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Blog Tour: Author Guest Post: Kate Forsyth (Aussie Month Post)

Today we welcome Aussie Author, Kate Forsyth, who will share with us how she got the inspiration for her latest book, The Puzzle Ring.


The inspiration for ‘The Puzzle Ring’

People always ask me where I get my ideas from.

Llike most writers, I find this a difficult question to give an easy answer to. You need lots and lots of ideas to create something as complex and sophisticated as a novel. Some ideas just come like a flash of lightning. Other ideas you have to find with a whole lot of digging, like a miner scrounging in the dirt for opals.

I normally need two or three strong ideas before I know I’ve got a novel on my hands. I start with one, which can come from anywhere – an overheard conversation, something I read about in a book, a stray thought that pops into my head while I’m doing the washing up – and then I think about it for a while. I might put it together with a few other ideas I’ve had and see if they seem to belong together.

The very first idea for this novel came when I was waiting bored in a doctor’s surgery. Unusually for me, I hadn’t brought a book to read and so I flicked through a few gossip magazines, then picked up a jewellery catalogue. It was mainly pictures and not much text, but on the back page it had a very brief history of the puzzle ring, which I found fascinating.

Basically, the article said that the puzzle ring was first invented by an Arabian king who was mad with jealousy over his young and beautiful wife. He challenged a jeweller to make a wedding ring that would show if the ring was ever taken off his wife’s finger. After many attempts, the jeweller invented a ring that would fall apart into separate loops if removed from the finger, and could only be put back together again if you knew the secret of the puzzle. Of course, the wife did take the ring off one day ... and was promptly killed by her furious husband.

I thought at once, in an idle sort of a way, what a great thematic device this would be for a quest story ... a desperate search for a puzzle ring that had fallen apart. When I got home, I wrote it down in my ideas book but that was all I did with the idea for quite a long time, as I was very busy writing my historical adventure novel ‘The Gypsy Crown’. Every now and then, though, I’d wonder ... WHO would be searching for a puzzle ring? WHY?

Then one day I was browsing in a second-hand bookstore and discovered an old book called ‘The Book of Curses’. When I sat down to look through it, the page fell open, of its own volition, at a chapter about the famous Scottish curse ‘The Seaforth Doom’. This is a very chilling and creepy story about a warlock called Kenneth the Enchanter who was burnt to death in the 16th century by a jealous and vengeful woman, Isabella, the Countess of Seaforth. Kenneth had a magical fairy stone, or hag-stone, and the countess had asked him to look through his hag-stone and tell him what her husband was doing. Kenneth had laughed, and then told her "Fear not for your lord, he is safe and sound, well and hearty, merry and happy". Angrily she demanded to know why he had laughed, and when he would not tell her, threatened him with a terrible death. At last he confessed he had seen her husband on his knees before another woman, kissing her hand. The countess was so furious that she ordered Kenneth to be thrust headfirst into a barrel of boiling tar. As he was led out to his execution, the warlock lifted his hag-stone to his eye and cast a terrible curse on the Mackenzies of Seaforth.

This is what he said:

‘I see into the far future, and I read the doom of the race of my oppressor. The long-descended line of Seaforth will, ere many generations have passed, end in extinction and in sorrow.

I see a chief, the last of his house, both deaf and dumb. He will be the father of four fair sons, all of whom he will follow to the tomb. He will live careworn and die mourning, knowing that the honours of his line are to be extinguished forever, and that no future chief of the Mackenzies shall bear rule ... the remnant of his possessions shall be inherited by a white-hooded lassie from the East, and she is to kill her sister.

And as a sign by which it may be known that these things are coming to pass, there shall be four great lairds ... one shall be buck-toothed, another hare-lipped, another half-witted, and the fourth a stammerer.

(They) shall be the allies and neighbours of the last Seaforth; and when he looks around him and sees them, he may know that his sons are doomed to death ... and that his race shall come to an end.’

Kenneth the Enchanter then threw away his magical hag-stone and was cruelly killed.

The curse had been cast against the wife of the third Earl of Seaforth. Apparently she only laughed at Kenneth’s words and micked him. For several generations all seemed well.

