Found on Fridays for 3 November 2023
A round up of things I saw, read and watched over the past week
I had such a great time editing my middle grade historical caper, The Chuckaboo Society, this week! I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out. It’s away with a US-based agent I had promised it to and is sitting comfortably in the cloud, fermenting for a month or so before I dive back in for more edits.
It’s very exciting to turn my full attention to The Bookish Sort now. 2 weeks until I jet off to the UK for my research trip!
If you follow me on socials, you’ll notice I posted this morning about taking a break. It’s largely for my mental health as I find social media is chock-full of bullshit about author success that leaves me feeling like a failure. Even though I know a lot of it is smoke and mirrors, it still makes me feel less than adequate, so I am taking shelter from the storm for a month. If it goes really well, I might look at limiting my time on social media in future.
Last night I went to a literary speed-dating event at the Literature Centre in Fremantle! I wore my Ash Harrier kidlit hat and it was so much fun. It was a bunch of authors and illustrators meeting industry professionals including Library Board members, teachers, library officers and librarians, association leaders and more. We also got to meet each other (the kids’ author/illustrator community in WA is a delight). I sat next to Cristy Burne and we were each other’s wingmen while we met prospective lovers (her words). Would highly recommend!
My Path to Published mentoring program applications closed on Wednesday and I’m now busily downloading and reading work samples and synopses, bios and writing goals. It’s an even bigger field this year and it hurts to choose a maximum of 10 writers for the 2024 program!
Just this morning I popped over to my local library and listened to Australian literary legend Tricia Stringer talk about her new book, Back on Track. It’s set during a journey on the Ghan and features a very cool 70-yo protagonist and it sounds like there’s some juicy stuff happening. It’s on my Kindle now and I’m looking forward to diving in. Tricia is an excellent speaker and I enjoyed hearing about her process.
Okay, onto what I read, heard and watched this week…
What I read
The Bungalow Mystery by Annie Haynes
A decision has been reached: no more Annie Haynes for me. I found this one as melodramatic and drawn out as the other. When a writer creates a mystery, I believe they make a deal with the reader to reveal all the detective knows about the case to the reader so the reader can try to solve it too. Haynes disrespects this deal and also draws out the mysteries by having characters simply hide the truth for no good reason. That’s cheating!
The Nursing Home Murder by Ngaio Marsh
Loved it! I am more and more fond of the key characters, Inspector Alleyn, Nigel and Angela, and this was such a clever mystery which I did not solve before the reveal. I was particularly interested in the scene where the detective goes undercover to a Bolshevik meeting! I’m glad I read it and can’t wait to read more Marsh. This 3-book set can be borrowed on Libby.
What I listened to
This week I made myself take a little mind-expanding break from Loremen and listened to two episodes of BBC History Extra Podcast. One was about poison pen letters sent between the 18th and 20th centuries and how they affected people, including driving people to taking their own lives or landing people in prison. I’m interested in this for writing inspo and will seek out the book by Emily Cockayne, Penning Poison.
I also listened to one about scandals that rocked Georgian Britain from author and historian Emily Brand. Funnily enough, one of the scandals was the unfortunately named Scratching Fanny poltergeist, which I’ve already heard about on Loremen!
I also went to a lunchtime fortepiano concert by Australian Baroque, held at Cathedral Square, where I heard a student, a graduate and a master play this interesting old instrument. Mostly Mozart. I must say, Mozart was very good at tricking you into thinking a piece was finished, then trilling on with another 10 minutes of colourful music.
What I Watched
I started the Apple TV series The Enfield Poltergeist which has very cleverly remastered original audio from the famous British haunting and used actors lip syncing to that audio. It’s a very self-conscious series, showing sets they’ve built based on the old house and streets of 1977 Enfield, and combining dramatic reenactment with contemporary interviews with people who were there. I’m planning to watch more! There are 4 episodes.
What I found
I read a fascinating article about cancel culture in the literary industry. In the article, author Jennifer Senior comments that a particular book
“should have failed or succeeded in the marketplace of ideas. But it was never given the chance. The mob got to it first.”
In case you missed it, I published two articles this week:
Enjoy! I hope you have a beautiful weekend filled with interesting and uplifting discoveries.
Love, Sasha
Love, Sasha
Your research trip is going to be amazing Sasha! The timing is perfect; just when you need to get away and nurture your creativity immersed in a different environment. I hope to hear about it on Substack.
Thank you for sharing the podcast links; The Georgian era, in England and elsewhere, is my particular interest at the moment. So I will be checking in on Loremen and others. I’m immersing in the ‘Empire’ podcast right now.
I love anything history and am happy to flick you info (on what you’re working on) I come across. But I know you’re far more experienced than me; heard about how you researched ‘Snapshots’. 😊 My signed copy is still on my TBR as I’ve disappeared into the late 1700s. Reading about Rose Freycenet, her husband, Baudin and Flinders and loving all the amazing links and stories there!
As usual, I listen to all sorts of writing-related podcasts but have to ration myself because I’m very much aware that I’m a late starter as a writing creative. Nasty golems scream about the futility of pursuing dreams. But scream they will while we continue doing what brings joy!
Also, got Joanna Penn’s latest non-fiction on delving into and writing the shadow. It follows Jung so might be of interest to you as well. She self-published on Kickstarter but it will get to mainstream I suspect.
Have a wonderful break doing what you love, delving into your research and away from social media.
Have a fantastic time in the UK, Sasha, and I hope the social media break brings you much needed rest in your mind. On that note, I just read this terrific article: https://betterhumans.pub/dont-let-people-live-rent-free-in-your-mind-here-s-how-to-evict-them-a12b7d1ec60
I totally get it about the smoke and mirrors. That's why I feel drawn to Substack, because this is where I explore that vulnerability I feel. I often feel a similar sense of failure, of not quite making it, of being invisible, and social media doesn't help. Which takes me back to that article ... there is so much more I can put in my mind.
Take care.