“Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.”

~ Isabel Allende

—

Very true — at least in my experience.

The Kathleen Grattan Award is New Zealand’s richest poetry prize — and my fellow Tuesday poet, expatriate New Zealand poet, Jennifer Compton, won the Award in 2010.

Her Award-winning collection, This City, was published by Otago University Press in 2011 and I am delighted to have recently purchased a copy.

I won’t be able to really sit down and spend time with it until I’ve finished the DAUGHTER copyedit, but I am very much looking forward to having that time.

In the meantime, here’s what the back cover says:

“This City circles the globe from Florence to Palmerston North but the resulting volume is far more than so-called armchair travel. Topography and public space are a preoccupation (buses and trains, roads and houses, even Google Earth’s Street View all get a mention), but it is her evocation of the transient grounded in these spaces – snippets overheard on an Italian strada, scenes on a bus on Moxham Ave, imaginings of lives from long ago (Jane Austen, Emily Dickenson) – that leaves a taut and exciting impression of lives lived here, in this place, in This City.

And just to entice you further, I’ll post the opening lines:

“I am travelling away from my life, towards my life.
This city knows all my secrets.
And that tram, lit from within, waiting at the end of the line.
This city, which is nowhere else.”

Something to look forward to, indeed…

USA

The copyedit chips that is, in this particular case.

But, in fact, the same principle applies when any big writing push is going down. Whenever I snatch a few moments r’n’r, there’s a good chance that I may want to spend it with a book.

But not  a new book, that may demand and insist I keep reading to find out what happens.

In my few precious moments away from a project like a copyedit, I want a book where I know what happens so can just enjoy the company of old friends, reacquaint myself with an already familiar landscape—and can easily put it down where the break is over.

UK/AU/NZ

The book that’s currently keeping me copyedit company is a newer favourite, Kristen Cashore’s Bitterblue. And I  am really enjoying the small bites approach and paying attention to the fine detail of just how good a story it is.

How about you—what are you reading right now, or hope to get into over the weekend?

The copyedit rocks on.

So on Monday, I had  a little tongue-in-cheek fun about it being copyedit time.

Now for my first update, which is to say that as of last night I was 213 pages in and so far it’s actually going fairly smoothly.

With such a big book, coming on top of two preceding big books, of course there are always gnarly moments. You know, the sort where you go: “Hang on, how did we style that in The Heir Of Night and The Gathering Of The Lost?” Italics, italics with quotes, capitals, lower case?

Plus deciding when archaic terminology is OK, because it fits a medieval era-type Epic Fantasy, e.g. serjeant for a tourney official, or cantrip as a type of magic, and when it’s too out there. Actually, there haven’t been any out there examples yet, because I tend to weed them out during the earlier edit phases.

But you just never know, something untoward could always have slipped through, which is the whole point of the copyedit exercise.

And although I like to have my wee joke about delinquent authors and copyeditorial bludgeons, the truth is that I’m very committed to the process because I know that stylistic consistency, as well as getting that grammar, spelling,and basic continuity right, is something that should be invisible to a reader while ensuring the reading experience is an enjoyable and rewarding one.

So onwards for now, although I shall file more dispatches from the copyedit front from time to time over the next fortnight. 😉

Frankie MacMillan

Yesterday, I featured Frankie McMillan’s poem My father, the oceanographer, which showcases Frankie’s unique “voice” as a poet and prose writer.

Frankie deployed her talent and voice again in this year’s National Flash Fiction competition — and when the results were announced on Monday evening (National Flash Fiction Day) was found to have:

• won the competition with her flash fiction story, The House on Riselaw Street

and also

• achieved 3rd place for her story, A Field Guide for Lost Girls

But wait, there’s more!

In addition to winning the competition and being 3rd place getter, Frankie was also the winner of the Canterbury Regional Award, sponsored by the New Zealand Society of Authors.

