2012 Fireworks!

Thank you all for making 2012 such an amazing year :) 

Thank you to the beta-readers (Sian Young, Alyssa Young, and Jane Linsdell) for their support and enthusiasm (plus plus plus!), agent Jessica Regel for her persistence – and the emails that always give me goose bumps, Vladimir Nikulin and Vera Simon for gorgeousness inside and out (you’ll see their work more and more!)...

Photo by Vlad & Vera

...the magical Claudia McKinney from PhatPuppy for taking gorgeous to the next level, the tour hosts, sponsors, and management team for the launch of The Jelly Bean Crisis (particularly Charlotte Russell and Susie Barber for their incredible support)... 

A tour prize winner

...thank you to the reviewing teams at LitPick and Readers Favorite, the dedicated (and super scary!) Goodreads community, the organizers and participants of the Book Blast, the librarians, the tweeters, the Likers, the Frienders and the bloggers, and all of the readers and reviewers, who not only read my books, but also took the time to share their thoughts with the world (and sometimes just with me :)). Thank you all so, so much!


So, what’s next? It’s definitely the perfect time of year to start thinking big and going for those red jelly beans! And while my plan is to disappear into new drafts and edits for a while, there has already been a suspiciously exciting email that might change that…! My advice? Make the big, delicious plans – and then be completely open for even bigger ones to jump out! 

“The universe will give you so much more than anything you can dream of!” 
- Total Blueprint for World Domination

Art by Niobe Carter

Bring it on, 2013!

Everything is possible!

11 + 11 + 11 + 11 + 11

Okay guys, so I got tagged 5 times... That's 55 questions. The plan? 55 Pictures!

(Well, there were some questions where I got carried away, and some that doubled up, but you get the idea..!)

Thank you to my Taggers: Daisy, Gina, Chandara, Karina, Rossandra.

I give you (drum roll)..... 11 questions x 5 taggers x 1000 words* =Monster Answer Montage!

*Because apparently that's what a picture's worth..!


NOTE: The pics that have been removed will be replaced ASAP - thanks for your patience! 

I'm not going to tag anyone (!), but if something sparks for you, feel free to comment :) It's cool to see what we all have in common... Any fellow film fiends campaigning? Toastmasters? 80's kids? Griffon owners?

Everything is possible!

Along Came a Spider

I'm scared of whales. Their tiny eyes, their flappy tales. It's the size, the sound, the whole shabang. That's right: I'm scared, and completely certain they will fly up onto land and eat me. (Yeah, yeah, I know about their "tiny throats" but that is total whale propaganda! Next thing you'll tell me they're beaching themselves "by accident"!) 

There are lots of ways to deal with fear, and the way I'm working with this one is by building up my whale resistance bit by bit. I watch the Frozen Planet ads through splayed fingers, shudder at the Bluebird commercial, and grit my teeth through various other "surprise" whales. Yep, I reckon about 300 years from now, I will be at peace with their existence :)

"The greatest super power is knowing yourself, and
using your powers to create the world that you want."
- Total Blueprint for World Domination.

I understand that most people aren't scared of whales, I know that this is one of the things that makes me me, but I'm just so curious! The idea that my brain can translate an object or situation into a pounding heart and sweating palms? Pretty damn cool! 

I found a picture of a cool way to dilute a fear by making it part of your everyday life. 
Warning: If you're scared of spiders, prepare yourself before you click the link! http://www.frugal-cafe.com/public_html/frugal-blog/frugal-cafe-blogzone/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/spider-in-shoe.jpg

I'm going to assume that those guys are (humanely) stuffed or plastic... Because what an awesome way to make kicking fear's ass a part of your day! Stomp it out!*

Trying to get over a fear of whales? Spiders? Heights? Do you have a fear that other people can't understand? One that doesn't even make sense to you?

*You know, as soon as they make shoes with whales in them, I'm there ;)

Everything is possible!

Guest Posting

"Being a writer is a dream. It’s a top-of-the-bucket list, thing-to-do-before-I-die, can’t-believe-I-get-to-see-it-on-a-bookshelf dream. You are doing something that people aspire to. Even when the blank page is taunting you. Even when the twenty-third rejection rolls in. Even when you’re squishing rewrites in with a million other things. You are part of something amazing. Feel that with all your heart. Know that it’s true no matter what. You are a writer."

...That's me, guest posting over at My First Book. It's my first guest posting experience, and has been super cool (and a total privilege!) Check it out, and say hi to Misha!

Everything is possible!

Being Awesome

 Keep kicking ass!

Want Anika Moa at Your Wedding?

The talented, charming, and utterly kick-ass Anika Moa has donated this experience as a charity auction for Women's Refuge.

This is your chance! If you're in NZ (and getting married :)), you've got until Friday August 12 to get your bids in!

Check out the auction here.

(The winner even gets a designer wedding gown to boot!)


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!

Robert Rodriguez

Film maker Robert Rodriguez writes, shoots, cuts, and scores. His movies are blunt-smart, kick ass, and have an undeniable rhythm.

"Rebel Without a Crew" is a must-read for anyone wanting to make a movie (or get motivated!)

Here's a guy who hasn't just taken over the world, he's helping others do it too. A total superhero!

When you need a kickstart, who inspires you?


Keep kicking ass!

Unleashing your powers

Do you have a trick? A trademark? A talisman? Something that brings you luck, or makes you feel like a superhero?

Same Bat Time...

U2’s Bono said about his sunglasses:
"These are my superpowers... When I look through these glasses every problem is solvable; I'm tall... I can't let them go."

Do you have lucky jeans, a favorite bag, or a special belt? I have a Batman watch that I wear when I want extra oomph. How about 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!