Last Minute Shopping

Yesterday I was traveling up the North Island so of course my blog did not get written. I left a gorgeous day in Wellington...yes we do have amazing days in the windy city, when there is no wind, the sea is flat calm and the sun sparkles off the hills surrounding the harbour like a rare gem. 

Today Auckland is misty and overcast. I’m waiting for the full on sunshine and last minute shopping trips to begin.

If you are shopping for any authors...check out these presents.

Offbeat gifts for writers.... and for inspiration...what has been described as voodoo dolls of authors.

The predictions for 2012 are beginning and Mike Shatzkin’s name is being tweeted all around the blogoshere for his ‘not predictions list but questions’ that need to be addressed in 2012. Check it out, there is something for everyone in the publishing industry to ponder.

Of course Mike also had a hand in making the Digital Book World 10 Predictions for 2012...this is also getting a twitter beating as Number 7 gets talked about by authors.

In the fun category -  if you know an author who has begun using skype for author visits you may want to point them to this post from a 'don’t do what I did’ tongue in cheek expose of a skype visit to a book club. (Children’s writers can get themselves in sooo much trouble just with one of these gaffs.)

If you are looking for personal inspiration you must check out  the editors blog for a beautiful call to writers to push themselves a little more. 

If Chuck is more your style he says the same thing but in his own gritty voice...(warning It’s Chuck!)

I had hoped to bring you a sneak preview of the project I have been working on for the last couple of months but time pressures and end of year hype has delayed it...so I may just start the New Year with it.

It will be an interesting journey for me to share with you. Bring on 2012.

Merry Christmas from the sunny Southern Hemisphere. (still waiting for that sun Auckland...)

Oh and here’s the annual Christmas video treat for you. 

Off for last minute Christmas shopping...oh look sun!
maureen

Decorative Links

Holidays, the chance to go away from your usual busy life, explore new country, meet new people and try out new things.

Coming back through the front door always triggers the best moments of the holiday for me.... It is my last ditch effort to hold holiday mode around me as I stare at the mess left and the long list of catch up jobs, mail and end of the school year craziness. This morning, five minutes before leaving for school, one child announced they needed cardboard tube inners, wrapping paper and lollies...for making crackers.

Last week on Blog day I was traveling down the middle of the South Island staring at the back country and alpine scenery and pointing out likely film spots from the Lord Of The Rings. It helped that we knew The Hobbit was being filmed on location in some of the places we were going through. New Zealand=Middle Earth.

Holiday memories are getting squished to the back of my mind as this is the week before Christmas...a time that heralds that frantically busy period when you realise you have not sorted out the Christmas day menu or the in law presents or even found the Christmas tree decorations...

However I have a box of Blog Christmas tree decorations...

50 blinking lights....or 50 simple ways to build your platform in 5 minutes a day.

12 Great Big Golden Baubles....or 7 Lessons about Self publishing I learnt in 7th Grade and (from the wonderful Catherine Ryan Howard) 5 things I am always telling self publishers.  

Every tree needs special ornaments that trigger great memories. Here is a nice idea from the Teaching Authors Blog.

In the pretty ornament category we have three really sweet posts.

A new Y A Publisher in Australia from Publishing Perspectives.

How to get your writing ready to win a Pulitzer....

A great craft check list on characterisation that will save you a few years of hard slog to learn.

There are always a couple of ornaments that you know you have to put on the tree but are always challenging as to where they go....

Amazon has brought out a Children's Publishing Imprint, what impact will this have...

An Australian Agent talks about why they are so different from U.S. Agents and why....

In the new ornament category check out this pretty nifty advice from Lisa Schroeder...Let Good Reads Ads be your friend. (This one should be in the middle at eye level!)

Find the Christmas Star or Angel of your fulfilled writing resolutions....(ok still making mine...) and stick it on the top.

Next week you may even get a present to stick under the tree....

maureen


pic from here