Novel-To-Film Adaptions. Do They Ever Get It Right?

It’s mid-winter here in Melbourne, Australia, and I’m on the couch, bundled in a blanket watching romantic comedies. So it’s no surprise my muse has refused to show up and sprinkle her magic on the Fireworks theme my fellow genre-istas are rocking this month. Even thinking about the night sky is enough to freeze me to the bone!

But lucky for me, lounging in front of the television has proven beneficial - it's given me a blog topic. A number of the films I've watched recently have been based on novels. Some have been good, but not great, while others have flopped completely. This got me thinking... 

Can a movie adaptation ever be as good as the book? 

It’s a debate that fires up book worms and movie buffs alike—usually those of us who have a foot planted firmly in each camp. I’m a lifelong reader and movie-goer. My childhood copy of The Secret Garden is worn and tired from too much love, and my VHS copy of the 1993 movie adaptation must have been watched and rewound hundreds of times. I adored them equally. 

Each art-form brings something different to the storytelling experience. Books tantalize my imagination, inviting me to build worlds and characters in my mind. Movies are like a large fleece blanket in winter, bundling me up in a warm comforting embrace where I can settle in and enjoy the sensory experience of watching worlds come alive before my eyes.

Most criticism of movie adaptations come from readers who have loved the book, then found the film lacking. The characters aren’t what they imagined. Plot lines have changed. Or some of their favorite scenes or characters are missing altogether. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a film is bad.  It’s often good enough to stand on its own, and viewers who haven’t read the book—who go in free of expectation—have a completely different, positive experience.

We all know of the countless book-to-movie failures, but here are some movies that are often touted by critics as actually being better than the book (many people wouldn’t even know they’re an adaptation).

Fight Club – Author, Chuck Palahniuk loved the film adaptation of his book and even felt that it managed to draw together plot-lines he’d overlooked. 

Jurassic Park -  The book was a bestseller, but the movie won over viewers an action-packed plot, likeable characters and amazing special effects (for the time).

The Princess Bride – This one is debatable as the book was also fabulous, but the 1987 movie has garnered a cult following.

Stand by Me – It’s hard to improve upon anything Stephen King creates, but the movie expanded upon the world and characters of his novella and captured the hearts of viewers and is now a popular classic.

Die Hard – Honestly, did anyone even know this was an adaptation? This classic action movie - also an unlikely Christmas movie favorite - was more of a thriller in the original novel.

The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks’ books are bestsellers, but the film adaptation of The Notebook struck a chord with romantics all over the world and has become far more popular than the novel.

Jaws – By today’s standards, the mechanical shark may not be too impressive, but audiences were terrified by his fin slicing through water and his rows of giant teeth. And along with the iconic Duuun dun duuun dun dun dun dun dun dun music, the movie was able to instill a level of fear the book could never achieve.

We all have novel-to-film adaptations we love, or love to hate. What are yours?

Focus on 'Aussie' Romance Authors

This month I’ve chosen to highlight fellow Aussie authors from my home town area. These are just some of the authors who make up the group ‘AWSOM’ (Authors South and West of Melbourne). Their sub-genres and writing styles may vary, but they're all dedicated, talented, passionate authors who write damn good books!

Lisa Ireland

Lisa Ireland lives on the Victorian coast with her husband and three sons. After working for many years as a primary school teacher, Lisa is a now a full-time writer.

Her novel, Feels Like Home, is an Australian Bestseller. In 2015 Lisa was one of the Top Ten Debut Fiction Authors in Australia. Her fourth novel, THE SHAPE OF US, was released in April 2017.

Lisa is passionate about art and travel and has a strong interest in human rights: she is an active supporter of several human rights organisations including the Combined Refugee Action Group, which provides assistance for refugees in her local region. When she’s not writing she can be found drinking coffee with friends or wandering along the beach with her extremely disobedient but totally loveable dogs, Millie and Lulu.

Feels Like Home

When celebrity novelist Johanna Morgan surprises everyone by arriving back in Linden Gully three weeks early for her best friend’s wedding, she’s shocked to find her ex-boyfriend Ryan Galloway is back too and well-integrated in the community as the local vet.

Jo’s maid-of-honour duties are not the only thing that’s brought her home. The family homestead of Yarrapinga is now her responsibility, and Jo needs to decide whether to keep it – and replace old memories with new ones – or sell it and cut off all ties to her childhood and her home.

Ryan has brought his young daughter home to Linden Gully to provide stability after the death of her mother. The last thing he needs is Jo’s return, and all of the emotional turmoil that she brings with her.

Thrown together as attendants at their best friends’ wedding, Jo and Ryan have no choice but to grin and bear all the tension. But it’s not only resentment lingering between them. The attraction is still there, and the heat and the memories.

