Ben Lomund...

Howdi Doodie poppies,

I can't believe that I STILL haven't posted about Ben Lomund- I've decided to pull my, er, wellies up and get to it... though, I'm not wearing wellies...
Ok, refrase.
I have officially and numeracly decided to pull on my Studio Ghibli themed shoes up and am going to post.

Well, at least it's accurate!

But first, I want to notify all the writers here about a online magazine that may just adore to publish your work! It's called Pensive, and the link is in the name- read all about it and let me know if you send in anything!

And I don't recall if I mentioned, but I sent in a Non-fiction pitch into Voiceworks magazine about vegetarisim, and it sadly wasn't accepted... though I won't dare let myself stop trying!


Picture time! All are watermarked for extra lovliness... yaysies!

The views at the top of the mountain were nice

But it was windy and cold!

And there were a lot of wallabies!

Which were very sweet and walliby like.

Edie and Lili.

Look at this weird view.. black at the front then the touch of colour in the back...

The congregation of people around Edie and Lili... don't remember what was happening then...

Her eyes never stray far from the camera.

We (currently but hopefully not for long) pay to use one of these huts... it's shared... dreadful... see the white cars? There ours and the place directly in front of them is the one were in. with the dark windows!

Self photograph.

Oh the wind!

This photo was taken moments before Miss Primrose fell into a lapse of conciness... ie. the cold made her fall asleep...

Now, the downward walk was a bit odd.

I followed my brother at a distance, making sure he didnt collapse as we were all afraid was possible, whilst he went a little earlier to prepair the welcoming supper like treats after our longish coolish walk.

Then I was out of sight of my family and I heard my mother calling me.

I called back.

No reply.

I called again, starting to panic.

No reply.

Shouting here... panic rising a lot.. me starting to get really annoyed and very worried... I panic.

Maybe I had the verge of a panic attack... cool!

Anyhow, then I heard my sister.

Brother now totally out of sight.

Job of keeping him in sight (all had been talked through with family beforehand, just so you know I didn't randomly and crazily run off to worry them) failed.

Trudge back to see what the calling was all about after they still do not answer me.

Just wondering where I was.

Oh well.. I suppose I could've seriously hurt myself... it wouldn't surprise me... in fact, I almost would've been glad of a broken toe at least, if it had meant we could've left ealier and not stayed the night.

I just wish we hadn't stayed the night... oh how I wish..

So it was alright.

I got wet hands+gloves after playing in a probable drink/toilet area for animals and was a little annoyed.

But by the time we were all back with treaties in hands, it was fine... 

The sky is so beautiful.

Well, in the briefest description possible I'll format this as it were in a novel of crime... enjoy.... (copywritten)

As the family relaxed and let their senses drift off as they lay in the luxury of the old and slightly grubby beanbags, lazily turning the pages of their books.

Then, alerting the family were headlights, peering halfheartedly through the curtain materials and the sound of a car.

All the ease and relaxation is gone as the three women in the room jolt up and uneasily glance about themselves, trying halfheartedly to pass it by.

No one would come up to the mountain at this hour, at this season..

And then there were footsteps, and the door opened.

Everyone jumped up as the footsteps progressed through the lower section of house and madly arranged their things, gasping and saying quietly that someone was here, how could it be possible... just as they had arranged their things the door to the living/kitchen area opened and in came a boy and a woman.

That's when it started.

Roma carelessly held up her shotgun and her brother, Malicius, held up his revolover to signify that these strangers were not welcome.

The baby crawiling in the floor snarled warningly and the people stood in the doorway.

Mother hastily pulled rope from her belt and tied them to the pole in the centre of the room, asking questions about why they were there.

Later, after bed time, there were more doors and the family, again took up their guns... but wited instead of ambushing the newcomers.

It was going to be a long night....

And that's basically what happened.

Yes it is.

It was not pleasant. (honestly, it was a hellish night of drunk fools up stairs having "drinking games" which is prepostrius (tt) and coming into out room at all hours.

Sods

Romi.x

And guess what? Another Q&A! With, shall I tell you? It's...

