Paperback in Your Hand contest

Affordable Manuscript Assessments announces the first Paperback in Your Hand contest. The contest opens on January 1st 2009 and closes on March 31st. Any author may enter a work of up to 25,000 words. Full details at http://www.affordablemanuscriptassessments.com

What's your favourite Sally Odgers book or series?

I've just discovered Survey Monkey, a nifty site that lets me make... well... surveys! I'd love to know which of my books, or series, readers like best. You can vote (or just have a look...) by clicking this link.

Click Here to take survey

Passing on the Book Quote Game

(Thanks to Judith Ridge for reminding me of this one!)
Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence along with these instructions in a note to your wall, and post your sentence in a comment here as well. Include the title of book and author.

Here's mine... and no, I didn't cheat.

Catsnatcher: Someone who snatches or kitnaps a cat. (The Kitnapped Creature, by Darrel and Sally Odgers.)

Meeting Deborah de Williams

Today Tess (our elderly Jack Russell) and I were lucky enough to meet Deborah de Williams and her border collie Maggie, who are running for charity. They are attempting a world record run around Australia with 365 days on the road, and raising awareness of the search for a cure for breast cancer along the way. Deb's artist husband drives the wonderful pink support van. I was especially interested because of the tie-in with my book WILDERNESS (Eternal Press - www.eternalpress.ca ) which is also about a cancer survivor running for charity. To support Deb and Maggie and their team, check out www.runningpink.com.au .

Treasury of Flowers

I found A Treasury of Flowers by Alice M Coats at the market last week. It's too wet to walk there today, so I've been vegetating with the computer, Tilly-Trump, Jeanie and a pear... and the book. It's charming, with a fine turn of phrase. I'm bidding on another one by the same author at eBay.

Wilderness

My new book, WILDERNESS, is now available from Eternal Press. To read an excerpt, check out the blurb or to buy a copy, go to http://www.eternalpress.ca/wilderness.html

Miriam Moses is running for her life. She has a long way to go, and along the way she meets a string of people who turn out to be connected in a mesh of possibility.
Wilderness is where you find it... and Miriam is running for her life.

Under the Waterfall

Hi all! My new book, UNDER THE WATERFALL, is available now from Devine Destinies at www.devinedestinies.com.
Someone is out to kill Corrie!
Stranded at a campsite with her brain-damaged brother, Ethan, Corrie swims under a waterfall. She finds herself in the land of Sisterin, where women rule and men are subservient. As a female, Corrie should be among the favoured ones, but in Susterin she is a nullard, a person without a trade. Only one person is prepared to help her, and that's a boy named Athen. He seems strangely familiar.
Dealing with a self-sufficient and healthy version of her brother Ethan is bad enough, but Corrie soon finds herself if deadly danger.

Under the Waterfall is available for download from www.devinedestinies.com for (US)$5.99.
If you buy a copy in the month of July, let me know and I'll send you a free copy of my century-hopping love story, "Replay".

Wilderness

I just got the cover form my upcoming book, WILDERNESS, to be published by Eternal Press.

Miriam Moses is running for her life...

Stay tuned for more about this story soon.

Interview with Brenton Cullen

Today I have an interview with author Brenton Cullen, whose book, The Writers: a Collection of Australian Writers' Biographies, is now available from i-proclaim.

Brenton has interviewed six well-loved Australian writers, resulting in a thoroughly engaging and illuminating book. Interviewer Brenton agreed to become an interviewee for Spinning Pearls, and here's what he had to say.

SALLY: It’s rather unusual for a younger writer to produce a book of biographies. How did you first get the idea for this?

BRENTON: I thought about all my favorite authors and how I wished I knew more about them and their websites provided little, at least not as much as I wanted to know about them. Then idea sparked me: The Writers: A Collection of Australian Writers' Biographies. I would get to know more info about my favorite authors and also get to write another book. The way I saw it, two cool benefits!

SALLY: How did you choose your six featured authors?

BRENTON: I set about emailing a few authors, I think about ten or 11 in total. The way I got these six authors is simple: the other never replied! I originally had plans to do a second book of author and illustrator biographies, so I am now considering it.

SALLY: What was the authors’ reaction when you invited them to tell you their life stories? Did anyone refuse?

BRENTON: They reacted pretty good. Some were excited about the concept of it like Libby Hathorn. And some others just took it casually like it happened everyday! Jackie French was very enthusiastic and supportive of it, answering many questions and giving me all sorts of info as did all of them and including Hazel Edwards . And no, all the authors that replied enthusiastically agreed to let me write their biographies.

SALLY: As a young writer, have you had support from your friends, or do they think you’re a bit unusual?