They say you can’t come home again, but maybe, for Jo and Ryan, home is not just a place, but a state of the heart.

For links to purchase Feels Like Home or any of Lisa's other books click here.

Alli Sinclair 

Alli Sinclair is a multi award-winning author who spent her early adult years travelling the globe, intent on becoming an Indiana Jones in heels. She scaled mountains in Nepal, Argentina, and Peru, rafted the Ganges, and rode a camel in the Sahara. Argentina and Peru became her home for a few years and when she wasn’t working as a mountain or tour guide, Alli could be found in the dance halls dancing the tango, salsa, merengue, and samba.

All of these adventures made for fun storytelling and this is when she discovered her love of writing. Alli’s stories capture the romance and thrill of exploring new destinations and cultures that also take readers on a journey of discovery.

Alli was voted as Favourite New Romance Author 2014 by the Australian Romance Readers Association and Luna Tango was voted  2014 Book of the Year by Ausrom Today Readers Choice Awards. in 2016 Alli was voted Best Established Author in the Ausrom Today Readers Choice Awards.

Under The Spanish Stars

Amid the vivid beauty of Granada, a woman entrusted with unraveling a family secret will discover the truth about her heritage—and the alluring promise of love…

When her beloved grandmother falls ill, Charlotte Kavanagh will do whatever she asks of her—even if it means traveling to a country that broke her abuela’s heart. Can an unsigned painting of a flamenco dancer unlock the secrets of her grandmother’s youth in Spain? To find the answers she needs, Charlotte must convince the charismatic and gifted musician, Mateo Vives to introduce her to a secluded gypsy clan.

The enigmatic Mateo speaks the true language of flamenco, a culture Charlotte must learn to appreciate if she wants to understand her grandmother’s past—and the flamenco legend that has moved souls to beauty, and bodies to the heights of passion. As Mateo leads her into the captivating world of the music and the dance, Charlotte embraces her own long-denied creative gift and the possibility of a future rich with joy…

For links to purchase Under The Spanish Stars click here.

Fiona Lowe

Fiona Lowe has been a midwife, a sexual health counsellor and a family support worker; an ideal career for an author who writes novels about family and relationships. She spent her early years in Papua New Guinea, where without television, reading was the entertainment and it set up a lifelong love of books. One of her first teenage rebellions was refusing to go on a hike with her parents because she was half way through GONE WITH THE WIND. As an adult, Fiona read her way around the world always trying to read a book that related to where she was at the time; the Brontes in Yorkshire, Jane Austen in Bath, The Godfather in Italy, Michener in Hawaii...and so the list goes on.

Although she often re-wrote the endings of books in her head, it was the birth of her first child that prompted her to write her first novel. A recipient of the prestigious USA RITA®  award and the Australian RuBY award, Fiona's books are set in small country towns and feature real people facing tough choices and explore how family ties impact on their decisions.

When she's not writing stories, she's a distracted wife, mother of two 'ginger' sons, a volunteer in her community, guardian of 80 rose bushes, slave to a cat and is often found collapsed on the couch with wine. You can find her at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Goodreads or you can email her at fiona@fionalowe.com

Boomerang Bride

Matilda Geoffrey had risked it all for love. 

She'd left Australia to be with Barry -- the man who had swept her off her virtual feet. Now, wearing a wedding dress, she's alone on Main Street in small-town Wisconsin, and things aren't working out exactly as planned….

In town for his annual family visit, Marc Olsen had never seen a bride quite like Matilda -- staring into a storefront window, holding a tottering wedding cake and looking desperately in need of a groom. He doesn't have many warm feelings for his hometown, but meeting Matilda just as she discovers she's been scammed by her online "fiancé" stirs something in him.

Matilda is not the kind of woman Marc imagined himself with, and Marc is anything but the romantic hero that Matilda has always dreamed of. But as unlikely circumstances throw them together, can they let go of their misconceptions and risk their hearts for love?

For links to purchase Boomerang Bride or any of Fiona's other books click here.

DJ Michaels

Like most authors, DJ can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a book in her hand. The stories she read fired her imagination, and gave her a legitimate excuse to disappear for hours at a time into the endless realm of her imagination. As she grew older, she was drawn to fantasy and paranormal stories, and those elements feature heavily in the stories she writes.

DJ’s latest series is set in New York, but she’s an Aussie Girl. She lives on the beautiful south east coast of Australia, not too far from the Great Ocean Road. When she’s not spending time with her family and friends, she’s happily clacking away on her computer, stirring up trouble and ruling her imaginary world like a benevolent Queen.

Well…perhaps not always benevolent – because that would be boring.