Then the ninth Earl of Seaforth, called Francis Humberton Mackenzie, was born in 1794. An attack of scarlet fever when he has twelve left him deaf, but he still married and in time had four sons and two daughters. Among his friends and neighbours were four great lords, one of which was buck-toothed, one had a cleft palate, another stammered and the fourth, unfortunately, was not very bright.

One by one his sons died, and in his grief the Earl turned his face to the wall and would not speak. He died soon afterwards, leaving only his two daughters. The elder, Mary Mackenzie, had married a man called Sir Samuel Hood who lived in the East Indies. Recently widowed, she returned from the East to take possession of the estate wearing her widows’ weeds – a black dress and white cap – and named Lady Hood, an uncanny fulfilment of the prophecy. Some time later, while driving her sister out in her carriage, the ponies took fright and both sisters were thrown out. The younger sister was killed.

So did the Seaforth Doom come at last to pass.

As soon as I read this story, which is very famous indeed in Scotland, I was electrified. What must it have been like, I thought, to be Francis Humberton Mackenzie, living out his life with that shadow hanging over him? Having four sons and hoping the curse could not be true. Imagine what it must have been like to be those two sisters, knowing one must kill the other. I bought the book, and as I walked back to my car, my brain was on fire. I saw the whole story unfolding in my mind’s eye ... a jealous husband, a puzzle ring, a faithful wife tricked into taking the ring off, the curse she casts on the castle as she dies ... and then generations later, a girl who decides she must break the curse and sets out on a perilous quest to find the four lost loops of the puzzle ring...

And that is how I came to write ‘The Puzzle Ring’.

***********

Thanks Kate for sharing that awesome anecdote! Now I really want to read this!

If you'd like to read the other posts for Kate's International Blog Tour, here are the links:
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Featured Author (& Int'l Giveaway): Laurine Croasdale (Aussie Month Post)

who is sharing with us a really cool collage of her many work spots!

(click to enlarge)

Ah, so this is what it looks like, huh?
Me likes it!

And while working on her very cool novels, Laurine listens to this:



Really nice, Laurine! Love that song :D

Here are some of Laurine's Favourites:
FAVOURITE COLOUR: All colours, especially bright ones but most of all blue, green, purple and pink. (Same as me!)
FAVOURITE ANIMAL: Pelican.
FAVOURITE CONFECTIONERY: Toss up between Bounty Bars and Maltesers. Still researching this one.
LIKES: Simple stuff like being near a beach, park or in the bush, hearing birds sing, feeling happy, barbies with family and friends, travelling.
DISLIKES: Bullying, prejudice, arrogance.

Click here to visit Laurine's awesome site, and learn more about her books!

****

Laurine and her publicist have given me the opportunity to give away both of Laurine's books:

Surf School and Surf Sisters!

About SURF SCHOOL:
Fifteen-year-old Tilly, Fran, Marlee and Pink are surfer girls.

They have been meeting for the first surf of the season every year since they first met at the surf school run by Tilly’s dad, Phil, when they were eight.

Phil has big plans for the surf school this year, but when he is injured in a hit-and-run accident, everything suddenly seems uncertain.

While Phil languishes in hospital and the police track his attacker, Tilly is determined to realise his plans and keep the surf school open. To do this, she needs all the help she can get from her friends.

But Marlee is training for the surfing competition to win a new board and beat the moody Kyle, Pink is warring with her parents and intrigued by the stranger Kim, and Fran is busy making jewellery.

Laurine Croasdale has published three fiction titles for UQP (Trivia Man, Red Golf Balls, What Truly Counts), and a range of non-fiction titles (including two for Macmillan Education).

She was also a writer on Hi 5 for Channel 9. She reviews books regularly on radio, and spent five years reviewing children’s and adults’ titles on Angela Catterns’ breakfast show on ABC radio.

Laurine had the idea for Surf School many years ago but felt that its popularity had not yet reached its peak.

The story weaves together her childhood on the northern beaches with her daughter’s experiences growing up today.

About SURF SISTERS:

Winter swells are rolling into Diamond Beach. But surfer girls Fran, Pink, Marlee and Tilly are still consumed by all things surfing.

Fran and Pink are collaborating on a surf label, and there’s news of a major surfing contest at treacherous Shipwreck Beach — a chance for Marlee and Tilly to dazzle on the world stage.

But parents and boyfriends are distracting the girls from their big plans.

