Retreats, Anthologies and Covers

Is anyone else wondering where May went? It’s been an exciting month, though also with it’s tragedies as our thoughts go out to the people of Manchester.

Retreat, Refresh, Return

Writing While Soaking up the View

On the first weekend in May, I headed up to Toowoomba for the Omega Writers Retreat. Beautiful weather and surroundings, great speakers, delicious food, great company. Some of the highlights:

  • Deb Porter’s presentations on publishing and good style
  • Delicious Gluten Free food and plenty of it.
  • Time to write, to soak up the beauty, to chat
  • A time of reflection and worship and prayer for each other
  • Chatting with emerging writer, filmmaker, actor – Charis Joy Jackson on the way up
  • Seeing new publications and talking to other writers
  • Attending Ruth Bonetti’s second launch of From Midnight Sun to Southern Cross

I’m looking forward to next year.

Charis and Jeanette

Anthologies

Some of my stories will be published in different anthologies this year.

  • Stasia’s Stand (YA fantasy) in Crossroad Anthology (Birdcatcher Books) – 1st July 2017
  • Rendezvous at Alexgaia (Sci-Fi Space Opera) in Futurevision (1231 Publishing) – 1 pm, 9th September 2017 (Northlakes Library, Northlakes, Qld, Australia)

Exciting development (for me at least 🙂 ) – I have another 10,000 word Sci-Fi story accepted for another anthology. So watch this space!

Events

  • I had fun participating in the Page Turners Book Launch – with the launch of Cindy Tomamichel’s Druid’s Portal
  • Next week the SF/Fantasy Faire is on again next week – don’t miss out on a great line-up of Science-Fiction and Fantasy authors
  • Wombat Books is celebrating 8 years of Publishing – 2-5 pm 17 June, Redlands College, Anson Road, Wellington Point
  • Launch of Blood Crystal – end of June
  • Launch of Crossroads Anthology – 1st July
  • Launch of Futurevision Anthology – 9th September
  • Oz Comic Con, Brisbane – 23-24 September

Reduced price – short time only

Until the end of the week, Heart of the Mountain is on sale at 99c USD.

Fantasy adventure under the mountain – as the twins Retza and Delvina join with the abovegrounder, Zadeki, to save the underground realm from disaster.

If you haven’t read it yet, why not grab a copy from the following outlets:

Amazon US

Amazon Oz

Other outlets (Nook, Kobo etc)

Final Edits and New Stories

So, what else have I’ve been working on?

  • Edits for Blood Crystal (Book 2 Under the Mountain) and Akrad’s Children (Book 1 Akrad’s Legacy).
  • New short stories – both a couple of sci-fi shorts and some fantasy pieces.
  • A cyborg trilogy – finished a rough first draft of book 1 & halfway first draft on book 2
  • Filling out the plot for Stone of the Sea (Working Title) of Book 3 in the Under the Mountain novella series
  • Covers for Blood Crystal and Akrad’s Children

Cover Reveal

This Friday, I’ll be releasing the book cover of Blood Crystal … watch this space.

Looking forward to an exciting year.  Wishing you the best in your reading (and writing) adventures.

Jeanette

Launchs and Events: February 2017

Did you come to the Lakwi’s Lament Launch? We had a fabulous time.

And the year has already been busy with writing, other events, publication plans.

Happening Now – Our Books Are Not Free Facebook Event

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Not sure what to read next? Looking for a range of great books? Over 100 authors are participating in the Our Books Are Not Free event over 5 days – why not join the event & check out the authors and books https://www.facebook.com/events/206705409792190/

My slot is 2pm Tuesday, 14 February 2017  Queensland time (which is 3pm in EST Australia & 11:00pm 13 February 2017 EST USA). It would be fantastic to see you there.