Tempting Flame

Jasmine Teale will do anything for the sick kids she works for, including handcuffing herself to the security desk at Hope Towers – headquarters of the newly-arrived aliens. When a Jendari warrior decides to handle her demonstration personally, Jasmine realizes she’s in way over her head.

Tallis Ba’reah has no interest in the humans whose planet his people now share, and he’s done with the endless anti-alien protests. Until he confronts a soft, sexy, protest-of-one and he becomes far more interested than he should be.

Interspecies relationships are forbidden, and Tallis does his best to avoid temptation. But when Jasmine is put at risk because of her ties to him, he’s forced to admit his heart is in charge – not his head.

Tallis may not be able to claim her for his own, but he’ll do whatever it takes keep her safe.

Buy links:

Evernight: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/tempting-flame-by-dj-michaels

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tempting-Flame-Jendari-Book-1-ebook/dp/B072F3GRMP 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/tempting-flame-1

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tempting-flame-dj-michaels/1126370969?ean=2940154159545

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/tempting-flame/id1234358607?mt=11

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Tempting-Flame-Jendari-Book-1-ebook/dp/B072F3GRMP

I'm so pleased to share these fabulous authors with you. I know you'll love their stories as much as I do.

Lauren James is a country girl at heart. Raised on a small property surrounded by animals, it's no surprise she writes small town romance with lots of love for creatures great and small.

Having failed fabulously at painting, sewing and playing guitar, she finally found her creative outlet in writing strong, quirky heroines, and tough, handsome heroes with gooey animal-loving centers.

Lauren lives on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, with her beloved rescue greyhound, Daisy.

You can contact Lauren via her website, Facebook or Twitter.

Q&A with USA Today bestseller Stefanie London

Being a writer is a solitary existence—spending hours at the computer shutting out the real world in favor of creating imaginary ones. It's important to have the support and friendship of other writers, people who understand the highs and lows. Friends who can celebrate writing the words ‘The End’ and also commiserate spending hours editing a single paragraph one day, only to delete it the next.

One of the first friends I made in my writing journey was Stefanie London. We joined the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild on the same day and developed a quick friendship which has lasted almost five years and a move across the globe.

I’ve invited Stefanie to do a little Q&A.

Stefanie London is the USA Today bestselling author of over ten contemporary romances with humour, heat and heart.

Growing up, Stefanie came from a family of women who loved to read. Thus, it was no surprise Stefanie was the sort of student who would read her English books before the semester started. 

After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ Business degree, she got a job in Communications. When writing emails and newsletters didn’t fulfill her creative urges, she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night.

Originally from Australia, she now lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is currently in the process of doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels and zombie movies.

How long have you been writing, and what (or who) inspired you to start?

I started writing in late 2012, although I have wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little girl. When I told my family that I was thinking of writing a romance novel, I got overwhelming support. My mum even went to our local charity shop and bought me a stack of Mills & Boon (Harlequin) books so I could get some inspiration.

I think I wanted to be a writer because of Agatha Christie, RL Stine, Ann M Martin and Francine Pascal. The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley books dominated my childhood, and I moved on to Fear Street and Agatha Christie's mysteries as I got older. These authors were the ones who made me rush to the bookstore after school with my pocket money in hand.

What do you like best about being a writer? What is the most challenging part?

I love most things about being a writer. The flexibility to work when I’m feeling at my most energized is great. And I love love love being my own boss! I also love being able to do something creative every day, it makes me feel incredibly satisfied. As for the challenging stuff…probably trying not to compare my career to other author’s careers. I really think constantly comparing yourself is the death of creativity.

What are your favorite types of stories to read?

I’m a really broad reader. I love contemporary romance and romantic comedies, erotic romance, YA (especially fantasy and dystopian), anything post-apocalyptic (especially zombies!), crime and thrillers, mysteries, general commercial fiction, non fiction…the list goes on. Variety is the spice of life, as they say!

What 5 things should readers know about you?

1. I was born in Australia and, even though I live in Canada now, I still love my Tim Tams, Flat Whites, Lamingtons, Freddo Frogs and Caramello Koalas…but I hate Vegemite.
2. I love llamas. I have a little collection of stuffed llamas, one in particular that comes to conferences with me and always sits at my table whenever I’m signing books.
3. Because of fact #2, The Emperor’s New Groove is one of my all-time favourite movies.
4. Game of Thrones is the only TV show that I’ve watched every episode of while it was still airing.
5. I love hearing from readers! Interacting with people who love romance novels if one of the best parts of being an author, so if you ever want to catch me on social media or email to say hi, please do so.

Can you tell us a little about your book? 

Betting the Bad Boy is the third and final book in the Behind the Bar series. But not to fear, each book can be read as a standalone so feel free to jump in with whichever book takes your fancy! The series revolves around three sexy men who run a bar and restaurant in the funky suburb of South Melbourne, Australia.

