Playlist

I have a book playlist! 

For an author, a book playlist is a kind of soundtrack to their book - it could be songs that they listen to while writing, songs that inspire particular scenes, or songs with themes or lyrics that resonate with the book. 

One of my current projects is a young adult urban fantasy fiction. I'm trying a new working style for this book (pantster* as opposed to plotster**) and I'm noticing lots of differences - characters doing whatever they want, twists jumping out of nowhere, book dreams, and yep, for the first time, a book playlist! 

* Pantster: Finding out what happens as you go, writing "by the seat of your pants."
** Plotster: Planning / plotting the book out before writing.

So, here are five of the songs from the playlist for my current work-in-progress:

1. Yep, the MC's a bit of a badass:



2. And cute-guy-with-a-secret needs a theme song, right?



3. Here comes the fantasy element:



4. And talk about your romantic melancholy:



5. Save the world? Get revenge? Fall in love? Hey, I'm a pantster this time: I have no idea! 

May is New Zealand Music Month, so I'm going to round off my five song book playlist with this from Kiwi band The Peasants:



It's very cool to be able to add a new dimension to the work with music, and I'll definitely aim to be back to update the playlist as the book takes shape :)

Keep kicking ass!

New Zealand Book Month

It’s March! So, in honor of New Zealand Book Month, I’m reading some Kiwi YA. I have to admit, after years of reading, writing, and breathing US YA, the Kiwi slang is a fair jolt (and I speak it!)

If you’re looking to check out some New Zealand books, here are some ideas:

• For YA paranormal romance, check out Margaret Mahy’s The Changeover.*
  *Forgive the 80's cover and focus on the 600+ 4 and 5 star ratings on Goodreads :)
• For a poignant (& funny!) MG book, read See Ya Simon from David Hill. #gotaranaki!
• For a literary gut-wrenching, dive into Keri Hulme's The Bone People.

This month, I'm challenging myself with male POVs, drag cars, and science fiction. I'm reading Thunder Road (Ted Dawe), Smiling Jack (Ken Catran), and Dreamhunter (Elizabeth Knox). And of course, there's a whole lot of Hairy Maclary being chanted around the house!

Ooh, and if you are in New Zealand? You can get the NZ Book Month voucher for $5 off your next book store purchase here.

Happy New Zealand Book Month :)

Everything is possible!

Wooden you love this cupcake?

Check out these gorgeous wood-style cupcake wrappers.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69299751/wood-paneling-cupcake-wrappers
I love the surprise combination of textures :)

Everything is possible!

The Lighting Of A Fire

As a child, teachers are grown-ups that love you by choice, not birth. They help you find your way in a world far from home. As you grow, they open doors and challenge you to discover more about yourself. We learn more from who they are than the curriculum they set. We learn how to be in the world. I was lucky enough to have some amazing teachers, and they all kicked ass in very different ways:

Mrs Ellis The perfect first teacher, peaceful and wise. Mrs Ellis empowered and encouraged me, and came to my house to eat cheesecake :)

Mr Murray An artist, a musician, and a homeroom teacher. He brings his personal powers to his professional life, and thanks to him I’m still a times table whiz.

Mrs Hill From language and food, to jewellery and movies, Mrs Hill loves classical studies. She is a teacher who so fully lives her passion, she brims with the joy of the subject. Because of her, I knew I would either grow up to be a writer, or a Latin teacher.

Mrs Smith A dedicated art teacher who is able to embrace crazy and guide mischief. Mrs Smith is a cool breeze over high school stresses.

Ms Lewis A role model in public relations; professional, witty, experienced. Ms Lewis feeds  creativity, and develops super-sticky course materials.

Mr Pauling Gentle, smart, and conscientious. An ego-less high achiever. Mr Pauling knows how to cut through the gunk and make things possible.

I was recently in touch with Mr Hammonds – the principal of my primary school. He is now a teacher of teachers, and a pioneer in education. It was brilliant to catch up with him and super cool to hear that my book is helping motivate him!

Teaching is more than a profession, it’s a calling. The ability to share your own passion while being completely invested in the success of someone else? Awesome. The best teachers are role models. Teaching isn’t their job, it is who they are.

Is there a teacher in your life that helped shape your world?

Everything is possible!

