tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30426672773534417972024-03-23T20:47:49.619+08:00Helen Hagemann Author & Poet, Fiction and Poetry Reviewer Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.comBlogger416125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-73580374628815898852024-02-11T12:29:00.002+08:002024-02-11T12:29:26.300+08:00Market: A Prose Poem<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRXswttX71QKTE63VX7TH8AzqKL-i6t6-fXsADWVtVG-9HhpuObsTfCdfoOIdyvJ8fX8RmcRZKlujYwv-5c9SyCqcbpHmS8jeUXiNGcUp8dgzBwM01Hh5Xme6kcXyMLAqOqGsg0B4A1vpLSXle2JYr69sW3DFgwM_sd3W0z5b1eMvlg09HZgSFaEzamcZ/s4608/DSC03256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRXswttX71QKTE63VX7TH8AzqKL-i6t6-fXsADWVtVG-9HhpuObsTfCdfoOIdyvJ8fX8RmcRZKlujYwv-5c9SyCqcbpHmS8jeUXiNGcUp8dgzBwM01Hh5Xme6kcXyMLAqOqGsg0B4A1vpLSXle2JYr69sW3DFgwM_sd3W0z5b1eMvlg09HZgSFaEzamcZ/w436-h327/DSC03256.JPG" width="436" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><h1 align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></h1>
<h1 align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Market<o:p></o:p></span></i></h1>
<h1 align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><b style="text-align: left; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -2.3pt; tab-stops: 6.0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">A market shows a difference of
colour and the possibility of taste especially when an assortment of nylon and
lace are mounted. It could be that sizes are too small too young and not
tolerable for the older wearer if the decoration is suggestive, but a younger
buyer might determine the daintiness of the objects swinging, and there is a
spectacle swinging in the breeze which makes for a sniggering and in any case
these showy garments once bought will later be undercover or rolled away nicely,
nicely in a top drawer with perfumed liners. The amusing side might bring back
pleasure each time the buyer slips these panties on, possibly remembering those
colourful cartwheels of fitted pink and lime lace and the lengths to which the
market stall proudly boasted skimpy, skimpy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -2.3pt; tab-stops: 6.0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -2.3pt; tab-stops: 6.0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">COPYRIGHT MATERIAL (c) 2024</span></p>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-55432793841616060722024-01-06T10:41:00.002+08:002024-01-06T10:41:57.886+08:00The Ozone Café : 2nd Edition OUT NOW!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMfgYCdHsE1BiodirC16Nm1r18nL_qeanIOwvG8h8WWdfE4Ajx6D0LNi1feH8uHPDA8jiP9TO7OGF1_z7tDCGCwrB9DU-xhgbVSUkleDv4NNhgsCoH1-iwvfRw3okuV-hn7vC6rPOzXv8T5knHlZwmnNkr2yfQsfBpnCyseumnIcG_ThcLPTHFxNEcVoE/s2000/Ozone_New_03012024.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="2000" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMfgYCdHsE1BiodirC16Nm1r18nL_qeanIOwvG8h8WWdfE4Ajx6D0LNi1feH8uHPDA8jiP9TO7OGF1_z7tDCGCwrB9DU-xhgbVSUkleDv4NNhgsCoH1-iwvfRw3okuV-hn7vC6rPOzXv8T5knHlZwmnNkr2yfQsfBpnCyseumnIcG_ThcLPTHFxNEcVoE/s320/Ozone_New_03012024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><strong>The Ozone Café </strong>is about three separate owners of the café and its demise through political corruption. <br /><strong>Hagemann</strong> delivers a vision of 1960s and ’70s life in a small NSW Central Coast town. The novel is a homage to a café of the same name and of a distinctive P&O design in her hometown of Ettalong, New South Wales. It is also about the struggle of past and present cafe owners to save the cafe from demolition. Here are my cafe owners: -</p>
<p><strong>Vincenzo Polamo</strong>, a Calabrian, builds the Ozone Café with his builder-brother in 1957 in fictional Satara Bay. He meets three children, Winifred, Casey, and Nicolas, creating a seascape mural on a café wall that includes them. The café changes from Italian to Australian cuisine. However, due to long hours of hard work and Vincenzo’s wife unwilling to migrate to Australia, Vincenzo sells the café.</p>
<p><strong>Joe Pendlebury</strong> suffers setbacks with too few customers, poor health and problems due to a violent storm causing structural damage close to the mural. In major scenes, Pendlebury goes missing, and Nicolas dies from muscular dystrophy, heightening Winifred’s concerns to keep the mural sacred.</p>
<p><strong>Con & Dion Lasaridis</strong> experience problems with the damage. Unable to convince the Heytesbury Shire the café is sound after a rebuild, they lose ownership in a court battle; the Shire evoking a Demolition Order, 1946. <strong>The Lasaridis</strong> believe this is due to an undercurrent of well-known council corruption; Mayor Tyrone being a principal player in corrupt land and property dealings. Vincenzo (et al) removes the mural reinstating it at his home. The mural becomes a lasting memorial to Nicolas Battersby, as well as the sole surviving piece of <em>The Ozone Café.</em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqlbFG9_45dnQd0_-mhyG7ZpfLZclehmEOGVnDreTR8d6T_21LF4tf4jq9GH_RWwPJZsyt5iRnb2O6OwtHvQSHA0n_pUImxbUrKfe3kdWvt8t4XctEZUb8GbMS-VqTL6IPAq6OrH1jUyxeUyhE7dQHZp1ek5bJtmb_NnaCNnR5ojI8tby5B9A4NT1Pmk_/s1391/ozone-cafe_300_Autoed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="917" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqlbFG9_45dnQd0_-mhyG7ZpfLZclehmEOGVnDreTR8d6T_21LF4tf4jq9GH_RWwPJZsyt5iRnb2O6OwtHvQSHA0n_pUImxbUrKfe3kdWvt8t4XctEZUb8GbMS-VqTL6IPAq6OrH1jUyxeUyhE7dQHZp1ek5bJtmb_NnaCNnR5ojI8tby5B9A4NT1Pmk_/s320/ozone-cafe_300_Autoed.jpg" width="211" /></a></em></div><em><br /></em><p></p>
<p><em> <strong>At the time of commencing the novel, I had very little to go on. Then half-way through I discovered a pic of the Ozone posted on Gosford's Historical Library page on FLICKR. I therefore acknowledge the library Gostalgia, and that I have been given permission to use the picture on the cover of my 2nd Edition of The Ozone Cafe. I am also grateful for the research carried out by actor Felix Willliamson (son of playwright John Williamson) in his search and playing the role of Phil (the Jew) Jeffs in Underbelly Razor - a TV mini series.</strong></em></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gostalgia/"><strong>Gostalgia: local history from Gosford Library</strong></a></p>
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<p>Phil Jeff's house, with cafe beneath, Ettalong.</p>
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<p>The above photograph was taken by Press photographer Sam Hood. It is believed to date from around November 1945, when Phil "the Jew" Jeffs died in St. Vincent's hospital in Sydney. He is buried in the Jewish section of Rookwood Cemetery, under the name "Phillip Davis". The building is of a style known as "P & O" an interwar style that reflected the architecture of a ship's bridge. Unfortunately this building has since been demolished. Aerial photographs from 1957 reveal that Phil Jeff's former house was on the corner of Beach Street and The Esplanade, Ettalong Beach, near Memorial Avenue. The house faced due south, looking straight out to Broken Bay and Lion Island.This was THE prime spot for views in the area, and the site is now the location of Mantra, Ettalong Beach. Nothing remains of Phil Jeffs house in 2011. A brief report of Phil Jeffs death can be read at:<a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56436952">nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56436952</a> Another former Razor war criminal, Kate Leigh, was embroiled in an assault case at Woy Woy in 1931.Read about this case on the Trove newspaper website:<a href="http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper">trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper</a></p>
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<p><b>COPYRIGHT MATERIAL (c) 2024</b></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph --><p></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-64759608555387208672023-09-15T16:46:00.006+08:002023-09-16T08:32:23.118+08:00Bounty: A Collection of Prose Poetry <p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrMmmgrVOgqUIwEU34JST20ND7pDEkYnXwwyBqGgK2RjzjzEFE7iRrMkEIfmqNYU2A4y4SXCyeHnGiDY8bGxDbafl6DfVilAfJiwdmhrew4haHb4Fl-bQxzb8gis035HMZA8xROBFxe6ra-4xKxpH6TI5CLznrgdeSVdzvvQCFwBFyl2JAGI4rzqI_Y1b/s473/Cover_Insta_Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="473" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrMmmgrVOgqUIwEU34JST20ND7pDEkYnXwwyBqGgK2RjzjzEFE7iRrMkEIfmqNYU2A4y4SXCyeHnGiDY8bGxDbafl6DfVilAfJiwdmhrew4haHb4Fl-bQxzb8gis035HMZA8xROBFxe6ra-4xKxpH6TI5CLznrgdeSVdzvvQCFwBFyl2JAGI4rzqI_Y1b/w346-h230/Cover_Insta_Blog.jpg" width="346" /></a></div></span></div></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;"><b>BOUNTY </b>is set for release as an ebook & print book around mid-October (after the school holidays) I intend to launch the collection at the Moon Cafe, Perth WA. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;">However, it may be the end of the year or early 2024. The print book will be available at all good online bookstores. Stay tuned for a SUPER DEAL on Amazon! </span></p><p><b style="color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: 16px;">Here's a sample poem.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_a4DwgDrYTlqstIPoru9zCUhthSZHCegGjm7bnJ-_V7LC70YLHMZtDqr_O4mhp4x57SnZz9AxzRDIlnhtMy3bx8XPaSdSrmJieh1dnQzKRMsNRNuikJeCF0oJm8L97xUAJGyJdoNHsXIVIe5rNHK2qMSP5YEFJ49oERvoIhk-_yAfvynYvEdsrDiDXIr1/s500/Poem_Bottlbrush.jpeg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="500" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_a4DwgDrYTlqstIPoru9zCUhthSZHCegGjm7bnJ-_V7LC70YLHMZtDqr_O4mhp4x57SnZz9AxzRDIlnhtMy3bx8XPaSdSrmJieh1dnQzKRMsNRNuikJeCF0oJm8L97xUAJGyJdoNHsXIVIe5rNHK2qMSP5YEFJ49oERvoIhk-_yAfvynYvEdsrDiDXIr1/s320/Poem_Bottlbrush.jpeg" width="320" /></a><b>COPYRIGHT (c) 2023</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">BOUNTY Synopsis</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: times;">This collection <i>Bounty </i>is a two decade long exploration of prose poetry. The form has allowed me to explore a multi-layer of styles and preoccupations within the genre. The collection as three separate sections and progressions range from the everyday life of the familiar as in <i>Section 1 – Bounty </i>that explores some common place objects such as rugs, cushions, cups, vases, clothes, cars, churches and houses. <i>Section 2 – Cultural</i> highlights the experience of travelling utilizing various mechanisms of language. <i>Section 3 – Avant.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: times;">is inspired by my university studies of Gertrude Stein especially her subversion of the conventional use of language. While Stein’s unconventional work was ‘language as cubism in a distorted framework’ where the reader makes meaning, my poetry encompasses some experience, meaning or message.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Three poems in the first section</span><span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> </span><i style="text-indent: 36pt;">Bounty </i><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">have been inspired by paintings from disabled artists during my participation in the 2009 Creative Connections program.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-US">A small selection of the prose poems has been previously published, work-shopped, reviewed and critiqued in a 2021 Frontier Prose Poetry Project. I received a favourable response from Prose Poetry Editor </span><span style="color: #222222;">Jose Hernandez Diaz</span><span lang="EN-US"> who ostensibly praised four poems: Bridge, Church, Hotel and Market. He has since provided me with a quote for the book.