Welcome to my first blog post from my new website. This has been a long time coming. I am reminded of my Catholic upbringing and the words said when going to the confessional: ‘It has been x number of days/weeks/months since my last confession’. Well, it has been around 20 months since my last blog, at my old site. Many apologies for that, though I’m sure you know how life can get in the way.
Last year was filled with some annoying health issues (all is fine now) and general busyness around various writing and professional projects and commitments. Plus, of course, the efforts involved in the development of the new website. And somewhere in the middle of this, COVID-19 decided to knock the stuffing out of the world and we’ve all been dealing with the repercussions, which include restrictions on travel and work and anxieties about the future.
Anyway, I thought it best to update you on what has been happening, writing-wise, during those blog-free months. Here goes.
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My Poetry Collection, Libation
Since the amazing launch in Dec 2018, I have had a steady trickle of sales and have done a couple of readings to publicise the collection. Although I have been disappointed by the number of reviews that failed to go ahead, the book did receive a fantastic review from Jenny Henty, which appeared in Plumwood Mountain: An Australian Journal of Ecopoetry and Ecopoetics. As writers everywhere know, it is incredibly pleasing when someone ‘gets’ your work and can articulate their understanding and appreciation of what you are trying to achieve.
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My Historical Fantasy Novel
I have been working on this novel, which has the working title of Dark Bird: The Promise of Merlin, on and off since 2013. At times it’s been more off than on, especially when I found myself stuck on the third draft for most of 2019. This period of research and musing came about partly because of concerns about structure and plot and partly because of the issues mentioned above. Towards the end of the year, I was able to start the fourth draft, though after receiving feedback on the first 100 pages from two of my beta readers, I realised I needed to go back to the drawing board, again.
I eventually sorted out these concerns early this year and was able to work steadily on the draft. With encouragement and support from some writing buddies, to whom I give many thanks (you know who you are), I finished the editing and re-writing in mid-August and am now fine-tuning the manuscript. I will also be sending it to an editor friend and to other beta readers. Once I deal with their feedback, I will start submitting to agents and/or publishers, hopefully before the end of the year.
It’s been a long haul, and I am pleased that the end of this part of the process is near. Of course, the submission and publication process is a whole different game, and I’ll grapple with that at the appropriate time.
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My Fantasy Verse Novel The Silence Inside the World
As many of you know, for the creative component of my PhD I wrote a fantasy verse novel (or, as my supervisor called it, a metaphysical epic). Here is a quick description of the story, which comprises 8,500 blank verse lines arranged in tercets.
The Silence Inside the World tells the story of Jessie Willis who, after attempting suicide and falling into a coma, awakens in Thexlan, realm of spirits, dreams and fables, the ground and realization of all possible universes. She encounters Zane, an immortal wizard from the world of Ghajat, who desires knowledge and power. Together with Remesh, an executed painter, and Rynobar, a hoya (star demon) from Ghajat, who is the soul of Jessie’s future daughter, they journey towards Mount Alkerii, the creation volcano at the centre of Thexlan, while striving to evade Abzzu, a shadow energy creature intent on destroying them and all of creation.
After obtaining my PhD, I edited the manuscript a few more times and started submitting it to publishers. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a home for the book, mainly because fantasy publishers don’t generally consider poetry and poetry publishers tend to avoid genre works. While there were a small number of places willing to accept a submission, none went any further with it.
Rejection is part of the process for a writer, and perseverance the only valid response. Currently, the manuscript is sitting with an Australian small press publisher and I have my fingers crossed. I will let you know if anything develops.
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Recent Publications
Although I haven’t been on top of my blogging plans over the last 20 months, I have at least maintained a steady stream of submissions to various print and online journals. The Showcase page of the new website details my publications, but below is a small selection of recent online pieces you can view.
Poetry and Haiku
- Five poems published in Eureka Street, Feb 2020
- Two haiku published (here and here) in tinywords, Jun/Jul 19
- One poem published in Plumwood Mountain, Jan 2019
Book Reviews
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Keeping in Touch
Finally, my thanks to you all for your interest in my work and for your support. My plan for the blog is to put out two posts per month. One will be general, like this one, and look at books, drafts, publications, and other interests of mine. The other will be on craft (poetry, fiction, myths & symbols, the publishing world). These will likely appear around the first and last weeks of the month respectively.
Around the middle of each month, I will also publish a newsletter that aims to keep you up to date with my activities and appearances and the latest news about my major projects.
I hope you will find something to enjoy in these offerings, and in my website as well.
In the meantime, stay safe, healthy, sane and inspired!
Cofion Cynnes (Warm Wishes)
Earl
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