Pink’s mother Christie is determined to control her spirited daughter; Marlee tells Kyle she has to concentrate on her surfing; and Jamie still can’t see that Tilly is anything more than just a friend.

The absorbing, dramatic sequel to Surf School.


*******
And this giveaway is open internationally!

What you need to do to enter is leave a comment with your e-mail. (please do this, you'll make my life so much easier!)

Extra entries:
+1 if you tweet about this giveaway. You can do this once a day (leave link, please!)
+2 if you post on your sidebar (leave link!)
+2 if you post on any other network, such as Facebook, Ning... (leave link!)
+5 if you tell us which is your favourite beach, in any place in the world.
Or if you've never been to a beach, where would you like to go.
+15 if you blog about this giveaway, and post a picture (could be of yourself along with friends or family, or just a pic of your fav beach) and leave a link.

You have until March 31st!
Spread the word, and remember to come back here and leave the links for me to see!

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Volkswagen launches Small Car POLO in India, Priced at Rs. 4.34 to 6.7 Lakhs - VW Polo Photos, Pictures,Images

Volkswagen launches Small Car POLO in India, Priced at Rs. 4.34 to 6.7 Lakhs - VW Polo Photos, Pictures,Images

Volkswagen India launched its much awaited hatchback "New Polo" at a very competitive price of Rs. 4.34 Lakhs on 23rd February, 2010 at Mumbai. Volkswagen Polo has been introduced with the 1.2-litre three-pot petrol and the 1.2-litre diesel engine options with 3 variants Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. The deliveries of VW Polo will begin in March 2010 for the petrol model. Volkswagen Polo will compete with Hyundai i20, Chevrolet Beat, Honda Jazz, Maruti Rits and Swift.

Volkswagen Polo Price in India:


Volkswagen New Polo Exterior Photos:










Volkswagen New Polo Interior Photos:





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Featured Author: Meryl Brown Tobin

Today's Aussie Author is Poet Meryl Brown Tobin.



Tobin is an Australian writer who writes children’s and adults’ fiction and non-fiction, particularly travel, and poetry and makes up puzzles for all ages. Her published work includes 14 books, including a travel book, puzzle books and blackline masters books of educational puzzles, a children’s picture storybook and poetry books.

Hundreds of her poems, puzzles and articles, particularly on travel, scores of short stories, and some cartoons and comic strips have appeared in more than 100 magazines and newspapers in Australia and other countries, including India, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, New Zealand, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and USA. Meryl Brown Tobin's next publication will be a series of three educational puzzle books, Puzzle Fun Yrs 1/2, Puzzle Fun Yrs 3/4 and Puzzle Fun Yrs Yrs 5/6. The series will be published by Five Senses Education Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia in March, 2010.




*****


Poetry Book Review:

Walk in the Forest,

by Meryl Brown Tobin



Reviewed by Chrissie Michaels



A unique collection.



Walk in the Forest is the first solo collection of poems by Meryl Brown Tobin. It brings together poetry that has been anthologised in a diverse range of magazines, broadsheets and journals; some have won awards, others broadcast on radio.



Many poems give voice to the poet’s concerns about world peace and justice. She ensures the reader’s discomfort by questioning morality and the condoning of conflict through silence. Tobin’s message is powerfully evoked through keen irony in ‘Tripping the New Millenium’, where following the ‘Killing, killing, killing’ on a global scale comes the question: ‘How about a trip around Australia?’. Western apathy to the plight of human suffering is evident in ‘East Timor’. ‘Rag Dolls’ is a simple but haunting epiphany of the Kurd slaughters. Tobin always comments with deep compassion about contemporary conflicts, highlighting the permanent scars of war where there are no victors.

Her work equally reflects on the importance of everyday relationships, of achieving personal harmony and a fulfilling existence. Hence sections under ‘People’ and ‘Reflection’ evoke the beauty and gentleness of humanity: ‘I drink riches / from others’ thoughts / pour what I have to share / Open to the world’. Inspiring words from ‘Cup’.



In her concern for the environment, Tobin’s poetry brings to mind the phrase ‘Take only photographs, leave only footprints’. She teases readers with the mysteries of Big Cats and Thylacines (‘Sestina: Striped Mystery’) and impresses on us the need to be responsible caretakers of nature: ‘We return as hordes surge in / a babble in a multitude of tongues / St. Kilda Beach transposed / … / Katatjuta’s sunset approaches/’.



