Passport Australia: Guest Blog with Author (and Publisher!) Lindy Cameron…and there’s a giveaway!
Submitted by Doll Noa on August 20, 2010 – 4:00 am43 Comments
*This Contest is Now Closed*
Guest Blog with Lindy Cameron
On Australia, Melbourne, Genre Fiction and Launching a Publishing House!
Lindy Cameron writes both crime fact and fiction. She is author of Redback, the first in a new adventure thriller series featuring Commander Bryn Gideon and a crack team of Australian retrieval agents. She has also published four crime novels: Golden Relic (now an eBook); and the Kit O’Malley PI series Blood Guilt, Bleeding Hearts and Thicker than Water (Bywater Books, USA).Lindy is co-author, with her sister Fin J. Ross, of the true crime book, Killer in the Family; and co-author, with her friend Ruth Wykes, of Women Who Kill. She is contributing editor of the true crime anthologies Meaner than Fiction, and Outside the Law 2; and editor of Outside the Law 3. (all The five Mile Press.)A national co-convenor of Sisters in Crime Australia, Lindy is also editor of the mystery fiction anthology Scarlet Stiletto the First Cut.Her new publishing house Clan Destine Press specializes in genre fiction and its first titles will be: Out of the Black Land by Kerry Greenwood; Redback by Lindy Cameron; and Dougal’s Diary by David Greagg.
Greetings from wintery Australia. Yes that’s AustrALia – the huge island-continent south of the Equator between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. (Not Austria, the tiny little country in Europe surround by other tiny little countries in Europe.)
And yep – we do indeed have winter; though snow only falls on our high places; and nowhere near where I live south of Melbourne, on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula. This means I live on the southern coast of the south-eastern mainland state of Victoria.
The big news Down Under at the moment is that we recently acquired our first-ever female Prime Minister. We ‘acquired’ her because she ‘took over’ from our previous PM. Many of my friends and I hope that we get to keep Ms Gillard after our next federal election on August 21.
For those out there who have no clue: our PM is like the UK’s PM, or the USA’s President. We have two ‘major’ political parties in Australia: Labor and Liberal. Our Labor = UK Labor; = USA’s Democratic Party. Our Liberals = the UK Conservative Party; or the US Republicans. So, we finally have a female Labor PM; you may make any assumptions you wish about why I’d like to keep her.
Now a bit of scene setting. Although I now live an hour’s drive from Melbourne, Melbourne is MY city. I love it. I lived for many years in the inner-city suburbs of Richmond, North Fitzroy and Yarraville; place names which will mean little to you, but say oodles about ‘inner-suburban life’ here.
The heart of Melbourne – along the funny little Yarra River, and around the awesome Port Phillip Bay – is always growing and changing; but it’s still not too big. It’s full of parks, lovely bayside beaches, and great architecture – both new and historical. [I know, our white ‘history’ is so young compared to just about everywhere else, except New Zealand. (BTW New Zealand is not part of Australia.)]
Melbourne also has the BEST restaurants in the country; and THE best coffee anywhere – anywhere. That’s anywhere in the world!
We are a wonderfully multicultural city – which is why we have the BEST restaurants. If anyone asks me what ‘Australian’ food, is I tell them what Melbourne food is all about. It’s Italian, Greek, Turkish, Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, Indonesian, Indian, French, Mexican, Moroccan, Tibetan, Hungarian… Oh, we also have a thing for meat pies and tomato sauce (ketchup); and a spread called Vegemite.
One of the things most readers look for in their crime fiction – which happens to be what I write (when not writing True crime or YA urban fantasy) – is a strong sense of place. So when writing my first novel, Blood Guilt, (now part of the three-book Kit O’Malley mysteries) I intended to present Melbourne AS a character; to put it on the crime-fiction map of the world.
At the time (back in the mid-90s) the only crime fiction set in Melbourne was the splendid (now 18 books and counting) Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood. As her novels are set in our city in the 1920s, I wanted to bring contemporary Melbourne to life.
Melbourne also features strongly in my other two novels Golden Relic and Redback – but those books also take the adventure off around the world – to Egypt, Peru, the US and Pakistan.
A bit more geography (all approximates).
Australia is twice the size of India; could fit the UK, western Europe, Spain and Scandinavia; or all the lands east from Istanbul to Islamabad, and south from the Black Sea to the Arabian Sea. It’s about the same size as the USA (without Alaska and Hawaii); about two-thirds of China; and maybe half of Canada.
And yet our population is just under a puny 22.5 million; or .33% of the world’s population. (That’s 0.33%) Most of us hug the eastern and south-eastern coastlines. Even Perth – our way-way ‘out west’ city – is at latitude 32°S; a single degree further north than Sydney (on the opposite side of the continent). Perth is also a 3423 km drive from Melbourne across the mostly-deserted desert of the Nullabor Plain. The name null-abor comes from the Latin for ‘not a bloody tree in sight’.
