The Tiara Gallery - Graduates of the Working With Louise program who have typed "The End" on a novel

Welcome to the home of literary happiness! Below are photographs of writers I have worked with who have succeeded in their goal of completing a full-length novel and typing "The End" - a very satisfying feeling, I can tell you. Many have gone on to edit their manuscripts and some are currently "in submission" with a publisher.

Joan Small from my 2006 Logan Libraries "Write that Book" workshop group is the next member of our gallery and she is the wonderfully talented author of non fiction already. Joan's recently completed young adult fantasy novel Perdita's Parallel Universe is an exciting journey between two worlds, and check out the review she had from a young reader:

"I must admit before I read your book, fantasy stories held little interest for me, but early on it was like my mind was transformed to a new way of thinking. Soon I became adapted to the story and was finding little times in my day to sit and just read and read. Not only was this a fantastic story, but it was like my imagination had come to life." Kate

Our next gallery entrant is Marilyn Carey, who attended my Logan Libraries group. Marilyn writes contemporary romance novels that sparkle with humour and sizzle with sensual tension. Marilyn is a long time member of RWA (Romance Writers of Australia), and she is thoroughly conversant with her genre and it's requirements.

As well as wearing her tiara, Marilyn's holding a mock cover-flat for her recently completed novel Who's the Boss (a helpful prop for visualising success!) which I think is fab, although publishers are allowed to create their own when they snap up Marilyn's exciting novel :)

Late news: Marilyn's novel Who's the Boss has just short-listed in the final 6 of the RWA Emerald award, Australia's most prestigious award for a full length romance novel! Looks like it won't be long before Marilyn's manuscript is sitting on a senior editor's desk for consideration, not just to win the award, but for possible publication as well. And not only that!!! on the strength of her book Who's the Boss, Marilyn has been selected to be part of the 2007 cohort of Romance Writers doing a Masters degree in creative writing at QUT in Brisbane.

Tina Marie Clark is one of the vibrant and enthusiastic members of my 2006 Express Year of the Novel group at the Queensland Writers Centre - a busy lady, dedicated writer and source of inspiration to all those around her.

When Tina says she wants to capture the world in both children’s and adult literature, no one argues! And when she's not busy organising events (the CYA Later & Alligator Conference - 2007 date 15th September) she's an incredibly productive writer. Tina is already published in children's fiction (Africa Orphans, Macmillan Education, 2005) and in 2006 she completed and edited a 130,000 word adult adventure/women's fiction novel set in her beloved South Africa.

And a note from Tina: "This has to be the most girly you will EVER see me, with the ladies at Stefans on Bribie Island doing both my makeup & hair - curled and in an ‘up style’ complete with glitter sparkling in the hairspray, a truly mad day for a fun photo."

Alison Marie explores the realms of fact or fiction in this desperate journey for love amid the chaos of mental illness. Based on actual events, 'In Healing Hands' is a surreal adventure that questions truth, acceptance and dignity, as well as religion and the Queensland Public Health system. Out of darkness emerges a spiritually uplifting story.

Alison attended the 2006 Logan Library "Write that Book" workshop group and her thoughtful comments and insight into characterisation were greatly appreciated.

Tony Hallett was one of fifteen local writers selected to attend Logan Libraries’ “Write that Book” workshop. This has enabled him to complete his first full-length novel 'Florin and Roberta' – a 77,000 word heart-warming love story set on a large country estate in Edwardian England – and gain his fiction writer’s crown. His previous writing experience was in the field of non-fiction, including verse and humorous sketches for live performance. He is currently working on his autobiography. Tony can be contacted on email at: tonyhal@optusnet.com.au.

