We’re on the count down for the release of new novel Immortal Mistake. It’s been a long wait, but I think you’ll agree it’s worth it. You’ll see a page with order information coming soon, which I’ll also put on socials.
Time to introduce new hero, Rennie (Rennard) Parker. Remember him? Yep, it’s time for Blaine’s little brother to have his moment in the sun … only it doesn’t really work out as a glowing epoch in his life. This story goes to some dark and difficult places and was, honestly, a hard story to write.
Initially I was aiming for younger readership (that went well …). Instead, I followed where the story led. So here we are …
But I promise you, though this story is difficult in parts, it’s also hopeful. Ultimately. I truly hope you enjoy it. Here’s a teaser below:
Rennie Parker’s life is plagued by domestic upheaval. Now his memories of the past 24 hours have been erased and he’s pursued by a bionic man in his dreams. Left with nightmares of misused children, a video of glowing hands, and part of a dead scientist’s lecture on immortality, can he free those caught in this dark world of forced experimentation?
Yesterday was Christmas Day—unless you live on the other side of the world to Australia. In which case, it may still be the 25th of December. Given it was a quieter celebration this year, our family watched a Christmas movie to wring out the last vestiges of the festivities before saying goodbye to Christmas 2022. As the movie, which was based on real events (love those) closed to credits, the background song played on, but in a moment the words gripped my heart—you know, those songs that really speak to you? I had to look up the artist.
Casting Crowns, 2008, ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’
℗ 2008 Provident Label Group LLC, a unit of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT; Arranger: Mark Hall & Dale Oliver
I won’t include all the lyrics, but these are the ones that grabbed my attention:
And in despair I bowed my head / There is no peace on earth I said / For hate is strong and mocks the song / Of peace on earth, good will to men
But the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth) / Like a choir singing (Peace on Earth) / Does anybody hear them? / Peace on earth, good will to men
Then rang the bells more loud and deep / God is not dead, nor doth He sleep (Peace on Earth, peace on Earth) / The wrong shall fail, the right prevail / With peace on earth, good will to men
After our movie watching last night, I took time to reflect on this extraordinary moment in history that literally changed our world forever. The turning point in time. As the bright lights, excitement, dining (and sometimes whining) of Christmas gave way to the post-Christmas shift towards newness and hope of a fresh year, those words kept cycling: ‘Then rang the bells more loud and deep / God is not dead, nor doth He sleep / The wrong shall fail, the right prevail / With peace on earth, good will to men’.
We’ve seen evil increase its visibility over the past few years. In some cases we’ve seen the ugliest side of humanity, which crafty, controlling, entities have done their best (or worst) to take advantage of. People are wearying in their stand for hope and the promise of a bright future. Some despair over whether it’s possible.
But peace speaks to the heart of this season in which we find ourselves. A peace that resists evil. A peace that eradicates fear. A peace that passes all understanding. A peace that breaks chains of hopelessness and torment. A peace that crumbles wicked plans. A peace that is greater than darkness and illuminates our future with brightness and hope, proclaiming goodwill and unveiling the truth: The wrong shall fail, the right prevail / With peace on earth, good will to men.
Photo Credit Pixabay: wenzlerdesign; crib Christmas nativity scene
From obscure beginnings that turning point in time—the birth of the Christ child—brought this promise to the whole world. Right WILL prevail over evil—no matter how much ‘reality’ decries this claim. Like night and day, evil must give way as we stand and speak peace to our circumstances. Impossible though it may seem at times, I am certain that this peace changes everything. Starting with us.
Merry Christmas to you all. Peace and great hope for a bright new year.
I have an honest question for which I’d love to know your thoughts. If you’ve not realised yet, I am an Australian author of near-science, techno-medical YA thrillers set IN Australia, and not ONE of my books contains a “g’day”. I’d not really thought about this, as it’s not a word that I use in my vocabulary, until recently …
Photo Credit: Plate Providers
Yesterday I was watching a live online discussion when the question was thrown out to the chat, “Do Australians really say, “g’day’?” To my surprise many claiming to be Australians said, “Yes.” I started counting in my head the few people I know who actually use this saying and, not to be disrespectful, most of them I realised were … mature … more mature than me, at least.
To be fair, I’m not a teenager anymore (shhh), but I do not use this greeting (unless satirically playing up to preconceived expectations, perhaps). Also, when Australians use this saying, the “g” is not thick and hard, the way most non-Australians say it. It’s more like a passing note, barely emphasised when playing.
This was the first time I’d ever felt compelled to add my opinion to a live, online chat. I could feel the, “Nooooo, we don’t!” building in me. My mind filled with visions of international tourists staggering into an airport after a long-haul flight wearily matching colloquial dialect with bold, “G’days”, only to be stared at and greeted with a polite, amused, “Hello.”
So, I cast it to the masses (well, the two or three who might read this blog and respond, lol). Am I an Australian anomaly? (Be kind!) In your experience is this something Australians say more often than I believe they do? Could it be an age/era-related usage? Or locale-linked?
Feel free to share your thoughts. You can even drop in a, “G’day,” if it makes you feel better. 😉
For those who have been paying attention, one of our FAVOURITE characters has a novella in the pipeline. It’s so close in the pipe I can see it – except for one thing – I can’t decide on a title!
Usually a title comes to me swiftly and I know right up whether it’s going to work or not. But this time I’ve wrestled with soooo many title options and NOTHING sits right.
Given the title of my next novel moves away from the “-ate” word pattern, I’m thinking I’d like to do the same with this science-fantasy novella. Easy right? More options, right? Apparently more is not always, well, more.
Photo Credit: Kellepics, Fantasy eyes forest, Pixabay
I’m not the only writer to hit a block on landing a title, and this isn’t my first naming brick wall. One thing I’ve learned over the years is frustration (and desperation!) is not a friend of the creative process. Rushing forward impatiently can make a mess. Once a story is in the public forum, it’s a big deal to backtrack marketing and social media releases because a name has been hurried and now isn’t working.
So, heeding my own advice, I’ll chew on ideas a while longer and keep you in the loop once I’ve landed a title that works. 😉
If you’re keen for a free e-book, the link below will take you to the amazon kindle store, where you can acquire a copy of newly released fantasy/fringe fiction anthology “Starlit Realms”. Currently it is available for free, so head over now to not miss out!
Ten stories take readers on adventures that may find them in exquisite other worlds, or even the shores of Sydney, Australia, each a unique adventure for young adults (and more ‘mature’ young adults too), and anyone who likes a good story.
Published and edited by YA fantasy author, Elizabeth Klein, I hope you take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy this delightful literary offering.
Time to introduce new hero, Rennie (Rennard) Parker. Remember him? Yep, it’s time for Blaine’s little brother to have his moment in the sun … only it doesn’t really work out as a glowing epoch in his life. This story goes to some dark and difficult places and was, honestly, a hard story to write.
