Articles
Surrounded in Solitude
In many ways, the life of a writer is a lonely one. I sit alone with my pen and paper and let go of reality in favour of forays into imaginary worlds.
My Favourite Books of 2022
At the start of every year, I love to look back at all the books I've read over the previous 12 months and wax lyrical about the ones I loved most.
Books That Changed My Life: Shifting Gears
Some books you enjoy. Some books you rave about. Then there are the books that come into your life at exactly the right moment.
Everything I Know About Writing I Learned From FanFiction
I read a lot of books before I became a writer. But it wasn't until I started to read fanfiction that I picked up a pen of my own.
Less Than Avid
For many authors, seeing their words in print is the culmination of a childhood dream. They talk about how they grew up reading anything they could get their hands on and making up stories in their heads.
You're A What Now?
Writers write. New and experienced writers alike are confronted with two these words on a regular basis.
The Characters Who Sneak Up On You
Toni Fairweather was never supposed to have a happy ending. Even though The Experiment (the first book in the Experimental Love series) opened with a description of his soft lips and pretty features, he was only ever meant to be a throwaway side character.
Soundtrack: Bona Fide Fake
Every story comes with it's own soundtrack (at least, it does when I write it) and Bona Fide Fake was no different. This month, I invite you to listen to the music that inspired the various parts of Toni and Ned's story.
My Favourite Books of 2021
Every January, I like to take a moment to revisit the books I read for the first time in the previous year (they may have been published in a different year) and pick my favourites. I've had the pleasure of reading some wonderful books over the past 12 months, so picking a handful has been tough, but here they are: My Favourite Book of 2021: the boy who loved Wicked by C.P.
Anywhere, But Somewhere
Location. Location.
Space to Write
I’ve always thought it would be cool to write in a coffee shop. With a big, spiral notebook and pen, or my trusty laptop.
Who Are All You People?
After I finished writing The Harder We Fall, I had thoughts of starting work on a new series of books. Known only as The Housemates Series, it will feature the stories of a bunch of blokes who are sharing a big ramshackle house in one of the older suburbs of Brisbane.
Tools of the Trade
One of the great benefits of deciding to try your hand at writing is that the barriers to entry are practically non-existent. Your only requirements include something to write with and something to write on.
Give Me All the Books!
As readers we all love to get our hands on as many books as possible. In the olden days (of not so long ago) that meant buying pretty much every book you wanted to read.
What’s in a Name?
I have all sorts of weird and wonderful stories when it comes to how my characters got their names. Jeremy (Everything We Need and All the Broken Pieces) walked into my head fully formed and introduced himself.
Soundtrack: The Harder We Fall
Music is a huge part of my life. So, when I first picked up a pen and started to write, it was no surprise that the urge to create a soundtrack for each book followed close behind.
Hearing Voices
All stories, in my experience, begin with a spark of an idea. It can come from anywhere.
My Favourite Books of 2020
Every January, I like to take a look back at the books I read for the first time in the previous year and pick my favourites.
The Experiment Background Scene - Young Patrick
When I was beginning my journey with Patrick and Logan for The Experiment I used a book called Story Genius to help me dig deeper into the backgrounds of the characters. This involved writing a few short scenes from their pasts that helped solidify their flawed worldviews.
Many Paths to the Same Place
After finishing nine books and starting on my tenth, I've reached one conclusion about the writing process: every book is different. This may not sound like a big deal, but for me it's actually quite horrifying.
The Experiment: The Soundtrack
Music has always played a big part in my life and every book I write comes with its own soundtrack. Book soundtracks are invaluable as they keep me focused on the current book, even when I'm not writing.
The Book My Subconscious Plotted Behind My Back
Usually, when I start writing a new book, it begins with a little spark of an idea. An opening scene, a what if question, random snatches of dialogue that wander unbidden through my brain.
Ebooks for the Win!
The superiority debate between ebooks and paperbacks has been going as long as ereaders have been around. Both are viable methods of reading books, but which provides the most enjoyable reading experience?
My Favourite Books of 2019
Hello and welcome to 2020! I hope you had a wonderful, relaxing holiday period and have started the new year off with a bang!
Becoming Us: The Soundtrack
Music has always played a big part in my life and every book I write comes with its own soundtrack. Book soundtracks are invaluable as they keep me focused on the current book even when I'm not writing.