Perhaps her three-lined poem ‘Principle of Life’ best sums up the beauty and thoughtfulness, and ultimately uplifting sentiments of this collection: ‘With love and truth your guides / leading through good and evil / take on the world’.



Chrissie Michaels.



*****



Meryl has been kind enough as to share with us one of her poems!

Its tragedy gives us a lot to think about.



Rag Dolls

Square cap on dark hair

long black pants

tiny girl

in Kurd native dress

lies sprawled on ground

where she has fallen

A townsman

moves her body



An older child

perhaps her brother

is lifted by one arm

placed next to her



Chemical bombs leave

buildings unscathed



Meryl Brown Tobin



*****



Thanks to both Chrissie and Meryl for sharing this great review and poem. Sometimes poetry is a really powerful weapon. Depends on who's carrying it.



Visit Chrissie's Site

Visit Meryl's Site



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Monkey Review (& Int'l Giveaway): That's Why I Wrote This Song, by Susanne Gervay




(Lyrics by Tory Gervay)

Summary (from
sgervay.com):

Rock bands, concerts, festivals.

Rebel without a cause.
Except there is always a cause.

And the questions:

WHY AM I HERE?
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
GUYS? GIRLS? HOPE?
and
FATHERS?

And it's there throughout the book, the songs, the video.

'That's Why I Wrote This Song' is the journey of four sixteen-seventeen year old girls and their relationships with their fathers - the good, the bad and the PSYCHO - and how that impacts on their relationships with boys, each other and their lives.

Something for Kate concert'That's Why I Wrote This Song' is about dependence-independence, guys, friendship, sexuality, mothers and daughters and the music:

* Rock concerts
* Big Day Out
* Weekend music festivals
* The rock band with the four girls and
* Eddie and their band called NOT PERFECT

NOT PERFECT - Hey, that's life, isn't it?


My Opinion:
Negrita
When Susanne asked me if I'd be willing to read and review her book, I said yes right away. I had no idea I'd love her book so much.


"Hope you love this book."
I certainly did :)

(Damn rain!!!)

This story's told from Pip's POV, guitar player, singer, songwriter, and daughter of a Psycho Dad.
Gervay does a great job introducing the girls, and I fell in love with all of them straight away.

Pip, Karen, Irina and Angie go to an all-girls school, and together form a band (later called Not Perfect, which is a perfect name for them. Pun not intended.) They all have a solid backstory, and Pip's take on these things makes it completely believable. Plus for Gervay.

Pip comes from a home where her dad's absent (his job often takes him away). When this happens, the sun shines in Pip's home. But it goes away the minute her father walks into the house.
Constant yelling, arguments and fear invade the house, and all everyone wants is for their dad to go back to work. Not her mother, though. She goes into an automat state, making sure everything is spick and span, and perfect for her husband's arrival. Which, of course, puts them all into a cleaning frenzy. Dad gets home, and hell breaks loose. Nothing Pip's mum does is right. There's always something wrong.

Karen comes from an even more broken family. With no real home, her mum has chosen her new boyfriend over her, and her dad his new wife. Karen's dad is the real Psycho Dad, angry and violent toward her all the time.

Irina's from a Russian family who moved to Australia to escape Russia's coldness, in every sense of the word. Her family's Jewish, and living in a country where you can't express your religion openly can be tough. More so if you're six years old, with no clue as to why that other kid just threw a rock at you, and is calling you names that make you cry.

Angie is the only daughter of her parents and lives a happy life. Happy until she discovers a secrer her father's been keeping from her, a secret that shatters her perfect life.

In Gervay's words: Life isn't perfect.

What brings them all together is their love for MUSIC.

After being asked by their Music teacher to perform at the school's Music Concert, Not Perfect is born. The band was always there, but naming it brings the girls closer together.
Music is their escape from the dramas of life. Sometimes the only escape they have.

Gervay does a wonderful job describing every girl's emotions through Pip's eyes.

Why do I love this book? Because I can relate to these girls. I feel them as if they were real. Another plus for Susanne.

A whirlwind of real emotions with real foundations, and great story-telling make this book amazing. If I get to choose between a Coming-Of-Age book and a Paranormal book, I choose the Paranormal, so it's a big deal that I'm saying this.