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i style="text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">The voice lingers playfully in reverie, as many speakers in good prose poems do. There is a lot of experimentation with the force of language and sound. Bravo!</span></i><i style="text-indent: 36pt;"> <span style="color: #222222;">-</span></i><span style="color: #222222; text-indent: 36pt;"> Jose Hernandez Diaz, author of Bad Mexican, Bad American and The Parachutist.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">I also wish to pay tribute to ARTerra Portugal and to the administrator, Mickey for a wonderful time at the Lobäo da Beira Residency and our excursions. The front cover is a snapshot of one of the unique streets in the town. I wrote several prose poems about my time in Portugal, with a memorable highlight attending a Fado concert in Coimbra – the University City.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>COPYRIGHT MATERIAL (c) 2023</b></span></span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span><span> </span> </span></p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;">. </span></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: right;"><br /></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-8399752361864409592023-06-27T18:53:00.001+08:002023-07-06T17:11:12.655+08:00NEW BOOKS: ON KINDLE & IN PAPERBACK<p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0YdlqraEAgh0YqM8RfnUjaQ_wUqchtXfWKIYAIR7TywPYVwLI7Gq24BGJ-BYp7KtDRFIPmsTmuFHiZcdc3JjnDK8n_HaqQ9kNwuptsalHP7QY-8rxx6hM49FMFHCfViEvh2uIRm9pPfZZ5dV_eMZ4Tq--Qt4yTrJ17sETdrolVKlc25JsO9i7Qd3-VQX/s473/Cover_Insta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="473" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0YdlqraEAgh0YqM8RfnUjaQ_wUqchtXfWKIYAIR7TywPYVwLI7Gq24BGJ-BYp7KtDRFIPmsTmuFHiZcdc3JjnDK8n_HaqQ9kNwuptsalHP7QY-8rxx6hM49FMFHCfViEvh2uIRm9pPfZZ5dV_eMZ4Tq--Qt4yTrJ17sETdrolVKlc25JsO9i7Qd3-VQX/w411-h303/Cover_Insta.jpg" width="411" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg994GlH-rVlmy4OnL30qzRdmX4KQFNL5tIZ-fDwg4sqG7ha4qa314mV_HZ4OybNO5NX6aLdozfOpnfHkDbhZAe3UqGeVHEewOqJDqf2F4F2-LEm5yBJf3ocoPIyf9wdaJf1Nu3bPQ4YPRwQ7BSqVqj-mjDhyeOmQq2uPhVcPry0HFK6cvd5G8N26SVxnKm/s2000/Asbestos_Cover_Promo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg994GlH-rVlmy4OnL30qzRdmX4KQFNL5tIZ-fDwg4sqG7ha4qa314mV_HZ4OybNO5NX6aLdozfOpnfHkDbhZAe3UqGeVHEewOqJDqf2F4F2-LEm5yBJf3ocoPIyf9wdaJf1Nu3bPQ4YPRwQ7BSqVqj-mjDhyeOmQq2uPhVcPry0HFK6cvd5G8N26SVxnKm/w196-h294/Asbestos_Cover_Promo.jpg" width="196" /></a></div></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I am now
in control of publishing future work, ie. poetry, how-to books and novels
through an imprint titled <b><a href="https://helenhagemann.wordpress.com/my-publishing-imprint/" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext">Oz.one Publishing.</span></a> </b>When I
completed my Masters in Writing in 2006, technology as far as self-publishing
goes was not as far advanced as it is today. We have online publishing
companies such as KDP,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ingram Spark,
Draft2Digital, Lulu Publishing, Smashwords, and many more. I have been lucky
enough to use Canva Free to publish my covers, (great guys! -thank you) and so
an author can have a professional looking book, both as an ebook and paperback.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">THE
FIVE LIVES OF MS BENNETT</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Being connected to a group of US authors on a Facebook Page, several
discussions revolved around self-publishing under your own imprint. So after
some serious work on my MA Novel <b><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">The Five Lives of Ms
Bennett </span></i></b>self-publishing the work on Amazon KDP as a Kindle
book, and also as a paperback (Print-on-Demand) has been a breeze and a
joy. Released in February 2023, I'm endeavouring to promote the book on
all my social media channels and through online advertising. There is something
really magical about being in control of your work this way, and also having
your own Imprint. The idea is mainly that not only does your logo look good,
but through Ingram Spark you can gain more distribution access to worldwide bookstores,
libraries and online sellers. It’s a kind of – kudos – currently as
the stigma of being self-published has been removed and replaced with you being
an Indi author.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">THE LAST ASBESTOS TOWN</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">My debut novel,<i> <b>The Last Asbestos Town </b></i><b>i</b>s
now published as a 2nd Edition. There has been a few changes in the text and
also I have designed a new cover. I prefer this one to the first. There is
something quite satisfying about spending heaps of time: designing a new cover,
re-working or improving the text, uploading all the parameters of trim size,
margins, table of contents, headers & footers, and when finally your effort
goes through and is approved, well, there it is – a new book with a new look
that you have designed yourself.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It still begs the question: Will these books sell
as self-published and as a 2</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0cm;">nd</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Edition? Of
course, there is much more work to be done. I haven’t reinvented the wheel, but
I have new products to sell and also obtain as many reviews as possible.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 24pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Check out all my books, including poetry on Amazon <a href="https://amazon.com.au/Helen-Hagemann/e/B09JZW1ZY8 " target="_blank"><span color="windowtext">here</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br />Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-74745638386946350332023-05-07T21:06:00.014+08:002023-05-11T14:13:38.666+08:00The Five Lives of Ms Bennett: Book Promotion<p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYKdrtksGXZH3qmIu4ZqtBQEKMFoAjwoRpMFRAk_ZmlkxH6BOsno6_zPJPpmc9c2RWxk-vL1PpdzKFYC0x4lTrzbwbdr1fcUHOdhCsTwrsVgPUHBBTO3oIoeRt31qKeSxWl8Hx-wQZqiRcC5zJ0lIBoTyLRulADxQNkFB-58cV4FYy4UALD6kediX8g/s267/Helen_Blogger.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="267" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYKdrtksGXZH3qmIu4ZqtBQEKMFoAjwoRpMFRAk_ZmlkxH6BOsno6_zPJPpmc9c2RWxk-vL1PpdzKFYC0x4lTrzbwbdr1fcUHOdhCsTwrsVgPUHBBTO3oIoeRt31qKeSxWl8Hx-wQZqiRcC5zJ0lIBoTyLRulADxQNkFB-58cV4FYy4UALD6kediX8g/w320-h315/Helen_Blogger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large; text-align: left;">I</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">n this modern day, a writer not only writes novels, non-fiction or poetry, but to be relevant, one needs to adverttise and promote the level of the work. Amongst about three million authors, you cannot just sit back and hope that readers will flock to you. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="1024" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhId5sX2hG_1mdfAVuqQNxxWgJXozKdL9fJmhYDmt4NaxOUmlQm_VD_zlDsAEYZ85lwpbbNZ-zWzm_YA1BGz-6sr7FoLuegZILJs-Uv9pXCdkQWH3Fw4wKz1GYfKfg85wcgPhC8XDadZjGkpmwXuvS3itUgtswmdrKsoxSGnDzM0Khkn88F0BZUVQ-9g/w548-h170/Bennett_Banner_Large.png" width="548" /></span></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;">If you're an unknown the idea is to step up, think outside the box, try fellowships, residencies, book awards, and online promotion, etc. It requires a constant effort and it takes up an enormous amount of time, puting yourself out there, being prepared for anything, trying anything personally or publically. </span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhId5sX2hG_1mdfAVuqQNxxWgJXozKdL9fJmhYDmt4NaxOUmlQm_VD_zlDsAEYZ85lwpbbNZ-zWzm_YA1BGz-6sr7FoLuegZILJs-Uv9pXCdkQWH3Fw4wKz1GYfKfg85wcgPhC8XDadZjGkpmwXuvS3itUgtswmdrKsoxSGnDzM0Khkn88F0BZUVQ-9g/s1024/Bennett_Banner_Large.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdBu2IpffotidoM3THpzOanJmoO4Etu_3MyQMN03Ch0jfeODxaNtXxeCp-Jj4aONaxyreClUyw1bwCNexpz8_oV5gLGuimgZfNpi6ly3kKuZIscWD5AS6koQN16anjqPQIIeBiy8Py9CqKKODu2ELBwx3qmCWl6tgFMjZMT9CuPYlRnuZmG06IajaYQ/s301/Spine.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="301" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdBu2IpffotidoM3THpzOanJmoO4Etu_3MyQMN03Ch0jfeODxaNtXxeCp-Jj4aONaxyreClUyw1bwCNexpz8_oV5gLGuimgZfNpi6ly3kKuZIscWD5AS6koQN16anjqPQIIeBiy8Py9CqKKODu2ELBwx3qmCWl6tgFMjZMT9CuPYlRnuZmG06IajaYQ/w200-h179/Spine.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>The graphics included in this post are a recent promotion on Amazon,</span> advertising my latest novel, <span style="color: red;"><i><b>The Five Lives of Ms Bennett. </b></i></span>At the </span><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">moment, they appear on amazon.co.uk [Amazon United Kingdom], under the book listed as a Kindle copy and</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> also as a paperback. This is a free promotion to all authors and it also includes uploading the same graphics to the US, Australian, Canadian & other allowed Amazon sites. It is commonly known as A+ Content. In the past this was only availavle to mainstream publishers, but by the grace of their good nature it is available to Indi authors. Mind you, it's all about sales and the com</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">pany is making heaps, considering the amountof self-published books. </span></span></div></span></span></div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5enhTL9rZbG3l40_UABRLYM20s0ElDf7MyQhrGmh_e0GhLc96DSowKF9WKwXDwWiNfNx_0mi1FqbE5w4DGJTRRc5roz7nnVOh9CbgulSHWHWfDj0kOzeGDlNcc0XcfhCusyaSKLhx-y3pwYsjK8juB00anXVYk3RYgOKZxGMWoPJ21CLIrJCwJIckpw/s299/Alice.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="299" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5enhTL9rZbG3l40_UABRLYM20s0ElDf7MyQhrGmh_e0GhLc96DSowKF9WKwXDwWiNfNx_0mi1FqbE5w4DGJTRRc5roz7nnVOh9CbgulSHWHWfDj0kOzeGDlNcc0XcfhCusyaSKLhx-y3pwYsjK8juB00anXVYk3RYgOKZxGMWoPJ21CLIrJCwJIckpw/w183-h183/Alice.jpg" width="183" /></span></a></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">According to the experts “images” instead of “text” help readers when it comes to their buying decisions online. Amazon KDP now allows authors to upload advertising content to enhance their book information and to increase sales. You can upload pictures, text and videos into “Modules”.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I have uploaded three modules. The first is a banner that shows a picture of me as an author together with my author central contact where buyers can read my bio. Three separate pics & a third includes all my books. All my books are available at <a href="http://Amazon.">Amazon.</a></span></p></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGlmppOuofgpqvmb-2lQdf8xVZYaLJrcTd6XW6XxKhCSdlcmZwUtWen4elil5AGRzVn6OfWvfbhAd1fzzmiiqE03Emj62-svxlFU_3rvEMNqv6Km9n68-bC11x4JEkEKqAZa2MN91KSpTThiF341SX49HaYvQPBD2D3J0vBfEQ99p5PRG7XzGWSKOlA/s308/Alice&Kevin.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="307" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGlmppOuofgpqvmb-2lQdf8xVZYaLJrcTd6XW6XxKhCSdlcmZwUtWen4elil5AGRzVn6OfWvfbhAd1fzzmiiqE03Emj62-svxlFU_3rvEMNqv6Km9n68-bC11x4JEkEKqAZa2MN91KSpTThiF341SX49HaYvQPBD2D3J0vBfEQ99p5PRG7XzGWSKOlA/w199-h200/Alice&Kevin.jpg" width="199" /></span></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">C<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;">ommercial sellers have the option to have the Premium A+ Content, but for authors the idea is to feature more information about your latest book & bio as the “Look Inside” feature no longer exists on the Kindle copy.