Logo Reveal
When I first decided I wanted to be a writer I didn't spend a great deal of time thinking about the realities of the writing life. If I had, I probably would have pictured myself sitting at my computer happily wallowing in a sea of words for hours and days at a time.
Tropes
Sometimes, when we're looking for our next read, we know exactly what we're in the mood for. We could be craving a 'secret baby romance' or a 'friends to lovers' story.
What's in a Name?
When starting a new book, there are only about a million big and little decisions an author must make. Everything from the theme of the book, the basic premise, the plot and how to structure it, how many sex scenes to include, how many people will be in the sex scenes… Okay, not all authors put much thought into those last two, but for romance authors who have trouble sticking to a single sub-genre (that would be me), the struggle is real.
The Curious Case of the Repeated SKAMs
They say there are no new stories. That every tale we watch, read or write has been told thousands of times before.
Finding Grey: The Soundtrack
Music is one of my great passions in life and I think it's safe to say I could never finish a book that didn't have its own soundtrack. That was certainly the case for Finding Grey.
My Favourite Books of 2018
I hope you've had a wonderful start to 2019. It certainly is going quickly.
Fangirling All Over the Place
When Jeremy Hayden walked into my head and introduced himself (I know that sounds weird, but it seemed like it happened that way) I felt like I'd hit the character jackpot. He brought with him a history, a playful sense of humour, a very specific dress sense, and a fully realised occupation.
Better Late Than Never?
There is a famous quote by Douglas Adams that says, "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."
The Creative Spark
A friend recently asked me if the hardest part of writing a book is coming up with the idea. She'd read an article where Suzanne Collins talked about being inspired while channel-surfing between reality TV and coverage of the war in Iraq.
All the Broken Pieces: The Soundtrack
Soundtracks! If you've been on my newsletter list for a while you'll know about my love of book soundtracks.
Writing For My Tribe
Since the release of All the Broken Pieces early in May, I’ve contacted a whole bunch of review sites requesting a review for the book. The way it works, generally, is that each site has a group of regular reviewers.
Following the Muse
When I first started writing, I read books on writing craft by the dozen. After I decided to be an indie publisher I did the same with books on publishing and book marketing.
Everything We Need: The Soundtrack
At the end of every year Spotify (the music streaming service I use) sends me a list of my Top Songs of the Year (that is, the songs I've listened to most throughout the year). My list is always heavily dependent on the books I've written that year, due to my great love of book soundtracks.
My Writerly Love for Pinterest
As a writer of fiction, keeping my creative juices flowing is way up there near the top of my list of priorities. I use a variety of methods to do this.
This Time Forever: The Soundtrack
On the odd occasion my love of music takes over and pretty much ruins whatever else I might be doing at the time. I won't confirm this is the reason why dinner was a little on the over-cooked side tonight, but I will claim the glass of red wine I enjoyed along with singing and dancing around the kitchen had nothing to with it.
Best Screen Kisses (According to Me!)
Who doesn't love a great screen kiss? The kind that makes your heart beat faster and a dreamy smile appear on your face.
FREE Finding Forever Short Story
That Night is a short prequel to This Time Forever, Book 3 of the Finding Forever series. I wrote these scenes some years ago, when I was first developing the story that would become This Time Forever.
The Princess and the Minimalist in Me
“What is your book about?”
Lost in Amber: The Soundtrack
I've mentioned before that when I started writing romance novels my love of music naturally became part of my writing process. Every time I start a new book, one of the first things I do is create a soundtrack for the book.
Our Very Own Heroes
We all love a hero. In a really good romance novel the hero could be anything from a rugged firefighter to a rock star.
Beyond the Muscles - Why I Enjoyed Magic Mike XXL
A few months ago I went to the cinema with my sisters and some friends to watch Magic Mike XXL for a girls’ night out. I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting much… other than the obvious visuals of male perfection in the form of Channing Tatum and friends.
Our Little Secret: The Soundtrack
I love music!
Why I love romance
Since then I have flirted with many other genres, but romance has always held my heart. I could probably name a few dozen reasons why romance novels provide such an endless fascination for me, but today I thought I’d share just a few of them with you.