A hat-trick indeed — and a result that truly qualifies Frankie as a flash fiction heroine. 🙂

The competition was judged by leading NZ writers, Fiona Kidman and Owen Marshall. The following is an excerpt from their report that refers to the three, place-winning stories:

“The third place winner, A Field Guide for Lost Girls, is an excellent piece – warm, powerful, quirky and with a satisfying and unexpected ending. First Fox, which was awarded  second place, displays some memorable descriptions and  spot-on satirical insights into relationships. The competition winner, The House on Riselaw Street, has a powerful narrative voice, significant themes, and  impressionistic, suggestive and economical language that develops considerable emotional power. A worthy winner indeed.”

Congratulations, Frankie.

—

To read a fuller report on the competition results and the judge’s report in full, go to:

Winners of the 2015 National Flash Fiction competition

My father, the oceanographer
.

knew the language of whales
yet tripped over the sound
of his own name

They say the cure for death
is drowning and for a lisp
a bucket of salt water

—-

In white gumboots he entered
the stomach of a whale
sat brooding under the great arched bones
of a church

invoking the mantra of LFA sonar
whale fall
and echolation

stripped to his underwear,
so great was the heat, and
blubber he said

now there was a word to make you weep
.

(c) Frankie McMillan

First published in Turbine, 2011.

Also in: There are no horses in heaven, Canterbury University press, 2015.

Featured here with permission.

—

About the Poem:

I am currently engaged  in the process of re-posting poets who have had multiple poems featured here on “…Anything, Really” , or by me on the Tuesday Poem Hub, since I joined the Tuesday Poem community in June 2010.

Today I am delighted to continue featuring the “unique and insightful” (Beatties Bookblog) poetry of Frankie McMillan. When I first posted My father, the oceanographer in 2012, I asked Frankie to provide her own perspective on the work. Here’s what she said:

“I’m never sure how a poem is ‘made’ but once I have a good opening line it gives me the courage to explore the possibilities. It’s a hit and miss method and out of the many poems I attempt only a few survive. I think this poem may have echoes of the biblical story, Jonah and the whale. The fact my father hardly talked to me as a child may also have informed the poem. Or then again, I’d seen the film, ‘The King’s Speech’ which might have worked its way in with whales. I imagine a lot of poets work in this subconscious fashion.”   ~ Frankie McMillan

—

About The Poet:

Frankie McMillan is the author of The Bag Lady’s Picnic and other stories, and a poetry collection, Dressing for the Cannibals. In 2005 she was awarded the Creative NZ Todd Bursary. In 2008 and 2009 her work was selected for the Best NZ Fiction anthologies. Other awards include winner of the New Zealand Poetry Society International Competition (2009) and the NZ National Flash Fiction award (2013). In 2014 she held an Ursula Bethell writing residency at Canterbury University. Her second book of poetry, There Are No Horses in Heaven was published by Canterbury University Press in March, 2015.

—

To read the featured poem on the Tuesday Poem Hub and other great poems from fellow Tuesday poets from around the world, click here.

Two PC power — it is indeed copyedit time!*

Yup, the copyedit for Daughter of Blood has arrived in my intray with an almighty ker-thump!

And yes, them’s the actual facts, folks, even if it is my electronic intray. I was awa’ when it arrived and still heard the e-kerthump from a considerable distance.

I was quite optimistic that this copyedit would be straightforward since I sneaked in an extry read-through/edit in the first quarter of the year — when no one was  looking, of course!

But alas, I was focused on getting the Story Right and apparently have been a Delinquent Author when it comes to adhering to a Consistent Style — and consequently have a Style Guide that would fit into the continent of Africa, or at least both the Americas, to try and get my head around.

Given this, I am not sure whether when it says Style Guide I should not interpolate, Bludgeon…

But, we shall see… It may be that it all turns out to be Perfectly Easy and the three week turn-around is not, after all, A Nightmare In Suburban Christchurch, the Upside Isles, Somewhere-Near-The-Bottom-Of-The-World. 😉

Have fun with your weeks, dear Blog Readers. Tomorrow is Tuesday Poem, so I shall let you know Wednesday how the Great Copyedit Adventure is going.

