Is 2014 the year for your book? And a writers link up!

In celebration of Australia day something I know I can do to support my fellow inspirational Australians is to read some fantastic Aussie books, to buy Australian books for gifts this year, to visit the library, read new authors, encourage others I know to read Australian books and give books as gifts. As an author myself I know how important it is to get behind our great talented writers out there.
We have such talented writers here in Australia covering everything from fast paced fiction, romance, scientific works, non fiction, parenting, self help and one of my favourite subjects, all things food!

And of course many great writers still yet to be discovered too, maybe one of these is you?!
Have you always dreamed of being a writer?
Do you have a manuscript but not sure what steps to take next?
Are you passionate about writing?
The start of an exciting new year is bursting full of opportunities, if you have always wanted to write, always wanted to publish your work or get published, make this your year to go for it!

I am delighted to be able to share some fantastic TIPS from very amazing writers!

Melanie Avery is a very successful Award Winning Author, Presenter, Guest Speaker, Blogger.
Her books are a breath of fresh air in the food genre, helping families enjoy life and navigate the harmful additives that have crept into our supermarkets and into our trolleys, homes and children's bodies.

Visit her website to find out more about these incredible books:
www.letsliveadditivefree.com

LIKE her on Facebook

Thank you Melanie for sharing your writing tips with us today!

My top 3 tips for writing your own book:

1.       Always write with integrity, honesty and passion. When you are passionate about what you do – what you believe in, the writing comes easily and from an honest place. Write to share your passion not to sell a book.

2.       If the ideas aren’t flowing, walk away and come back later. Trying to force something just doesn’t work and your writing won’t sound like you. It’s okay to have a break.

3.       Work with people who ‘get’ your idea behind your book. Whether it is a designer, editor or publisher, if they truly believe in you and your message then the end product will reflect this. 

Melanie's books:

• Let’s Party! Additive Free was written to help parents provide their children with a fun and colourful  party without the children going ‘crazy’ from all of the chemical additives, particularly colours, flavours and preservatives.

• Let’s Visit! Additive Free has been designed to help the carers of children who live additive free, provide appropriate food choices.

• Let’s Celebrate Christmas! Additive Free, the most recent title in the series, is a guide for creating a joyous, festive and additive free Christmas. This title is twice as many pages as the first and is packed with a diverse range of additive free recipes that can be used all year round.

• All products can be purchased at http://www.letsliveadditivefree.com

Sally Collings
Sally Collings is an Australian bestselling author, publisher and editor, now based in California. She specializes in ghostwriting, book coaching and “extreme editing”, and loves helping Australian writers who want to crack the US market.
Visit her website www.sallycollings.com.

Sally is one of my favourite Australian authors, her books are incredible from Sophie's journey, a book about incredible Australian little girl, Sophie Delezio. A book about one incredible little girl struck down by a tragic accident, not once but twice. "Sophie Delezio has a message of hope for us all. " You can read more about that book and also buy it here 

A beautiful book by Sally written with Antonia Kidman is the Simple Things.

And my favourite, parenting with soul, an amazing book that will resonate with and inspire parents everywhere and one that takes great pride of place on my bookshelf.

Other titles include Positive and one many writers will find very helpful, Get published!

Getting published tips from Sally Collings

These tips are especially for writers who want to know whether their manuscript is ready to send to a publisher.

1. Lock away your manuscript and forget about it. 

Don’t look at it again for a few weeks, or even a few months. Then take it out again and read it with fresh eyes. If you’ve been sweating over that manuscript for a long time, the break will give you a new perspective. 

2. Exploit your friends and family. 

Find two or three of the pickiest, best-read, most brutally honest people you know. Ask them to read your manuscript (maybe just the first chapter for starters) and tell them exactly what sort of feedback would help you most, and that you think they are capable of giving. For example, what do they love or hate about the writing style? Are the characters engaging and real? Can they find any typos? Make sure you pick people from your target audience: don’t hand your paranormal romance to your uncle if he wouldn’t be seen dead reading that sort of book.

3. Think like a publisher. 

Pretend you’re an agent or a publisher, and this manuscript has just landed in your in-tray. Does the first page make you leap out of your chair and shout, “I’ve found my next bestseller!”? If not, you’ve got some work to do.

I hope these tips give you the inspiration to get your work out there!

For me this year, I have lots of plans! My cookbook, my collaboration book, Healthy Happy Mums, my children's book about an edible garden and my new projects including an edible gardening book just to start!

AND it is my goal to read and gift lots of great books this year, currently I am reading a fantastic new breakthrough book by Australian writer Cheryse Durrant, The Blood She Betrayed which is currently selling out across Australia in its breakthrough success!!

