About Me

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Perth, Western Australia, Australia
I am based in Perth, Western Australia. You might enjoy my books - The Dagger of Dresnia, the first book of the Talismans Trilogy, is available at all good online book shops as is Book two, The Cloak of Challiver. Book three, The Seer of Syland, is in preparation. I trained in piano and singing at the NSW Conservatorium of Music. I also trained in dance (Scully-Borovansky, WAAPA) and drama (NIDA). Since 1987 I have been writing reviews of performances in all genres for a variety of publications, including Music Maker, ArtsWest, Dance Australia, The Australian and others. Now semi-retired, I still write occasionally for the ArtsHub website.

My books

The first two books of my trilogy, The Talismans, (The Dagger of Dresnia, and book two, The Cloak of Challiver) are available in e-book format from Smashwords, Amazon and other online sellers. Book three of the trilogy, The Seer of Syland, is in preparation.I also have a short story, 'La Belle Dame', in print - see Mythic Resonance below - as well as well as a few poems in various places. The best way to contact me is via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/satimaflavell

Buy The Talismans

The first two books of The Talismans trilogy were published by Satalyte Publications, which, sadly, has gone out of business. However, The Dagger of Dresnia and The Cloak of Challiver are available as ebooks on the usual book-selling websites, and book three, The Seer of Syland, is in preparation. The easiest way to contact me is via Facebook.

The Dagger of Dresnia

The Dagger of Dresnia

The Cloak of Challiver, Book two of The Talismans

The Cloak of Challiver, Book two of The Talismans
Available as an e-book on Amazon and other online booksellers.

Mythic Resonance

Mythic Resonance

Mythic Resonance is an excellent anthology that includes my short story 'La Belle Dame', together with great stories from Alan Baxter, Donna Maree Hanson, Sue Burstynski, Nike Sulway and nine more fantastic authors! Just $US3.99 from Amazon. Got a Kindle? Check out Mythic Resonance.

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Places I've lived: Manchester, UK

Places I've lived: Manchester, UK

Places I've lived: Gippsland, Australia

Places I've lived: Gippsland, Australia

Places I've lived: Geelong, Australia

Places I've lived: Geelong,  Australia

Places I've lived: Tamworth, NSW

Places I've lived: Tamworth, NSW

Places I've Lived - Sydney

Places I've Lived - Sydney
Sydney Conservatorium - my old school

Places I've lived: Auckland, NZ

Places I've lived: Auckland, NZ

Places I've Lived: Mount Gambier

Places I've Lived: Mount Gambier
Blue Lake

Places I've lived: Adelaide, SA

Places I've lived: Adelaide, SA

Places I've Lived: Perth by Day

Places I've Lived: Perth by Day
From Kings Park

Places I've lived: High View, WV

Places I've lived: High View, WV

Places I've lived: Lynton, Devon, UK

Places I've lived: Lynton, Devon, UK

Places I've lived: Braemar, Scotland

Places I've lived: Braemar, Scotland

Places I've lived: Barre, MA, USA

Places I've lived: Barre, MA, USA

Places I've Lived: Perth by Night

Places I've Lived: Perth by Night
From Kings Park

Inner Peace Blog

Inner Peace Blog
Awarded by Joanna Fay. Click on the image to visit her lovely website!

Versatile Blogger Award

Versatile Blogger Award
Awarded by Kim Falconer. Click on the pic to check out her Quantum Astrology blog!

Fabulous Blog Award

Fabulous Blog Award
Awarded by Kathryn Warner. Click on the pic to check out her Edward II blog!

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Wednesday 3 December 2008

Cut off short

Well, the Deed is Done. My sister Anne was going to the hairdresser yesterday and on impulse I had the cutter also make free with the scissors on the birdsnest that my hair has become since my shoulder's been sore. I'm quite pleased with the result and will try to get a photo of myself to put up for your edification and delight. Actually, the do probably won't look all that different in a photo, as it's still off my face. No, no, I'm not off my face, just my hair...

