Today I was deep in my character's drama, writing a scene where they are reliving their memories of a teenage romance and in the back ground I had on a collection of Jimmy Barnes music playing. 
Two songs really stood out for me and were perfect for setting the tone of this scene, the first was Flame Trees and the other was Walk On.
It was while I was listening to 'Walk On' that I realised I was reliving my own teenage angst as the song took me back in time, bringing with it all that pain and life experience that comes with your first real heartbreak. I was sixteen and had just experienced my very first, gut wrenching break up. We've all been there right?
 It's always amazed me how hearing a song can transport you back in time. There are many songs that as soon as I hear them, I can imediately see, smell, feel and hear everything about whatever experience my mind has related that song to in my past.
 It's just amazing.
I decided I'd like to make a sound track for this book- songs that I listened to and helped set the mood for writing, so you guys can listen to it and maybe learn a little more about the characters. 
So it got me thinking, what are some songs that throw you back in time? Good or bad, those moments that seem to remain ready and waiting for the first few bars of a song to sound and then you're right back there in the middle of an emotion. Let's hear them!
Karly x

Jimmy Barnes 'Walk On' Music video click on here to watch Jimmy in all his 80's glory! 

You can also show Jimmy some love and buy his music here 

I was incredibly honoured to have been asked to attend the unveiling of a very special plaque just before ANZAC day this year. The RSL invited me along to help unveil a memorial to Alexander McLean, whose story, my book, Poppy's Dilemma was based upon.
The frustration at not being able to locate Alick's final rest place was somewhat appeased with this very touching plaque in honour of Alick's sacrifice he made for his country during WW1.
To further turn me into a blubbering mess of emotion, RSL Sun branch President, Barry McDonald pictured below, also asked me to be a guest speaker at the ANZAC day luncheon to speak about Alick and the research i'd done on him for my book.
I can not thank the RSL enough for this incredible tribute to Alick. 

I thought I might post my speech I gave about Alick and the man behind the story to give everyone an insight into who this man was.

I feel incredibly honoured to be asked here, on such an important day in our history, to talk a little about my connection to a WW1 veteran, named Alexander McLean. 

Almost two years ago now, I was given a newspaper clipping of an article titled ‘The Warrell creek tragedy,’ by another local author, Trevor Lynch who many of you would be familiar with from the book, Nambucca ANZACS. During his research, Trevor came across Alex’s story and thought that I may find it interesting. What an understatement that was!

This story stayed with me long after I read it. So much so, that I felt compelled to write a book about it. While it in no way reveals any major evidence as to why this horrible thing happened… I had hoped to give an insight into what was happening in our town during the war years and beyond, in effect, maybe giving Alick a voice.

Alexander McLean was a hero. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in March,1918, ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’. Part of his citation reads; ‘He was frequently called on to perform the duties of an officer, which he carried out with courage, initiative and resource, inspiring the greatest confidence in those under his command.’

Alick enlisted on the 12th of August, 1915.

He embarked from Sydney on board the Warilda on October 8th, 1915. It’s interesting and a little disturbing to note that with barely 2 months training under their belt, these boys were apparently, ready to fight a war.

He returned home on the 9th of December, 1918 after being wounded and losing an eye.

As I began researching, I came across a series of letters which had been found in a second hand store in the Blue Moutains. These letters had been written by a soldier named Alexander McLean, to his mother and sister, some of which, had been written from the trenches in France, dated from 1916 until late 1918, just prior to his injuries.

At this point my somewhat clinical research became a lot more interesting and my fascination with Macksville as it was during the war years, and Alick himself, took on a greater significance.

The description of the man written about in that first newspaper article I had been given to read, was not the man who wrote these letters. Seeing Alick as a brother, son and uncle through his words on paper in the letters he sent home, made me realise there was a very real need to tell his story.

He was respected and admired by his commanding officers and men of his unit alike as seen in one particular letter written from his commanding officer while Alick was in hospital recovering from injuries he sustained to his eye. Dated 17th September, 1918. From a Captain, K M Brock (?)