Hello Poppies!
I've got another Q&A for you today! It's with Alison Lester, co-writer of One Small Island, which I review a little while ago! Thank you so much Alison, for answering my questions! And thank you again to Tina, for helping me out!

I hope you enjoy the Q&A!

*When did you decide to become a writer?

after i'd spent about 5 years illustrating other people's stories. i think i was 30.

*What are you currently reading?

enduring love by ian mcewan

*What, to you, is the essence of a grand book?

loving it so much i read all night

*Why do you write?

i love telling stories

*Did you always want to be an author?

nope, i wanted to be a drover first, then a vet.

*Do you have a favourite book?

i love a book called the uttermost part of the earth, by e lucas bridges. its set in tierra del feugo in the early 1900s.

*What inspires you?

life, fun, beauty, happiness, wonder

*Do you have a favourite- writing or illustrating?

when i'm writing i think how easy illustrating is and vice versa.

*What tips can you give to upcoming writers?

be yourself, expect to do 50 drafts of your story, listen to advice but don't always take it, persevere.

*Where is your favourite place to write?

i often write in my head when i'm running.

Love,

Romi.xxx

Guess who answered a few questions for me??? GUESS!

I haven't done a Q&A for such a long time, but this totally makes up for it, in every posible space of posibilitys! YAY!

Well, the wholly awesome and amazing Coral Tulloch, who co-wrote One Small Island, which I review a few days ago! Linky ness!

Thank you to Coral so much for answering my questions and also Tina for being awesome and helping me!

Enjoy!

When did you decide to become a writer?

I didn't decide.  Always loved making up stories, but when I started a syndicated newspaper page for children, I had the freedom to research, write and draw anything I wanted to.  I learnt a great deal from this, but mainly from reading other writers and wanting to write as if I was just telling a tale.

What are you currently reading?

I always have a lot of books on the go.  I have a very old picture dictionary Volume 2, C to G, I See All that gives me hours of pleasure, along with Edward Duyker's Dictionary of Sea Quotations.  I'm also reading Anthony Eaton's Into White Silence, J.R.R. Tolkien's Letters From Father Christmas, an autobiography my mother wrote and Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden Companion that my daughter just gave me.  Different books for different parts of the day.

What to you is the essence of a grand book?

A book that has a voice that speaks to me, either written or visual.

Why do you write?

I've always loved keeping journals and noting down the things that take my fancy.  To me, some things need to be written about, some things can only be explained in the drawn line.

Did you always want to be an author?

No.  Just always loved stories and storytellers.

Do you have a favourite book?

Many, many favourites but I always carry around Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities.

What inspires you?

Lots of things, there's so much in life and what we can learn from others that is constantly surprising and inspirational.

Do you have a favourite -writing or illustrating?

I suppose if you saw some of my journals you would see that it is usually 50/50 writing and drawing.  But I am primarily a drawer, not a painter...and I have a great love of expressive line, so I suppose I should answer this with making marks is my favourite method of storytelling.

What tips can you give to upcoming writers?

I think the answer is to trust your own voice....listen to others and watch the world.  Be open to new thoughts and experiences and express yourself honestly.   

Where is your favourite place to write?

Often if I am away from home, away from the everyday, I find the inspiration to write new ideas.  But at home, my studio is always there...and in front of the fire in the kitchen isn't bad either.

Loveness from me,

Romi.x

This is Shyness by Leanne Hall review...

Synopsis:
This is Shyness is an amazing, once in a lifetime story of a girl who calls herself Wildgirl and a boy who introduces himself to her as being called Wolfboy.
They meet and without letting either know, slightly fall for each other at first glance, though they can't believe in themselves why the other would be attracted to them... if that makes sense.
It could have been a once in a lifetime meeting, something that either could have walked easily away from, but Wildgirl makes Wolfboy an offer, an offer he doesn't want to miss, but is afraid for many reasons to take.
Show me around Shyness, for the night.
So they spend the evening walking around the place in which the sun never rises; they meet a host of characters, and you can be assured that nothing will be the same for either after this night... this crazy crazy night.
Each want to forget, everything they hate and wish hasn't happened, and they can, if they let themselves... but maybe, just maybe they shouldn't be trying to forget, maybe they should face it.

