August 20, 2025
Writing and Coffee Time

Writing by the Water

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When it comes to Writers’ Festivals, I have my favourites and after attending the inaugural Currumbin Crime Writers’ Festival, it’s just been added to the list. 

The highlight for me was attending Fiona McIntosh’s workshop and her keynote address. Both were fantastic, as were the other panels and discussions. While there were many great takeaways from the weekend, here are my top five from the workshop: 

1.     Time waits for no writer 

Words don’t write themselves. Discipline. Discipline. Discipline. And no excuses. 

2.     Red herrings and pearls of truth share the same waters

They need to almost live in the same rockpool—close enough so that readers can’t easily distinguish one from the other. 

3.     It’s always darkest before the dawn. 

It really doesn’t matter how dark you write as long as the reader finishes the novel with hope in their hearts. 

4.     The story promise (the blurb) should be on the front page. 

5.     And a body—not too far behind

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Updates on The Raging Fire, The Valentine’s Wish and The House in Havana 

The Raging Fire is all but ready for formatting. I was hoping to get it out by the end of August but it’s more likely to be ready by September. A Valentine’s Wish is going through its final edits and will be ready for October and I’m deep into the revisions of The House in Havana to send off to the editor by 1 September. 

It’s true stories don’t wait — and I can’t wait to share mine with you soon.