second instalment of the diary of the last person on earth

http://diaryofthelastpersononearth.blogspot.com.au/

Here is the second episode in my serial. Comments are welcome as well as ideas on how the story should go.

Diary of the last person on earth

http://diaryofthelastpersononearth.blogspot.com.au/

Here it is, the beginning of my story. It will be told in serial form so keep coming back to read more.
I hope you enjoy it.

Thinking about writing

This is a picture I did a couple of years ago now and I thought it reflected my current mood. I'm heavily into thinking. Thinking about stories. I have an idea that I am itching to try but if I start it I might not be able to continue it.

I'd like to start a story and post it as a blog. I'm wondering if because everything is going so well in the book writing field at the moment whether or not I should begin this new blog soon...



A year of drawing

This year looks as though it is hotting up to be one of drawing, painting and writing. I can't tell you how exciting that is. I have my graphic novel to do with its intricate pen illustrations and I am also working on a proposal for another graphic/illustrated novel with a well known Australian novelist and it already has some interest from a publisher. I'm not sure whether these will be pen or pencil illustrations or some other drawing medium but it is a fantastic project.

On Thursday I start and online novel writing course. I signed up for this before I knew what else was happening. It is not the best timing but I intend to make the most of it.

In September I have booked myself an exhibition at the New England Art Society Gallery. I think I shall show small acrylic paintings and some drawings in a style that is influenced by certain women surrealist painters. The drawing above is an unfinished work that will hopefully end up in the show.

As a result of all my new projects I have decided to suspend my PhD until everything has quietened down. The novel part of it will be worked on in the online novel development programme though so it will be buzzing along in the background.

I love this kind of year but am sometimes so excited I can hardly breathe which doesn't help the work to get done.

Breaking News

I've just signed a contract with Sky Pony Press, an imprint of Sky Horse Publishing, New York, for my very first work of fiction, a graphic novel to be published in the Amercian Fall, so probably November this year. Needless to say I am very excited about this project where I get to write and illustrate my own story.  Sky Pony have said I can show the cover when it is designed (in the process right now). So stay tuned...

Until I can give a sneek peak of the cover you'll have to make do with a drawing I did late last year inspired by a book I bought on the works of Leonora Carrington. Leonora became linked with the Surrealists before the Second World War. She and Max Ernst shacked up together for a while. Leonora got separated from Max in the turmoil of the beginning of the war and she fled to Mexico.

In Mexico Leonora met Remedios Varo, a Spanish woman painter and together they experimented with their art. More can be read about both these women in a book called Women Artists and the Surrealist Movement.

New Year's Resolution

I do not believe my last blog post was so long ago. My New Year's Resolution will be to keep up to date with my blog.

And I didn't even blog about my new book: Gothic Knits published by the ever wonderful Search Press UK.

I'm so thrilled with the way it looks. It is available on Amazon.com or Amazon UK or Search Press UK. I can't wait to see someone knit one up. It was a really fun book to do.

I've just finished writing my social and cultural look at 1920s Britain and my brain is still rather stuck in that era. I was able to draw on family for this book too which made it really special. not sure when it is coming out but it is being published with Pen&Sword Books UK.

I did find some drawings I did when I was about 18 and I thought they didn't look too bad at all.

Makes me think I should do some more in this style. 

I've also been developing some medieval style dolls based on dolls from the period. It is a tricky thing to do: balance a 21st century aesthetic and playability with authenticity.

I have designed some knitted versions as well. There is no evidence for or against knitted dolls having existed in the middle ages. There are no examples known but then there are no cloth dolls either but there is no doubt they existed. Knitting was practised widely back then, usually stockinette in the round. Intricated patterns were knitted into socks and vests so it is certainly plausible that a mother may have fashioned a child's toy from left over yarn.

I'm hoping to be selected to have a doll stall at the Abbey Medieval Festival in July this year. The festival is held at the Abbey Muesum in Caboolture, near Brisbane. My son is with a re-enactor group that goes there every year. You have to dress up in authentic costume to participate. Fingers crossed.

Long time etc...

I've had terrible trouble trying to blog over the last couple of months but thought it was time to try again.

What's been happening?
I'm working hard to finish my 1920s Britain book for Pen&Sword. As always the problem is leaving stuff out and not finding last minute new stuff that is so fascinating that you just have to put it in somewhere.

My PhD novel is quietly and slowly taking shape, mainly in my head and note books but it is getting a definite form.

I have a proposal for a graphic novel in with a publisher in New York, so fingers are crossed and double crossed.

And I'm going to the Comics Masterclass in Sydney next weekend, can't wait.

Below are some pictures of assemblages I made years and years ago. I dug them out recently.