</span></span></div><p></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Here’s a quote from <span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.sellerapp.com/blog/amazon-a-plus-content/#what-is-amazon-a-content" style="border: 0px; color: #e1122a; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">SellerApp</a>:</span> “The idea behind using enriched multimedia content is to enhance the user experience which drives high conversions and huge traffic to the listings. In short, it is going a step beyond the usual content that sellers usually create, just to ensure that a potential buyer understands the product features more effectively and gets a sophisticated online shopping experience.”</div></span><p></p></div>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-5419871981618611522023-04-15T10:16:00.007+08:002023-04-15T13:27:25.768+08:00New Novel: The Five Lives of Ms Bennett - In Paperback & Kindle<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiviQfe1dpt0Cj7Xwxha4TvWB7nQVXvQqHC-XsY_L_mL_Ci6XNC2BzFFd0F8Vc0n9v2V3gK7G4sawUD1gGLFdKTKMf7SUm7tqtPrsxi5nbe05_NAVrIEJSFdddwYmIDC4YFv_K5Z9OqsBQ5Zf5AR7Zq8k12S1yea1edhoCWW2FDRYlPlhXy69kHEoEg/s999/Book_Cover_Proof.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="999" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiviQfe1dpt0Cj7Xwxha4TvWB7nQVXvQqHC-XsY_L_mL_Ci6XNC2BzFFd0F8Vc0n9v2V3gK7G4sawUD1gGLFdKTKMf7SUm7tqtPrsxi5nbe05_NAVrIEJSFdddwYmIDC4YFv_K5Z9OqsBQ5Zf5AR7Zq8k12S1yea1edhoCWW2FDRYlPlhXy69kHEoEg/s320/Book_Cover_Proof.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NR7Xr5si4Hy_LybPe7vjmEls9geTZbrTDESJfbePVFl1h7IJrzaW7DhynRUy_Uv9uIy9qQHX6_f2lcZdxXK228NVBv7Uw40SRyyLV-CNwcVyiH46uXQoE3Ib4P7y81U-GH_5gWVMOk2360zuw_krACAYIBoWG6xFPUt2VfgCt2g9SVgqaH59NlMGbA/s2559/CoverLarge_Final_Paperback.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2559" data-original-width="1760" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NR7Xr5si4Hy_LybPe7vjmEls9geTZbrTDESJfbePVFl1h7IJrzaW7DhynRUy_Uv9uIy9qQHX6_f2lcZdxXK228NVBv7Uw40SRyyLV-CNwcVyiH46uXQoE3Ib4P7y81U-GH_5gWVMOk2360zuw_krACAYIBoWG6xFPUt2VfgCt2g9SVgqaH59NlMGbA/w153-h223/CoverLarge_Final_Paperback.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><br /> <h4><b>A GRIPPING STORY OF ENDURANCE</b></h4><div><b><br />This heart-warming and intriguing novel</b> will have you cheering for Ms Bennett as she navigates away from an unhappy marriage towards a new love!<br /><b>The Five Lives of Ms Bennett</b> is a historical, coming-of-age, family saga. It’s about the struggle of a young Australian girl, fed up with her hometown life, only to find that the big city doesn’t exactly hold the dreams she wishes for.<h4><b>Themes</b></h4><li>Love doesn’t always find a way.</li><li>Marrying outside of one’s culture elicits problems.</li><li>Nationality differences exhibit cultural bias and prejudice on both sides.</li><h4><b>Five Lives: Five Decades</b></h4><li>Includes early Australian history, references to colonial heritage, Australia in the fifties, sixties and seventies.</li><li>The domestic roles of women.</li><li>Post war lifestyle and conditions.</li><li>Women’s cottage industries.</li><br />In the extension of Ms Bennett’s contemporary lives there are issues such as family loyalty and trust, the vagaries of money and wealth, family jealousy and fraud, domestic violence, alcoholism, rights to education, equality and freedom for women.<div><br /></div><div>My novel can be found on <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Five-Lives-Ms-Bennett/dp/0645752401/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1681524916&sr=8-1">Amazon</a></div></div>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-2462308274636172772023-02-17T13:03:00.001+08:002023-02-17T13:06:39.275+08:00BOOK COVER REVEAL: The Five Lives of Ms Bennett <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RLw-crGfK6HSrl8PthEv_m1zMYSAkNxvLPs5v0Blva2cZgXxk-OCqJh32Xlvqw1A9UBW3AcdgMSH9378ZWfFC-rcvqMrnlKlEy81knueAoVm0PNKTWF--TTEq2xdVlNW59sEaFFqDTv9tV6BNeJiBUTZdrzLPwklRRGi5s5vnsK0nJnqxCaiffJaFw/s441/Cover_reveal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="441" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RLw-crGfK6HSrl8PthEv_m1zMYSAkNxvLPs5v0Blva2cZgXxk-OCqJh32Xlvqw1A9UBW3AcdgMSH9378ZWfFC-rcvqMrnlKlEy81knueAoVm0PNKTWF--TTEq2xdVlNW59sEaFFqDTv9tV6BNeJiBUTZdrzLPwklRRGi5s5vnsK0nJnqxCaiffJaFw/s320/Cover_reveal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: red;"><b>The Five Lives of Ms Bennett </b></span>is a novel that I wrote for my Masters in Writing, way back in 2006. Under a different title the manuscript has remained as they say "in the bottom drawer". In 2022, I spent time in a Fellowship at the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre (Greenmount WA) changing all the mixed tenses to all 'present' tense. I have submitted the novel to various publishers (one rejection received), also applied to a 2023 Westerly Mid-Career Fellowship, sending part of the narrative on the 1st life of Alice Bennett, however I doubt my chances as there are so many better writers out there than me. Anyway, here is an excerpt from the novel & the one I sent to Westerly.</span></div><p></p><p align="left" class="MsoHeading7" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-US"><b>Grandma’s
Chocolate Tin</b></span><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-US"><b>Story 1:</b><i> Stories
from the olden days</i></span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: times;">Gran shuffles the old photos in her chocolate tin. When she draws a
cracked photo from underneath the pile, the old woman withdraws into other
corridors. Three men in full uniform, double-breasted velvet jackets and high
boots, have their heads bowed. Particleboard lies beneath their feet. Steps
lead to battered doors; in a side annex, minor scorching. One man is smoking a
rollie. The rest look pitiful, shoulders and mouths drooped. Her granddaughter
thinks the burnt building resembles the black-stick house near the beach.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Alice waits for Gran to call her nickname; twirls her three bangles,
watching for signs that Gran’s eyelids have lifted. She has come to know this
scene, the charcoal in the grate sparking a new flame with just a little prod.
She counts her grandmother’s stitches, the number of times the right forefinger
loops the wool, clicking her heels and tapping her leather shoes on the
concrete path. In this place together, they are apart. Alice bumps her
grandmother, making her drop stitches. In the silence, she plucks blades of
buffalo grass, crisscrosses them like a paddle-pop raft. An old straw hat
balances on the geraniums. She thinks Grandpa might soon jump back into the
picture. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Is this where you had the pump?’ asks Alice, pointing to the old
tank-stand. More clacking, the scrunching sound of wool escaping as Edith
unwinds the ball from her knitting bag. ‘I used to play under there, Gran. Look
here, Gran.’ Alice taps the tank stand with a long piece of doweling. ‘With
matchsticks. I lit one.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘You didn’t want to start a fire, did you?’ Edith raises her eyes
over the rims of her glasses.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Nah. Not really.’ Alice sprawls close to her grandmother and snips clover
with the scissors. ‘Did you ever see a really big fire with Grandpa in that
fire engine?’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘No, women weren’t allowed.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Oh.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘It was bad luck in those days.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Why?’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘There was always bad luck.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘I like firing matches. Whoosh!’ she giggles, imitating the strike.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Don’t you dare, Alice, or I’ll tell your father.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Alice twirls her pink hoop until it catches on her cardigan. She
leans back on the top step, placing herself inside the plastic toy.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘I made ‘em plenty of cups of tea in my day,’ says Edith, resting
her skeins. ‘They was always awake because of me.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Was this your house, Gran?’ says Alice, holding the photo.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Yep. See those roses out the front, every colour of the rainbow. I
loved that old house and garden. Trouble was it was too far from the beach.’
Edith wrestles an aching foot and straightens. ‘Fire Station used to be an old
barn till they renovated it. Your grandfather spent long hours in there,
checking and re-checking the equipment, tuning the pumps and making the truck
ready, just in case. It was one problem
after the other.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Did he burn his fingers?’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘He got his whiskers singed plenty of times. I remember the big one.
It was a miserable job. Half the Spit Junction was burning. Like a wood-yard,
your grandfather said, full of timber ready to go.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Alice imagines a bush fire like the logs that tumble and fall in the
lounge-room grate. She likes the sound of snapping wood that sends sparks up
the chimney. She is glad, too, that Gran is still making scones and cups of tea
for her, that everything is much the same; except they don’t have a fire engine
to climb on, or a garden of roses.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘I don’t know why, but he kept these journals.’ Edith lifts the book
from the bottom of the suitcase, dog-eared pages falling from stitches. ‘Here’s
a good story,’ she says, balancing the large book across both their knees.
‘It’ll help you understand your grandfather.’</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm; text-indent: 1.0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: times;">Warringah: Griffin Road, 1934. Minor property damage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: times;">When we got there the hill along Griffin Road was yellow and smoky.
Left Laurie and Bill in charge of the hose checked out the back of the sheds.
The fire was already frisky in the button grass. Luckily the lantana and
eucalypts further in hadn’t gone up yet. A lad from the factory rolled up with
his truck to help the owner remove some crates from a big stores shed. A few
fences needed to be soaked. I got the volunteers onto that one. A strong
nor-westerly blowing didn’t help things much. The stacked drums, full of
petrol, kerosene and turpentine was our biggest worry. We could hear the petrol
simmering inside, the drums swelling with the heated pressure. All the boys and
I could do was try and keep the drums cool. We were under control as the other
men outside and further up in the long grass begun to get onto the fire and we
won the fight.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Oh, goody, they won.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘Yep. They won that day, but the next week there was all hell to
play. The storekeeper, old Snowy, came skidding up on his motorbike in front of
the house while I was in the yard. Well, he rang the bell and woke the men. The
fire started down at the Surf Club where they kept all the surfboats and
boards. There was a fish and chip shop, a tackle shop. The whole lot might have
gone up.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">Alice waits, as Gran wipes the ridges of her eyes. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; tab-stops: 0cm 1.0cm;"><span style="text-indent: 1cm;"><span style="font-family: times;">‘There were people everywhere, sirens wailing, women, old fellas,
boys outside the double doors. Of course, they weren’t allowed in. They just
ran with the fire truck all the way up Evans Street, dogs yapping at the tyres.