I'd love to see this turned into a movie!

Monkey Rating: 4 & 1/2 Monkeys :D

Visit Susanne's website.

"Psycho Dad"'s Lyrics and Video Clip
You do NOT want to miss this!

Kudos to Tory for writing such a beautiful and heartfelt song! Listening to it makes me love the book even more!


Verse 1 -

All of the times I cried
I wish you'd just die
Shouting and all the rest
But now I have learned best
What you did was wrong
That's why I wrote this song
So maybe you would see
Just what you have done to me

Chorus -

Cause I don't want you
And I don't need you
You were so bad
You are my psycho dad

Verse 2 -

You call me all the time
You won't give us a dime
I can't believe this is real
The way you made me feel
You have your new wife
And your new life
My eyes are getting sore
So just walk out that door

Chorus -

Cause I don't want you
And I don't need you
Your life is so sad
You are a psycho dad

Cause I don't want you
And I don't need you
Your life is so sad
You are a psycho dad

Middle 8 -

I (I) really (really) don't know how (don't know how)
But I (But I) know I (know I)
Hate you so much now

I (I) really (really) don't know how (don't know how)
But I (But I) know I (know I)
Hate you so much now

Verse 3 -

You made me feel always scared
I knew you never cared
You left me all broken and scarred
And made our life so hard
I've got my family
And I hope you can see
That I don't want you around
I've got my feet on the ground

Chorus -

Cause I don't want you
And I don't need you
You are so mad
You are no one's psycho dad

Cause I don't want you
And I don't need you
You are so mad
You are no one's psycho dad

Outro -

No one's psycho dad
No one's psycho dad
No one's psycho dad
No one's psycho dad

Lyrics by Tory Gervay
Click here to watch the Video Clip for "I Wanna Be Found".

***

Giveaway Time!

Susanne has agreed to let me host a Giveaway for That's Why I Wrote This Song, and it's open Internationally!

To Enter:
Just leave a comment with your name and e-mail. -> 1 Entry.

Extra Entries:
Tell us how you'd name your band, and why. For this you get 5 Entries!
1 Entry for Tweeting (leave link).
1 Entry for Linking on Sidebar (leave link).

The Giveaway will end on March 14th. That's 3 weeks from today. Spread the word, and good luck!
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Author Interview & Giveaway: George Ivanoff (Aussie Month Post)


For today's Aussie Month Post,
please welcome author of Gamers' Guest: George Ivanoff!

*screaming crowd*
*crazy fans yelling*

Glad to have you here, George!

***

1. When and how did you start writing?

I think I first began to enjoy writing way back in high school. I was a huge science fiction fan and I began contributing to amateur publications — fanzines and club newsletters (remember, this was back in the dark ages before the Internet). I continued doing this while at university. Eventually I decided I should try to sell some of my writing and began to send out stuff to professional publications. After some minor success, my break came with the publication of a YA short story collection in 1999 called Life, Death and Detention. This is when I decided that writing for teens and kids was what I wanted to do.

I spent many years writing in my spare time while working a ‘day job’. But now, finally, writing is my career. I write a lot of books for the primary school education market, both in Australia and overseas. I like all sorts of writing — long and short, fiction and non-fiction, a variety of different genres… but it’s always science fiction that I find myself returning to.

2. Could you tell me a bit about your novel?


Gamers’ Quest actually began life as a short story called ‘Game Plan’, published in Trust Me! (Ford Street Publishing, 2008), a YA anthology edited by Paul Collins. I was inspired to write the story by a documentary about online gaming, which showed how people all over the world were immersing themselves in fantasy games because they considered their own lives mundane and boring. I wanted to turn this around and ask: If a person lived in a fantastical world full of exotic dangers, what sort of computer games would s/he play?

It was only after fellow author, Meredith Costain, suggested that it would make a good basis for a novel that I stopped to think about it. And once I did stop to think about it, there was no turning back — the characters and the environment seemed well suited to a longer story.

At its heart, Gamers’ Quest is science fiction, although it also has a healthy dose of fantasy elements, including mages and dragons. It is about two teenage thieves, Tark and Zyra, who live within a computer game environment. They are on a quest to reach Designers Paradise, where they will be able to escape the death and danger of their own world. During their quest they make some powerful enemies who then pursue then into Designers Paradise.

