Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Wow. Just... wow. I never new "book trailers" existed, but I stumbled across this one - I think it was a link from Twitter -  and I had one of those "why didn't authors think of this before?!" moments. I have never heard of the book, but now I so desperately want to read it.

When I actually finish my novel (this blog post is my procrastinaton), I will definitely be doing this - I know lots of artsy people who can help me out so it can't be too hard. I can imagine my own book trailer clear as day right now. An old man stands at the Wellington cenotaph wearing his medals on Anzac Day as the Last Post rings out, signalling dawn. He thinks back and what he sees is the crashing of the waves at the Red Rocks, a beautiful girl, a crazed young man, a young woman lying in a pool of blood, and a ship sailing away from the harbour with his young self on it, waving goodbye to his family and trying his best to forget about the woman who ripped out his heart.

Patriotism through fiction

Recently I read an article on Stuff.co.nz called What's so wrong with NZ fiction?. It basically explains (through a bunch of statistics) that New Zealanders love and support New Zealand fiction, but not many of us actually read it.
This article has come about at the most appropriate time for me because I've recently become obsessed with Katherine Mansfield, one of New Zealand's greatest ever writers, and I've also decided that all the books I read next year, for the entire year, are going to be New Zealand fiction.
Why? Because I am one of these statistics. I love and support our fiction, but for the life of me I cannot think of one kiwi novel I've read, and I'm ashamed of myself for that. I figure that if I'm going to strive to become one of the great kiwi writers, I need to know who my predecessors are - I was going to say "what I'm up against" but that sounds like I have a lack of respect for other kiwi writers and I want to be humble and accept that people like Katherine Mansfield were and probably always will be the best.
The article got a lot of comments, and a main theme I noticed was that people think New Zealand fiction is too much about New Zealand and most of them say things like "When I read I want to escape, I don't want to read about places I know, places I can drive down the road and see".
It's the same with young people going travelling and moving to Australia - people that think the grass is greener elsewhere. Sure, travelling when you're young is something kiwi's do - it's a rite of passage and something that I'll be doing myself soon. But, we have a strange culture... we are a loyal and supportive nation when it comes to things like sporting events, tragedies, and triumphs, but when it comes to the quality of life debate, people start complaining, when really, compared to most countries, we live in one of the best places in the world. Yet people still take off in search of greener pastures. Maybe it's because we're a young nation and we struggle with our identity a bit, or maybe it's because we're so far away from everywhere that we have this great amount of curiosity in us.
I understand where those "When I read I want to escape" people are coming from, but I think there is a lot of merit in learning about your own country, even if it is through fiction.
On the other hand, a few months ago I decided to go browsing through the Whitcoulls New Zealand section to see what I had to live up to with my own novel that is set in Wellington, and, first of all, I think our fiction should take pride of place at the front of the store where it can't be missed (some of our bookstores don't even have a New Zealand section!) instead of being squished on a small shelf in between trashy romance and sci-fi. Second of all, I noticed that every single novel I picked up had some sort of international influence attached to it - whether it was written by a kiwi writer and set overseas, or the characters were here from overseas, having immigrated from England or Scotland or Ireland.
And I thought, how sad that is, that New Zealand writers feel they have to draw on outside influences in order to write an interesting story.
In a way, it was a good thing for me, because I'm writing a story with all New Zealand characters (excluding a couple of minor American characters - soldiers who were in Wellington during WWII) set in Wellington during the present day and during the first and second world wars.
We say we are a loyal and proud country, but reading those comments made me question that a little bit - are we really? Do we actually practice what we preach? I know I do and I know a lot of people who do, but it would be nice if more kiwis did.

Would you read this book?

Missing Since Tuesday
by Sarah Hardie

It's the year 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand, where orphans Duncan and Sophia Grant live quiet, often lonely lives. He studies history; she struggles through a thankless government job.
Duncan meets a chatty, popular girl named Maria who is drawn to him just as he is drawn to her, despite their polar opposite personalities. Their fragile partnership is doomed from the start, and is shattered one day at Wellington's rugged south coast where Maria slips and falls into the violent sea - or so they think.

On his death bed, Duncan's grandfather tells him the secret of the rocks - they have the power to send people back in time and, determined to save the love of his life, a frantic Duncan, who is slowly losing his sense of reality, finds himself in the midst of World War Two.