I noticed your grandfather was having trouble with his pants and belt, but
didn’t take any notice. The men soon found he wasn’t well. He was slumped over
his office chair; coat half off, ledger books all over the floor. In the panic
of it all, they took him to the doctor’s first. Had to wake him up. Doc kept
shaking their hands. The boys said he was pleased it wasn’t his place going
up.’</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p></div><p><br /> </p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-60295841815417047662023-01-03T14:45:00.004+08:002023-02-17T11:34:03.471+08:00POETRY LOVERS! - MY COLLECTIONS AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjFM-tDY5nEvI7hGolA3cejxWKENvmwePz-dkOkqWwpW8RtnzxmqxJ4zIGgO2Fp5hJbnUQk--mq5Gm8EKI7CwfCwQXhmVAOf2uI6lgk2R5XmGhlTsrU20bHNovnY3y8cXlHxC1nU2kqO5r3I-pHYgzb_bPuoR3WHuSnc1n3iFkVLlvCi24zTM7nTfNw/s320/2books-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="320" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjFM-tDY5nEvI7hGolA3cejxWKENvmwePz-dkOkqWwpW8RtnzxmqxJ4zIGgO2Fp5hJbnUQk--mq5Gm8EKI7CwfCwQXhmVAOf2uI6lgk2R5XmGhlTsrU20bHNovnY3y8cXlHxC1nU2kqO5r3I-pHYgzb_bPuoR3WHuSnc1n3iFkVLlvCi24zTM7nTfNw/s1600/2books-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>One of the things I learnt in 2022 was to upload my 2 poetry collection to KDP. This acronym is called <b>Kindle Direct Publishing</b>. They also have a program where the reader can enjoy up to 2,000 books at any one time (last time I looked) for a minimum fee of $13.99 per month (Australia). If you're a voracious reader and have a kindle or ipad this is an extremely good deal. Most books usually cost between $20 to $25 (AU), so this works out to a fraction of the cost.<p></p><p>I know that poetry lovers like writing poetry, reading poetry, using poetry at sensitive times like at weddings and funerals, but not many "BUY" poetry. I think they are missing out, as authors have spent a long time studying poetry, gone to great pains to increase their word knowledge and have learnt how to condense languare into minute story parts. They say it's one of the hardest genres to write, and it is time consuming with little reward. One of the reasons why I moved over to writing novels.</p><p>So now any readers out there, if you're engaged in the Kindle Unlimited program, my 2 poetry books are ebooks and are available for $0.00 in the program - for three months commencing on 1/1/2023.</p><p>I would love to see some sales. 70% @ $2.99 equates to approx. $2.10 (AU) in royalties. AND I won't be laughing all the way to the bank. :)</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=Helen+Hagemann&crid=25CMVWL7PU9D6&sprefix=helen+hagemann%2Caps%2C1853&ref=nb_sb_noss"><b style="background-color: white;">MY BOOKS ON KINDLE</b></a></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-71698588954424607272022-12-19T09:45:00.001+08:002022-12-19T09:45:46.307+08:00A Writer's Reflection: My Two Residencies in 2022<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KzIafFtxle5sEbn6X6wKaauCAYHWSBXPP6eX0XO0MIHcuxWmxRUospflWvTHTc13ecgCkyfSEKDrYZoAxTiPNN6dxbV5ac8owFhkZQB-GmpKGpTfJNVn6Y1K_JODIGD9rrHueHjx9rSP0H9LrAYMx4k1a_rE-hVLNiGE-Djr9BfHxD7-GlSJ4IOnAA/s2529/Studios.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2529" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KzIafFtxle5sEbn6X6wKaauCAYHWSBXPP6eX0XO0MIHcuxWmxRUospflWvTHTc13ecgCkyfSEKDrYZoAxTiPNN6dxbV5ac8owFhkZQB-GmpKGpTfJNVn6Y1K_JODIGD9rrHueHjx9rSP0H9LrAYMx4k1a_rE-hVLNiGE-Djr9BfHxD7-GlSJ4IOnAA/s320/Studios.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After waiting two years</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"> with an interruption due to Covid lockdowns and WA border closures, I spent time as a writer-in-residence at </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #f60c0c;"><b>Eramboo Artist Environment in Terrey Hills,</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"> Sydney. While I was there I conducted a Poetry Workshop in Ekphrastic Poetry. </span><span style="background-color: white;">An ekphrastic</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning. A notable example is </span><a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=173742" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.215, 0.61, 0.355, 1) 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">“Ode on a Grecian Urn,”</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in which the poet John Keats speculates on the identity of the lovers who appear to dance and play music, simultaneously frozen in time and in perpetual motion.</span></span></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><p> <span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I also met other artists in particular Julie Bartholomew, a Ceramic artist and educator. We </span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">were neighbours on either side of the studios and could talk to one another through the partioning.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_8tCboEJj9s6YgTFgl4fH7gaVrY6ULPchuuGj4RllSnldqBOSdS_V4VjnwmgPfg4s8fWFyNm7nIrqf-QCWsiHqIXPx2MOHfz1LUWR-PiiDd0rlBOO8FAhnMOsS-5Af_YKfjHBYB-LodP66bRbk4WGq8nz5OyV984rjXxcq-L1EbPT1IQs9zd0Ti_iA/s918/Eramboo4Blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="918" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_8tCboEJj9s6YgTFgl4fH7gaVrY6ULPchuuGj4RllSnldqBOSdS_V4VjnwmgPfg4s8fWFyNm7nIrqf-QCWsiHqIXPx2MOHfz1LUWR-PiiDd0rlBOO8FAhnMOsS-5Af_YKfjHBYB-LodP66bRbk4WGq8nz5OyV984rjXxcq-L1EbPT1IQs9zd0Ti_iA/s320/Eramboo4Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><b>My Writing Fellowship at The Katharine Susannah Writers Centre - October 2022 </b><br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJPeuL4721vnbbr6NnzfZeYqhbYTYKSJCYQvxCtM2gcq1jhVDqCcW8SJ206QcAUiN3bIZa1epiqS16VIK3vyIoik0wrxvPSyfmBaNQefvSatnu_IBZzqOHhwd6z6ubaWEGuJUNYkYUHAqn26zN9ureI9sD1kWjFhH7s4j6T3aQu3ccvF7e80w3l0gBw/s3024/Crime_Writers1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2839" data-original-width="3024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJPeuL4721vnbbr6NnzfZeYqhbYTYKSJCYQvxCtM2gcq1jhVDqCcW8SJ206QcAUiN3bIZa1epiqS16VIK3vyIoik0wrxvPSyfmBaNQefvSatnu_IBZzqOHhwd6z6ubaWEGuJUNYkYUHAqn26zN9ureI9sD1kWjFhH7s4j6T3aQu3ccvF7e80w3l0gBw/s320/Crime_Writers1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I feel so lucky and extremely proud to have spent time at the KSP in my October Fellowship. Two weeks went quickly and in that time I completed a re-working of my MA novel (2009) renaming the fictional memoir *The Five Lives of Ms Bennett*. It was a huge effort to change the mixed tenses to all present tense. And although I haven’t changed the story, I feel that it reads better. Also using Text-to-Speech has been a marvellous editing tool. You’d be surprised how many errors and mistakes you can hear. Also during my time in the hills, I shopped in Mundaring, had a coffee at the Lazy Corner Café, shopped at Coles West Swan, walked the West Swan Railway track (5 times) went, oh shame, only two days swimming at the Bilgoman Aquatic Pool (October the weather was also cold).</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #404040;">I had a great time conducting my *Crime* Workshop – </span><b><span style="color: red;">“So Why Not Turn to Crime”</span></b><span style="color: #404040;">. Six participants were all into the crime genre and there was much discussion about dead bodies, murder, Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot, editing, crime audio books and a great sharing of their writing exercise. I believe the writers went away feeling good about attending. We went over time so that’s a good indication.</span></span></p><p></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-73570012970327792022022-09-03T14:29:00.000+08:002022-09-03T14:29:55.851+08:00THE OZONE CAFÉ on Kindle Unlimited<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFtWyyX0OVn13t1PncxGyEBGFJkmbWV_DsgmxGfixPWW0AOfvQH_6MTQAB50PqkF4egX0UdNTTjcXAWzEgyTASnEwQ2bQeyQ94f5exrjkSMBpIaY92WW3AlpMxiheIzB1Jy4bNDNFw_wV-vocJsTDl2qq5_t2rc-ymbPSwSY6u0kSrjo9aacHVv4MTA/s725/Kindle_Unlimited1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="725" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFtWyyX0OVn13t1PncxGyEBGFJkmbWV_DsgmxGfixPWW0AOfvQH_6MTQAB50PqkF4egX0UdNTTjcXAWzEgyTASnEwQ2bQeyQ94f5exrjkSMBpIaY92WW3AlpMxiheIzB1Jy4bNDNFw_wV-vocJsTDl2qq5_t2rc-ymbPSwSY6u0kSrjo9aacHVv4MTA/s320/Kindle_Unlimited1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b>READERS! </b>You can purchase my novel <b><i>The Ozone Cafe </i></b>for <b><span style="color: red;">$0.00 </span></b>on Kindle Unlimited. This is a program designed to help authors and offers readers a wide selection of ebooks up to 40 to borrow for $14.99. I think it's a good deal as while my book is on offer for free, apparently, I will still get 70% of the Kindle cost $11.53 as royalties. I have joined for two months, enough time to guage whether the book has generated some interest. I am also amongst about a zillion other books and hundreds about cafes so the odds are against me. I just need one or two readers out there in the WWW (World wide Web) to read and review. I sound like I'm begging don't I? Not really, I'm just trying all sorts of things to keep the novel relevant. This program is part of my ongoing promotion and if I don't do it, no one else will. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkotAXZMM20h-pPIdLrXurWNOXiQuIRYkgwd40DjiVuzBxCMkaFjvOFbIrCfxKz3ofKp_6nqPLeaMfIQCtg_QrCs9utkAzos77Jkgoy4nxYsn5gO59Cwo7MVnveJmICSJJXAVgbECHLYhYu5ta74fPCHUcypTTxdGFwuZBHMOI2jwsNlRP38-YPpYH4A/s393/Promo_Insta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="393" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkotAXZMM20h-pPIdLrXurWNOXiQuIRYkgwd40DjiVuzBxCMkaFjvOFbIrCfxKz3ofKp_6nqPLeaMfIQCtg_QrCs9utkAzos77Jkgoy4nxYsn5gO59Cwo7MVnveJmICSJJXAVgbECHLYhYu5ta74fPCHUcypTTxdGFwuZBHMOI2jwsNlRP38-YPpYH4A/s320/Promo_Insta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 144.0pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><b style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Bream Street: circa 1946</span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US"> Part 1</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">It was perhaps the first time a freezing sensation had overwhelmed
him. Age had run into his iron bones and most days he couldn’t get out of bed.
Not that anyone would notice, living alone all these years and he’d left
retirement too late. It was only the fishing in Satara Bay that had kept him
going, his beach cottage central to everything, and his blue-aproned chums. He
couldn’t bear that terrible noise again in his head; a bell was ringing pulled
by a string. He didn’t want this to happen tonight. Not tonight at the Grand
Master’s presentation. How many years had it been? Seven, he recollected, seven slow years
waiting for the position of Vice-Grand Master. All eyes would turn on him. Stan
the Man, they jokingly called him. But when it came to his carpentry skills,
they almost bowed in adoration.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He dressed in his Masonic
regalia, and opened his case checking the contents. The details were there for
the Spring Ball, his launch speech, invitations to dignitaries, parents and
members. He patted the envelope before clicking the locks. He would be proud to
introduce the debutants. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was only 6 o’clock, so
he decided to take a leisurely detour to the Esplanade Hotel, have one or two
pints for Dutch courage.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The terrible noise started
again, more than one bell. He was still cold. Winter that silent oppressor. He
sat in the beer garden looking out to sea. He couldn’t make out the demarcation
line of the horizon with a rising mist coming in, the edges of sky and ocean
near the Heads melding into one landscape.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hummed an old Irish
tune. When he finished his second pint he started walking towards the shops,
past the Diggers’ hall, the housie-housie shed and finally turned into the
front yard of the Masonic Lodge. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Nice evening, Stan,’ said
an old friend, slowly ascending the steps with a wooden cane.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘How’s the back?’ asked
Stan.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Oh, you know,’ he replied,
knocking out one of his legs to keep moving, ‘can’t complain.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ceremony began at 8
o’clock with a three-course meal. After two new Apprentices had been initiated
into the Kingdom, it was time for the presentation. This time, Stan could hear
an orchestra of bells where there was none. He managed to be bold and so stood
behind the microphone, a little wobbly at first. It was his duty to swear
allegiance to the brotherhood; to wear the colors of Vice-Grand Master with
pride.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A growing tiredness
overcame him, and giving his excuses he left the Masonic Hall alone. A thick
fog covered the sleeping town, and at almost midnight, intervals of rain began
spotting the pavement and the blue of his coat. He hurried home.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he arrived on the
landing of his front porch, he sensed someone in the shadows. There were no
street lights and something stirred behind in the dark. Silhouettes and shapes
in the gloomy night, then a heavy army of three men dominated his bent frame.
