Book Updates and Grant News!
I am a writer who always begins a new project as soon as the last one is complete. I give myself a few days and then I move on to something new. It helps with the grief of leaving the world and the characters I have created, not that you really leave them. There are many rounds of edits, the pitch and submission process, rejections and more editing, hopefully an acceptance and a publishing contract, followed by a lot more editing, and all of the steps required in bringing a book out into the world.
To give perspective, I started with early ideas for my Mount Buffalo historical fiction time-slip in late 2020, receiving an Arts SA Richard Llewellyn grant in mid-2021. I was contracted by Riveted Press in July 2022 (signing on my birthday!) and it is due to hit the world in mid-October this year!
I am excited that just this week, we have now agreed on a title, but at this stage, it is under wraps! I will be announcing that as soon as I am able, along with the exact publication date, cover reveal and launch details. I am hoping to have a local Adelaide launch, as well as one at Mount Buffalo Chalet, and in a few towns in the region, and potentially one in Melbourne. I cannot wait!
In the meantime, as well as being deeply focused on editing my debut, I have been back over my second historical fiction story, set in WWII Australia, featuring the bombing of Darwin, the Australian pigeon corp and the secret flying boat base at Lake Boga. It has now gone out on submission. I also went back into a story close to my heart, my eco-fantasy with an Australian twist, which has also gone back on submission too. As well, I have two picture books out there with publishers for consideration!
I am now at the start of my next middle-grade book, for which I have been lucky to receive a grant from Arts SA to support my work. An historical fiction/magical realism blend, the early idea for this book is based around the lighthouses and wildlife of Kangaroo Island, in particular, birds and sealions. There will be a shipwreck mystery to solve, with ideas for a sealion twist on selkie tales, and a ghostly friend who will guide main character Winnie through her adventures. She lives in an isolated island lighthouse with her great aunt and uncle, and the lighthouse will be an important central feature of the story.
We are taking a research trip to Kangaroo Island in a few weeks and I am very much looking forward to studying the lighthouses and the wildlife! If you want to stay up to date with all of my bookish news, head here to sign up to the newsletter, which I am aiming to send out more often!
For now, I am back to research and finding my way into this very new story. Wish me luck!
Helen