Worried for her brother, Sophia follows and begins her own love story with Arthur, a railway worker who has also lost the love of his life, though to murder, not accident, and once their paths cross, powerful secrets are revealed that will test their relationship and their individual lives, which are changed forever as they all chase love through time in a world turned upside down by war, racing against the clock to bring everyone back to where they belong.

This is the blurb to my first novel-in-progress... what do you think? Would you read it?

Wednesday Writers: Catalina Egan

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.

This week we hear from devoted You May Say I'm a Dreamer follower (thanks!) Catalina Egan, who tell us about her writing journey and her novel The Bridge of Deaths, which, coincidentally, revolves around this day in 1939.

Name: Catalina Egan
Location and one thing you love about living there: I live in Delray Beach, Florida. It is a wonderful area to bring up a child/teenager and thanks to our weather we have delicious fresh local produce. I could take a little less heat especially this time of the year but I am thankful everyday for the wonderful life we lead. I make it a point to thank my lucky stars every night!
Author of: The Bridge of Deaths
Available: AMAZON: http://amzn.to/IFvQpd AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/I2DRFa
BARNES AND NOBLE: http://bit.ly/I3Mz9r
AUTHORHOUSE: http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000463131/The-Bridge-of-Deaths.aspx
Social media:
Website: http://www.thebridgeofdeaths.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5004249.M_C_V_Egan
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bridge-of-Deaths/130675087014521
Blog: http://thebridgeofdeaths.tumblr.com/
Email m_c_v_egan[at]yahoo.com

Tell us a bit about yourself: I am a 53-year-old writer, mother, wife and dog owner. I have lived in various countries and for the last 20 years South Florida has been my home. I am fluent in four languages; they are Spanish, English, French and Swedish. This has come in handy when I have needed to make a living, especially when I lived in Sweden. Who speaks Swedish other than the Swedes? I was born in Mexico City, Mexico and I am one of my parents 8 offspring! As such I entered this world with a complex life and need to communicate in order to survive the dynamics of a large family.
Aside from writing I delve in many other creative outlets and I simply LOVE life, that is why I am a fan of You May Say I am a Dreamer.

Tell us about The Bridge of Deaths: The Bridge of Deaths is a blend of fact and fiction. Based on an airplane crash in Denmark in 1939, two weeks before Hitler invaded Poland and the world was turned upside down for most.
The story was researched in various archives and other traditional sources as well as through the use of psychometry and past life regressions. All the documented data is footnoted and made easy to confirm by any would be doubter.
The story is told in a fictional manner from the perspective of a young couple Bill and Maggie in present day UK they find themselves researching their past lives to overcome Bill’s present day phobias and nightmares.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? I am ridiculously tall for a Mexican female, so when I was in Kindergarten my teacher thought I was older and felt sorry for me, so to “fast track” me she taught me to read…as a summer baby I was one of the youngest in the class. I was raised in a house full of a wide variety of books, but my lucky break was when I learned to read in English and my next door neighbour had the MOST amazing collection of books for my 10 year old mind, and a super added bonus the lovely lady Mrs. Gamble would make me an amazing ice cream sundae and discuss the books with me, I devoured her Nancy Drew, The Hardy boys and other collections. I thank my lucky stars for my old neighbour Mrs. Virginia Gamble as well.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? Many to be sure, but I guess Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a great example of how a small book can make an enormous change! I so identified with the seagull that wanted more out of life.

What was the seed of inspiration for The Bridge of Deaths? The inspiration was my maternal grandfather and the mystery around his death in such a faraway land.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? YES! Through knowledge we can try to achieve peace, the more informed we are the less likely we are to agree with our country’s involvement in any war.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? The most limiting aspect was that when I started to research The Bridge of Deaths we did not have such an amazing access to archives on line as we now do through sites such as Ancestry.com or the Parliamentary Archive.UK

What has been your best moment as a writer? My first reviews, especially because they were from sources/people I did not know and they were REALLY positive. By the same token I was crushed by the first bad review…

Who is your author idol? There are really very many. If I must chose one I LOVE W. Sommerset Maugham!

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? Yes but not in the way many reader’s think. I am as sceptical as Bill, I wish I had Maggie’s courage and Catalina and I are only similar in that we are the granddaughters of Cesar Agustin Castillo. On purpose and to detach I made her lonely and confused. I have spent very little time in my life alone, I only lived alone for about 6 months…and I was young 27, divorced out and about having a blast and not lonely.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? I feel so glad to have finally gotten this done, but my bucket list overflows and there is so very much more to do.