He moved his arms out to stop them, but their wild punches struck. He could not
fight them off. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyond some distant
shore, Stan the Man knew that all the bells had stopped.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><br /><p></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-37544898463489609112022-08-27T10:13:00.004+08:002022-08-27T13:28:41.552+08:00TWO POETRY COLLECTIONS - ON KINDLE<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkwlnHEaF3tUaeRp8GkqUP6vFDbn1d9SrXW286SLVWhOTr6B2PaotW1P-LsSUh3GSN1RgR1F4o3X7I5264_Ea7xHISBlJWDnC8qO6TlkRZxV3ZmHCA3R5syyGw15Q2UXtH6w6_7Fxjlc7SXvwY1QXoA2bYVCHmESrZ3O3OE-YHk6ybzUfNNhkQpdMuw/s268/2xbooks-writWA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="268" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkwlnHEaF3tUaeRp8GkqUP6vFDbn1d9SrXW286SLVWhOTr6B2PaotW1P-LsSUh3GSN1RgR1F4o3X7I5264_Ea7xHISBlJWDnC8qO6TlkRZxV3ZmHCA3R5syyGw15Q2UXtH6w6_7Fxjlc7SXvwY1QXoA2bYVCHmESrZ3O3OE-YHk6ybzUfNNhkQpdMuw/s1600/2xbooks-writWA.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><p></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><span>My 2 poetry collections are now available on Kindle, <b><i>Evangelyne & other poems </i></b>and <b><i>of Arc & Shadow. </i><span style="color: red;">[</span><span style="color: red;">They are even cheaper than a cup of coffee!]</span></b><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;">Poetry is not so popular when it comes to the buying public, however after having bought American/International poetry collections on Kindle </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;">such as Mary Oliver, Li Po, Ted Kooser, Billy Collins, Lorna Crozier, and Sharon Olds,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"> I thought it was about time I would upload my (hard work) also to Kindle I Trends change and kids are always on their ipads. They’re the next generation of readers. Check out my Kindle Author Page, on </span><a href="http://amazon.com/author/helenhagemann" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #e1122a; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Amazon</b></a><span><b> </b>where you can buy my 2 collections.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;">This has now given me the impetus to publish all my ”unpublished poetry” – it’s so fun to see your hard work on Kindle. It’s as if the work has been given a </span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">second life! </span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"> I have a collection of prose poetry titled </span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bounty</em></span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"> and a children’s poetry collection, </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Miniscule</span>,</em><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"> inspired by the French TV mini-series called </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Minuscule.</em><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"> I intend to self publish these two collections and possibly have both editions of print and ebook.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyOxzWImgI3nVdMllCfW-K6NBIUCKaaMRuIAVyX-B1PIE9wsEG2lhyWtELGkY9sm3vsGYOXH_GdgfBueA4XO5vKmJLpFXTcuOaNQy5q2ftorgyyummWF42QrUGwI5XYxAFQyiRCDLoIKA1XXLu2o-jpUDTChMiOaZOJ-1q6HUHz5p22e1-MckwAbQmA/s4608/Bee%20in%20Polygama.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyOxzWImgI3nVdMllCfW-K6NBIUCKaaMRuIAVyX-B1PIE9wsEG2lhyWtELGkY9sm3vsGYOXH_GdgfBueA4XO5vKmJLpFXTcuOaNQy5q2ftorgyyummWF42QrUGwI5XYxAFQyiRCDLoIKA1XXLu2o-jpUDTChMiOaZOJ-1q6HUHz5p22e1-MckwAbQmA/w217-h163/Bee%20in%20Polygama.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><b>Here is a sample of what's to come - a poem from <i>Miniscule </i></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDGEnoiaOii8LcJ6nODBBK9q8ktdFllID8L7w5UOLa_cGXnZuSwt3H7epavoK-V6ZNPNlIxzZAzMD7y9kvOXz7J5lcw9SwySHPWGmu7ptFrzy0LZEX_S_jP6ER2oRJsthzfLgiJboyLnGATF3X0QGQdvkdJzYl6aiOddQCIkp9s30DYKaMOmbiOFeLA/s1334/E979C951-F244-47A0-9204-702A30185754.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="718" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDGEnoiaOii8LcJ6nODBBK9q8ktdFllID8L7w5UOLa_cGXnZuSwt3H7epavoK-V6ZNPNlIxzZAzMD7y9kvOXz7J5lcw9SwySHPWGmu7ptFrzy0LZEX_S_jP6ER2oRJsthzfLgiJboyLnGATF3X0QGQdvkdJzYl6aiOddQCIkp9s30DYKaMOmbiOFeLA/w407-h718/E979C951-F244-47A0-9204-702A30185754.png" width="407" /></a><span style="color: #404040;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"><b><i></i></b></span></div><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></i></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"><b></b></span><p></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-21506312546581048682022-03-11T12:56:00.009+08:002022-03-12T09:31:46.154+08:00The Ozone Cafe - Unboxing Books <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtmY50HYR7FrqRWm_a_2wH6b3IVDsbYruO09LED4A1iwQ4J13Uk3qgabbuTuLymnizIGo0GLeOu1_oGr4AycBjzX_uxYiD7siT5rUU4p4nYemnFukswUBDihX3Kly6LBefMf_4JF37lAS-Qt4b0WrbTGGsXmgBl54imRkrLpw7tKJUIXqMwKP7BGv8fw=s320" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtmY50HYR7FrqRWm_a_2wH6b3IVDsbYruO09LED4A1iwQ4J13Uk3qgabbuTuLymnizIGo0GLeOu1_oGr4AycBjzX_uxYiD7siT5rUU4p4nYemnFukswUBDihX3Kly6LBefMf_4JF37lAS-Qt4b0WrbTGGsXmgBl54imRkrLpw7tKJUIXqMwKP7BGv8fw" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;">I
have recently tried (once again) to create a reasonable book video of
“unboxing books”. Not only have I spent a lot of time, and tried to edit
out BLACK COCKATOOS (yes, loud rasping from them in a neighbour’s olive
tree) in my first attempt, I also discovered that WORDPRESS made it
difficult to upload in media, (haha although problem solved). In a
recent post I managed to upload my video in the *text section*. Never
give up folks! </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vJBnU4HOz5Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="vJBnU4HOz5Y"></iframe></div><br /><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;">So glad </span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;">to share this space with you so that you can view my ”Unboxing Books” of the 2</span><span style="border: 0px none; bottom: 1ex; color: #404040; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">nd</span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;">novel</span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="border: 0px none; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px none; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ozone Café,</i><i style="border: 0px none; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> t</i><span style="border: 0px none; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hat has taken almost "14 YEARS!"</span></span></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: currentcolor none 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Also, I do have two other BLOGS and have uploaded same video to <a href="http://helenhagemann.worddpress.com" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px none; color: #e1122a; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://helenhagemann.wordpress.com</a> and <a href="https://helhagemann.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px none; color: #e1122a; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://helhagemann.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: currentcolor none 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, apart from these frustrating promotional ideas, I am quite excited to receive a number of copies of <i style="border: 0px none; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px none; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ozone Café </span></i>and will have a book launch on Saturday 26<span style="border: 0px none; bottom: 1ex; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> March, at the Kingsway Bar & Bistro @ 12.30pm. Book signing/ $25 cash only. Bar tab. Covid restrictions must be seated & certified. All welcome!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: currentcolor none 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The novel can be purchased from me, the author on the “Buy Books” wordpress page & also from <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Ozone-Caf%C3%A9-Helen-Hagemann/dp/1956635300/ref=sr_1_1?crid=75EAQXBGUJES&keywords" style="border: 0px none; color: #e1122a; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">amazon.com.au</a> who offer a free postage deal.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: currentcolor none 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i style="border: 0px none; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px none; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ozone Café</span></i><span face=""Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif"> is about three separate owners and the demise of the cafe through council corruption. Set in a fictional town north of Sydney, the author brings to the novel her memories of growing up in Ettalong Beach NSW and visiting the cafe as a teenager.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #404040; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: currentcolor none 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From a review by Richard Regan on <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Ozone-Caf%C3%A9-Helen-Hagemann/dp/1956635300/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZCEP04T6Z33N&keywords=the+ozone+cafe&qid=1646975191&s=books&sprefix=tHE+oZONE+cAFE%2Cstripbooks%2C919&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> Australia. “At the heart of the novel is the Ozone Café itself, the loving creation of Italian migrant, Vincenzo Polamo, and treasured possession of its subsequent two owners. Their intertwined stories revolve around the café and the three local children whose images are immortalised in its courtyard mural.”</p><div id="atatags-370373-622ad7914bb8a" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #404040; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="wpcnt" id="wordads-preview-parent" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #404040; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wpa" style="border: 0px none; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor none 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: currentcolor none 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p></div>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-11503048401694002692022-01-02T16:47:00.010+08:002022-03-12T09:36:21.636+08:00The Ozone Café - Available on Amazon.com.au<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC_ot6AR5PsO-mUPDlZGkl89p2Unwy44vf-Oyq50tscPw_rb0kDLH_N9uN4GyiwGfW3p4GdBup4ynqeAHDJT9YSi7Mg8Q8OLgUy7Xf5WZAyrbCLyDW14sQfVionxmRPysOck8Vnig8TWN_fv31JZG5AollF1wZjL4bLkO2XKi8ox5JbxNK23_TMFN_dQ=s465" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="465" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC_ot6AR5PsO-mUPDlZGkl89p2Unwy44vf-Oyq50tscPw_rb0kDLH_N9uN4GyiwGfW3p4GdBup4ynqeAHDJT9YSi7Mg8Q8OLgUy7Xf5WZAyrbCLyDW14sQfVionxmRPysOck8Vnig8TWN_fv31JZG5AollF1wZjL4bLkO2XKi8ox5JbxNK23_TMFN_dQ=s320" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" left="" style="clear: both;" text-align:="">My new novel is now available in Australia (included free postage for first buyer). Check it out at</div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Ozone-Caf%C3%A9-Helen-Hagemann/dp/1956635300/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3J5SWAAPEJDD&keywords=The+Ozone+Cafe&qid=1641109083&s=books&sprefix=the+ozone+cafe%2Cstripbooks%2C827&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon.com.au</a></p><p>Also available from publishers <a href="https://adelaidebooks.org/collections/novels/products/the-ozone-cafe" target="_blank">Adelaide Books, New York, USA</a></p><p>The following chapter (in part) is the construction of the cafe. </p><p> <b> </b><b>Chapter 12</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US"> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>☼<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US">After a few days
the beery smell of the fermenting orange trees began to disappear. It took
several truck loads to cart away the old house, taking with it the shed, the
old laundry, bushes and two large palms. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US"> Vincenzo visited the site every day. The concrete slab gradually turned into
walls, and the walls grew upwards, and steel rods that were stressed into the
first floor became the second story, then a third. By degrees, the café spread
its tentacles of light and dark. And once where there had been an open blue
sky, the space filled with windows and doors, the inside walls becoming a
stark, white interior. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US"> There were days when the generator broke
down, the men shouting at one another, joking around while waiting for renewed
power. A constant noise fractured the Esplanade with screaming machines
dispersing sounds of sawing, drilling, and banging. Added to this, Pomadina barked
when a subcontractor’s dog yapped incessantly from the back of a ute. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US"> Silence only existed out where the bay
glowed, and when the rotating flash from the lighthouse descended on the walls
and low rooms, a luminous moonlight painted a backdrop over everything that
became solid by grace and spirit, by song and sovereignty. For house and home.
For a café where there was none.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US"> Rennie advised Vincenzo that one wall had to
come down. It had something to do with the lay of the land and compaction, but it
was better to get it right. His account of the problem did not disturb Vincenzo.