Blurb:

Self-confessed perfectionist Paige Thomas isn’t used to failing. But when a critical error in romantic judgment sends all her big city career dreams crashing down, she scrambles to find a job—any job—to make ends meet.

Noah Reid may as well have “trust issues” tattooed on his forehead. Being raised in the foster system didn’t give him a positive outlook on relationships, but now he’s looking after his best friend’s bar for one month, and he can’t do it alone.

Things get steamy when Noah hires Paige, but she’s determined not to repeat her mistakes and she bets Noah that she can keep her hands to herself while they’re working together. Too bad for her, Noah is an expert at breaking the rules…

For an excerpt, reviews and buy links visit Stefanie's website 
http://stefanie-london.com/books/betting-the-bad-boy/

Thanks for joining us at Romancing the Genres, Stefanie!

Lauren James is a country girl at heart. Raised on a small property surrounded by animals, it's no surprise she writes small town romance with lots of love for creatures great and small.

Having failed fabulously at painting, sewing and playing guitar, she finally found her creative outlet in writing strong, quirky heroines, and tough, handsome heroes with gooey animal-loving centers.

Lauren lives on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, with her beloved rescue greyhound, Daisy.

You can contact Lauren via her website, Facebook or Twitter.

Listen To Your Book

As a writer, I spend a lot of time staring at a screen. This is on top of my day job which also involves working at a computer 8 hours per day. So no matter how much I love reading, sometimes my eyes have had enough. That’s when I turn to my trusty audiobook collection.

As an adult I’ve become prone to motion sickness as a passenger in cars, buses, trains and definitely on boats. A green-grey complexion is not a good look on me. I need to distract myself but reading is definitely not an option. Music helps at times but music can’t carry my mind away the way a story can.

I discovered audiobooks in an unusual way. In 2013 I suffered a minor neck injury and experienced motion sickness symptoms. For the first few weeks, unless I laid flat on my back staring at the ceiling, my stomach revolted as though sitting in a row-boat being tossed around by a stormy ocean. I was in pain, nauseated and so damn bored!

Here we introduce the periscope horizontal reading glasses (thanks eBay). 

Not the most attractive eyewear, but they made it possible to watch TV while staring at the ceiling. This kept me entertained some of the time, but my inner bookworm desperately missed reading. Holding a book out in front of me while staring in a different direction proved too much for my uncoordinated body. Plus my arms hurt from all that book-holding (my upper body strength is severely lacking!).

That’s when a friend suggested audiobooks. I signed up to Amazon’s Audible service and received a free book through a trial membership (the free trial is ongoing if you want to give it a try  - http://www.audible.com.au/mt/free_trial_special_offer_at). It was as simple as downloading the app to my phone, choosing a book and pressing ‘play’. What a revelation—discovering the best friend I never knew I needed!

And I’ve never looked back. I still love reading, but the best benefit of listening to, rather than reading, a story is being able to escape into your book while driving, doing housework, exercising or on public transport—without the urge to hurl.

There are several ways to get your hands on an audiobook. You can still buy them in CD format, but they’re expensive, and having to switch CDs over every few chapters is too much for an impatient gal like me. I prefer to purchase digital files because you can listen from start to finish without any hassle. And they can be downloaded immediately—instant gratification.

Consider yourself thrifty? Check with your local library service. My library has a catalogue of audiobooks available to borrow for up to three weeks. Just download the appropriate app to your phone, log in with your library membership details and voilà—free audiobook.

Tips for finding the right book for you:

• Start with an author you love—less chance of disappointment.

• Listen to a sample – I’m not sure about all audiobook retailers, but Audible provides a 4 – 5 minute sample of their books. Take the time to listen. The narrator of the story is just as important as the author. Books I listen to range from 8 hours to 15 hours in length. Imagine spending 15 hours listening to someone whose voice grated your every nerve—a unique form of torture. I’d rather toothpicks under my fingernails, thanks.

• Approximately 80% of my audiobook collection is romance, and most of these books are in the point of view of both the hero and the heroine. Some audiobooks are recorded by two voice artists—male and female. But usually, one voice artist records both voices. Female artists try for a deeper masculine tone for the hero, and male artists go higher for the heroine. It can take a little getting used to at first, but I barely notice anymore.

For authors—listening to audiobooks can make you a better writer. One of the tips we get when learning the craft is to read your work out loud. You can hear the cadence of your words, pick up on repetitive words and sentence structures. We often miss those things when simply reading with our eyes.

As readers we tend to skim lines, flying past long paragraphs or repetitive words etc. You don’t have that luxury when listening to an audiobook. I actually took a particular author off my ‘potential must-read’ list after listening to one of her books. Her use of ‘she said’ and ‘he thought’ etc tacked onto the end of every other sentence drove me crazy. I’d skipped over it in her eBooks, but there’s nowhere to hide in an audiobook.