There is a definite computer game feel to the book. I wanted to tap into the excitement and non-stop challenges one faces when playing computer games and transpose that into the novel.

3. What inspires your writing? Are there any authors who particularly influence your work?

I find inspiration everywhere — from the people I meet, to the places I visit; from the music I listen to, to the stuff I watch on tv; from the books I read, to the movies I go out to see; from my family and friends, to the strangers I pass in the street. Yes, I’m that weird person who sits on the train eavesdropping on your conversation! Everything is fuel for the imagination.

Every writer that I read influences me in some way. Sometimes it’s simply a case of inspiring me to try harder. Sometimes it’s a case of me thinking, “well, damn, I can do better than that”. Sometimes there are specific writers who have influenced specific stories. I very much admire Terry Dowling’s writing, and I do remember once writing a story and consciously trying to give the piece a Dowling-ish flavour. Whether or not I succeeded is another matter. I’ve got a story coming up in Ticonderoga’s Belong anthology, which was inspired by the writings of Neil Gaiman.

4. What are you working on now? (if you're working on something)

I’m always working on something… usually more than one thing! At the moment I’m working on a series of educational books about nutrition and healthy eating. I’ve also started making notes on a new novel — the working title is Tornado Riders. They are just random notes for the moment. They may or may not result in a completed novel.

a. Do you write with music on or off? Have you ever made a "writing playlist"? (a playlist you listened to while writing certain book) If so, share it!

No music, I’m afraid. I tend to zone out when I write, ignoring everything around me. I share a home office with my wife, and she always has music playing… but when I’m writing, I don’t hear it.

5. Name 3 (they can be more or less) books from last year that you loved/really liked.

My favourite YA books for 2009:

4. The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler by Paul Collins
Funny, inventive and quirky with some great characters.

3. Vulture's Gate by Kirsty Murray
Thoughtful and exciting, edge-of-your-seat science fiction adventure.

2. The Loblolly Boy by James Norcliffe
A magical, modern-day fairy-tale.

And in the Number 1 spot — Worldshaker by Richard Harland.
Actually, this book has shot into my all-time top 10! It’s a great steampunk adventure with Harland’s typical bizarreness.

Other than The Loblolly Boy, which is by a New Zealand author, the others are all Australian.
6. What Aussie YA author(s) do you think people should read more of? (Authors that most of us don't know, since we don't live in AU, and it's hard for us to get ahold of their books).

At the top of my list would be Richard Harland and Carole Wilkinson. Aside from Harland’s Worldshaker, I would highly recommend his Heaven and Earth trilogy. Wilkinson’s books include the Dragonkeeper series.

There are many more Aussie authors writing for kids and teens that I would recommend, including Meredith Costain, Paul Collins, Jen Storer, Kate Forsyth, Isobelle Carmody, Sean McMullen, Michael Prior, Gary Crew… the list goes on and on.

I’d also like to mention a couple of Aussie adult authors who I really like. Terry Dowling, who is best know for his Tom Rynosseros stories, writes beautifully lyrical science fiction and dark fantasy. Narrelle M. Harris has a brilliant vampire novel set in the city of Melbourne called The Opposite of Life.

Follow George on Twitter, Facebook.
Visit his website.
Visit Gamers' Quest's website.
***

And now for the Giveaway:

George has kindly agreed to give away a copy of Gamers' Quest to one lucky winner!
All you have to do to enter is:
Leave a comment with your email address. No email, no entry.
For extra entries, you get one for each time you link to this giveaway (leave link for me to see).
This is open to EVERYONE!
And it ends on March 15th.

There has to be at least 15 entries for this giveaway to carry out.
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Author Interview: Chrissie Michaels (Aussie Month Post)

(from internationalpubmarket.com):
Chrissie Michaels is a tree-changer who has happily settled into a country lifestyle. Her favourite pastimes are growing enough vegies for family and friends to share, and going for long strolls on the nearby beaches. She spends the rest of her time as a freelance writer, as well as teaching part time at the local secondary school. Born in Lancashire, England, she arrived in Australia aged six and grew up in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Her published work includes short stories, poetry, children’s fiction and educational texts. In Lonnie’s Shadow is her first young adult novel.