He was more than happy to observe the café taking shape, his spiral staircase,
the strength of the building in rendered brick, the curved corridors of the
upstairs bedrooms taking on an interesting chamber appearance. The structure
became his space through the temporal vagaries of winter to spring, from spring
to late spring, then early summer. A concert of colors went through his head as
he began to design the main eating lounge in the café. Red. Red would be the color
of table tops and benches, bringing warmth down into the area from the café’s
one and only high ceiling. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US"> Vincenzo ordered light fittings, counter
tops, four-seated cubicles with studded bench seats, a leather lounge suite and
wall lamps. His main vice was the purchase of the best cooking equipment he
could find in Sydney. He treated himself to Wiltshire knives, two fridges,
Condor plates, cups and bowls, stainless steel pots and pans. He ordered a top-class
espresso coffee machine made in Italy and purchased a twin oven from a local
supplier. Closer to the building’s completion, he chose an off-white paint for
the exterior of the building and a cream vanilla for the interior. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-57356119110415506132021-12-25T08:28:00.002+08:002021-12-25T08:28:46.679+08:00Insights into The Ozone Café - my 2nd novel<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgavqH0_s3e6E3IP-NPpxI_1aq7KdRHWx_lKy58bzKQiz5L4NF4VURfTQhwm6a-qgyf18ej5rLRMkz6SrJ0Gegz02hxZThKvBqDwUrr3HkPrch6LENvBoeKn-fBekgcMKxfVH1g9EsFd2rzuJHiMhV34mJid7iNkJ9bCNrR5O3VXPJx9P8FpgcRwHYrZQ=s1036" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="1036" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgavqH0_s3e6E3IP-NPpxI_1aq7KdRHWx_lKy58bzKQiz5L4NF4VURfTQhwm6a-qgyf18ej5rLRMkz6SrJ0Gegz02hxZThKvBqDwUrr3HkPrch6LENvBoeKn-fBekgcMKxfVH1g9EsFd2rzuJHiMhV34mJid7iNkJ9bCNrR5O3VXPJx9P8FpgcRwHYrZQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Personal Story behind <em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the Ozone Café</em></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The old black & white photographs might reveal a little of the setting of my 2<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">nd</span> novel <span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ozone Café.</em></span> The literary world often states for writers, “write what you know”. I have used my hometown in the setting of the novel, however the names have been changed to protect…yes no novelist wants to be sued or face undue litigation esp. when one writes about a corrupt shire. It was common knowledge in the area, that because the Ozone Café sat on prime property (a stone’s throw from the beach), it attracted the moguls and thus disappeared through dubious means.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT-LBM-oxwOtnI6u9g0AiwDoWMOOBh0ExbN-DiECrpRVAwNNqlvPumSgZsqixXCraCyIpgtLRj2Jk6CeP5kh_Ni9xyIq2moi5YIPfEUJXjT6az7gEAH6YSfwTpLqSfqPyuIYGdCvW0UhHBsv0KhkYp9sjJnuJeHe76tp_O6Ly2D-Vlp53xNMk_auBz-w=s1162" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1162" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT-LBM-oxwOtnI6u9g0AiwDoWMOOBh0ExbN-DiECrpRVAwNNqlvPumSgZsqixXCraCyIpgtLRj2Jk6CeP5kh_Ni9xyIq2moi5YIPfEUJXjT6az7gEAH6YSfwTpLqSfqPyuIYGdCvW0UhHBsv0KhkYp9sjJnuJeHe76tp_O6Ly2D-Vlp53xNMk_auBz-w=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Ettalong was and has always been a small community lifestyle: a population of less than 5,000, an older community with shopfronts like the cake shop, chemist, newsagents, banks and supermarket. It hasn’t changed in 50 years. There’s fishing, prawning, oysters in the myriad of waterways that is known as Broken Bay which sprawls to Gosford and is known as the Brisbane Water District. What has replaced the café is a very large monolith resort-type building that I understand is not liked nor valued by the locals. Well, it’s a holiday venue for the “rich”.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPiuQBT5aYuLyxagYixo90jwRM0oBX10ja2ou7sTz4YZIHaiIxnTCXDJa22Zf1qUIjqR177FoIwW_XCfKgrR5AaCvpm2pPa3V6FeuqH1i1vwr5MGiE1My1sAX7n7hLObmY-A2wphZo85fQigWtd5KSEpO3Ze1z_7FMew0VqsdOH-rIJhpdYYRyERbClQ=s1768" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1768" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPiuQBT5aYuLyxagYixo90jwRM0oBX10ja2ou7sTz4YZIHaiIxnTCXDJa22Zf1qUIjqR177FoIwW_XCfKgrR5AaCvpm2pPa3V6FeuqH1i1vwr5MGiE1My1sAX7n7hLObmY-A2wphZo85fQigWtd5KSEpO3Ze1z_7FMew0VqsdOH-rIJhpdYYRyERbClQ=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />I went to Ettalong Primary, and then later attended Gosford High School. As a teenager and even younger I frequented the café with girlfriends, esp.one in particular named, Heather. We would have a milkshake, buy lollies, click on the jukebox and if we had any money left we’d slide a twenty shilling piece into one of the pinball machines. Looking back, it was actually a challenge to enter the Ozone café as it was daily occupied by Bodgies and Widgies. They were the rock-n-roll gangs of the sixties, rather harmless, but I guess it was the leather jackets, the chewing gum and sneers that made you feel uncomfortable. Nevertheless, the café was so close to the beach, that after a swim that being hungry we often bought an icy-pole or ice-cream. So, my local teenage haunt was a vivid memory that I would never forget.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When my younger brother, still living in the area, told me that the Ozone had been pulled down, I wanted to write the story of life inside its walls and its ultimate destruction.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ozone Café,</em></span> <span style="border: 0px; color: red; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">with three separate owners </em></span></span>therefore, is the nemesis of my story and its demise through council corruption.</span></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-37100201270880987612021-12-11T19:35:00.006+08:002022-01-02T16:49:40.912+08:00The Ozone Cafe: Out now!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tbj7iXLtBbQ/YbSLZ4z0TLI/AAAAAAAAKhw/tyha_siePjUOjgD7rGMsOCnRk3ykbWqSgCNcBGAsYHQ/s750/Full%2BBook_Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="750" height="230" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tbj7iXLtBbQ/YbSLZ4z0TLI/AAAAAAAAKhw/tyha_siePjUOjgD7rGMsOCnRk3ykbWqSgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Full%2BBook_Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><xml><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">The
Ozone Café, </span></b><span lang="EN-US">a historical novel with three separate
owners, is about the café’s demise through council corruption.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Vincenzo
Polamo</span></b><span lang="EN-US">, a Calabrian, builds the Ozone Café with his
builder-brother in 1957 in fictional Satara Bay. He meets three children,
Winifred, Casey, and Nicolas, creating a seascape mural on a café wall that
includes them. The café changes from Italian to Australian cuisine. However,
due to long hours of hard work and Vincenzo’s wife unwilling to migrate to
Australia, Vincenzo sells the café. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Joe
Pendlebury</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> suffers setbacks with too few customers,
poor health and problems due to a violent storm causing structural damage close
to the mural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In major scenes,
Pendlebury goes missing, and Nicolas dies from muscular dystrophy, heightening
Winifred’s concerns to keep the mural sacred.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Con
& Dion Lasaridis</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> experience problems with the
damage. Unable to convince the Heystbury Shire the café is sound after a
rebuild, they lose ownership in a court battle; the Shire evoking a Demolition
Order, 1946. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Lasaridis</b> believe
this is due to an undercurrent of well-known council corruption; Mayor Tyrone
being a principal player in corrupt land and property dealings. Vincenzo (et
al) removes the mural reinstating it at his home. The mural becomes a lasting
memorial to Nicolas Battersby, as well as the sole surviving piece of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Ozone Café.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Available soon on Amazon & <a href="http://adelaidebooks.org" target="_blank">Adelaide Books, New York </a><br /></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
</xml>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-52938234993334703122021-11-29T12:54:00.008+08:002021-12-28T15:31:19.613+08:00My Experience with KIRKUS REVIEWS - did not have a pleasant experience!<p></p><p></p><p data-adtags-visited="true"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7onDofa4ZFw/YaRlyQMZUCI/AAAAAAAAKgE/9NTNOK6eAisdMQmyvZJz8W5xluTl9375gCNcBGAsYHQ/s440/Blogger..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="420" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7onDofa4ZFw/YaRlyQMZUCI/AAAAAAAAKgE/9NTNOK6eAisdMQmyvZJz8W5xluTl9375gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Blogger..jpg" width="305" /></a></i></div><p><i><em>This post is mainly to alert Australian authors about my UNPLEASANT experience using the services of <strong>Kirkus Reviews</strong> to attract a national, US or international readership.</em></i></p><p>You may have seen the Australian eBay
advertisement on TV called eBay Tuesday where customers who do not use
eBay are denigrated. The actor’s spiel is a mantra called, <b>RIPPED OFF,
ROZ.</b> Let me tell you if I were to do an advertisement on KIRKUS REVIEWS
I would use the same spiel, yes – this author is a RIPPED OFF, ROZ!