To sum up the benefits of audiobooks in a much more succinct and entertaining way, I’ve added these clips. Enjoy!

Audible Australia – Listen To Your Book. My favourite ad of the year for—I dare you not to laugh!

Are you already a fan of audiobooks? If so, what are your genre, author or narrator preferences? I’m always looking for recommendations.

Lauren James is a country girl at heart. Raised on a small property surrounded by animals, it's no surprise she writes small town romance with lots of love for creatures great and small.

Having failed fabulously at painting, sewing and playing guitar, she finally found her creative outlet in writing strong, quirky heroines, and tough, handsome heroes with gooey animal-loving centers.

Lauren lives on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, with her beloved rescue greyhound, Daisy.

You can contact Lauren via her website, Facebook or Twitter.

The Art of Balancing Light And Dark

As a sensitive person, balancing the positive and negative influences and emotions in my life is extremely important. I’m not talking about situations that arise where I have no control, instead I mean the way I choose to spend my time and channel my energy.

As well as being a romance reader and writer, I’m a true crime junkie—wrongful convictions, serial killers or unsolved murders fascinate me. I listen to true crime podcasts regularly whether it be in the car, washing dishes or hanging clothes on the line.  My star sign is Libra—we crave justice and balance. So while I find these criminal cases fascinating, I also work up a healthy dose of righteous anger as I ponder the injustices of the legal system and life in general.  

Which is why my other passion—reading, watching and writing romance, is so important. Romance novels are referred to as escapism. Some are critical of this—as though something that provides joy and a guaranteed happy ending is somehow a lesser form of art. But I don’t see it this way. Escapism is the appeal. A way to feel good when there’s so much in the world to bring us down.

When I pick up a story I want to laugh, cry and occasionally be so scared I’m hiding under the covers! That’s why I love romance fiction so much. Despite dark and dangerous events, I know I’ll get tummy-flutters from a developing romance and a happy ever after. And if the author can make me laugh—even better.

I’ve always gravitated towards stories that master the intricate balance of both light and dark, which is a difficult task. No matter the medium—be it movie, television or book—making your audience experience emotions at opposite ends of the spectrum is no easy feat. But if you can take them on a journey that makes them laugh-out-loud as well as sob-like-a-baby, it’s well worth the effort.

I’ve discovered how tricky this juggling act can be. I write small town contemporary romance and naturally gravitate towards humour. My characters often take control and come up with some cracking one liners that take me by surprise, but I’m also tackling the seriously non-funny, topic of dog fighting in my novel, Animal Instincts. I almost didn’t write this story, fearing I couldn’t do it justice. How could I have hilarious moments in one chapter and animal abuse in another? Some days I could pull my hair out trying to meld the two. But it is possible. It’s certainly made things difficult, but I couldn’t have told this story any other way.

There are a number of movies, TV shows and books I’ve drawn inspiration from and here are just a few.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

This is my favorite show of all time. The themes explored are often dark, with life and death battles fought in most episodes, but it never fails to make me laugh out loud at the kooky characters and witty dialogue.

Santa Clarita Diet

A suburban mom suddenly craving human flesh and brains should be gross and horrifying, right? Well, it is gross at times, but it’s also hilarious with everyday situations we can all relate to, as well the wackier hijinks that could only arise when living with a zombie in your family.

Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich

Down on her luck and desperate for cash, Stephanie Plum takes a job as a bounty hunter for her sleazy bail bondsman cousin. She’s completely out of her element tracking down criminals, but it makes for great reading.

There are many funny scenes and lines in these books. I’ve actually only read the first few so far, but there are over twenty books in the series now. Between scenes with car explosions and shoot-outs, the heroine and her wacky family and friends provide plenty of laughs.

“You deserved to get run over. And besides, I barely tapped you. The only reason you broke your leg was because you panicked and tripped over your own feet.”

“When I was six years old I sprinkled sugar on my head, convinced myself it was pixie dust, wished myself invisible, and walked into the boys' bathroom at school.”

Which books, movies or TV shows would recommend for their ability to combine the perfect mix of light and dark? I’d love to hear your recommendations!

Lauren James is a country girl at heart. Raised on a small property surrounded by animals, it's no surprise she writes small town romance with lots of love for creatures great and small.

Having failed fabulously at painting, sewing and playing guitar, she finally found her creative outlet in writing strong, quirky heroines, and tough, handsome heroes with gooey animal-loving centers.

Lauren lives on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, with her beloved rescue greyhound, Daisy.

You can contact Lauren via her website, Facebook or Twitter.