 

Lakwi’s Lament Launch

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A big thank you to all my fabulous guest authors – Paula Vince, Lynne Stringer, Adam Collings, Mirren Hogan, Kasper Beaumont, Adele Jones, Nola Passmore -and all wonderful participants – whether you dropped in for a few minutes or stayed until the last one left – for your inspiring and heart-felt answers and enthusiasm and refreshing party supplies. I couldn’t have done it without you. There were lots of fabulous questions and competitions with prizes won.

Can I remind you – if you haven’t got a copy of Lakwi’s Lament – it’s available at Amazon or Draft2Digital – ie Kobo, Apple, Nook etc.

Just 99 cents US. I’d love you to read it & review it 🙂

Check out my Amazon Central page for my other stories –
Heart of the Mountain: a short novella
The Herbalist’s Daughter
and the stories Broken Promises in Another Time Another Place
and Ruhanna’s Flight in Glimpses of Light

Both Anna and Lakwi appear in Fever & the associated stories posted on my Jeanette O’Hagan Writes website.

 

Reviews

It’s a truism that authors love reviews.

Thanks to my lovely readers who have posted reviews of Lakwi’s Lament, Heart of the Mountain and The Herbalist’s Daughter on Amazon, Goodreads, blogs  or Youtube. Here’s a small selection 🙂

 Heart of the Mountain:

‘Captivating characters and a plot that draws you in from the start. This well crafted work is recommended reading.’ Adele Jones, GoodReads

‘Jeanette O’Hagan creates a world rich in lore and mystery. It kicks off with a good action hook and there is an undercurrent of dire consequences for failure. There is plenty of action, well interspersed with snippets of background reveal and lovely imagery,’ Ladyhawk, Amazon

The Herbalist’s Daughter:

‘An enchanting story with engaging characters. Looking forward to reading more of this world.’ Shelley Nolan, GoodReads

Lakwi’s Lament:

‘Lakwi isn’t the typical princess. I liked her spunk and how she thinks on her feet so to speak. My one complaint is the story wasn’t long enough. I wanted to know what happens next and would gladly read more in the series.’ Jenny Blake, Amazon

I always enjoy Jeanette O’Hagan’s stories and this one is no exception. She writes engaging fantasy stories. … It is suitable for older readers too and is a very quick read but with a rich storytelling world. Rebekah Rodda, GoodReads

Lakwi’s Lament also featured on Adam Colling’s Bulletin

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Month of Poetry

I had a fabulous time with Month of Poetry. This Year I decided to experiment with different poetry forms-form A to Z (Acrostics to ZamiLA rhymes). It was stretching at times, but a lot of fun. Here was my List Poem 🙂

A Novel Cake

Take a modicum of talent
a cup full of dreams
and hard work in equal measure,
mix together vigorously.
Stir in two aspirations well beaten
and half a cup of constructive feedback
until reaching a smooth and creamy consistency.
Add chopped metaphors (never mixed) to taste.
and a pinch of optimism.
Bake well in the scorching oven of opinion.
When cool, sprinkle with crystallised hopes.
Allow to settle to release the flavours
and garnish with a swirl of revision.
Serve with a generous side of promotion.
 
Warning this cake may cause tears but has been known to be addictive.

 Jeanette O’Hagan 15 January 2017

 

I’ve submitted a number of the poems to competitions and anthologies. To read more about Month of Poetry check out Jenny’s Thread

 

Coming this year:

‘Stasia’s Stand’ is due to be published in the Crossroad anthology later this year.

I’m submitting some short stories to a couple of anthologies and will be involved as editor in Like A Woman anthology – a spec-fic charity anthology in support of victims of Domestic Violence.

The sequel of Heart of the Mountain – Blood Crystal should be out in a couple of months & Akrad’s Children (the first book in the Akrad Legacy series) later this year.

To keep up with cover reveals, publication dates, launches and more–subscribe to my email Newsletter here. http://eepurl.com/bbLJKT

Thanks again. And hope to see you at the Our Books Are Not Free Event

Jeanette