What is your personal cure for procrastination? Lists! Write a list of the MUST DO and make sure you have to face it.

What does your workspace look like? I have a lovely room of my own! The only girly/spiritual/bohemian room in my house!

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? Other than potential starvation? Well I guess if you asked Salman Rushdie or any other author who has written a book found objectionable en masse by a large demographic.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? Yes, but a long time ago and far more because of the frustration at not being able to find the information I needed, the book I am working on now is a very different story AHHH the freedom of So MUCH fiction.

What do you do when you’re not writing? I take care of my home, cook, and parent a teenager. Hard work parenting, I take long walks in beautiful places. I love to travel. I paint, draw, sew, cook, enjoy a good film and READ!

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? Knowledge is such a valuable asset that no one can take away from you.

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? I have a very clear childhood memory when I was certain and said so to anyone who cared to listen.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? Your voice is unique, find it, and use it wisely and no matter how tough it seems, never give up.

If you are an author and would like to be featured on You May Say I'm a Dreamer, email me at: sarah.hardie[at]hotmail.com and I'll get back to you quick smart.

Travelling through time

If you could time travel to any era, where would you go, what would you do? I’m sure most of us have answered that questions many times, because for some reason, those things that are impossibly out of reach are the things we often want the most.
For everyone there is something in history they wish they could have witnessed, or, better yet, been a part of. For me, it’s always been the sixties. The year 1969 to be specific. On a farm in outback New York. Sound familiar? Yes, as a teenager, disappointed with what modern music had to offer, I turned to the classics; to the songs that caused such social upheaval and started revolutions, songs that created the teenager.

I longed to put on my long Indian-inspired orange skirt paired with a bell-sleeved top, topped off with bangles and headbands and hop into a convey van with a bunch of like-minded friends to drive the miles and miles it would have taken to reach Woodstock (never mind the fact that I live in New Zealand and if I time travelled I would end up in sixties New Zealand... minor detail).

I would get caught in the massive traffic jam that stretched for miles and my friends and I would abandon our van and walk, in bare feet of course, to the farm, drawn in by the strumming of guitars, microphone feedback, the thump of the drums and most importantly, the hum of half a million excited revellers come to enjoy this free concert that was never supposed to be free.
And when the rain started, my friends and I would let it come down on us and soak us to the skin. We would slide down the banks and then jump in the lake, all the while people that would go down in history as some of the greatest musicians of all time played on.

If my novel ever gets published, I know people will ask me “What inspired you to write about 1940’s Wellington?” To be honest, I don’t know. I started writing a novel based in 1960s America when I was about 20 and, although I may pursue it again someday, those files lie dormant on my computer. I can’t remember when I decided to base my book in the forties, it kind of just happened that way.

I let the story take me where it wanted and I ended up in the city I grew up in, but it is different. The masonry that, in my time, has been preserved, yet overtaken by high-rises, is now clearly visible and clean.
As I walk through the city, I am surrounded by a sea of hat-wearing people. Men in suits no matter what their profession and ladies in tailored suits and dresses with felt hats on their heads. There is a scattering of soldiers, their presence reminding people there is a war going on. Trams carry the people from A to B.

With the arrival of the Americans in 1942 comes both good and bad. Jealousy reigns among the New Zealand soldiers as their kiwi women become enamoured by the Americans, a brawl now famously known as The Battle of Manners Street erupts as an insult is flung from an American to a Maori, and a group of American soldiers drown at Paekakariki during a training exercise. However, their arrival also makes the city come alive with the opening of coffee bars, the organising of balls, a new sound of music, and hope that there is light at the end of the war.
And in amongst all of this are fretting mothers with sons away at war, exhausted fathers trying to scrape together a living, and young people who should be enjoying the innocence of young love but are instead mixed up in the turmoil and forced to think like adults.

It was not one thing, but all of this that has kept me stuck on the 1940s. The amazing amount of events, tragedies and social changes that occurred during that time is hard to ignore, as are my instincts – those instincts that drive me to find out more, to dig deeper, to find out the story behind the story. Those instincts are driving me deeper into Wellington’s history, with my novel pushing me on, urging me to go this way and that, shaping the story around me so much that, while it’s not the way I expected, I feel like I am travelling through time just like I always dreamed.
So, if you could travel to any era, where would you go, what would you do, and why?