Silencing Your Inner Editor

I often struggle with silencing my internal editor. The little voice that provides a running commentary on everything I’m doing wrong with my writing. Of course, that little voice can be helpful in small, controlled doses when I’ve transferred my ideas to the page and am ready to refine them. But during the creative process, all it does is feed my doubts and block creativity until my characters stop talking to me.

Ever stared at a blank screen, the cursor taunting you with its incessant blinking, and felt paralyzed? What is so scary about that blank page? Often we have more ideas than time to work on them, so why can it be so difficult to get them from head to paper (or computer)? For me, it’s the fear of failure. The ideas seem so perfect in my head, and I want to do them justice, so I put a lot of pressure of myself. Now, when this happens I simply remind myself of the following advice that many writers would have heard time and again.

‘You can fix a bad page, but you can’t fix a blank one’

We waste a lot of energy talking ourselves out of writing because it might not be perfect. Why not refocus that energy into putting words to paper as they come. We can go back and ‘fix’ anything we’re not happy with later.

These fears can often continue throughout the writing process. Rather than taking off with an idea and letting the words flow onto the page, I find myself critiquing each paragraph, sentence or word, as I go along. I’ve even been known to stop mid-sentence searching for the ‘perfect’ word to describe something as inane as the color of the dirt on a character’s shoe.  Thankfully, I’ve been able to work on that bad habit, and rather than dwelling on something so small, I will move on, or alternatively, place a small note to come back to during the editing stage.

It’s important to remember that a first draft isn’t meant to be perfect. It’s a way to let your creativity flow; to find your voice and let your ideas run wild. Once you’ve let all of that creativity out and have something to build on, you can go back and edit.

The next trick is being kind to yourself. Your inner critic will judge you and tear you apart... but if you find something you’ve written is just ‘rubbish’, have a laugh and try again. I’m sure even the most successful writers out there have cringe-worthy moments when reading over their initial drafts. It’s all part of the process.

Here are some tips to help you turn off that internal editor:

No editing: Put a ban on editing of any kind. This can be as simple as not being allowed to read over what you’ve written, or to be even more extreme, stop yourself from using the ‘backspace’ button at all. If you’ve made a typo it can be fixed later.

Set goals: Even if you have limited writing time, aim high. This is the idea behind the popular NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Participants need to complete 50,000 words in one month. It’s a big ask, and meeting that goal requires non-stop writing during precious writing time. For most people there’s no time to edit, therefore the words, and creativity, flows. 

Use a productivity app: Programs such as ‘Write or Die’ where you can set goals around word counts or time limits are extremely helpful. 

If you couldn’t possibly fathom writing an entire story without editing, then restrict it to one chapter at a time, or if that still causes heart palpitations, cut that back to one scene. C’mon, I know you can get through one scene without editing!

Many of these apps will also stop you from accessing the internet for a set amount of time - no more being distracted by social media.

Plan: This will be hard for my fellow ‘pantsers’, but it’s worth trying. Have a rough plan for your story. Sometimes, the more detailed, the better. I find if I have scenes planned out at certain points of the story, even if it’s just the overall objective of a scene (e.g. Show the development of trust between hero and heroine), it helps keep momentum. Stalling, or becoming ‘blocked’, is like holding up a ‘welcome’ sign to my internal editor. I must keep moving.

Note: Pantser = A novelist who writes by the Seat of their Pants, not taking time to plot the novel before beginning to write.

Try something different: If your self-control has disappeared and you absolutely cannot stop yourself from editing, it’s time to turn off the computer and try something else. Why not grab a pen and paper? Rewriting and amending the same sentence ten times suddenly becomes more difficult. Another alternative is to dictate your story. You don’t even need a Dictaphone. Most smart phones have a voice record/memo facility. Just hit record and start talking. No editing here. That can wait for when you transcribe it all later.

Hopefully some of these tips will help you let go of the fear and set your creativity free.

Lauren James is a country girl at heart. Raised on a small property surrounded by animals, it's no surprise she writes small town romance with lots of love for creatures great and small.

Having failed fabulously at painting, sewing and playing guitar, she finally found her creative outlet in writing strong, quirky heroines, and tough, handsome heroes with gooey animal-loving centers.

Lauren lives on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, with her beloved rescue greyhound, Daisy.

You can contact Lauren via her website, Facebook or Twitter.

The Gift of Gratitude

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

Frederick Keonig

After a year and a half in my one bedroom unit, it’s getting a little cramped for me and my greyhound, Daisy. So much so that last year I started browsing property websites, obsessively daydreaming about my next home. How fabulous would it be to upgrade? To get a study or guest room and a nice big yard for Daisy? No more blowing up the air mattress for guests or eating dinner on the couch because my writing desk’s set up in the tiny dining nook.

