Breathing Room

Fallow Fields and a Fresh Water Infusion

As I’ve been travelling through Australia, I have noticed that the terrain is varied and vast and changes greatly from one state to the next. At times, the land can be brown and arid and at others tropical and lush, the vistas broad and expansive across the farmers’ fields to the south or tall and condensed with thick forests closer to the equator. This is a beautiful country, and I appreciate its myriad forms. While I expected to see the red soil and undulating hills, what I didn’t anticipate was the brilliant waterways that flow forcefully to the ocean. Both are equally compelling and part of what defines this country. The same is true for the inner landscape of a writer.

There are periods of verdant growth, times when a narrative or manuscript comes together with ease and the words flow onto the page. There are other times when the process feels laboured and the right words refuse to appear despite the writer’s best intentions. The page remains blank, and the white can be startlingly bright. This was the case for me recently, but I learned something here and it’s changing who I am and my writing practice. It’s also given me new perspective on what it takes to navigate life with fluidity and grace.

What do farmers do when the arable land is depleted? They skip sowing for one or more vegetative cycles. They give the land time to rest and an infusion of fresh water. A little breathing room and TLC brings it back to life, ready for the next season. What about the rivers? Do they stop moving when they encounter an obstacle or pick up some debris? No. While the volume and strength of the current might change, the water churns in an unceasing cascade to the sea. Everything is connected even though it might appear dramatically different, and joy is always available but you might have to stop to find it. I think I’ll stretch my legs now and enjoy the sunshine.

Tweed River, New South Wales

Two New Projects…

We’ve talked at length about what’s happening with my debut, Stories from a Roadside Diner, and I’ll have an update on that next month, but I wanted to share something different with you. I’ve been working on two new projects that are both novels that I’m thrilled to introduce you to, although they are in the early stages of development. Here are brief descriptions:

Swallows is a psychological thriller about a young woman who enters a narcissistic relationship and struggles with gas-lighting and her tentative grip on reality. When she attempts to extricate herself and her children from the situation, a high conflict legal battle ensues that threatens everyone involved, including Andie who is her best friend and lawyer. Slowly, she begins to see how her choices keep her mired in pain, limitation and confusion, but is it too late? The novel is written from the first-person perspective and features dual protagonists or two main characters, Maren and Andie, that offer different perspectives on critical moments as they unfold.

Clair O’Connor and The Chain Link Murder is a novel about a young female clairvoyant who assists the police in solving crimes. She discovered her abilities as a child and is now an asset to the force, working with Detective Kevin “Deck” Turnbull and his partner Carly, to put baddies behind bars. When a body is found impaled on a fence post between a schoolyard and an historic site in Victoria, BC, Claire is brought into the case. Her visions and the ensuing investigation will challenge her understanding of herself, her capacities, and her community. Through paranormal phenomenon, a long hidden truth will be revealed that not only affects the case but her family as well.

What’s in a Name?

With my “Wild Rose Writer” moniker, I am creating a persona that reflects the stunning Alberta landscape that I grew up in, its affect on me and the people who journey here, and its maverick spirit. It is a unique and special place that I am happy to call home, yet as I develop new works along paranormal lines, I’m wondering if the name fits. I can see the potential for “Claire O’Connor” to become a detective series, possibly written for a YA audience (16-18 years) like the Nancy Drew books I devoured as a kid, and I’m wondering what you think. Sometimes author’s use a nom de plume or pen name to jump into a new genre. In the comments section below, please let me know two things: should I publish “Claire” under another name? What do you suggest? To add to the fun, let’s turn this into a contest. The best suggestion will receive a surprise novel in the crime, thriller, suspense category from an author that I met at the book conference in Clunes! I can’t wait to hear from you!

Next up: Bendigo Writer’s Festival! 📚

On Thursday, I leave for the Bendigo Writer’s Festival, a popular town in Victoria famous for its potteries and its history as a boomtown during the gold rush. The theme for the conference is “Such is Life” based on the widely held belief that these were Ned Kelly’s last words. Ned Kelly was a bush ranger and outlaw who died in 1800 but has long been remembered and admired for his moxie in dealing with oppressive authorities at the time (an Aussie Robin Hood).

Iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge

In Next Month’s Issue…

Selected readings, conference review, and an update on the L3 project.

Warmly, Mary Lynn, The Wild Rose Writer