</p><p data-adtags-visited="true">Several, well in the main, disadvantages
that I have faced by getting published in the United States, New York
City, has been due to COVID, the lockdown events, its restrictions, and
the disadvantages of being unable to achieve an American promotion of
my novel over there.</p>
<p data-adtags-visited="true">Unable to travel to New York, I sought the
services of KIRKUS REVIEWS. Firstly, I paid for a review. It was so,
so. In the opening sentence, my young couple were “feckless”. The rest
was slighly positive, except for the very negative comment by the
reviewer saying it was :-</p><p data-adtags-visited="true"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuQ415EpjLQ/YaRbziapkFI/AAAAAAAAKf8/mXp-Kiu3GSIpbiW4K0kWwTYMQ_GIPBPlgCNcBGAsYHQ/s763/Last_Asbestos_4Website.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="479" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuQ415EpjLQ/YaRbziapkFI/AAAAAAAAKf8/mXp-Kiu3GSIpbiW4K0kWwTYMQ_GIPBPlgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Last_Asbestos_4Website.png" width="201" /></a></div><p></p>
<p data-adtags-visited="true"><i>An often entertaining, <span style="color: red;">if unevenly executed,</span> tale of the extraordinary lengths that people can go in pursuit of their dreams.</i></p>
<p data-adtags-visited="true">That didn’t bode well for me, since the
idea of a review is to sell the book, esp. in the US. I thanked Kirkus
Reviews for their effort, but $400 later, I now realise I was a <b>RIPPED
OFF, ROZ!</b></p><p data-adtags-visited="true">My other effort was to place a book advert
on their website. $1,600 later, I was again a RIPPED OFF, ROZ! Not
only didn’t the ad appear the first time, the 2nd time on contacting
them asking for a refund, OR what transpired was a second screening in
November. Again, the advertisement which was meant to be on several
pages as follows, Homepage 970×250: <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/">https://www.kirkusreviews.com/</a> (third integrated) – Review pages 970×250: <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/discover-books/fiction">https://www.kirkusreviews.com/<span style="color: red;">discover-books</span>/fiction</a> (third integrated) – News and Features 970×250: <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/genres/fiction/">https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/genres/fiction/</a> (third integrated) -Book List 970×250: <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-lists/">https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-lists/</a> (third integrated) – only appeared a couple of times on “<span style="color: red;">DISCOVER BOOKS</span>” – a quick flash and it was gone! I spent hours scrolling through only to find it twice - once near their magazine and the other above a novel by Isabel Allende.</p>
<p data-adtags-visited="true">I have since written to Kirkus, complained
that the ad should have been a fixed/static showing for 2 weeks, and
asked the ad girl to let the company know about my book ad expectations
and criticisms. Of course, a RIPPED OFF, ROZ, should not complain to an
American Company – how dare she!</p>
<p data-adtags-visited="true">So folks, save your money. Don’t use
KIRKUS REVIEWS as your book advertisement will only be A FLASH IN THE
PAN, that neither ‘you” or ‘book buyers’ will see.</p><p data-adtags-visited="true"><b> </b></p><p> </p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-60160470343037770532021-11-06T18:58:00.000+08:002021-11-06T18:58:27.865+08:00Writing Residencies Await in NSW & WA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ri5RY8NEPME/YYZaCKTCe_I/AAAAAAAAKds/HIxJeT59iIotP1SRksxn7HCLu2eU-RVkACNcBGAsYHQ/s1664/Katharine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1664" height="282" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ri5RY8NEPME/YYZaCKTCe_I/AAAAAAAAKds/HIxJeT59iIotP1SRksxn7HCLu2eU-RVkACNcBGAsYHQ/w320-h282/Katharine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I am pleased to announce that in <span style="color: red;"><b>October 2022</b></span> I will be spending time as a KSP Fellowship recipient for rwo weeks working on my next novel *The Tattooed City* /Tattoo City (a working title).<p></p><p>I was not expecting to receive my acceptance email as the Katharine Sussanah Pritchard Writers Centre is highly competitive and prestigious. The centre has announced all the successful writers. They are: De<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: times;">melza Carlton, Anne de Monchaux, Terena Boniwell, Leni Shilton, Shannon Meyerkort, Mark Keenan, Leigh-Michel Hobbs, Brooke Dunnell, Trish Versteegen, Karen Herbert, Jacie Anderson, Emma Hall, Miranda Luby, Emma Pignatiello, Anna Fursland, Narelle Hill, Ashleigh Hardcastle, Danijela Kambaskovic-Schwartz, Adele Tan, Kylie Boltin and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: times;"><b><i>Helen Hagemann.</i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: times;"><b><i>March 2020 - May 2022</i></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #262626; font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSif6wp2I_3nabsCO8a78DiVj0yEkEwhrTlFEUvJzGZMcumE5u7NVC8LV1FXTAxDCqwIZ3fQ_lBGr8pmAgyMy9Fv9eVW0S2u7jmL0siVXX8jI0YL5WQni408JnJ6gwpvtTCCS6GSUZv5ZJ/s331/Eramboo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="331" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSif6wp2I_3nabsCO8a78DiVj0yEkEwhrTlFEUvJzGZMcumE5u7NVC8LV1FXTAxDCqwIZ3fQ_lBGr8pmAgyMy9Fv9eVW0S2u7jmL0siVXX8jI0YL5WQni408JnJ6gwpvtTCCS6GSUZv5ZJ/s320/Eramboo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #262626; font-family: times;">Prior to Covid-19 I was accepted into the Eramboo Artist Environment and was to spend three weeks<br /> working on my novel *The Ozone Cafe*. My position is still valid & awaiting my presence.Hopefully I will be able to attend the centre sometime in 2022. So Mark McGowan (Premier) I am hoping that you open the West Australian borders in time for me to arrange my trip to Terrey Hills, NSW - without quarantining, without wearing a mask and that my two Covid shots will allow me to travel, freely!</span><p></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-15189484420036819642021-07-10T19:45:00.161+08:002021-07-19T19:17:53.028+08:00A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C94AhG1yMIU/YPPKJfstfXI/AAAAAAAAKH0/9KlfgszV8e8WPaKjviTJGRMvB6ztSTVEQCNcBGAsYHQ/s310/brittany.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C94AhG1yMIU/YPPKJfstfXI/AAAAAAAAKH0/9KlfgszV8e8WPaKjviTJGRMvB6ztSTVEQCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/brittany.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-G1zJNw9Ts/YPPBPfYnXZI/AAAAAAAAKHk/irx7BVWjcJMg-zic80RIi0KKSczeU8PMgCNcBGAsYHQ/s976/March4Justice.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-G1zJNw9Ts/YPPBPfYnXZI/AAAAAAAAKHk/irx7BVWjcJMg-zic80RIi0KKSczeU8PMgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/March4Justice.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">While I'm on the other side of the country </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">(I wish I could march), </span> I am very supportive of women who have come forward with reports of sexual assault, violence, rape, and harassment in the workplace. It appears that we all need to band together FOR MUTUAL SUPPORT. I am a writer and will continue to speak my piece here on this blog. It may go unnoticed, but at least I am a small voice in the dark saying, too! "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Two main things have caught my attention recently and that is the <b>Honourable Kate Sullivan</b> - inspired by Brittany Higgins, one of Australian parliament's longest-serving women has come forward with sexual assault allegations for her time spent in the Old Parliament House. </span><span style="font-size: small;">She was a Liberal parliamentarian for 27 or so years, serving through the </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke, Keating
and Howard.</span>governments.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OBZMGrMBD6ETX2QDVOJiwxUihugRR05t9QdWf1AwO7COxpr-TB3Rrs_Dbz_UAzZPlwpeCMVrcXEzzC3JgcndHRjEEJ_fApNE-srgTH6fyoOdIc3gpIeeXD3gjcTFksg0-5DCd4qe0VO1/s275/KateSullivan.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OBZMGrMBD6ETX2QDVOJiwxUihugRR05t9QdWf1AwO7COxpr-TB3Rrs_Dbz_UAzZPlwpeCMVrcXEzzC3JgcndHRjEEJ_fApNE-srgTH6fyoOdIc3gpIeeXD3gjcTFksg0-5DCd4qe0VO1/s0/KateSullivan.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Totally inspired most recently that Kate has been included in the ABC's July 2021 documentary with <b>Annabel Crabb</b>.titled "<b>MS REPRESENTED". </b>I did look for review sites to add my comments, but alas none were forthcoming, not unless I joined a myriad of websites like MMB Ltd, but who has the time to join etc. etc.? </span><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rrmVzhuXKZM/YPPTQuldCGI/AAAAAAAAKH8/Qg3F2zCXUr8wj93FHH1e1H1Y-6DGfeMggCNcBGAsYHQ/s275/Sarah.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rrmVzhuXKZM/YPPTQuldCGI/AAAAAAAAKH8/Qg3F2zCXUr8wj93FHH1e1H1Y-6DGfeMggCNcBGAsYHQ/s200/Sarah.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
SARAH HANSON YOUNG </b>did us women proud on <b>MS REPRESENTED. </b>There she was in Parliament naming the politicians who harass, invade privacy and who are drunk in Parliament, pointing the finger at their irreprehensible behaviour including Cory Bernardi. I am so proud to call myself a Greens voter and very proud of that young woman who stood her ground and told it like it should be told. Firm, tough, strong, eloquent, calling them LESS THAN MEN. I stood up in my lounge room and clapped continually, then rewound (on iview catch-up) and watched her performance several times. So proud and heartwarming to see her actions in this #METOO - TOXIC ENVIRONMENT a Greens Senator who can give those dudes some necessary scthick.</div><div><br /></div><div>JULIA GILLARD, KATE SULLIVAN, BRONWYN BISHOP, ROS KELLY, PENNY WONG, LINDA BURNEY, ANNE ALY, NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA, AMANDA VANSTONE, MARGARET REYNOLDS, JUDITH TROETH, AND JULIE BISHOP - You were all fantastic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Read <a href="https://helenhagemann.blogspot.com/2021/06/brittany-higgins-per-se-dorothy-hewett.html" target="_blank">The Big Hush</a> my previous post on Brittany Higgins & Dorothy Hewett <span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">(1923 – 2002)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><b>Acknowledgements:</b> to the ABC (good program),BBC and the Guardian, thanks guys!</div></div>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-22702960762962449972021-06-27T09:42:00.007+08:002021-06-30T13:35:51.937+08:00BRITTANY HIGGINS per se DOROTHY HEWETT AWARD in Literature<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i0FrrbRwMVc/YNfRGcZrBeI/AAAAAAAAKFs/X7zI86yG0c4hRykF5C3xdPWNd89kydJhQCNcBGAsYHQ/s282/dorothyHEWETT.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="282" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i0FrrbRwMVc/YNfRGcZrBeI/AAAAAAAAKFs/X7zI86yG0c4hRykF5C3xdPWNd89kydJhQCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/dorothyHEWETT.jpg" /></a></div><b>The Dorothy Hewett Award - Name remains by UWA</b><p></p><p> In our current <b><span style="color: red;">#METOO</span></b> generation, for the life of me, I cannot understand why the University of UWA hasn't changed the title of their manuscript award. I wrote a letter back in 2018 insisting that they change the name of the award, only to be fobbed off. It smells like corruption! It seems to me, and it's only speculation, but in "speaking out" about their mother's pedophile pimping when they were children, Hewett's daughters must have been threatened by some hierarchy in the literature world, esp. a well-know publisher. And how many women in high prestige jobs has this happened to? Just thousands folks!</p><p><b>BRITTANY HIGGINS - Another #MeToo - A quote from the ABC. </b>Ms Higgins had originally decided not to pursue a complaint with police as she felt that the pressure of going public about the rape "would affect her job". </p><p><b>Brittany Higgins </b>has alleged being raped by a federal staffer in Parliament House, and the matter is now due for the courts. And "justice matters". Since speaking publicly about the allegations, she has referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police.Says ABC news. "The ACT's Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold confirmed he received a partial brief of evidence and a request to provide advice on any prosecution." </p><p>Here is a link to my previous post titled <b><a href="https://helenhagemann.blogspot.com/2018/06/dorothy-hewett-scandal-writers-in-moral.html" target="_blank">Dorothy Hewett Exposed as a Miscreeant</a></b></p><p><b>YES</b> - As Glen Kirchner (a US Federal Prosecutor for 30 years) would say - "Justice Matters."</p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-70009623234832996212021-06-15T19:42:00.005+08:002021-07-18T17:05:45.792+08:00The Ozone Café - 2nd Novel due October by Adelaide Books<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EdtWypsSsEE/YMiQzB-Zk0I/AAAAAAAAKD0/K7YnfaV__Scw5aRK40AXmKCBMmqEQLVjACNcBGAsYHQ/s768/Screenshot_OctoberPublication.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="480" height="474" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EdtWypsSsEE/YMiQzB-Zk0I/AAAAAAAAKD0/K7YnfaV__Scw5aRK40AXmKCBMmqEQLVjACNcBGAsYHQ/w296-h474/Screenshot_OctoberPublication.png" width="296" /></a></div><p><br /> Synopsis – <b>The Ozone Café
<i> </i></b></p><p><b><i>The Ozone Café</i></b> is about three separate owners of the café and its demise through political corruption. <br />
<span style="margin-left: 28px;"><i>‘I never thought of this place as a ship,’ said Winifred.<br />
<span style="margin-left: 28px;">‘Rennie and I, we had a few drinks the other night when we organised the wall. He told me a few things I didn’t know. When the café was first built, I just said to Rennie I wanted the outside walls curved like a woman. I wanted two stories with a deck on top, and have it rendered smooth as a woman all over. Rennie said he had trouble at first wondering how he would do it, but he eventually found a style, it’s called a P & O Orient. Like the large ships of the thirties. That’s why the building has the top deck and rails. It’s based on the bow of an ocean liner. All this time, I never knew, and he didn’t tell me, he just said, ‘you got the curves you wanted.’</span><br /></i><br />
Middle aged <b>Vincenzo Polamo</b> has migrated to Australia to start a new life. He has left his family back in Calabria, but hopes they will join him when they are ready. He eventually settles in fictional Satara Bay and with the help of his builder brother, builds the Ozone Café in 1957 in an ideal beach location in this popular holiday town. When Vincenzo comes to terms with knowing that his wife Maria will never set foot in Australia, the long hours of making a success of the café with an Australian cuisine, and without familial help, he sells the café, as well as being with Mandy a new woman in his life.<br />
<span style="margin-left: 28px;">Unbeknown to Vincenzo, the previous property that was owned by Stan Sawbridge (Stan, the Man) still holds a Demolition Order that his Real Estate Agent Ronny Williams fails to remove during the sale. In the meantime, Vincenzo meets three children, Winifred, Casey and Nicolas Battersby (wheelchair bound) and creates a seascape mural on an outside wall, a dedication to them.</span><br />
<b>Joe Pendlebury</b> is the second owner. However, he suffers setbacks with too few customers, poor health and a violent storm that causes wall damage close to the mural. Winifred, who has worked in the café, believes that Pendlebury is dismantling the mural and tells Vincenzo. In suspicious circumstances, Pendlebury uncharacteristically disappears and therfore his wife Shirley sells the café to Con and Dion Lasaridis (Greek boys). <br />
<b>Con and Dion Lasaridis (Greek boys)</b><br />
In this act, Nicolas Battersby dies from muscular dystrophy and this heightens Winifred’s concerns to keep the mural sacred in his memory. While the Ozone is a success, the cracked Ozone wall is a serious problem for the Greek boys who cannot convince the Heytesbury Shire that the side courtyard wall has been professionally rebuilt. They lose the café in a court case when the Shire enforces the unrevoked Demolition Order of 1946. The Greek boys believe it’s due to the undercurrent of political corruption, but cannot afford to fight them in the High Court.</span>When the Shire takes its time to demolish the Ozone, Vincenzo, with the help of his brother’s industrial machinery, removes the mural from the café. In broad daylight they act as a bogus demolition team reinstating the brick seascape in Vincenzo’s front yard. Still intact, a fountain wall is built, becoming a lasting memorial to Nicolas Battersby, as well as the sole surviving piece of <i>The Ozone Café.</i><br /></p>
<b><i>The Ozone Café</i></b> is an exploration of power and control and of those who survive the most powerless of unfair situations. It is a David and Goliath story; the café just as fragile as the people who inhabit it, does not survive while Shire authorities prepare to tear it down. One small glimmer of hope remains - with the reinstatement of the mural as the last surviving piece of the cafe.Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-63319626456556812302020-11-07T11:27:00.001+08:002020-11-07T11:27:29.100+08:00The Last Asbestos Town & Book Clubs<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-33XcHyAdpB0/X6YSzVt_eMI/AAAAAAAAJ0c/27qufSdkVsMnZvDWCfUyCR-N545bpHszACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/BooksArrival.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-33XcHyAdpB0/X6YSzVt_eMI/AAAAAAAAJ0c/27qufSdkVsMnZvDWCfUyCR-N545bpHszACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/BooksArrival.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>One of the events that I am connecting with since having a novel published is Book Clubs. I have recently supplied 8 books to a Cottesloe Book Club and I will be their guest on 24th August. Hopefully, the group will like the novel. I know that a lot of readers do not like the Speculative genre and many book buyers have said to me ‘it’s not something they usually read’, but once they got into the story they liked it. That’s all an author needs. A reader who likes the book. Some interesting comments have been, ‘part love story, part mystery & part thriller.’ ‘quirky, loved the Gothic included, ‘storyline most unusual but grabbed me in.’ ‘I found it very interesting in a subject I was not knowledgeable in’ and mostly (which I love) ‘I couldn’t put it down!’