Although it's easier to take care of, short hair has the drawback of needing constant attention, and as the price of a haircut is about the price of a book, that's probably nine or ten fewer books I can buy in the course of a year. Mind you, I need more books like I need the bubonic plague. I had a parcel of eight or nine turn up from one publisher on Monday. I've sent off an SOS to a couple of reviewers whose tastes, I know, run to the sorts of books that were in the parcel, so maybe I shall find good homes for most of them. I have a pile of things to read on my bedside table already - books I "should" review; books friends have lent me with assurances that they are very, very good and I "should" read them, and a few that I just happen to want to read because they are by favourite authors. I read slowly these days, savouring every word. When I was younger I used to read about 500 words a minute and could get through a sizable tome in a day: I can't read that fast now and nor do I want to. The more leisurely approach, I think, makes reading more enjoyable.

My sisters and I went to see the film Australia today. I had no expectations as the reviews have been somewhat mixed, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed it. At least, I enjoyed it once it got going properly. The first half hour I found positively cringe-making - clunky dialogue and acting that was overdone in some cases and wooden in others made me grateful for the amazing scenery of the Northern Territory and the presence of Brandon Walters, the delighful, talented child who played the role of Nullah. Fortunately, the cast warmed up as the script took a turn for the better, and the three hours passed far faster than I would have thought possible. I loved the music - it shouldn't have worked, but did. There was hardly an original phrase in the whole score, yet the pastiche suited the era (WWII) and the themes of the movie. Clever references to - and in some places, out and out theft of - the works of composers old and new lent unexpected layers of meaning. I'm glad I went to see Australia, and I hope that if you go to see it, that you'll enjoy it too.

13 comments:

Jo said...

I was going to suggest you should have your hair cut rather than hurting yourself trying to manage it. I have had short hair since my 20s and much prefer it anyway.

I really want to see Australia, not even sure it is on here yet. Even Matt has agreed to go see it and he doesn't go to movies.

Helen V. said...

Short hair is much more practical in some ways but you really need a good hair cutter. Then it doesn't take any work. Unfortunately the hairdresser I had been going to for six years left to have a baby and in the two years since I have had only one decent cut - and she gave up hairdressing straight after. My hair can't be that hard to cut. Can it?

Jo said...

For many years I cut my own hair. I only recently started getting it cut and although it is convenient in some ways, I think I still prefer doing it myself.

Satima Flavell said...

You must have a knack for it, Jo - I cut my own hair while it was long, but I wouldn't be able to make it look as good as if a hairdresser had done it now it's short.

And you're right, Helen - there are cutters and there are hackers, and you don't know which one you've got until after they've finished. I'm lucky - our local Just Cuts has two really good cutters. Of course, you have to wait at least an hour but it's worth it - and only $21 for a restyle and $17 for a trim. That's pensioner rates, of course, but it's only about $5 dearer for others. Good value, even if you don't have the convenience of an appointment.

Anonymous said...

Short hair makes good sense in the Australian summer. Some hairdressers seem to have that magic touch with the scissors, but they can be hard to find. Ditto for dog groomers, who need a whole range of additional skills as their customers can't be relied on to sit still and refrain from biting.

Helen V. said...

Yes, a good dog groomer is essential. In our street all the dogs are groomed by one lovely lady who has the magic touch and gets recommended on as new dogs arrive.

Satima Flavell said...

Hm - biting the hairdresser - there's a story there! A vampire-werewolf, I reckon, who does it back to front - wolf by day, man by night, brought up from a puppy by a man whose wife insists on taking the poor beast to a salon where they put bows in your fur. And one time she takes it to the groomer late and as dusk falls and the moon starts to rise... :-)

Jo said...

Come on Satima, you can't leave it there....!

Satima Flavell said...

Dreaming up characters and situations and a backstory is easy for me, Jo. It's figuring out what comes next that's hard!

Marilyn Z. Tomlins said...

Satima --

I am looking forward to watching "Australia" seeing I've been writing about it. It opens here at Cmas time.

Marilyn

Satima Flavell said...

Great, I hope you enjoy it! I'd be really interested in seeing it with French subtitles:-)

Jo said...

I haven't heard when and if it is opening round her, I must check it out. Even Matt promised to go see it with me and he never goes to the movies.

Jo said...

Well you'll just have to feed it to Glenda then LOL

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