MAY 2013…Catch up We’ve only just began to talk to other authors Thomas Keneally said it was a “grand concept’….”a splendid idea”. James Bradley, who I’d written to in hope and desperation when my daughter was sick in Athens – her need for me somehow motivated me to at last take action about the paltry… Continue Reading
Disaster
April 2013… catch-up A lot has happened since I last wrote…Libby realized she has too many commitments, and she’s left us. We buckled under this blow. But still, there were 3 of us, sharing the work. Then, two months ago, Louise told us she needed to talk. We sat glumly in a Darlinghurst café, Louise, Bem… Continue Reading
Who are we?
March 2013 We were around one of those big shiny board room tables, talking to the ASA about our hopes of working with them. “What are you doing about the royalties?” someone asked. We Royals jumped. We are The Royalties. But what was meant was authors’ earnings. “You’ll have to change your name”. We all nodded,… Continue Reading
Arrived but not alive
30/7/12 The new portal’s actually on my computer though not yet live, and I’m astounded at how work-personlike and authoritative it is, this dream that’s coming true – it’s not touched by all our uncertainties and doubts, rather in the way that one of my newly published novels has always astonished me, where a messy… Continue Reading
Almost there
I’m back in Australia, with my new novel, “The Oldest Song in the World”, about to come out both in print and e in Australia and New Zealand with Harper Collins, who continue to be generous and patient with me, although I fear I’ve tested them at least once, getting muddled about dates of giving… Continue Reading
Scrambling across the world to a meeting
When our portal designers signal that they need to meet us to talk further, Libby is launching her new book, “A Boy Like Me” and Louise is lecturing full time. Our portal builders want to schedule a meeting in nine day’s time. Only Bem and I are free to fly to India. Bem is in… Continue Reading
The portal builders
Many authors replied! -some offering to help us because they can see that this is a worthy thing to do for Australian literature, its authors and its readers. And- now I can tell all- a huge e publishing group in India is offering to our rescue, to build our portal, at no cost to us,… Continue Reading
An astonishing reply
We’ve had an astonishing reply. It’s too astounding to tell at the moment. But the portal may actually happen, built by a very experienced, very professional company overseas. We realize that we need other authors with forbearing and patience to trial this portal, if and when it happens. We decide to advertise to find them… Continue Reading
Is writing novels a road-map for living?
Our little plan is becoming a big plan. It sounds like something out of a novel, out of my new novel, where the heroine scarcely knows her heart’s desire, but stumbles towards it. The plan is to build a portal to enable Australian authors like us, like me, luddites like me who almost have no… Continue Reading
The strange importance of carrots
Harper Collins have been dream publishers. Just when I thought I must turn my back on traditional publishing houses, I come across a model one. For example, I’m being consulted about the cover, and for most of a day I’m allowed to discuss with their artist colours, desert scenery, a figure wandering blithely away across… Continue Reading