*****
1. When and how did you start writing?

I’ve been writing for about fifteen years now. First up I started writing short stories as a hobby. I guess over the years my interest in history has won out. In Lonnie’s Shadow is my second ‘historical’ novel, although it is my first novel for young adults.
My other historical novel is for children based on the French explorer, Lap̩rouse and his tragic voyage in 1788. This is part of the Australian My Story series by Scholastic Australia called On Board the Boussole, the diary of Julienne Fulbert (written as Christine Edwards). I love the researching aspect of writing historical pieces. I also enjoy writing across of a range of genres and structures Рsci fi and history being the main genres Рin the forms of short story, poetry, news articles, some teacher texts and two novels on the go at the moment. I also enjoy writing picture storybook texts. Keeps me busy.

2. Could you tell me a bit about your novel?

In Lonnie’s Shadow is due out in May 2010, published by Ford Street Publishing (Australia). It’s been a long novel in the making, written over six years, but it has been a labour of love. The inspiration for this novel first came from several archaelogical digs on a site in Melbourne, Australia, called Little Lon. There followed a wonderful display of artefacts in Museum Victoria. Those items insisted on telling their own stories. Little Lon was known in the 19th century for its vice and criminality, except the digs had uncovered something that hadn’t been known before about this area – that it had a real community of ordinary working families and it had been settled by a range of newly arrived immigrants. The characters and plot grew from there.

Set in 1891, Lonnie, Pearl, Daisy and Carlo are four teenagers who are trying to make a fair go of life, although many things are conspiring to make their life difficult. Who can they rely on? How hard is it to keep a secret? Or a promise? There’s plenty of action as the characters find themselves facing many hot spots – theft and kidnap, gang warfare and murder - and they have to make some pretty serious choices. It’s a pacy book with lots of action.

3. What inspires your writing? Are there any authors who particularly influence your work?

History as you can plainly see is my first love. But I do try to read widely. Because I’ve just been on holiday, I’ve been relaxing with Margaret Atwood (her story about the Mulvaneys), as well as rediscovering Fay Weldon whose satire I find terrifically funny. Last week I read a disturbing biography about a Chinese/Australian woman’s fight for freedom because of her beliefs in Falun Gong. I’m also reading around my interest in family history at the moment as I’ve been mapping our family tree.

4. What are you working on now? (if you're working on something).

One of the novels I am working on at the moment is related to the work I have been doing on the family tree. There are characters appearing who seem to be stepping out very boldly, particularly a twelve-year-old boy who seems pretty mischievous. My working title is Uphill, both sides. I have a feeling it is going to turn into an epic!

a. Do you write with music on or off? Have you ever made a "writing playlist"? (a playlist you listened to while writing certain book) If so, share it!

Right now I’m listening to Melody Gardot. I’m also partial to Eva Cassidy, Diana Krall and Norah Jones. A bit of slow jazz…

5. Name 3 (they can be more or less) books from last year that you loved/really liked.

Three YA books that have lingered in my mind this past year are: Justin D’Ath’s Pool (also by Ford Street Publishing) because it was a great read; The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas because it was a tragic holocaust story that touched me deeply; Shaun Tan’s The Arrivals because he creates such wonderful wordscapes through his visual imagery and I adore picture story books.

6. What Aussie YA author(s) do you think people should read more of? (Authors that most of us don't know, since we don't live in AU, and it's hard for us to get ahold of their books).

Sonya Hartnett stories are dark but so poetic. I like Catherine Jinks whose Pagan crusade stories are pretty good. Here comes the historical aspect yet again! I see she has just published a vampire story based on a ‘vampire therapy group’ and I plan to read it very soon. I always read Tim Winton’s stories but sometimes struggle with the dark motives of his characters. Nevertheless he is a national treasure and therefore a must read. Recently I also enjoyed Richard Flanagan’s Wanting and its mix of characters –the tragic story of an indigenous Australian girl and a storyline that took in Charles Dickens. Gail Jones is another author I enjoy who often mixes her characters in the same way, by intertextualising characters from literature or history. Seems I can’t escape from those historical characters.

The discovered artifacts from an archaeological dig in Melbourne become the backdrop for this story about a group of teenagers in 1891 who are struggling to make their way in a world that seems to be conspiring against them whichever way they turn.
Lonnie McGuinness knows only one thing for sure – there doesn’t seem to be any fairness in life for him or his mates. So he decides to take matters into his own hands. But when does a favour turn into a crime? And when should a secret no longer be kept?