Do you read books for inspiration for your own novel?

I often wonder about this. I've heard that some authors strictly do not read other people's books while they're working on their own for fear of their work being influenced.

But I for one cannot bear the thought of not reading, and I find that my writing sucks when I'm not reading and if I'm reading something I'm really enjoying, my writing gets awesome - but I've still got my own style, I'm not copying theirs (which is possibly a reason why some authors don't do it?)

But what to do when you find a book that carries the same themes as your own novel? Once you get over the initial panicked feeling that someone else has beaten you to it and published your novel (which should disappear after you've read past the first two sentences on the back cover), do you read it?

I picked up Love in the Years of Lunacy by Mandy Sayer the other day because I liked the cover and, when I flipped it over, found that it is set in the midst of World War Two in Australia, it's a love story that gets tested by the war and involves jazz music in smoky bars.

My story is set in Wellington, New Zealand during World War Two (Which had a lot of similarities to Australia during the war), my main character plays the piano in smoky jazz bars and is shipped off to fight in the war, which tests the love story. The edge mine has over hers is that mine involves time travel and five main characters.

It sounds like a great book, but should I read it?

Tatiana and Alexander

I hate to say it, but Diana Gabaldon, you have a little competition.
Those of us who live and breathe books all know the feeling when we find an author whose books are so amazing that it's impossible to find another author who even comes close to their genius and you end up reading that author's books over and over, and sometimes you end up reading chick lit.
I started reading Diana Gabaldon's books when I was fourteen, and now, at 22, I can't even count how many times I've read the seven books in the Outlander series.

While I contemplated branching out to other authors, I had picked up The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons hundreds of times while browsing the bookstores, and finally decided to buy it last year, despite reading no reviews about it.

The Bronze Horseman begins the story of Tatiana, a 17-year-old Russian girl and Alexander, a Red Army soldier with a secret that can, and does, destroy lives, on 22 June, 1941 - the first day of World War Two for Russia.

Tatiana and her family suffer as Hitler's army advances on Leningrad, as the Russian winter closes in, and as the bombs drop and hunger and cold plagues the city, Tatiana and Alexander are drawn to each other in a love that could tear Tatiana's family apart.

Although it's little hard to get into, The Bronze Horseman is mesmerising from beginning to end, and is impossible to put down. The language is deep and detailed, coming from an author who grew up in Leningrad, Russia and emigrated to America in the 70s. She has an amazing understanding of the war, Russia and America and that definitely shows in the depth of her writing.

The pain and suffering Tatiana and Alexander endure through the war is unimaginable to us safe here in the 21st Century, and the power of the human spirit and the will to survive is just incredible.

Book two, The Bridge to Holy Cross (aka Tatiana and Alexander) is heart-wrenching when Tatiana escapes war-torn Leningrad to America, the land of their dreams, pregnant with Alexander's child, believing her husband is dead.

But she can't let him go and something tells her he's still alive, and she finds herself drawn back to Europe in search of the man she loves.

The Summer Garden, the third and final book, sees Tatiana and Alexander struggling to create a new life for them and their son, Anthony, and to let go of the past.

You expect this book to be a "happily ever after" story, but surviving the horror that the war had to offer leaves painful open wounds that they almost don't survive.

But they do, and the ending will leave you smiling after so much pain and sorrow.

Once you get past the first book, the second and third books will consume your life.

Man did I learn a lot. Every Sunday roast with the family concludes with either a debate about rugby or politics, or a history lesson.

I've grown up learning about the wars, but I feel like I learned more about World War Two through Tatiana and Alexander's story than from all the history lessons I've had in my life. Although, I do still appreciate dad's unique take on the wars (salt and pepper shaker soldiers, fork trenches, pea bullets, you get the idea...)

So for those who like a book that cons you into learning something about history, makes you laugh, cry, and reassures you about the enduring power of love, read Tatiana and Alexander's story.

I'm now reading Tully by Paullina Simons due to its glowing reviews, and the first chapter has me hooked. Diana, you're still my favourite, but Paulina sure comes close.

Also, I just found out The Bronze Horseman is being made into a movie for release in 2012!