The latest edition of Kill Your Darlings includes an article I wrote about working on family violence projects in the Solomons.

Thus far, I’ve spent a majority of 2015 tearing my hair out and hiding inside the refrigerator (ie, finishing The Bit In Between and starting book 2). October is officially ‘Not-Writing-Book-2-Month’ because I need some time to grow back my hair, lower my fridge-induced cholesterol and see if there is any sanity left somewhere in the back of my mental cupboards. I’ve been trying to write other things and Seizure was lovely enough to publish one of them. Love the artwork by Sam Paine. Much better than the sad-faced stick figures I would have provided.

I’m so happy when people tell me the book left them wanting to discuss it with others, like in Terry’s review. I would like to clarify the Cinderella story he speaks of: my book was indeed picked out of the slush pile after submitting it to Pan Macmillan’s Manuscript Monday. The agent etc came after. And all up, I’d sent it to eight other publishers before Pan Mac swept me off my feet. So a fairly prolonged Cinderella story.

Really interesting review from Em Meller at The Lifted Brow. One of the most fascinating things post-publication has been seeing which parts of the book resonate with different people, and which characters people react to.

I did a book shelf tour for The Incredible Rambling Elimy. What a great idea for an interview! Such fun, didn’t bother to tidy beforehand. Oh well.

Because it’s Saturday night and I like to party like I’m 99, I’m sitting in front of the heater wearing my house poncho listening to Erkin Koray, godfather of Anatolian rock, and his contemporary Bariş Manço who I’m fairly convinced was Frank Zappa’s Turkish doppelganger.

Book 2 is slowly coming together. There’s about 69,000 words so far, and not all of them are rubbish. And now two of those words are Erkin Koray.

I am a truly proficient runner up. Things I have been shortlisted for but not won include:

• Seizure’s Viva La Novella 2
• Being a Year 12 Prefect (I know the list was secret but I have my sources within the faculty, and I know I was bumped from the final list)
• And Writer’s Victoria’s Templeberg Fellowship (announced today – congratulations Dion!)

I also placed second in the Aths Day Girls under 16 javelin years ago, which was only because there were about five of us in the competition, only one girl knew how to throw the javelin (gold medal), and everyone else bar me got disqualified for incorrect throws. This is the only time I have ever been praised for sport but clearly was not Prefect-making material.

Despite my long history of being the bridesmaid, I love being shortlisted. I think this is mostly because I don’t ever expect to get a look-in at all. Every shortlist is like an unexpected gift arriving in the mail. Well, like an empty unexpected gift, or maybe one that is addressed to someone else in the house. But still! Such excitement!

Postscript: In the future, instead of an Honourary Doctorate, I would be more than overjoyed to receive an Honourary Prefect-ship. GC, I’m looking at you. Directly at you. I still have my blazer pocket and it is still bereft of badges.

Q and A time over at Debbish dotcom. Deb has a fantastic relationship with her blog readers which I find absolutely inspiring. Bloggers are the best. Their passion is incredible. When I magically become less computer weary I hope to embrace this world.