It’s great to daydream, but fixating on what I didn’t have became a problem.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s perfectly normal to have dreams and goals and work towards them… it only becomes an issue when you feel like you won’t be happy until they’re no longer a dream, but a reality.

I recently spent time with a friend who I hadn’t seen in a long time—one of those friends who no matter how long between visits, it feels as if you’ve never been apart. We were catching up on each other’s lives and something she said really resonated. When I told her about my hobbit-sized one bedroom unit (the one I felt I’d outgrown), she was thrilled for me—a smile lit up her eyes. You see, a few years ago I was aimless and frustrated, convinced I’d never own my own home—that I’d be share-housing forever, living with a revolving door of housemates. That I’d never be able to adopt the dog I’d longed for—it’s hard enough to get housemates onboard with your dog, let alone a landlord.

I was living the dream… only I’d forgotten it had ever been my dream at all.

Instead of being grateful for everything I had, I was focused on wanting more.

Big wake-up call!

Things needed to change. 

But how? A couple of years ago I noticed a jar on my friend’s bench filled with colorful folded papers. She told me it was her family’s Gratitude Jar. Each week, every member of the family would note down something they were grateful for and put it in the jar. On New Year’s Eve they would remove each note and read it as a family, reflecting on all the wonderful things they had to be grateful for.

Brilliant idea!

I’ve known about the power of gratitude for a long time, but so far I haven’t committed to it. I could acknowledge something wonderful when it happened, but the real benefit comes from recognizing all you have to be grateful for when you feel like you’re missing out.   

This year, I decided it was time to shake off my complacency and commit to a regular ongoing gratitude activity. There are so many wonderful ideas out there on how to do this, but as with anything new, it’s important to understand yourself and what’ll work best for you. The Gratitude Jar was my choice—a once a week commitment didn’t seem so challenging. And I was right, finding at least one positive thing per week was easier than I thought.

I hope you’ll consider giving gratitude a chance. Here are a few more ideas to help you let a little extra sunshine into your life.

Gratitude journal

Write a daily journal entry about what you’re grateful for that day. This could be a great way to start your day on a positive note, or something to do before bed to de-stress for a good night’s sleep.

I’m obsessed with pretty stationery and there are tons of official gratitude journals out there, but you don’t need fancy if that’s not your thing. All you really need is a notebook and pen.

Social media gratitude challenge

Post to your preferred social media site every day, to show what you’re grateful for. This has the added bonus of inspiring others, and being able to discuss the blessings in your life.

Gratitude Jar

And as mentioned before, this is my preferred option for this year. It’s so flexible and at the end of the year you end up with a gorgeous jar of gratitude goodness. I can’t wait to open mine on New Year’s Eve.

For added inspiration, I bought myself a Jamie Oliver jar with a red lid, and lovely bright multi-coloured post-it notes. But all you really need is any kind of container, paper and a pen.

Thank you notes

Say a heartfelt thank you to someone in your life. It could be a different person every day or someone special for a week or a month. Bring them unexpected joy by sending them a card expressing how they better your life and what they mean to you. Pay it forward and you may inspire others to do the same.

You can stick to one, do a mish-mash of them all or find your own way of expressing what you have to be grateful for. No matter what you choose, you won’t regret focusing on the good and bringing more happiness into your world.

And if you can bring more happiness into the world of others, all the better.

Good luck!

Taste of Romance Giveaway - Win one of four $50 Amazon vouchers

My first short story Love Interrupted is part of the Taste of Romance short story anthology by the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild. We're running a photo competition in the lead up to the Valentine's Day release.

To enter, simply upload a photo of something that represents a taste of romance to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and include the hashtag #tasteofromanceread. Full details here.

Lauren James is a country girl at heart. Raised on a small property surrounded by animals, it's no surprise she writes small town romance with lots of love for creatures great and small.

Having failed fabulously at painting, sewing and playing guitar, she finally found her creative outlet in writing strong, quirky heroines, and tough, handsome heroes with gooey animal-loving centers.

Lauren lives on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, with her beloved rescue greyhound, Daisy.

You can contact Lauren via her website, Facebook or Twitter.

Christmas Down Under

Hello everyone,

I’m thrilled to join Romancing the Genres and such a fabulous, diverse group of authors. Thanks to everyone who has made me feel so welcome. I look forward to getting to know you all better.

I’ll be blogging from Melbourne, Australia where I live with my rescue greyhound, Daisy—AKA ‘the goofball’. This fabulous bundle of fur has brightened my world for eighteen months and I can’t imagine life without her crazy ears, constant snoozing and ‘roaching’ on her sofa, or the adorable way her teeth chatter while getting a doggy massage or a delicious treat. Do I spoil her? Guilty as charged. After years of cages and racetracks, she deserves pampered pet status.