Chrissie Michaels
In Lonnie’s Shadow
Published by Ford Street Publishing
Out May 2010

Pre-Order in Amazon
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Upcoming Cars in 2010 - 2010 Car Launches in India




2009 was a good year for car manufacturers in India after recession and market is picked up with some good launches. 2010 begins with Auto Expo at New Delhi and almost every manufacturer promised their car launches in this year specially small cars. Chevrolet already launched their new small car "Beat" just ahead of Delhi Motor Show. Find the list of car launches of 2010.

Car Launches of 2010:

Hatchback-Small Cars List of 2010:

Chevrolet Beat:


Launch Date: Already launched in January 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 3.30 to 3.94 Lakhs

Engine: 1.2 litre turbocharged


Maruti-Suzuki SX4 Hatchback:
Launch Date:End of 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 4.5 to 6 Lakhs

Engine: 1.6 litre VVT engine


Volkswagen Polo:

Expected Launch Date: February-March 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 5-6 Lakhs

Engine: 1.2 litre petrol - 1.2 litre diesel turbocharged


Fiat Bravo:


Expected Launch Date: Mid 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 15-16 Lakhs

Engine: 16-valve turbocharged multijet engine


Toyota Etios Hatchback:

Expected Launch Date: Mid 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 3.5-4.5 Lakhs

Engine: 1.2-litre petrol engine or 1.4-litre petrol engine


Nissan Micra:


Expected Launch Date:March-April 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 4-5 Lakhs

Engine: 1.2 litre engine


Ford Figo:



Expected Launch Date:March-April 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 4-5 Lakhs

Engine: 1.2 litre DOHC engine


Renault Sandero:

Expected Launch Date:March-April 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 4-5 Lakhs

Engine: 1.6 litre 16v engine


Maini Rva NXR:

Expected Launch Date: Mid 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 4-5 Lakhs

Engine: 1.6 litre 16v engine


Sedan List of 2010:

Renault Fluence:

Expected Launch Date: End of 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 9-11 Lakhs

Engine: 1.6 litre petrol and diesel engine


New Ford Fiesta:


Expected Launch Date:Mid 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 6-8 Lakhs

Engine: 1.6 litre Ti-VCT Duratec engine


Volkswagen Polo Sedan:

Expected Launch Date:Mid 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 7-9 Lakhs

Engine: 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine


New Mitsubishi Lancer:

Expected Launch Date:Mid 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 10-13 Lakhs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine


Skoda Fabia Combi:

Expected Launch Date: End of 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 8-10 Lakhs

Engine: 1.6 litre 16V/77 kW


Maruti-Suzuki Kizashi:

Expected Launch Date: End of 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 12-13 Lakhs

Engine: 2.4 litre DOHC 16-valve I-4



Toyota Etios Sedan:

Expected Launch Date: Mid 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 6-7.5 Lakhs

Engine: 1.2-litre petrol engine or 1.4-litre petrol engine



SUV/MPV Launch List of 2010:

Volvo XC 60:


Expected Launch Date:Mid of 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 30-32 Lakhs

Engine: 3,192 cc 3.2 liters in-line 6 front

Skoda Yeti:


Expected Launch Date: April 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 10-13 Lakhs

Engine: 1.2 litre TSI

Luxury Cars List of 2010

Nissan 370 Z:
Launch Date:Already launched in January 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 53.5- 54.5 Lakhs

Engine:3.7 litre engine


Vilvo S80:

Launch Date:Already launched in 3rd February 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 37- 38.79 Lakhs

Engine: twin turbo diesel engine


Toyota Prius:

Expected Launch Date: End of 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 25-30 Lakhs

Engine: 1.8 litre 4-Cyl. Hybrid


Volkswagen Passat CC:

Expected Launch Date: June 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 30-35 Lakhs

Engine: 3.6 liter V6 FSI


Volkswagen Scirocco:

Expected Launch Date: End of 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 30-32 Lakhs

Engine: 1.4 litre TSI


Ferrari 612 Scaglietti:

Expected Launch Date: End of 2010

Expected Price: Rs. 1 Crore+

Engine: 5.7 liters V 12 front engine
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