So, why am I telling you all this? To give you an insight into two things: one – about the sheer size and relative emptiness of Australia; and two – about how completely insane I am at the moment.
I’m about to launch my own publishing company here in this huge empty country; a small independent publishing house in a humungous island-nation-continent with a tiny population.
My fellow authors and I here happily share our small reading public with each other. But we’ve also always had to compete with the imported books of just about EVERYBODY ELSE in the known world. Man! These days we even have to dance around those Scandinavians, now they’re all being translated as the flavour of the Millennium.
When it comes to genre fiction, the shelves of our book shops have always been stuffed with American and British crime and thriller writers; and lately there’s a tsunami of overseas YA urban fantasy novels. Don’t get me wrong – we love them; but they already crowd out the Aussie authors, even those published by our local big houses like PanMac and Hachette and HarperC.
So what am I doing? As I said, I am launching Clan Destine Press – ‘specialists in genre fiction’.
Mad, mad, mad. But I am having SO much fun. Clan Destine Press is ‘a publishing house for authors’. I am building it from the ground-up as an opportunity for new, and established, Aussie genre writers (and those who have a thing for cats) to make a first – or a new – mark.
Clan Destine Press is not a ‘vanity’ or ‘self-publishing’ gig; or a POD. It’s a real live, real life paperback publishing deal. I’m daunted. And excited. My first three books come out next month.
I am deeply honoured to be publishing, as my first book off the press, Out of the Black Land – the new historical novel by the incomparable Kerry Greenwood. As I mentioned before she’s written 18 mystery novels. In one series. She’s also published five in the Corinna Chapman sleuth series; plus a host of other historicals and some YA fiction. This new book is set in ancient Egypt. And next year I will be re-publishing her Delphic Women trilogy: Medea, Cassandra and Electra.
The other two books for September will be the adventure thriller Redback by Lindy Cameron (ok, yes that is me); and the delightful Dougal’s Diary: one year in the life of a cat by David Greagg.
All Clan Destine Press books will be available to everyone in the whole world from the new CDP website.
In the meantime I’m going back to write about Melbourne – well, a slightly alternate-universe, or two, version of Melbourne – in my current WIP. It’s a YA urban fantasy time-travelling adventure… of course.
~Lindy
Lindy and her books can be found at:
www.clandestine-books.com.au
Clan Destine Press and its authors at:
The Dolls would like to send a massive thank you to Lindy for taking part in our Australia Passport, and wish her the best of luck with the just-launched Clan Destine Press!
Giveaway!!
To celebrate the launch of Clan Destine Press, and the end of Australia Passport week- Lindy is offering one (each) of the first three books off the presses to three lucky winners! First winner will get first choice, and so on. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. This contest is international.
As usual, there are more ways to get your name in the hat:
+1 for each place you post about today’s contest on your blog, social network, or anywhere you can. Digg it, stumble it, twit it, share it with the world. Wherever you share it, make sure you add a link to it along with your comment.
+1 subscribe to Paperback Dolls – either via a reader or email (see the RSS button at the top of the right sidebar or the entry form to the left sidebar.)
We ask the winners to post a review of the novel someplace. Whether it is on their own blog, Amazon, GoodReads, LibraryThing or wherever, it doesn’t matter. Just help get the word out.
The contest will stay open until September 3rd, at which time, we’ll determine the winners with help from Random.org and announce them on September 4th.
Also, we will try to contact the winners, but we ask that you check back to see if you’ve won.
Noa first fell in love with books when she discovered 100 acre wood and its inhabitants. To this day, the last pages of “The House at Pooh Corner” make her cry. In a good way. From“Calvin and Hobbes” to “The Iliad and the Odyssey” and lets not forget “Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes”. Biographies, mysteries, history books and romances all have a place on her bookshelves. Who needs furniture? This 29 year old singleton’s dream is to invent the zero-calorie chocolate. But until that day arrives, she tries to create sweet confections with whatever chocolate she can find. An MA in conflict studies (need a mediator?) means Noa loves a good debate, especially when she wins. If she were in charge, books would be free for everyone.
Lindy – Thank you so much for taking part in Aussie Passport – and for offering all those wonderful books in the giveaway!
Congratulations on Clan Destine's Launch – to many many award winning book publications!
Thank you so much for the great competition once again.
Wow, Redback is based in Australia? Very close to home! I'd love to read it.
I love Lindy Cameron! Thanks for getting a chance to talk to her – and thanks in turn Lindy! I'd love to win a copy!
Wow, what a great contest! And I loved reading Lindy's insight into Australia–I'm a bit in love with her country, obviously :-)) Just started following your blog and I retweeted your Tweet about Lindy's post. The best of luck to Clan Destine Press!
I am a follower. Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me in contest.
I am a follower.
+1 Email subscriber
+1 sidebar
+1
Misha
Congratulations on the launch!
If I had my druthers, I would read "Dougal's Diary", if not that "Out of the Black Land".
1. I am an e-mail subscriber to this blog.
2. I follow this blog with GFC.
Congratulations on the new publishing firm!
I am a new follower and I will share on twitter @gg5andcounting and FB
GG5andcounting @ gmail.com
If chosen I'd like to read RedBack!
I am a follower, and I would love to read any of these fantastic books!
Thank you for the giveaway and the guest post too.
Thank you Lindy for sharing with PBD and for your generous contribution to the giveaway!
I can not wait to read the YA alternate universe Melbourne! Sounds fantastic!
best wishes=
Day
I have an award for you!
Great post & good luck with your company! Also, thanks for this awesome giveaway!
sandric.sk(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the post and giveaway, Lindy!
-Email subscriber
-Tweet-http://twitter.com/Rachel498
Res498(AT)aol.com
another great article dolls!
I would love to read these books;)
kvincent (@) aol dot com
All three of Clan Destine's first publications look fabulous.
I plan to buy them all outright and not take my chances on winning the contest but I have spread the word on Facebook anyway.
I have never been to Australia, but I would love to some day. In the mean time I will just have to 'visit' through books! Thanks for sharing. Also, you won an award! Check it out here:
Scoot,
Seescootread[at]gmail[dot]com
I would love to read any of these books. I have always wanted to go to Australia.
I am a gfc follower.
I am a email subscriber.
If you want to get a feel for Melbourne, save you're sun and sand imageries for the rest of Aus. Victoria and Melbourne have beaches that are lovely in summer but Melbourne has so much more depth and character that that's what makes it special.
This is one of Melbourne's laneways: http://www.nothinglikeaustralia.com/flash.htm#/entries/11560/title
I love Melbourne's landways, they give the city character; and I love its theatres, and food, and trams, and parks, and wide roads, the hidden bars, the architecture ……..
Congrats on the release on Clan Destine Press! It's pretty exciting!
Thanks for the giveaway!
iii.141592653589793238462643383[at]gmail[dot]com
Thank you very much for this giveaway.
Mail:
Twitted:
I really enjoyed reading this blog as I love both geography and books – which you know already! And I'm very interested in Australia although it's so far away!
Wonderful post and interview. I'm always interested to learn about new authors and publishing houses.
-I'm a new follower
-I linked to the giveaway on my blog sidebar and also wrote a post. http://wp.me/p2oND-pL
-I twittered the contest. @undermyappletre
BTW, I absolutely love Melbourne… it's in my list of world's best cities to visit and live in!
Congrats and good luck with Clan Destine! The books sound great! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
+1 email subscriber to Paperback Dolls
I live in Australia, and so I'd love to support this new publishing company. :)
+1 follower (GFC, I check posts at least thrice a day)
+1 sidebar
oh right…email
cc932005 at hotmail dot com
Aussie aussie ooo oohhh lol.. Yes I am a fellow Australian and all the geographics I found just amazing lol.. no I am for real !!! Finally someone to publish books within Australia.. yaya.. mind you I love ya books and thrillers and well the ya books have taken over our shelves in australia but I for one dont mind , Some of those overseas authors are fantastic.. !! But so glad to see an Aussie !!!! Great giveaways.. good luck with the publishing..
Katrina
run_with_wolves
W00t, congratulations on the launch! :) I'd love to enter, please put me in the draw. It's great to see some Aussie books out and about, I always get a little thrill when I recognise the place names in them.
Kate1485 at hotmail.com
Wonderful Giveaway!!
I'm a Follower :)
chidoryx AT hotmail DOT com
Great contest, thanks for holding it. juliecookies(at)gmail.com
Wow! Fab contest! Count me in! :) I am a follower and you can reach me at
Awesome contest! <3 I'm a follower <3
angelmistress[at]hotmail[dot]com
I just found out this week that it's mandatory to vote in Australia…I was working the polls for our primary and turnout was very low!
I follow on GFC.
meredithfl at gmail dot com
Great post, count me in for the contest!
+1 sidebar http://cuidadocomodalmata.wordpress.com/
+1 subscriber
jen7waters(at)gmail(dot)com
this sounds great – please count me in the giveaway!
k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com
i am a follower
Thanks for the awesome giveaway! I <3 books.
i would really love to win this giveaway :)
my email is the other email
Great giveaway. All the books look very good.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I'm a new email subscriber.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
New Reader subscriber +1
I really love the covers, but the one for Redback really caught my eye. It's so vivid. Though I do adore that kitty on "Dougal's Diary", I can practically feel its virtual furs :-P
Congrats for the just-launch of Clan Destine Press! And of course a mega thank you for hosting the giveaway! I have
my fingers crossed :)
+1 tweeted:
+1 subscribed to Paperback Dolls via email ()
You can buy online secure, it just takes a little common sense
Anyone know if we need a passport and visa to visit Oz.
Arie