In part of the letter he writes;

‘I was shown your letters from Brian and I gather from the tone of it you don’t want any sympathy. Glad to see you are so cheerful and I sincerely hope you get a trip to Australia. If ever there was a man who earned it, you have. You will be hard to replace here.

I was pretty near broken hearted when I came back and found all the good men who were gone.

Let me say you have my best wishes for a speedy recovery and let me take this opportunity to thank you most heartily for your loyal support and devotion to duty which have always characterised you throughout your long service and connection with this battery.’

He was a well-respected member of the community before and after he returned to Macksville and in the coroner’s report, time and time again witnesses told the coroner that Alick had seem fine, right up until shortly before he shot and killed Gertie Trisley and then himself, that late November night in 1920.

The coroner made mention of the darkness that returned home with most of these men. He said;

‘We had always regarded Alick as one of the manly men. We remember how he went forth voluntarily to fight for his country and his King; and we know how valiantly he carried out the trust. He fought with such distinction that he gained that very coveted honour, the Distinguished Conduct Medal. We all remember how he returned covered with honour, we hailed him back; we loved him, God only knows what great thing caused him to do what he did; we feel that there must have been something that impelled him to commit such an awful crime. Our sympathies must go out towards those gallant men who fought for the empire and came back with head wounds, or suffering from the effects of gas; they went through hell and we have to make every allowance for them.’

It wasn’t any great mystery as to what had happened to change this man, which I think makes it even sadder. The war changed everyone. The effect it had on these men was nothing short of devastating, and while the community seemed to understand that these men had been through something horrific, no one, it seemed, had predicted that something like this could happen in a town like ours.

For the last 94 years Alexander Mclean was left to fade from memory. It was a terrible ending to a man who, like so many other young men, went off on a grand adventure only to return home, broken. And while the last act of his life can never be truly forgiven, it’s time to let us now remember him as he was before… as a hero.

A few weeks ago I was invited along to the unveiling of a memorial to finally recognise Alick’s contribution to his country and to honour his bravery. I’d like to say a very big thank you to Barry and Roger, the RSL and everyone else involved, for making this happen.

Knowing Alick’s final resting place would have brought his story full circle, but the plaque at the entrance of the cemetery finally gives us all a place where we can stop and remember not only Alick, but all the men who although came home, ultimately scarified themselves for our freedom.

Lest we Forget.

I need your help! over on my Facebook page we've been taking suggestions for my new heart throb's name for next year's book and these are the names we've got to choose from...i'm leaving it up to you guys...vote on the name you like best and help me name this guy!

                                                                E-Readers made simple

As a reader I vowed never to give in to the evil of this new- fan-dangled invention called an E-Reader but you know that old saying of never, say never? Well…yeah…

      

Okay, so before I lose all my paper book readers, I do love my e-reader and e-books…BUT I still buy print copies of books too…and here’s the REALLY great thing about all of this…you can have BOTH! There is room for BOTH. You don’t have to make a choice! 

So I’m here to lead you by the hand, slowly, into the world of non- print book reading…

I love my e-reader because there are just so many situations where an E-book and E-reader is so much easier and far more practical to use.

Here’s a few examples of situations where my love has been confirmed for my E-Reader.

Example 1.

I’m on Christmas holidays having a lovely time reading my book (you know, the one with paper not a screen)from a new author I picked up in a book store when low and behold it’s time to pack up and go home…BUT WAIT! I’m now addicted to this series and I CAN NOT POSSIBLY wait till I get home to buy the second book in the series…what to do? 

….THANK GOODNESS I also have my E-Reader, I can just down load the next book and read it in the car! 

Example 2

I’m on holidays (again) and I’ve just had ANOTHER argument with my husband about how many books I’m packing…’they’re taking up too much room, darling…it’s the books or the shoes…you’re choice!’ 

Did I mention my husband is a bully!! One does not simply give a woman an ultimatum of packing less shoes OR books!

