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![The Perfume Of Books](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a1f23_c8c6e9fffd454136b6a881ccb85852ff~mv2_d_5302_3648_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_319,h_240,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/8a1f23_c8c6e9fffd454136b6a881ccb85852ff~mv2_d_5302_3648_s_4_2.webp)
The Perfume Of Books
The smell of those books! Sniffing a brand new book, I’m immediately taken back. Smell is a powerful sense. One we, as authors, should never
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![Write What You Know](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a1f23_15df779448f34953ab193662b0cc2af7~mv2_d_1939_1416_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_319,h_240,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/8a1f23_15df779448f34953ab193662b0cc2af7~mv2_d_1939_1416_s_2.webp)
Write What You Know
Murdered anyone lately? Enjoyed an erotic escapade? Visited the court of a 17th century king, as one of the writers in my critique group is
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![Signs And Portents](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a1f23_4592e34ad2d14b5e87323c8cf2298af6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_319,h_240,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/8a1f23_4592e34ad2d14b5e87323c8cf2298af6~mv2.webp)
Signs And Portents
Is the room a place to take fractious babies during a service, or somewhere to have a good sob after a chat with an understanding vicar? It’
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![The Kindness Of Authors](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a1f23_3f6aab36ce2e40388e4b6ee0015d3584~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_319,h_240,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/8a1f23_3f6aab36ce2e40388e4b6ee0015d3584~mv2.webp)
The Kindness Of Authors
Trust me, writers love feedback, (and I’d really enjoy some response to this blog!). So, if you want to write, don’t be shy. Engage with an
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![Being There](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a1f23_7622a7a35e004e529d195b0bb2ade82d~mv2_d_1920_2560_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_319,h_240,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/8a1f23_7622a7a35e004e529d195b0bb2ade82d~mv2_d_1920_2560_s_2.webp)
Being There
My characters lived in castles. Well, that was easy. I’d been to several. Harlech, in Wales, is my favourite. Maybe it was visiting the area
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![Editing Equals Edification](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a1f23_c96c00b8f99b44208a0c75d94644e1c8~mv2_d_1512_2016_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_319,h_240,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/8a1f23_c96c00b8f99b44208a0c75d94644e1c8~mv2_d_1512_2016_s_2.webp)
Editing Equals Edification
I’m a member of Romance Writers of Australia, and one of our esteemed members, Anna Jacobs, who frequently tops ‘Most Borrowed Authors from
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![Inspiration](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a1f23_2fef621713e644098c8c639b59992444~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_319,h_240,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/8a1f23_2fef621713e644098c8c639b59992444~mv2.webp)
Inspiration
Where do you get your ideas? I’d love a dollar for every time someone’s asked me that! Family history, of course. It’s inspired so many of m
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![The Right Word](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a1f23_2e754a1674dc4e668843bd416a55c2e9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_319,h_240,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/8a1f23_2e754a1674dc4e668843bd416a55c2e9~mv2.webp)
The Right Word
One lesson, learned from my critique group, and of this I’m very sure-no, certain: “Delete emphasis words like ‘very’, and use something spe
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![My Tribe](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a1f23_27eabfc803dc4c3fa907feb8fd3450f3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_319,h_240,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/8a1f23_27eabfc803dc4c3fa907feb8fd3450f3~mv2.webp)
My Tribe
Through RWA I’ve made lasting friendships, especially with the members of our critique group, Hearts of Gold. We regard each other as family
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![Looking For Inspiration](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a1f23_9eb7d74ef5cf48aabe6f33e8e4fcf7cb~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_319,h_240,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/8a1f23_9eb7d74ef5cf48aabe6f33e8e4fcf7cb~mv2.webp)
Looking For Inspiration
Two years ago I visited the Victoria and Albert museum in London. What a wealth of artefacts it holds! So much inspiration for a writer of h