If your looking for some great fiction or a gift idea check it out!
"Thrust into the technology-driven Earthlands via magical mists, Shahkara is forced to rely on Max McCalden to help search for the ancient Elnara death lantern, her homeworld’s last chance of survival against the heart-devouring Taloners.
Max has his own problems – a manipulative billionaire father, a murdered brother – but nothing prepares him for this fugitive warrior’s razor-sharp talons and magical abilities.
Shahkara’s half-Taloner blood demands what she knows she can’t have – a human heart. She longs for love, but as deadly enemies attack at every turn, will her lust for Max destroy them both? Or will she find the strength to free both worlds from a threat more horrific than the demons that share her blood?"Find and support Cheryse on facebook HERE

I also recommend checking out:
Karen Tyrrell an inspirational woman, speaker and author who share so many tips for writing and publishing
Book Cover Cafe services include ebooks, self publishing, book covers, LOTS of free tips for writers
Author Support Services Alex is an incredible talent and does book editing, coaching and workshops
Australian Writers Rock The facebook page of the book store doing incredible things to support Australian authors.
Australian Writers Rock - website
Natural New Age Mum's blog post on 20 awesome ebooks!

What is a great book you recommend?

Happy writing,

Bek XX

Do you have a great book or three? Blog posts on writing? Book reviews? Publishing? Self publishing?
Share your link below and lets get inspired and supportive. Please visit at least two other link ups, you never know what great blogs, books or information you just mind find too!

Writing, Reading, Loving Books

Writing, Reading and Loving Books.
Note: This post is sponsored by Grammarly .
An online program I as a writer and blogger desperately need think is a great tool for writers who like myself may not have studied or perfected their skills in this area. >>>
(Results just from part of this blog post, yep, editors are worth their weight in gold)
I also use their free online plagiarism checker because just like my recipes, I like things real.

Writing and reading have always been some of my greatest passions.

There is something about a great book that transports you body and soul while you read it, the whole around you fades as the world unfolding before you becomes more vivid with every page.

My earliest memories of books I loves where ones like The Magic Faraway Tree soon making way for the The Babysitter Club Books and The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings, Narnia and David Eddings and worlds of fantasty.
My early teenage years saw a love of mystery and scary reads starting with Agatha Christie and on to Stephen King, Clive Barker, Dean R Koontz, Anne Rice and they moved way as I grew for a love of historical fiction and romance with so many including Jean Plaidy, Catherine Cookson and Jane Austin and a new found admiration for non fiction work, especially anything by Sir David Attenborough and anything on plants.

When I started studying horticulture after school I really grew in my love of non fiction, (still of course always had a novel or three by my bed) but had developed this deep joy of learning from books and admiration for the people that create them.

My first story published in a local publication in year 1, a love of writing had begun.. 

I knew I had always wanted to be an author. Always wanted to write. I like most people had many ideas of what I wanted "to be" and to do when I grew up and they changed over the years, but one that always was in my heart was writing.

While working for a very busy Bunnings Warehouse, running the plant nursery section, I created a Bunnings Warehouse Garden Club and monthly gardening newsletter full of tips, plant profiles and gardening information, I loved it.

At 25 I left and had my first baby and a very hard time for me with Post Natal Depression and so much weight to lose after having my baby missing all the writing work I had been doing for work I started writing a blog on MySpace and writing out recipes there, edible gardening pieces and my audience there quickly grew, I was delighted and then friends and family started asking for my recipes, then my mothers group and then friends of friends.
I started having women contact my because of myspace and ask how I was losing so much weight and for tips on feeling good about themselves, growing their own food.
I found myself writing everyday and it started to form a book.
A book about becoming a mother.

About a real life journey and finding myself again. A book about realising my health was important and to shine even a little of that love I shone on my baby onto myself too.
Filled with my recipes, my gardening, my motivation to exercise and lose my baby weight and my self love all around my (very) personal story and experiences which I share in the hopes that it would make other mothers feel good and maybe to let some of them know they are not alone if they go through post natal depression, feeling flat or frustrated with their bodies after having a baby, maybe they too had trouble breastfeeding or a baby that never slept through until they were 2. 

I think the greatest thing I learnt in motherhood was the powerful feeling of relief when you know you are not alone in whatever it is you may be going through.

My first published book, The Pram Diet, Random House 2009.

To say I was excited to have a book published, would be an understatement.
To go into one of my beloved bookstores and see it on the shelf took my breath away but most of it was that day I walked (my then 2 year old) to the local post office and waiting there was a box.
A box of my books.
I didn't even open it.
 I nestled it on top of the pram and I left with what could only be described as a loopy smile on my face and super power walked all the rest of the way home, Lily's beloved flowers and ocean views were a giggling blur as I broke out into pram jogs rather than walks, before we bustled into the house.

Opening that box was so surreal as I am sure it is for all writers and flicking the pages of my book, smelling that new book smell (yes, book geek alert) was one of the moments in my life I will never forget.

I am now delighted to say I have not 1 but 3 books I am working on AND a children's picture book.

My cook book - COMING SOON

PLUS! Coming up very soon on the blog I am really excited that I will be sharing with you some great tips on writing books and getting published from some of the incredibly talented women writers I know! So STAY TUNED.
So you don't miss that one and other blog posts you can subscribe to this blog on the top right hand side of the blog >>
And follow me on FACEBOOK

If you would like to read my book, The Pram Diet you can find it in most Australian libraries, through Australian bookstore or buy a signed copy through me!
I have a promotion for a special priced pre-order of a signed copy on my facebook page at the moment

Did you have a passion growing up that has stayed with you or shaped your life?
What were your favourite books?

Bek XX