I am offering a good supply of books to any Perth Book Club at a discount of 20%. My offer of books includes personal delivery, background notes, plus author visit to the meetup group.
I can be contacted @ <a href="mailto:hagemann.helen@gmail.com">hagemann.helen@gmail.com</a> or SMS to +61404666156 – Please mention “books” in the text.
The Last Asbestos Town is published by Adelaide Books, LLC New York, USA – You can buy on Kindle @ amazon.com.au or directly from the publisher!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0QS1UlNTRX0/X6YS73I_BYI/AAAAAAAAJ0g/XYL6fwLhSCor4lTZvkBYIrNoKLuRfCudgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1723/InstaPromo1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="1723" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0QS1UlNTRX0/X6YS73I_BYI/AAAAAAAAJ0g/XYL6fwLhSCor4lTZvkBYIrNoKLuRfCudgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/InstaPromo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PAkfC1Qy66Y/X6YTCimvvJI/AAAAAAAAJ0k/3JU2I8Kezk0E8frjQWUk48yE3RQGmfkdACNcBGAsYHQ/s1451/InstaPromo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="1451" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PAkfC1Qy66Y/X6YTCimvvJI/AAAAAAAAJ0k/3JU2I8Kezk0E8frjQWUk48yE3RQGmfkdACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/InstaPromo.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-74917570426114089242020-10-04T23:01:00.004+08:002020-10-04T23:10:54.519+08:00Review of The Last Asbestos Town in Have-a-go News, Sept.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ankT40UA9Q0/X3nhwoPvG9I/AAAAAAAAJws/nMKtCV8CBB8QguKqFpc8idUg5HfplQTWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s742/HaveaGoNews.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="742" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ankT40UA9Q0/X3nhwoPvG9I/AAAAAAAAJws/nMKtCV8CBB8QguKqFpc8idUg5HfplQTWgCNcBGAsYHQ/w655-h236/HaveaGoNews.jpg" width="655" /></a></div><br /><a class="feed-shared-actor__container-link relative display-flex flex-grow-1 app-aware-link ember-view" data-artdeco-is-focused="true" data-control-id="BbkqJZoMSMmisVK6it0j9w==" data-control-name="original_share_actor_container" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/adelaidebooksny/?miniCompanyUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniCompany%3A11777920" id="ember989" target="_self">
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<span><span dir="ltr">Have a Go and win a copy of THE LAST ASBESTOS TOWN by Helen Hagemann.<br /><br />Read more 👉 </span></span></span></a><a data-attribute-index="4" href="https://bit.ly/3hSPWF5">https://bit.ly/3hSPWF5</a><br /><br /><a data-attribute-index="0" href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=adelaidebooks&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6716325710623051777">#adelaidebooks</a> <a data-attribute-index="1" href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=adelaidebooksny&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6716325710623051777">#adelaidebooksny</a> <a data-attribute-index="2" href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=adelaidebookslx&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6716325710623051777">#adelaidebookslx</a> <a data-attribute-index="3" href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=adelaideliterarymagazine&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6716325710623051777">#adelaideliterarymagazine</a>
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</div>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-12972615820869786092020-09-03T16:07:00.006+08:002020-09-06T12:15:41.668+08:00OOTA Writers to Launch "The Last Asbestos Town"
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KdTdTjEzAQU/X1ReJHm0ixI/AAAAAAAAJvE/9gvo3XJvZF84gVSP8Meig6gO72nr6W3twCNcBGAsYHQ/s271/BookMarkHall.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: none;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="271" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KdTdTjEzAQU/X1ReJHm0ixI/AAAAAAAAJvE/9gvo3XJvZF84gVSP8Meig6gO72nr6W3twCNcBGAsYHQ/s200/BookMarkHall.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p>
<b>Setting of the Novel. </b>This largely takes place inside a Girl Guide Hall. </p><p>I drew on several visits to the South West, in particular Collie. The Girl Guide Hall is real, having stayed there, is owned by a friend, and that has since been renovated. Also In 2009, I read a novel by Honey Brown titled Red Queen about a futuristic killer virus, so this author inspired me to speculate a future on asbestos and to write the premise of “what if?”
</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-20SWmYs4uuE/X1CjodMxlWI/AAAAAAAAJuc/Lv0eoeSsl6Eys5kyYj8UOZvnHax7U02CQCNcBGAsYHQ/s500/Kindlecopy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-20SWmYs4uuE/X1CjodMxlWI/AAAAAAAAJuc/Lv0eoeSsl6Eys5kyYj8UOZvnHax7U02CQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Kindlecopy.jpg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56E2yII6IZg/X1CkE22mEgI/AAAAAAAAJuk/iiNGyE4leZcC2BXuQgoQSVQbnwVjrdcEwCNcBGAsYHQ/s394/LaunchSpielInstagram.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="394" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56E2yII6IZg/X1CkE22mEgI/AAAAAAAAJuk/iiNGyE4leZcC2BXuQgoQSVQbnwVjrdcEwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/LaunchSpielInstagram.png" width="320" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-20SWmYs4uuE/X1CjodMxlWI/AAAAAAAAJuc/Lv0eoeSsl6Eys5kyYj8UOZvnHax7U02CQCNcBGAsYHQ/s500/Kindlecopy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /> <p></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-90499538082197277742020-08-29T19:32:00.003+08:002021-06-27T12:08:39.348+08:00OOTA Writers to launch The Last Asbestos Town in October<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRLuSe5LCss/X1RjOXNmhiI/AAAAAAAAJvQ/h5SYokkv40I1pwNx_aV4s7kEkyLPOJImgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1920/Coal%2BRiver.JPG" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: none;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRLuSe5LCss/X1RjOXNmhiI/AAAAAAAAJvQ/h5SYokkv40I1pwNx_aV4s7kEkyLPOJImgCNcBGAsYHQ/s200/Coal%2BRiver.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Setting: </b>The photograph to the left is named Coal River in my novel. I used an actual setting of a South West country town and this is a way of writing about what you know. I also had a dream that was so crisp and clear that I thought it would make a good novel. (I wrote the dream into the novel). It was around the time when Prime Minister Tony Abbott had brought in Australia’s Border Force to keep out Asylum Seekers. Mulling over ideas for the novel, I wondered what if fascism (or totalitarianism) took over in our country. How horrible life would be. So I mixed the dream with the idea of an Asbestos Task Force enforcing the removal of all known asbestos.
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBY2DoiZy20/X0o8NXoQ6eI/AAAAAAAAJt8/vZoEWUXN64c3__WB-tBz7vQ7XvvlmAJQACNcBGAsYHQ/s1774/Instagram.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1774" data-original-width="944" height="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBY2DoiZy20/X0o8NXoQ6eI/AAAAAAAAJt8/vZoEWUXN64c3__WB-tBz7vQ7XvvlmAJQACNcBGAsYHQ/w426-h800/Instagram.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042667277353441797.post-39734225863322155212020-07-22T10:33:00.003+08:002020-09-06T12:44:12.756+08:00FREE EBOOK - The Last Asbestos Town<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FrmI8IvZKbM/X1RmDRfM32I/AAAAAAAAJvc/siG-F3TWotgRfkzTTiXZn7XpJBOLtzSSQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/House%2BDemo.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: none;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FrmI8IvZKbM/X1RmDRfM32I/AAAAAAAAJvc/siG-F3TWotgRfkzTTiXZn7XpJBOLtzSSQCNcBGAsYHQ/s200/House%2BDemo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I'm offering a <b>"FREE"</b> Smashwords ebook to any reader or reviewer! <b>Please note:</b> This novel is not about the medical dangers of asbestos. It does however (on the subliminal level state that this menace should be totally eradicated from our lives. <i><b>The Last Asbestos Town</b></i> is a speculative novel on what might happen in a totalitarian society where there is no choice and power to effect programs are total. It is only when the powerless stand up for their rights that shows that my characters who believe differently to the status quo do stand up for their rights.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3h4z1W6zSdk/XxelKGULHSI/AAAAAAAAJrw/KloZ16eRbtgG259ADBMw2nZXwfVkd1fEQCNcBGAsYHQ/s275/SmashwordsPromo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="261" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3h4z1W6zSdk/XxelKGULHSI/AAAAAAAAJrw/KloZ16eRbtgG259ADBMw2nZXwfVkd1fEQCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/SmashwordsPromo.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I'm offering a free EBook as a giveaway <b>to anyone doing it tough during Covid-19</b>. You can contact me @ <a href="mailto:hagemann.helen@gmail.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">hagemann.helen@gmail.com</a> and I will provide a link to Smashwords with a code that will allow you to purchase a Kindle copy, an ePub or an eReader copy at $ 0.00 There are so many people in Melbourne doing it tough and my offer for you during "Lockdown" is I will supply up to 4-5 book links to those individuals. My publishers, <b>Adelaide Books LLC New York,</b> offered the free ebook for family & friends, however I haven't had to use it yet, so I can still supply this link to worthy people. The main thing is you have to open a Smashwords account, so people savvy with opening online accounts it should be easy. Any author wants their book read and I am like thousands who would love to know from readers what they think - good or bad! </p><p><b>Just a note: </b> My novel will delight, entertain, intrigue and have you smiling!</p>Helen Hagemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669065240071626215noreply@blogger.com0