Thank you to Leanne and Text for supplying this copy for me!

What I thought:
This is Shyness has been described as being "Full of Comic Book Cool" and the author, Leanne Hall, has said that it's "The kind of night you can only have when you're a teen" and after finishing it, I had felt both those crazy, virtually undescribable feelings and along the way surprised myself be feeling them!
I'd heard so much about This is Shyness, and being the winner of the Text prize interested be a whole lot as well- then there's the amazingly wonderful cover- it's rippingly amazingly perfect for the book.
But is was strange, because I am not a fan of books with sware words in them, the book seems to loose a lot of it's potential when I read heaps in the first few pages, but even though there were a decent amount of swares and some themes which I wouldn't generally read, it made the book what it is and I wouldn't risk sacrificing any of them... any of it.
This is Shyness is a teriffic book from a teriffic author and by the end, I had: throughly enjoyed myself, adored the two main characters, wanted to go back, not wanted it to end and am in eager await for the next book from Leanne.
And another thing- it ended up as being one of my favourite books of 2011!

Romi.x

Inspirational Houses for my Newish (one of) novels....

I was finding pictures on the internet an age ago and I found heaps of pretty old houses, which are sort of what I'm picturing on my newish novel; it's the new era one.

So I thought I'd share, because they're so nifty and cute! I want one... in Corfu of course.


All pictures are from Tumblr's, blogs, weheartit's and everything else.

I love this old house and the bike... it's so special.

This candelabra is amazing!

I love this iron bed... and the laptop!

Wow!

Ooh... old and booky.

Creepy and wooish.

I adore this home.

And this.

This is very 1920-50's for me... London with nanny's.

Oh I adore this.

Very Harry Potterish.

Very London.

I adore this.

I adore a lot of things.

Don't I?

WOW~!

Romi.xxx

P.S. Inspired?

I claim no ownership of any of these images- copyright infringment not intended- if you are the owner of one of these images and would like it taken down, please contact me and I will do so immediately.

I'm super excited now, very very excited, because...

Hi,
Well, as you all should know, I am a Harry Potter obsessive, it's a big thing for me, not too over the top, but pretty darn obsessive am I.
Well, Brittany from Hills and Corkscrews had this thing on her blog, a link to a Harry Potter house quiz testy thing, and I, of course, did it, jsut to see what house I might be in and guess what? I was in YAY! Gryffindor!

First Gryffindor, then Ravenclaw, the  Hufflepuff and lastly I would be in Slytheryn.

I'm very happy about this.
The link to the quiz is here, and be true to yourself in the answers, because I was and had no idea that I might get Gryffindor!

Romi.

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit review...

Synopsis:
Roberta, Peter and Phyllis live with their parents in a wealthy area of London and their life is idyllic and they can't think of anything better than the life they are living- until suddenly something heartwrenching and just awful happins, father is taken away suddenly and a coat of sorrow is draped over the house and family.
Mother takes them all together to live in the family, where they "have to play at being poor for  time" and though they miss father terribly every single day, they become used to their life and make friends with everybody who will allow it.
And then there's the railway- a place of amazing posibilitys and hope, a place that would make anyone smile.
But if only, if only father would come back.

What I thought:
I enitially read The Railway Children a few years ago, and I bought back one or two memories when I read it this time in a different copy.
I wasn't sure if I was quite ready to read it again, but I was.
I adore Bobbie, Mother, Father, Peter (though he can be tough), Phyllis, the old gentleman, the porter, the station master and I have a fondness that I can't describe of the 'hound in the red gersey'. He's cool.
I would adore to meet Bobbie, she's an inspiration, I love her so much.
If you haven't read The Railway Children yet, please do the honor of reading it, because it is a rightful classic and not to be overlooked, not upon any questionabilitys.

I adore it a lot.

Romi.xxxxx

Everneath by Brodi Ashton review...