Tam Smith joins the gallery this week (Jan 07) with the completion her adult fantasy novel, 'The Fall of Mitthsombaine', Book Five in the Sennovia Universe. Tam has previous won 1st place in the General Fiction, First Chapter Comp with 'The Soul of Lichien', and writes under her grandmother's maiden name of Clayton. I have watched Tam's progress since last July (in my 2006 Year of the Novel group at QWC) and have been impressed by her productivity and ability to meet deadlines! Not only that, Tam has been a steadfast encouragement to the other members of the group, always there with a "Yahoo" when someone does well :)

Tam will edit her novel and her plan is to submit it to publishers later this year. You can find more info on Tam at her website: http://www.sennovia.com/index.html

Joanne Sandhu is the next member of my incredibly productive 2006 Year of the Novel group to complete her novel - a 55,000 word children's fantasy 'The Stones of Sahaar', part one in four book series.

Part two - 'The Jewel of Rajpur', is underway, and the third instalment - 'The Voyages of the Sindbaran' is in early plotting development. 'The City of Sorrows' will wrap things up by the end of 2008 (is this woman organised or what?). And not only organised, Joanne has a lovely bubbly personality as well.

If you'd like more information or to speak to Joanne about her work, her email address is: jms2@optusnet.com.au

Russell Cornhill (also from my 2006 Year of the Novel group) has completed a scathingly funny horror/satire novel called "Alternities" and he's currently in the process of editing it. His blurb is:

Gulliver's Travels meets Dracula in a world where phantom parasites shimmer across realities in an attempt to satisfy the insatiable - their thirst for human emotions. Humanity's only hope of avoiding total subjugation is a man who walks away from trouble, has failed to achieve his life-long ambition, doesn't believe his own eyes, hears voices in his head and only has eighteen months to live.

I've seen excerpts and it's very witty. If you're interested in Russell's work, you can contact him at: russellcornhill@yahoo.com.au. And while we're waiting for a tiara photo (or even one with Viking Horns) this crop out of a group shot will have to do :)

Swapping Tiaras for Tap Shoes, Leonie Hardy developed her manuscript, "Time to Shine", from idea to first draft during Louise’s ExpressYearOfTheNovel workshops at the Queensland Writers’ Centre.

"Time to Shine" is a romantic comedy about cravings, friendships and tapping into your potential. It is a semi-autobiographical story about one woman’s toe-tapping adventure of losing weight and gaining a “bigger” life.

Leonie is now editing “Time to Shine” through Kim Wilkins YearOfTheEdit workshops with the Queensland Writers Centre and is a member of Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America and the Australian Writers’ Guild.

Apart from writing and watching romantic comedies, Leonie is busy practicing for her end of year dance recital where she and her toe tapping “platoon” will don the army-issued khakis and tap away to Elvis’ “GI Blues.”

The tap shoe photos are of Leonie in her very own tap shoes and were taken in the lovely Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Jill Marley is a member of my Redland Libraries 2007 Fiction Writing workshop group who has completed her Literary Fiction novel "Reunion" and here's the blurb:

She never dreamed their youthful love would alter his life and her own so completely and bind them together in need, desire and love. Through the eyes of Jenny, from a dance in the late 60’s to a heart-warming reunion in London 30 years later, this story hunts down answers to questions deep within her soul. Wisdom finally enlightens her after a tragic reflection in a Supreme Court drama. Betrayed, she admits that her personal history with her elusive first love has been pervasively entwined through her whole life, not to be forgiven nor forgotten.

Graeme Buckley attended the 2007 Year of the Novel in Aitkenvale Library, Townsville. His fantasy novel, The Black Marquee, involves a vampire sorcerer and his army of cannibal trolls on a mission to totally rid the world of humanity. Only an unlikely coalition of teenaged heroes can stop him.

Graeme says of the craft of writing: To sit on my own for an entire day, with no company but my laptop, rewriting a sex scene, trying to add more emotion and increase the tension, is a very daunting prospect, and if the scene is the marriage rite of a wizard and witch who use sexual magic to strengthen their union, it almost makes me glad that I have a real job to provide balance in my life. I dream of the day that I can throw in my real job and spend all my time crafting the most believable, sympathetic characters and killing them in horrible ways.