BRENTON: Support from my friends?? hmmm.... not so much, from a couple of my friends. From my 6th Grade teacher Mrs. McDonald a lot!! At school, amongst all the kids and my friends and that, we don't really talk about my being an author (I think the most talk of it is from a few of the kids "Can I have your autograph?" and "Can I buy a copy of your book?") I politely either say No, All right just this once, or Buy it from my publisher's website bookstore, please!"

But some kids just think I am weird and do not believe I am a writer. They think that it is just something adults do. Well it's not!"

SALLY: What are some of your other interests, besides writing?

BRENTON: Hmm, my other interests are: cooking food to eat, playing basketball and handball and soccer with all my friends at school, surfing the Net, chatting, listening to Music, and reading and I acting (I am wanting to also pursue a career in the future as an actor/voice actor).


Brenton's book is available from
http://i-proclaimbookstore.com/wrcoofauwrbi.html

The Blowhole!

That's the name of my short adventure story in the new anthology, TRUST ME! from Ford Street Publishing. You can see the book at http://www.fordstreetpublishing.com

In my story, Lily wants to go on an overnight fishing trip with her boyfriend, Macca, but Dad won't let her go unless her brother tags along... Having a gooseberry brother is bad enough, but then Macca falls into the sea near the treacherous blowhole... Suddenly, Lily's dream outing turns to horror.

"Trust Me!" is edited by Paul Collins with a foreword by Isobelle Carmody...

Blockbuster anthology
RRP $22.95
ISBN 978-1-876462-57-4
Publication date: April, 2008

Trust Me! Features 46 contributions by some of Australia’s best known children’s authors, poets and illustrators. Original stories, poems and art cross all genres: mystery, romance, crime, fantasy, SF, humour and more.

Sally Odgers on eBay!

A PDF copy of my fantasy romance novel REPLAY is for sale at eBay Australia, along with some of my how-to writing guides. Check them out this week. If you'd rather buy directly from me, go to http://www.affordablemanuscriptassessments.com/workshops.html

Pet Vet Preview

Today we received the first covers for our new Pet Vet series. Here is "Cranky Paws".

News from Affordable Manuscript Assessments

This month, I'm delighted to welcome novelist and manuscript assessor Gillian Curtin to the Affordable Manuscripts Assessments stable. I've known Gill for many years, and our assessing styles and philosophies match up well. Here's to providing a faster (but always friendly and affordable) service to clients!

Gillian's novels are published under a penname. She specialises in erotica
fantasy
romance
dark fantasy/paranormal
urban fantasy
and any combinations of the above
Plus historical fiction.

Aristocratic titles to go...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Most Serene Highness Lady Sally the Splendid of Much Bottom Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

O'Connor's Last Stand

O'Connor's Last Stand is launched today. It's a ghost romance thriller set in the Australian outback, so if this sounds like your cup of billy-tea, feel free (well, not quite free, but it's very reasonably priced...) to buy a PDF copy directly from Eternal Press.

http://www.eternalpress.com.au

Read and Reviewed

I've launched a new blog called Read and Reviewed, that's strictly for book reviews by me and by guest reviewers. If anyone would like to review a book (not necessarily a new one) just let me know. You can review books you own, books you borrow or actual review copies. From time to time I'll be offering a review copy from the blog. http://readandreviewed.blogspot.com

Jack's Fans

Jack Russell: Dog Detective has fans in the US, UK, Canada and at home in Australia. Yesterday, when I was out walking with Preacher, I met one when her mother flagged us down. They'd picked up one of our business cards in the local pet shop, and recognised the Jack Russell tee-shirt I was wearing. Today, when I was out with Tilly and Tess, I met two more fans... Richie and Lachie from Melbourne along with their dad Tim and mum Anne Marie. It's always wonderful to meet Jack's friends. Many of them have the same query: they have some of the series, but where can they get the other titles? I asked the publisher and got the following answer;
Scholastic titles in print can be ordered from book shops. On-line bookshops will order them too. If in a hurry, it may be quicker to contact Scholastic Australia directly, and order the books by telephone. A packing charge of about $7.00 applies to each parcel.

Summer Daze

It was a warm day today. This morning I slaughterd about 70 e-mails, and took Jeanie, one of the Jack Russells, for a walk. Then it was back to work, working on Book 10 in the Jack Russell: Dog Detective series, which we will be turning in to the publisher shortly. This evening, Preacher got a walk. (Having dogs means having exercise!)
Reading.
I've just finished reading "Blood Sinister" by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, and embarked on "Wicked Lovely" by Melissa Marr. I've also been audio-reading "Comeback", a Doctor Who tie-in and am now onto "Point Blanc" by Anthony Horowitz. I like audiobooks, because I can read them while walking. Much as I love reading paper or e-books, I usually feel guilty because I should be working. However, I defy anyone to write or assess manuscripts while walking a likely Jack Russell (or two).