Synopsis:
In the Spring of the year before, Nikki, a highschool student how was happy with her life, beyone happy, easpecially since she had got together with Jack, went suddenly missing.
Without a trace- though there was talk.
She went to the Everneath- what people would call Hades in Greek history,  but it's not- it's in between, frozen without being anywhere certain.
An unknown place.
But she knows where she is.
And now, after a century of having her emotions fed on my a man named Cole, she's back in her world- and only six months have passed.
But everything's changed for her, because Nikki only has six months before she's taken back, forever this time; it's time for making up, it's time for goodbyes and proper ones this time.

What I thought:
I was really intreigued by the sound of Everneath, it's sort of like a new take on a greek myth story and I was very interested.
But sadly I found it not to my liking- I didn't like the themes and the story didn't grip me like I hoped, though I know that it will for many people- I don't like the boyfriend theme kind of thing and thought that Cole was a little creepy (though he was supposed to be) and I generally just found it wasn't the right book for me.
I have a strong feeling it will be a very popular book, fitting for readers who enjoy the sage starting with T and I generally think it will do marvalously!
But it wasn't the book for me.

Thank you to Brodi Ashton and Harper Collins for sending it out for me to review!

Keep reading,
Romi.x

One Small Island by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch review...

Synopsis:
A story of Macquarie Island from the time it was formed, left alone to be itself and then found by humans and taken over, to the time, nowish, when all the mess and havoc that took place on it is being fixed.
Filled with information to help a younger generation understand what we do and what a huge mess things get into, as well as conservation in a new light and preserving what we have, One Small Island is full of Alison Lester's typically amazingly beautiful and deatiled pictures and Coral Tulloch (a new author to me) with her pictures of huge deatil explaining what certain things were, where things were and information on how things happened- all in a picture!
One Small Island is a small picture book for 11+ if you're reading it alone, maybe 10 year olds too, and any age at all if you're an adult or older reader reading it to a yonger child.
I've never read a book like One Small Island- it's breath taking.

The cover goes weird on pictures, the words scrable! A truly awesome cover.

Uh-huh it is!

What I thought:

One Small Island, well, what can I say?
Conservation, saving a wild island, natural habitat, teaching a younger set of people with a favourite Australian author (who is amazing!) about what things we do do and a cover that is really, really, amazing.
It's shiney and wavey.
I like it.
A lot.
Yup.
I do.
A lot.

Well, One Small Island is a shocker of an amazingly fantastic book, written in a way that is easy to read and understand, a way that makes the reader think and work things out for thmselves.
You can really read it in two ways- the short way, not going into the detail of Coral's pictures and not reading everything she's written in them and just reading the story by itself, or reading everything, cover to cover, in a sitting.
Like I did!
Though I'm very interested in reading just the story by itself at some point too.

So basically, if you have any inkling, children or want to know about a desperately sad Australian island that is slowly but surely being made happy again, get this book when it comes out in August- not a long time to wait.
And even if you don't want to read about those things.
It's co written by Alison Lester.
I mean, who doesn't love Alison Lester?

No one.
Get it, and let me know! *Smiling!*

One Small island is the best picture book I've read in a long time- a perfect book for me.

Thank you to Puffin for supplying this for me!
Romi.xxx

What Katy did by Susan Coolidge review...

Synopsis:
Katy Carr is a lovely young girl, searching for adventure and fun with her siblings and friends, though she isn't always the kindest eldest sister possible... though she vows to try harder each time; they have lark's together, meet new friends and have life changing experiances.
But then something teriffically amazingly awful happens and everything falls away from her vision, nothing seems possible anymore, she almost stops believing in life and herself.
But with hope and courage, can Katy pull through?

What I thought:
What Katy Did is an amazing read, very truthful in ways and very adventurous- with lots of amazing hiding places that I would love to find and enjoy reading in!
Tricky friends, fun people, loving cousins (I have zlich!) and a lot of need to be brave.
I loved what Katy did almost every page- read it and I'm sure you'll agree!


Romi.xxx

Just to let you know...

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that this coming week I shall be doing a lot of book review posts- some of the books to look forward to me posting about are:

What Katy did-
Little Lord Fauntleroy-
One small Island-

And I shall think of a tonne more, so beware!

This Shall be official book review week! YAYSIES!

On the dreamy tree it's been Harry Potter obsessive time- make sure to have a look!

