Nice Little Mention

Like many large organisations, Energex has a magazine - Connections. Last edition they were kind enough to run a little mention of my newly published status. It's funny; scratch the surface of so many people and you find a creative pursuit quietly ticking away in the background... actors, musicians, photographers, super cooks, other writers... they're everywhere! We should have an expo...

I'll be in the June edition of Finally at 40 as well... it's a new mag - check it out at the newsagents or at http://www.finallyat40.com/

My New Local

I am finding that, in this busy life, if you want a little peace and space then you have to schedule it... Accordingly, I am experimenting with a little scheduled space for myself on a Monday evening. Usually I catch my 2 trains home... a trip of 2 hrs, and fling myself happily into family life as soon as I walk in the door.

We are trialling this system of a Monday night space and time...we'll see how it goes. I have found this rather elegant little lounge bar, generally empty on a Monday night, where I can set myself up in a corner of the sofa, drink at hand, a little music, enough light without being intrusive.

I feel so civilised! I write and write and before I know it it's time to catch the late train.

With a busy day job, marketing Crisp Whites for all I'm worth and a busy family life, this little apppointment is magic!

Time for Writing??

It's been a big week for me, blog-mates. Lots of good things have happened... my mum took delivery of the first sale copy of Crisp Whites and that was exciting. I have had to come to grips with the bucking horse of marketing - thank goodness for my planning-mad hubby! Just to keep me on my toes, work has been hectic and the family has lots going on. Is there anything wrong with wanting to live several lives at once?

Novel 2 is waiting for me, though... something is gonna hafta give!

Your Copy of Crisp Whites!

Greetings, Crispy fans - The wait is over! (well, almost…)
There are now suppliers who will ship Crisp Whites to Australian buyers - yay!

The attached press release has the links - also below...

You have 2 options for buying Crisp Whites:

Option 1 - Amazon

Go to http://www.amazon.com , drop down the first menu to "books" and in the search field write "Crisp Whites"
Click on the 4 new link - this means 4 new suppliers and the second supplier: the_book_depository_ will ship to Australia.
Add to your cart from this section and proceed on to the checkout. You will need to add your card if you have not had an Amazon delivery before.


Option 2 - The Publisher's website

Here is the link:
http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/CrispWhites.html

The retail price is slightly higher than Amazon, and the shipping costs are slightly lower - so it works out pretty close :)


Now the only thing you will need to wait for is the shipping!

I'd love to hear what you think of the book... I hope you enjoy it.

Best always,

Noelani

Final Galleys

Phew! What a process!

I am one email exchange away from completing the text block. I really want to see the cover art, though - that's the fresh part for me. What will Nina look like?

While I was writing Crisp Whites I became a bit obsessed by redheads. I would look up from the screen while packed into the train with the daily commuters and my eye would light on a head of long, red hair. Several times I considered approaching these candidates... what would I say, though? "Hi, my name's Noelani. I'm writing a novel and you look like my protagonist..."

I have decided to avoid overt stalking on the train!

Making Way

Have you ever noticed how many nautical turns of phrase are used in everyday life? Full steam ahead; the bitter end; a safe harbour... back on deck. Is it a colonial thing? Born of our history? Does it happen in landlocked nations?

In Crisp Whites, other members of her cohort are drawn to Nina’s warm nature and inner strength, and she becomes a confidante for their amazing stories. She is the discoverer of secrets; the one they turn to when it all goes to hell. Her sympathetic presence and ready shoulder disguise her own secrets and deepening confusion. At sea for six weeks, Nina tries to sort out her complicated feelings. The cohort steps ashore in Tasmania for a weekend of freedom from the ship and, in a series of misadventures, Nina finds herself literally fighting for her life in the back streets of Hobart.

Nina and Adam are drawn closer by this awful experience, but what hope exists for their love? As Initial Training draws to its climactic ending, tough decisions will have to be made. The experiences have changed Nina so much. What does this mean for the life she has left back in Brisbane?

The Magic Trick

As I polish and consider each paragraph of my second novel, I have the distinct feeling I am being watched. It’s not the commuter with whom I am sitting knee-to-knee... a tanned, silver-bearded dude in a yellow plaid shirt (at this hour!) with the Beach Boys playing so loudly on his ipod that I can hear the lyrics. It is a gaze that beams from the imperfectly closed door somewhere in the hippocampus. Behind this door a small group gathers... three so far, with a fourth gathering colour and depth. Soon this gang will become impatient. “Oi! What about us?” they will call to me.

The calls will get louder and more strident until I must begin their story...or I won’t be able to concentrate on anything else.

The state of my books is a lot like the state of my children. I have one close to launching, another still learning to put his sentences together (he’s pretty good at it, too) and taking afternoon naps. Do I feel another gathering depth and colour in some other room? Maybe...

Crisp Whites (my eldest book-child) follows New Entry Officer Course 25 through many adventures. Whether they are learning to handle weapons, fight fires, march straight or survive at sea, this tightly knit group are there for one another. Real dangers exist in the world of military training and, more than once, Nina finds herself in high risk situations.

The greatest risk, however, may be to her heart. Despite the fraternisation rules, inevitably there are crushes, chemistry and liaisons among the group – some of them wonderful and others disastrous. Despite her long marriage, Nina finds herself drawn into a completely inappropriate fascination with Adam, a nineteen year old trainee pilot. Adam is hiding a tragedy of his own and, despite his better judgement; he cannot stay away from Nina. Striving to hold him at arm’s length, she is forced to examine her own thoughts on love, marriage, obligation and joy.

Flooding

It has been an oddly wet, dank and dripping kind of Autumn here in south East Queensland... three quarters of the state flooded (and it’s a big state) and it has been a challenge to get to work. It seems to be drying out at last... the nappies are snapping on the line again and a generation of cane toads (shudder) have debuted in the puddle outside the fence.

Like an unblocked drain, pre-production of Crisp Whites has also picked up a bit at last. I think I am being passed to my eighth department... internal layout and cover design are next...

Crisp Whites tells the story of Nina Yusof’s initial training when she joins the Navy – the most life-changing six months imaginable. More than once, Nina feels doubt – what has she gotten herself into? All of her assumptions about herself; her life, her work and the nature of love, are turned upside down. She is challenged, exhausted and far from home, but she is tougher than she realises. Thrown together with a delightfully motley crew of men and women, Nina and the rest of New Entry Officer Course 25 must overcome enormous physical, mental and emotional hurdles... luckily there is plenty of pranking, flirting, and some ill-considered melon liqueur to lighten the load.

Crisp Whites Coming Soon!

I am a Brisbane (well… Burpengary) mum, currently working at Energex. I spent six years as an Officer in the RAN and I was a school teacher before that. On my huge work commute I write novels on a carefully balanced netbook...

Crisp Whites, tells the story of Nina Yusof.

Irish Nina and Greek Stavros are living an ordinary Australian love story. They have survived the fallout of their cross-cultural marriage, and have stuck together through highs and lows. Their lives now seem stable and secure.

Nina is a hard worker, a faithful wife and a joyful mother... but she is also restless. She craves something... and it turns out to be adventure.

Making a radical detour from the main road of her life, and in the face of her husband’s doubts, Nina joins the Navy at thirty-three...