Writing is a fairly recent adventure and became a true passion approximately four years ago. Since I decided to embark on this bumpy, beautiful journey, I’ve read countless craft books, attended writing courses and received support and encouragement from the fabulous women of the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild. My first novel, Animal Instincts, is almost complete and ready for submission—exciting but scary.

The idea for this story grew from my love of animals and an obsession with the US TV show 'Animal Cops'—a  focus on animal cruelty investigators in various US cities. These men and women are my heroes, so how could I not bring one to life on the page? My hero cruelty investigator is also my ideal man—kind, tough and a champion for abused, exploited and neglected animals. Oh, and did I mention he’s hot as Hades?

And just in case I haven’t intrigued you enough, here’s the blurb for Animal Instincts:

For animal shelter owner, Charlie McQueen, family comes first. Always. With her adoptive parent’s money invested in her struggling business, and her father’s medical bills piling up, their family home is at risk of foreclosure. Funding from the pilot program for an animal cruelty investigation unit will save her business and her family. Failure is not an option.

When divorced animal cruelty investigator, Brad Phillips, arrives on assignment in Oregon’s Shadow Bay, he’s all about the job. Having given up on the dream of love and family, his philosophy on relationships is no mess, no drama, definitely no strings. To secure a coveted promotion back in Portland, his pilot program must run without a hitch or else he’ll be taking orders from the man who destroyed his marriage.

Sparks fly from the moment Brad and Charlie meet. But danger heats up when dogs are stolen from the shelter and the two must team up to investigate an illegal dog fighting ring. Charlie tempts Brad to want more than 'no-strings' with her big heart and selfless nature. But can Brad open up his battered heart to love again? And when Charlie's brother becomes the main suspect, will she choose to protect her family or follow her heart?

Brad and Charlie take up a lot of energy and focus, but a writer must have other passions to help refill the creative well. When I’m not sitting at a computer, you’ll find me chilling with my dog, knitting (or attempting to!), playing board games with friends, listening to true crime podcasts and reading books. Growing up on a very small property with no friends close by, I had to occupy myself. Life was filled with animals, movies and books. Over time my taste in books changed from Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and the Babysitters Club series, to Sweet Valley High and then Stephen King novels—they scared me silly, but the adrenalin rush was addictive. In my twenties I discovered romance, consuming anything I could get my hands on ranging from historical, paranormal and contemporary romance to chick lit and women’s fiction. Romance is still my go-to for a satisfying read.

Another passion is Christmas—the best time of year! The magic of the ‘silly season’ stayed with me long after my belief in Santa disappeared (oh, man that was heartbreaking). I love the time spent with family, decorating the tree, wrapping gifts, the way people rally to help with donations for charity and the way a simple, thoughtful gift can light up a face. It’s also a time to take a holiday break, unwind and recharge my batteries for the new year ahead. In the lead up to the big day, Christmas tunes tinkle throughout my home and it’s not Christmas without my favorite holiday movies—Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, Santa Clause - The Movie (1985), The Holiday and an assortment of Hallmark Christmas movies. The sappier, the better!  

Many people love Christmas for its universal themes of family and giving. Santa probably gets a look-in, and of course the famous, well romanticized white Christmas with blankets of fresh snow.

Christmas ’Down Under’ falls in the middle of summer. Instead of snow, we have blistering heat. Some swelter in the kitchen, cooking a traditional roast dinner, while others sit down to refreshingly cool salads and seafood. Rather than gathering around a fire with eggnog or hot chocolate, we’ll relax by the pool, or for those on our vast coastlines, it’s a cool dip at the beach.

Wherever you are this Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or other holiday, I hope you’re able to share the special day with family and friends. Before I go, here’s a clip that tickled my funny-bone. Our neighbors in New Zealand have very similar weather over Christmas and I adore this Air New Zealand ad with the gorgeous Ronan Keating trying to create a summer version of Winter Wonderland.

And just so you can make sense of how we Aussies and Kiwis do things, here’s a quick glossary of terms for those who may not be familiar with some of the lyrics used in the song:

Jandals = flip flops

Togs = swimsuit

Barbies = BBQ/grill

Mozzies = mosquitos    

Rellies = relatives

Arvo = afternoon

What comes to mind when you think of Christmas?  I’d love to know what makes the holidays magical for you :)

Lauren James is a country girl at heart. Raised on a small property surrounded by animals, it's no surprise she writes small town romance with lots of love for creatures great and small.

Having failed fabulously at painting, sewing and playing guitar, she finally found her creative outlet in writing strong, quirky heroines, and tough, handsome heroes with gooey animal-loving centers.

Her first short story will be released as part of a romance anthology in February 2017.

You can contact Lauren via her website, Facebook or Twitter.