* The Compaq pc has suffered the Black Screen of Absolute Death since this photo was 
taken!

This is a book I have been looking forward to for quite some time — the sequel to Jane Higgins’ award-winning debut, The Bridge.

In fact it was way awa’ back in 2012 when I reported that:

“…I have still managed to read and thoroughly enjoy Jane Higgins’ The Bridge, which is future dystopian SFF for YA readers—although I feel it will appeal to discerning readers of all ages.

And I’m not the only person who thinks it’s  a great read: The Bridge won the Text Prize in 2011 and is currently shortlisted for the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards.”

I am looking forward to jumping back into its future dystopian world and — I hope — picking up both the story and character threads I enjoyed so much three years ago.

In the meantime, here’s what the back cover has to say:

“After months of attacks and reprisals, a shaky ceasefire holds between the warring sides of the river. Southside waits nervously, with a kind of hope that feels like defeat.

Then the world erupts.

And from the debris comes a voice where no voice should be.

When Nik follows it he steps into a complex web of power, fear and betrayal. Who is the mysterious girl in the rubble? What is her connection to the secret experiments taking place at the Marsh? And why does she cry ‘Havoc’?

But before Nik can find answers he must cross the river and find his father. And face the hardest decision of his life.”

I see there are some very positive reviews out there, which you may like to check out:

Carole Beu on Radio New Zealand

Sarah Forster on the Booksellers site

Catherine Woulfe in the NZ Listener

Sir Julius Vogel Awards on display; Photo, Wei Li

Last Saturday, the Christchurch writing and reading community came together to celebrate our Sir Julius Vogel Award finalists and winners.

I posted my keynote speech on Sunday, and an initial write up, with photos, on Monday.

I also posted the two Award winners’ speeches, Rebecca Fisher for Best Fan Writer, and A.J. Fitzwater for Best New Talent, during the course of the week.

Keynote speech, with Sir Julius Vogel Award-ers; Photo Wei Li

And because we all had such a great time, I thought I’d wrap up the week with some more pics from our “small, but mighty” event — focusing more on the gathering before and after, rather than the ceremony itself.

Lining up the crew…  Photo, Wei Li

Enjoy!

Featuring our Award-ers; Photo Wei Li

Gifts for the finalists & winners; Photo Wei Li

Of course, no event is complete without refreshments…

Photo, Wei Li

Those behind the table…

Photo, P Fitzpatrick

…and those who come to enjoy

Photo, P Fitzpatrick

I think I mentioned smiling faces earlier in the week:

Photo, P Fitzpatrick

…

Smile ‘and’ flowers!; Photo Wei Li

And more:

Photo, Wei Li

Plus plenty of talking that good books’n’writing talk:

Photo, Wei Li

Photo Wei Li

Photo, P Fitzpatrick

Credit: Wei Li

The events are rolling in Christchurch right now — and next off the blocks is Flash In The Pan, a celebration of National Flash Fiction Day on Monday 22nd June.

As you can see from the poster, there’s a whole heap of happenings scheduled during the course of the evening.

One of the much anticipated highlights is the announcement of the winner and place-getters in this year’s National Flash Fiction competition. The announcement will be made by one of this year’s two judges, celebrated short fiction author, Owen Marshall.

Also much anticipated, Norton’s Flash Fiction International: Very Short Stories From Around the World, ed. James Thomas, Robert Shapard, Christopher Merrill, will be launched in New Zealand.

The SIWA (South Island Writers’ Assn) flash fiction competition results will also be announced, plus there will be  a gallery of writing luminaries reading from their work, as well as spot prizes.

Moreover,  the event is free—so head on down to the Twisted Hop & Flash In The Pan next Monday evening (if you’re in Christchurch, of course.)

All other details on the poster, below: