About Me

My photo
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

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.

Follow me on Twitter

Share a link on Twitter

My Blog List

Blog Archive

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!

Search This Blog
Thursday, 20 March 2014

A thousand thanks to my myriad writing friends

Thursday, March 20, 2014 | Posted by Satima Flavell



The cover will be unveiled soon!

It's only a month now until my first novel, The Dagger of Dresnia, is released. It's been an exciting frustrating, overwhelming, journey from the day in 2003 when the first idea came to me, and I couldn't have done it without a lot of help. 

More experienced writers helped me in various ways — critiquing my work, going the extra mile when teaching classes or workshops, even just making encouraging remarks in person or on my blog. If you have been one of the people who did these things or otherwise helped and encouraged me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. The speculative fiction writing world is sustained by one of the most open, friendly and kindly communities I've ever been involved in. 

My publisher recently asked me to send him copy for the Acknowledgments page, and below you will see what I wrote. Many people are included as members of this group or that — to mention them all by name would have produced a book fatter than an encyclopedia volume!

***
For many years, I thought I knew how to write. I’d had many features and reviews published in national journals; I’d won the odd poetry competition — and of course, I could write a book if only I had a story…

Such vain imaginings! When a story finally came to live with me, I quickly found that getting that story down on paper needed quite different skills from the ones I already had. What was all this stuff about point-of-view, three-act structure, character and story arcs and many other terms I’d never heard before? I had never realised how divergent fiction writing would be from journalism and versification.

I am a slow learner and needed many teachers, and I was lucky that the ones who helped me were among the best. Here, in more-or-less chronological order, are some of the many mentors and colleagues who patiently gave me more assistance than I probably deserved: Julie Banfield, Michèle Drouart, Juliet Marillier, Dave Luckett, Glenda Larke, Karen Miller, Phillip Berrie, Patty Jansen, Ian Nicholls, Stephen Dedman, Fiona Leonard, Tom Edwards, Joanna Fay, Sarah Lee Parker, Carol Ryles, Helen Venn, Robert Denethon and all the lovely members of the Stromatolights writing group, the Katharine Susannah Prichard Centre’s SF group, the Online Writers Workshop and the various other groups I've belonged to over the years. A special wave to Lee Battersby, Lynn Flewelling and Fiona McIntosh, who saw the potential in that little scene I wrote at Lee’s instigation while at Swancon 2003. You will get to read it in book two. Who knew that from less than a thousand words, a trilogy would grow?

And not forgetting, of course, my lovely publishers, Stephen and Marieke Ormsby at Satalyte Publishing, who have been generous, diligent and patient in making The Dagger of Dresnia into a real, live book!

4 comments
Friday, 7 March 2014

Thinking of self-publishing?

Friday, March 07, 2014 | Posted by Satima Flavell
There is an excellent 'buyer beware' post up at The Militant Writer, on what to watch out for when looking for self-publishing asssistance. Check it out at
http://maryww.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/greedy-businesses-target-self-published-authors/

I decided against self-publishing because I am not techie enough to get a book online without a great deal of help - and I really want to see The Dagger of Dresnia in hard copy, which I can't afford to pay for.

Hopefully Dagger will be ready to publish within the next month, thanks to my publisher, http://satalyte.com.au/ I had a sneak peek at a possible cover last week and am happy to report that it's going to be gorgeous!
0 comments
Saturday, 1 March 2014

Still busy, and busier yet!

Saturday, March 01, 2014 | Posted by Satima Flavell
I'm on the second round of edits for The Dagger of Dresnia and guess what? I got a sneak peak at a possible cover yesterday! It's looking great and I can't wait to see the finished version.

Coverage of the Perth Writers Festival for Artshub went well. With my colleague Ilsa Sharp, I attended the three day event to hear such amazing writers as Lionel Shriver and Martin Amis. Here's our report on talks by these two guests of honour:  
http://www.artshub.com.au/festival/news-article/review/festivals/perth-writers-festival-lionel-shriver-and-martin-amis-198238

Our day one report is at 
http://www.artshub.com.au/festival/news-article/review/festivals/perth-writers-festival-day-one-198235

And you can find day two at
http://www.artshub.com.au/festival/news-article/review/festivals/perth-writers-festival-day-two-198243



And here's day three
http://www.artshub.com.au/festival/news-article/review/festivals/perth-writers-festival-day-three-198250



I reviewed several lovely shows in February, too. The wonderful Ballet at the Quarry is an annual event I always look forward to. You can read about this year's effort at

http://www.artshub.com.au/news-article/festival/news-article/review/festivals/ballet-at-the-quarry-radio-and-juliet-198050

I also went with friends to hear a wonderful concert by the river with Perth Symphony Orchestra, but I didn't review that one. Aren't I lucky to live in a climate where outdoor shows can be mounted for at least six months of the year?

Another amazing dance show was the Batsheva Company from Israel:

http://www.artshub.com.au/news-article/festival/news-article/review/festivals/deca-dance-198064

Then last week I went to hear the ever-popular Chamber Jam, a monthly show at the Ellington Jazz club that I always enjoy:

http://performing.artshub.com.au/news-article/review/performing-arts/chamber-jam-198299

That's all on the reviewing front - I pulled my horns in with this year's festival and fringe because I knew I would be busy with the edits. But there's more busy-ness: I'm now teaching two theatrical dance classes a week at the Trinity School for Seniors in Perth. And I do want to keep up my own fitness by doing at least one circuit class and one one belly dance class each week, otherwise I won't be fit enough to teach!

That's enough waffle - I'd better get back to the editing! I'm only a third of the way through the second pass and my deadline is in a fortnight.  I'll let you know when I arrive at the finish line, panting and puffing!








0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...