in the Sultry Summer scavenger hunt, which closes on 30 June 2008. There are some great book prizes. Go on. Join the hunts. You have nothing to lose, although I bet your to-buy list will lengthen.

I love Body Shop’s body butter. Each year they have a sale where each tub is around $10 off. I thought I’d missed it so was very excited to receive an email informing me the sale was on during June. I went shopping in the weekend and brought six tubs to stock up the cupboard. My very favorite is the Brazil Nut butter, and I was aghast to hear they’re discontinuing this particular one. I’m going to have to buy some more. Evidently it’s popular in New Zealand, but not so much everywhere else in the world. People, have you no sense?????

I’m blogging over at Danger Zone today – Dr. Livingstone, I presume?

On the surface a dentist has nothing to do with the Indianapolis 500, however both things happened to New Zealanders over the weekend. I ate a chocolate and broke a filling (if there’s a moral in there I don’t want to know!) and Scott Dixon won the Indianapolis 500. I’m now booked in for a long overdue dentist visit while Scott Dixon is a few million dollars richer.

Here’s the link for the story on Scott Dixon’s win. We’re all very proud of him.

I’m also blogging over at the Danger Zone today. My post is on extreme sports.

Last week Mr. Munro and I watched a New Zealand movie called The Tattooist. We’ve had the DVD for a couple of months but hadn’t found time to watch it. It was a great movie with a paranormal element and was a little spooky in places. The movie stars Jason Behr and Mia Blake, and I loved seeing familiar New Zealand faces in cameo roles. I also liked that the main character was a bit of a thief at the start, although he soon regrets this. Part of the movie is shot in Auckland, New Zealand.

Here’s the blurb of the movie from the DVD cover:

American tattoo artist Jake Sawyer wanders the world, exploring and exploiting ethnic themes in his tattoo designs. At a tattoo expo in Singapore, he gets his first glimpse of the exotic world of traditional Samoan tattoo, and, in a thoughtless act, unwittingly unleashes a powerful angry spirit. In his devastating journey into Pacific mysticism, Jake must find a way to save his new love, Sina and recover his own soul.

I see that The Tattooist is currently available for pre-order at Amazon and releases in June. Both Mr. Munro and I enjoyed it very much.

I’m looking forward to a few upcoming movies, including the Indiana Jones one plus Sex and the City.

Writing progress has been a little slow this week. I’m babying my arm still, although it has improved a lot. I’m getting quite good at using the mouse with my left hand. I’ve applied for an appointment at Nationals–successfully–so now I need to kick some writing butt. Wish me luck!

Edited to add: Today I’m blogging over at the Cerridwen Press blog about murder and Wanderlust. Also don’t forget to check out the Danger Zone. Today Lise is talking about Guatemala and volcanoes. Comment on Denise’s post from yesterday and go into a draw to win a download of one of her books, and my post was about my adventures searching for gorillas in Rwanda.

Today is the grand opening of The Danger Zone – a group of authors who all have adventure in common. It’s an honor to be part of this group, and I hope you’ll check out what we have on offer. Adventure. Peril. Intrigue. Just one click away…

I’ve updated my website with a new page/excerpt for Cat and Mouse, the fifth Middlemarch Mates book. Enjoy!

My arm is giving me real problems this week, which is why I’m a little quiet. Using the computer seems to aggravate the condition. Sigh. I guess I’ll have to catch up on housework instead.

Happy Mothers day to all mothers out there. I hope your families are spoiling you because you deserve it!