Romi.xxx

How to Be Compassionate by The Dalai Lama review...

Synopsis:
A small, handy sized book, for anyone who wants to know from the master of calm and compassion what to do when you are angry, feeling annoyed, sad, anything like that.
It's a book of tips on what you can do to stop yourself from doing things you will regret, things you might say and then later wish you never had, all because you were angry.
In How to Be Compassionate, the Dalai Lama will teach you and set you on the road to becoming happier with your life and yourself.

Thank you to Random House for providing this!

What I thought:
I was really, throughly, interested in this, because it sounds just like the kind of non-fiction that I might like, a book to make me a little happier with my life and stop my ever too quick lips from opening and spurting out things I will, of course, later regret.
But it just didn't click with me- though after that synopsis I just wrote (which is all true and what the book is about) I think I shall try it again.
Wow, I'm recommending myself books that I didn't like at first.
Strange.


Romi.xxx
P.S.
Sorry about the quickness of this review... I surprised myself so much with it that I am to shocked to write any more.

Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur review...

Synopsis:
Elise lives with her Uncle and Aunt in who's she was left in after her mother died when she was born and her father died of Cancer when she was three, it's all she's ever known and though she loves her life with them, she does miss her family.
But now she's starting 6th grade and things were supposed to work out, but all of a sudden playing with Franklin (her always best friend) seems foolish and he just seems to embaress her at every chance... the teachers are hard on her and don't seem to care if she's here or there and then there's girl she is forced to share her locker with- who is just plain trouble.
And all at once, everything seems to be going completely wrong.
She wished for change so much, but it's not working out as she planned... it's all getting even worse than before.
Then she finds the key.
A key of possibilitys... something that could help her with school and maybe get everything going back to plan.
It has her name on it, so what's wrong with trying it out...

I had to do a strobey 4 picture thingy ish thing.

What I thought:
Eight Keys is a very engaging story and I found it very easy for me to relate to many of the themes and troubles faceing Elise.
I even almost shed a tear once or twice, when there was talk of her parents... it was so beautifully written.
I did wonder wether Amanda, the mean as anything locker sharer, was a little young for what she did and how she dressed, but I became used to her and suppose there's not a set age when you can dress in any way you like or be cruel to people.
I loved the mystery of the keys and what they unlocked, those parts were my favourites, but also the bits with Franklin and Elise playing, they were brilliant! I felt really at home when they were together.

I didn't quite connect with Eight Keys as well as I did with Love Aubrey (which you've all got to read and which is a definite (spelling anyone?) favourite!), but it was still a truly one of a kind book and I loved having the chance to read it a little earlier!

I fell in love with Franklin's name as well, and his characteristics, he is such a friend that I would love to meet and treasure forever.

Eight Keys Will be available in August. Watch out for it. Because you must.

These are the copies that will come out officially- though they are both nice too, I like me proof copy best of all!

Thank you very much Suzanne LaFleur and Puffin for letting me have a ARC of Eight Keys to review for this itty bitty bloggy!


Lovingly,
Romi.xoxox

The Shadow Thief by Alexandra Adornetto review...

Synopsis:

Millipop Klompet lives in the most ordaniary place in the world, a very boring town called Drabville where colour is outlawed and freedom is basically a thing of the past- in less words it's not the town for Milli, who is creative, wild and not at all like the town wants it's citizens to be.

But when she and her best friend go out exploring after hours and get arrested and sent to Hog House, the place they were attempting to explore, everything becomes a lot more difficult to understand, full of colour and very crazy and fantastically wild.

Milli and Earnest are on a wild ride where nothing is as it seemed to be, but it's not quite that simple.

It it, in fact, a whole lot more sinister.

What I thought:

I enitially read The Shadow Thief (and the whole series) when it first came out, but was majorly struggling with finding a book to read and thus decided to read it again.

I wasn't disappointed at all.

The Shadow Thief is a very inspirational read from a young writer and is simply wholly unique and one of a kind!

It's a first novel not to be missed, even if you don't like the sound of it! A novel for many people of many ages.

I adored the names too.

The other books in the series are these:

Let me know if you A read them or B already have!

Lovingly,

Romi.xoxo