The Periodic Table... of Storytelling

Writers, film fans, TV lovers: prepare to fall head first into James Harris's Periodic Table of Storytelling. Seriously, have you seen this thing??!

http://computersherpa.deviantart.com/art/Periodic-Table-of-Storytelling-203548951?offset=70#comments

Described as a visual metaphor for TVtropes, this visual arts project has created conversation and controversy.

Gorgeous, intricate, and all kinds of clever, this has MADE my month. Oh, to have it on a t-shirt. (And to be someone who wears t-shirts :)).

You can use it to inspire or enhance your own plots, or just enjoy marinating around in other people's!

Everything is possible!

The Universe in a Year

Tens of millions of stars... searchable constellations...
Get ready for the Photopic Sky Survey!

Nick Risinger spent a year travelling with his cameras (and his father), photographing the starscape. "I worked my way through the sky, frame by frame, night after night."

The result? An interactive, zoomable image of the entire night sky.

37,000 images, laced together: our universe like never before.

"Frame by frame, night after night."
If Nick can capture the entire sky in a year, what can you do?

As well as totally blowing your mind (and freaking you out...), doesn't it make you feel like anything is possible???



Keep kicking ass!

Oh Why A-Z?

Looking for a way to kick-start your blogging? The A-Z challenge:

• Lights a fire. Nothing like a daily deadline to keep you moving!
• Lasers your focus. Suddenly the world starts filling with potential blog fodder ("Ooh, there's my X!" "Woohoo, W sorted!") 
• Helps you let go. Posts don't have to be perfect: just enthusiastic, spell-checked and you.

Thank you so much everyone for stopping by, commenting, and following :)
I posted more in April than I have posted... ever...! I love being a (more active) part of the blogosphere! You guys ROCK!

How was A-Z for me?

I've met some incredible people. Sweet, supportive, super smart :)
I've read some amazing blogs. Brave, honest, laugh-out-loud.
I've been inspired :)

Thank you to the organizers - I can't even imagine how much time you guys put in! Bring on A-Z 2012, it will come around quickly!

I'm especially stoked that I got such a great reaction to my posts World Domination and Zip It & Zoom. They are the closest to my book "Total Blueprint for World Domination". I love getting people excited about their world!


PS My most popular posts? Pooh and Ice Cream. Best we not think too hard about that :)


Keep kicking ass!

Vader vs VW

As kids we know that everything is possible...



And as grown ups we can find out it's true :) Hang on to your childhood as long as you can... and help other kids hold on to theirs!

Keep kicking ass!

Uruti School

In Uruti, there's a little school with big dreams.

The eight-student-strong New Zealand school has created a ukulele song that is now close to winning them a big cash prize.

Imagine how long it would take this tiny school to fund raise $10,000!*

*That's a whole lot of cake stalls...

To help them win, vote by watching their youtube video before April 29.

Go now! (I'll wait here :))

Wait, where's Uruti?

Keep kicking ass!

Jumping Cow

When 15 year old Regina Mayer's parents wouldn't buy her a horse, she taught the family cow to jump.



Your dreams may not show up the way you expect - go with it!

Keep kicking ass!

Giving the reader more...

Of course, your book is amazing. It’s AWESOME. It’s plotted to perfection, edited to oblivion and ready for readers. But is your book enough?

Competition for readers is fierce. Already, authors have to ask, “am I enough?” and build the ever-elusive platform. Now, adding value (for the people already cool enough to buy your book) is something else for authors to think about.

As part of my instructional design study, I’m translating Total Blueprint into a Moodle course. I love the idea of making the book an interactive (and ultimately, even more inspiring!) experience.

So, what else is there?

- Authors provide discussion forums, or background novellas.
- Authors promote their book with merchandising.
- Authors let readers get into their head with book playlists.
- Authors post or create teasers and trailers.

As a reader, what “extras” do you expect? Do you expect any at all?

As an author, are you giving your readers enough? Of your book, of your world, of you?

Keep kicking ass!

Go Lily!

This is it. Twenty one one. And January is almost over...

Need inspiration?

KENT BLECHYNDEN/Dominion Post

This kick ass 9 year old has just written and recorded her first album! Not even in double-digits, and Lily is going out and making it happen. You know what that means? No excuses, no delays - it’s time to take control! If you’ve been holding back, dumbing down, or settling for anything less than what you deserve* don’t wait another minute to change your world.

The best time to plant a tree is one hundred years ago.
The second best time is today. -Chinese proverb

Heading off to plot :)

*which is, of course, world domination!

Keep kicking ass!