Gina & Kam's Story

African Hearts by Laura O'Connell

At last, Rochelle and I have agreed on the cover for African Hearts. Here is a sneak preview for you so that it will catch your eye when it's in bookstores in April, or if there isn't a Koorong bookstore near you, you can pre-order from me by emailing me at my contacts page.

I believe it hints well at Gina and Kam's story, and shows the spirit of Africa.

April seems like such a long time away, but I'll keep you up to date with our travels. Only fifteen more sleeps before we hitch the caravan on the four-wheel-drive and we follow the bitumen to wherever God wants us to be.

This last week has been a time of reviewing the final manuscript for errors prior to it going to print. I hope we've found all the errors!

Leaving Home

Usually, it's young people who leave home to take on the world when school is finished.

For me, I decided it was my husband and I who were going to leave home, not our son who was looking toward to leaving. When he came to me and said, "Mum, I'm leaving home in the new year to live with friends", it came as a shock to learn my one and only child had grown up much quicker than I'd thought possible. He was ready to leave home, but was I ready for his leaving home?

No! I wasn't ready for him to leave the nest. I panicked and tried to come up with every excuse why he shouldn't be leaving home even though he's nineteen. Didn't I bring him up to be independent and with a positive outlook that anything he set his mind to could be his if he applied himself? Well, there was my answer. Yes, I've equipped him with everything I know and now he was ready to put all that he's learned to the test, so I gave my blessing while he started looking for a place to live with his friends.

Two weeks later, I woke up and thought what if Frank and I left home? I'd always thought I would leave home when Dan left home, so Frank and I decided we would leave home, and rent our home to Dan and his friends. Once the initial shock of this idea was over, it started to make sense. I'd always wanted to let my adventurous spirit loose, and now that Dan was ready to leave the nest, there was nothing holding me back.

So, much to Dan's delight, he accepted his crazy mother's idea of leaving home and he's counting the sleeps until we go. As a result, Frank and I have bought our caravan, are in the process of selling our furniture and preparing to leave on the greatest adventure of our lives.

I'll write novels while we're travelling. It's my hearts desire to meet all my readers wherever we go at book launches, signings, library visits, workshops, and speaking engagements at your church or service group. The title of my website has been changed to Writing All Over Australia. So keep posted to this blog to find out when I'm in your town. Come and chat, while I sign your copy of African Hearts.

As I write this post, my house is covered with boxes of all sizes, and furniture is being taken away as people buy it. During the next few weeks, I'll keep you posted on where we're at with packing our belongings. Perhaps the last few days before we leave we'll be living in the van.

How was it for you when your children left home, or what are you expecting when this life-changing event becomes reality for you; or maybe you haven't thought about that yet?

Contracted ...

Exciting time! I've just been contracted by Even Before Publishing to publish my first novel African Hearts! While the ink dries on the contract I sit here amazed that the long journey to publication has finally been realised. All those long drawn out days of doubt whether I've thought my writing was good enough, able to be understood by someone else, and just getting myself in the chair to sit and write while there are a million distractions that have tried to keep me from putting words on the screen have all been worth the wait. It has been a long journey and one worth travelling.

This journey has taught me a lot about myself: I have patience, but more work still to be done; stick-to-it-iveness which writers need a lot of if we are going to finish the project; determination; and willing to work long hours.

The negatives which need to be looked at closely as I continue to write are: my crankiness when I get interrupted while I'm in the zone, don't come near me unless there's blood or a fire; I can get lost for hours and wonder where the time has gone; I don't exercise as much as I should when I'm deep into the stories with my characters; I don't like leaving my characters in the middle of a dilemma, it's so unfair to them to have to be in that situation all night while I'm sleeping, so I have to work through that part of their lives with them; and I don't always like socialising while I'm working because I want to stay tuned in to my characters. Please forgive me if I sometimes look a little vague in social situations, my characters are wanting their share of attention, too. However, when the work is done I'll spend as much time as you'd like and give my undivided attention to you.

Thank you to all who have been part of this road to publication. You have been an inspiration. I hope you will enjoy reading African Hearts as much as I did writing it.

Brisbane Writers' Fair

I've just returned from the Writer's Fair in Brisbane. I met lots of interesting people and the number of published authors attending was way beyond my expectations, and they were generous in their time to connect with writers at all levels. There were many workshops to attend including: how to write a book, how to approach a publisher with your work, marketing, time management, kids books, how to add rhyme and rhythm to your writing, fantasy writing, romance writing, how to stay motivated when you're in the middle of your book, self-publishing, and much more... All workshops and author panels were professionally presented and relevant to improving our work.

Several new books were launched, and the authors were available to sign their books.

A bonus at this Writers' Fair was the opportunity to meet with a publisher and an appraiser of your work. I'm sure this popular session will be there again next year.

There were lots of attendees which was terrific because I got to meet lots of great people, who were willing to share so much about themselves and their writing life that made me feel 'normal' as a writer and that I wasn't alone in this writing journey.

I'd recommend this Writers' Fair to all aspiring and published authors. There are great opportunities to connect with other writers and make lasting friendships. Mark your diary for 14th November, 2011 because it will be an event you won't want to miss.

Looking forward to seeing you all there next year!

Light The Dark

Even Before Publishing, a division of Wombats, is a new Australian publisher that is passionate about Christian Books and all things that make for improving lives and helping build Australian creators. Principal, Rochelle Manners, is not only interested in publishing her own stable of authors' works, but she is also interested in selling good Australian fiction via her party plan, Light The Dark.

Light The Dark Mission Statement:

"Light the Dark aims to bring positive Christian and family friendly products, produced by Australians and New Zealanders, to consumers in an engaging party plan type environment. It is our mission to strengthen your walk with God through our products and uphold Christian principles in our business and community."

Light The Dark is a powerful ministry that brings people together in fellowship sharing about books and products that foster relationship building, and encourages our Aussie writers to be all they can be.

I've become a Light The Dark Representive because I believe in the Mission Statement. Even Before Publishing and Light The Dark is the beginning of an era that will encourage more and more Australians to be creative and be brave enough to send their creations out to the marketplace because Australians like seeing other Australians having a go.

If you want to learn more about Light the Dark go to www.lightthedark.com.au and be inspired to read good Australian fiction, or products made by talented Australians.