Blog 2 ­ Susan Steggall

. . . .
Blog

THE HOLIDAY THAT WASN’T, PART VIII

  7 MAY, 08.00 HOURS Once again we wake up to a panorama of a tropical island (Pulau Tenggol) clad in lush green, rimmed by white sand and turquoise sea (or at least that is how I imagine it!). I spend fifteen minutes on deck savouring the warm air and gentle swell rocking the Star Clipper. There is a small town so we will go ashore for a…

More

 

THE HOLIDAY THAT WASN'T, PART IX

 THE HOLIDAY THAT WASN’T, PART IX 8 MAY, 10.00 HOURS Last day of the cruise and another beautiful tropical island – Pulau Tioman, in Malaysia. These islands look very much the same – some rockier, some with lagoons and whiter beaches – and the days gently roll by. How very different to our Clipper cruises in the Mediterranean where each day brings towns and villages of modern-day tourism and…

More

 

THE HOLIDAY THAT WASN’T, PART X

  9 MAY, 09.00 HOURS Before sunset yesterday crew members climbed out onto the bowsprit in a traditional clipper farewell as the tenders took us out around the ship for photo opportunities of the four-master ship under full sail. Nimble-footed guests were allowed to climb out onto the netting – more photos! The last climbs up the mast to the crow’s nest took place; last names and addresses exchanged…

More

 

THE HOLIDAY THAT WASN’T, PART XI

  10 MAY, 07.00 HOURS I am at the pool as soon as it opens to do laps (albeit shortish) and spend time in the jacuzzi pool – need to work off the splendid eating experience of last night – going from stall to stall tasting everything, washed down by large glasses of the local (warm) beer.   10.00 HOURS: After one of those amazing breakfasts that only…

More

 

RE-CARVING AN IDENTITY

    Highly Commended Society of Women Writers NSW 2019 National Writing Competition - Non Fiction   It is 1908. A young woman with dark eyes and hair looks confidently at the camera. She is wearing a white dress with a high V-neckline and full sleeves, her only adornment a single long-stemmed rose in her right hand. It is a conventional studio portrait of a society belle, nothing to indicate…

More

 

Reflections on Writing Biography

  ‘Eventually we accept the ghosts that haunt us’[i]   Biography has long been a source of frustration and satisfaction. I have studied its theoretical aspects for an academic thesis, its social and emotional ramifications for biographies ranging from ten-thousand-word memoirs to 85,000-word manuscripts. Yet there remain mysterious currents to the writing of biography; unchartered waters to explore. An essay by Australian author Ruth Park – ‘This way to the…

More

 

JUMPS AND CUTS: RESPONDING TO LIBBY SOMMER

 

More

 
ME AND MY WRITING LIFE with WRITERS' STUDIO

ME AND MY WRITING LIFE with WRITERS' STUDIO

 

More

 

NEW AND NEWS - IN MY WRITING LIFE

After the high of Wednesday’s Society of Women Writers NSW meeting at which we announced the 2016 winner of the Di Yerbury Residency, Pamela Rushby, I was off to Canberra for a meeting of the Independent Scholars Association of Australia (ISAA). At the meeting we were planning quite a different event – ISAA’s annual conference on 13 and 14 October 2016. This years theme: ‘The Good the Bad and the…

More

 

WHERE TO FROM HERE? A NEW WRITING ADVENTURE

I am currently completing the manuscript for a second art mystery novel, with the provisional title of 'Due Respect', and will soon need to inch my toes forward to the edge of the starting block and send the MS to some publishing possibilities. With some trepidation as so far I have not managed to attract much interest - which is putting it mildly! So... what to do and where to…

More