Where Ideas Come From
5 Authors and I Spill
Hello My Beautiful Reader,
Welcome to my Autumn newsletter!
(Spring for my northern hemisphere readers!)
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
♥ Upcoming events and news
♥ The return of the ‘Southerly Buster’ – what this strange past summer has taught me
♥ Meet my new writing companion, Mr Cockatoo!
♥ I answer the question I am most often asked by readers: 'Where do I get my ideas from?' and five of my favourite Australian authors share their answers to that question too
♥ Author Alli Sinclair answers some of my questions about her new book, The Codebreakers, and her writing life
♥ In celebration of mother cats: They are called ‘queens’ for a reason
♥ Pebbles of The Divine Feline: A Chic Cat Lady's Guide to Woman's Best Friend, answers that nippy question: 'How do I stop my cat from biting my feet?'
Love Belinda XX
PS - Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you my dear reader, I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
AUTUMN EVENTS AND NEWS
Please keep an eye on the event websites for when more information becomes available.
♥ BOOK NEWS: White Gardenia, Wild Lavender and Tuscan Rose now have beautiful new covers in time for Mother's Day! These stunning new editions are available for Pre-order now from your favourite bookseller (Australia and NZ).
♥ EVENT: Tuesday, May 4th at 6 pm: ‘Mothers and Daughters: The good, the bad and the ugly’ at Anna’s Shop Around the Corner, Cronulla, Sydney.
In celebration of Mother’s Day, Belinda Alexandra will talk about the relationships of her favourite characters with their mothers in her novels. Come along and join in the fun!
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/annasshoparoundthecorner/
♥ EVENT: Wednesday, May 5th: Mother and Daughter Evening at Castle Hill Library, Sydney.
Belinda Alexandra will talk about the relationships some of her best-loved characters have with their mothers in her novels and what we can learn from them.
For more information: https://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/Upcoming-Events-Activities
♥ EVENT: Thursday, May 6th at 2 pm: Mother and Daughters Afternoon Tea, Lane Cove Library, Lane Cove, Sydney.
Belinda Alexandra celebrates the relationships of mothers and daughters in her books. Rescue kitties from the WLPA will also be present for cuddles.
For more information: http://www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/Community/Library/Pages/NewsandEvents.aspx
THE RETURN OF THE ‘SOUTHERLY BUSTER’
The confusion in the plant world is perhaps an apt metaphor for the confusion we have all felt this past year when we learned to expect the unexpected – and to adapt quickly.
What this strange past summer has taught me.
MEET MY NEW WRITING COMPANION, MR COCKATOO!
The end of 2020 was something of whirlwind for me with the publication of The Mystery Woman and The Divine Feline: a chic cat lady’s guide to woman’s best friend, within months of each other.
The cats still keep me company but it wasn’t long before I had another companion join me ...
WHERE DO I GET MY IDEAS FROM?
I’m often asked about this when I give book talks so I thought I'd share where I get ideas for stories and how you can too.
The question of where writers get their inspiration from is so fascinating, that I also asked five of my favourite Australian authors.
Q & A WITH AUTHOR ALLI SINCLAIR
Above is author Alli Sinclair with real-life codebreaker, Coral Hinds!
Alli’s new book, The Codebreakers, is based on real events and tells the little-known story of the young Australian women who worked with Central Bureau in Brisbane, in intelligence services, during the Second World War. It was an exciting read and I had some questions for Alli about what inspired her to write the book and also about her writing habits.
IN PRAISE OF MOTHER CATS
THEY ARE CALLED 'QUEENS' FOR A REASON!
For those of us who are volunteers in cat rescue, mother cats have a special place in our hearts. We get to witness first-hand how much effort a female cat – especially the ones who have no human to aid them – goes to in order to raise her young.
DEAR PEBBLES: HOW DO I STOP MY CAT BITING MY FEET?
I am having a problem with my cat, Chompers. He has a foot fetish.
When I am pottering around the house, he will launch at me from under the couch and nip at my feet. He sometimes attacks my toes when I’m lying in bed. He has drawn blood on several occasions.
I thought things were bad enough until I threw a dinner party last week and Chompers launched his surprise attacks at my guests. Everybody ended up sitting on their chairs with their feet tucked under them. What should I do? I’ve resorted to wearing gumboots around the house and dining alone.
Bonkers about Chompers