Situation solved! I’ll pack my E-reader that fits into my hand bag and I can take as many as 5000 PLUS, books….AND I think because I’ve saved that much room, I can still fit in a pair of NEW shoes  :D 

Now I am NOT the most tech savvy person out there so I know it can be a tad confusing but I’ll try and break it down in my terms which I will apologise in advance to tech savvy people everywhere for the ripping apart of your geeky terminology (*1) that you are about to witness.

Which E-reader for me and Where do I find the books?

I personally went for a Kindle

Why? Well because as a tech savvy challenged individual, I liked that the Kindle is Amazon's own brand E-reader and so the E-book store comes all loaded on the device and you just click a button and down load your books.

There are also other brands linked to Book sellers like the Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo

Then you also have the option of not going with an E-Reader as such, but downloading an app that you can use on your smart phone, Iphone, Ipad, or android tablets. These are great, and how I first started. I had the Amazon app downloaded onto my android (*2)  phone and was surprised that it was actually not too hard to read on a phone screen, however I soon upgraded to a proper E-Reader so I could use the bigger screen. I down load the app onto my tablet and computer as well, it always comes in handy to have it available.

So if you’re wanting to try e-books and don’t want to buy an E-reader you can always down load these apps first and try before you invest in an e-reader.

Here’s a few links in case you’d like to try on your phone, tablet devices or computer.

KOBO

KINDLE

NOOK

GOOGLE PLAY

JB HiFI - ANDROID

              -IOS-APPLE

-ADOBE (eBooks to your Kobo or Sony Device.)


* 

1. People who use another language when talking about technology.

2. a phone that isn’t an apple device  



So there ya go, a gentle introduction to E-Readers. Remeber you can get all my books and the other me, Karlene Blakemore-Mowle, in both print AND e-book formats, so why not take the plunge and give it a try? You may become a convert like me! 

My thanks to the lovely, Cathryn Hein for tagging me in this hop.

Cathryn Hein was born in South Australia's rural south-east. With three generations of jockeys in the family it was little wonder she grew up horse mad, finally obtaining her first horse at age 10. So began years of pony club, eventing, dressage and showjumping until university beckoned.
Armed with a shiny Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) from Roseworthy College she moved to Melbourne and later Newcastle, working in the agricultural and turf seeds industry. Her partner's posting to France took Cathryn overseas for three years in Provence where she finally gave in to her life-long desire to write. Her short fiction has been recognised in numerous contests, and published in Woman's Day
Cathryn's first two novels, Promises and Heart of the Valley were finalists in the 2011 and 2012 Australian Romance Readers Awards. Heartland is her third rural romance novel.
http://cathrynhein.wordpress.com/

My writing process blog hop questions;


1) What am I working on?

I'm currently working on my 2015 book for my publisher. No title yet but while my last book focused on WW1 in rural Australia this one is focusing on WW2. Feeling good about it and cant wait to get stuck into it once school goes back. 


2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

My books usually focus on the town as well as the characters. The town becomes one of the main characters. I love rural towns, they're the heart of the country and full of unique characters and friendly faces.


3) Why do I write what I do?
There's something to be said about the old 'write what you know' rule of writing. I think living and growing up in small rural towns has given me a wealth of subconscious material to draw on.


4) How does my writing process work?
I have no idea! Seriously-- it never fails to surprise me that I end up with a completed book! I don't have a lot of patience so aside from working out the characters names and a basic plot and problem to build a story around...I pretty much wing it. Sometimes I write a scene in order, other times I might get a great idea for something further along in the story line and I write that in, then go back...it really depends on how a story is flowing as to how I write it.

I’ve tagged a good writing friend of mine, Kerri Williams, writing under her new name of Aria Cage and you can read her post next Monday 10th of Feb.

here's a little more about Aria~

Author of Adult Contemporary Romance

My name is Aria and I have three confessions:
#1 No matter how much I try, I can't stop shopping at Typo or the local tattooist. I believe that would be how I would introduce myself at an anonymous club, right?
#2 I write under another name but I'm not going to tell you ... don't beg, she will kill me if I tell. Ha! So I guess you could call me a genre whore.
#3 My phone is my life line. I can't leave the house without it.
If you want to get to know me, follow this blog and come to my social pages on facebook and twitter.