Gratitude for Millie and Stella (kids lit, middle grade)
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival (my workshop for kids)
Write Your Novel (hybrid course – 2 for 1 deal! Bring a friend free!
The Artist’s Way (creative recovery for all, 12 week course, live)
Friends, I am so delighted to reveal my brand new children’s series (yes, a series!) that has been eight years in the making! Please, allow me to introduce you to Millie and Stella, Best Friends Forever.
Millie and Stella’s very favourite thing is riding their ponies together. But gates are being left open in their paddock, and Millie and Stella are being blamed! Can the girls figure out who is behind the mischief before their beloved ponies are put in danger?
Join best friends Millie and Stella for a week of friendship, adventure and a little bit of mystery . . .
This is the first book in an uplifting and inclusive series that celebrates friendship, family, neurodiversity, creativity and a love of animals and books. By the bestselling author of The Tea Chest and The Wonderful Thing about Phoenix Rose.
And, yes, there’s a pre-order competition!
That’s it! I will draw five winners out of a jar on 16th Apri!
(Limited to Australian postal addresses only.)
The other day Rachel Bailey looked at me and said, ‘Jo, take off your pants.’
And to be honest, I was having the kind of week where I barely batted an eyelid at that.
This post is AN ALMIGHTY CELEBRATION OF My WRITING COMMUNITY (the importance of which is the very FIRST THING I teach all my writing students in all my classes.) You see, Rachel is not only a wildly clever, witty and talented writer, but the woman I refer to as “the godmother of writers on the Sunshine Coast”, and one of the best human beings you will find on the planet… which brings me to the marshmallows.
You see, I had just rocked up to Rachel’s house (with very little notice) in a bit of a ‘state’. And as I emerged from the car—thirsty, hungry, incoherently exhausted, and carrying a bag of cat litter half my size, I discovered that I also had a marshmallow smeared and stuck to my bum. How? Why?!?! No idea. But stuck it was, clinging to my jeans (and the car seat) like a cranky old barnacle.
Rachel calmly ushered me inside and said, ‘Jo, take off your pants and give them to me.’ She then fetched me some lovely soft corduroy pants to cover my blindly white legs while I greeted my feline fur babies (Rachel’s their ‘bonus mum’) and plied me with tea, fed me biscuits and let me pick her PhD-laden brains about writing techniques, all while she took to my marshmallow-ed pants with the enthusiasm and tenacity of an 18th-century washer woman who would not be defeated.
The majority of the people in my life today are here via books/writing and it’s a precious, beautiful, expansive gift. And, you, Rachel Bailey, mean so much to SO many humans and animals, and I am so glad (and LUCKY) that you found me floating around on the Sunshine Coast as a fledgling author so many years ago and brought me into your nest, and continue to, even when I arrive dragging in my sticky, marshmallow-ed arse (and then repay you by accidentally stealing your phone and taking 3 hours to work out that the photo of Bobby dog is not on my screen due to photo rotations but because it’s not MY phone at all!) Here’s to you, you enormous, shiny ball of light!
This weekend, I got to spend it doing one of the things I love most in the world – writing retreat! There quite simply isn’t anything that compares. What writers crave, more than anything, is (usually) time – but not just any time. Most of us are well skilled at writing in the car while our kid plays soccer, or getting up early to bash out a few hundred words before breakfast, or writing on the train. We pull these scraps of time together week after week, year after year. And we get things done.
What we yearn for, though, is a long stretch of uninterrupted time, the kind of time that has no alarm going off at the end of it to remind us to go do the school run or get to the next appointment. In these long, quiet, non-managed spaces, our brains run free into directions they don’t normally get to go. It is the gift of finishing an hour’s work at the keyboard, then getting up to make a cup of tea and being able to allow our imagination to continue wandering, gathering, solving and birthing new work. We can return to it, again and again. We don’t have to solve the Maths homework, or the electricity bill that just arrived, or find a way to entertain the dog when it’s pouring rain. We can just be.
The one thing that make retreats even better is good company. Gosh, I was blessed with brilliant retreat partners this weekend. We laughed, we slept, we ate, we drank tea, we rambled in nature, we wrote by hand, and on keyboard, we wrote alone and in company. We ate a heap of chocolate. (And fluffy socks are a must-have item.)
Post retreat, there is always sadness. A yearning to go back to the magical world. But I know that the only thing that can cure a writing retreat hangover, is to book another one. And book it, you must! Because we are too good at making excuses not to prioritise our writing, not to honour the story waiting to come through us, not to invest in ourselves. Book it in while you still have the feeling with you – the real feeling, the one you should lean into, not away from.
If you are interested in hearing about the next retreat, let me know and I’ll pop you on the list for updates.
Write Your Novel meets in just two weeks time! You can still join in up to the first meeting, though the sooner you book, the sooner you’ll get your materials to get you started 🙂
All genres are welcome. Don’t miss out on the chance to make this year YOUR YEAR to write that book you’ve been dreaming about.
Jo X
Join Me on Feb 18th, 2024
Have you always wanted to write a novel, but just haven’t found the right time or motivation? Maybe you’ve tried before and found it too daunting or you’ve got so many ideas, you don’t know where to start. If this sounds like you, then I invite you to join me on February 18th, 2024, for a transformative journey where we’ll take your ideas and bring them to life.
I’m Here to Guide You Through the Process
Writing a novel can be a challenging task. It’s not just about stringing words together, it’s about creating a world, developing characters, and weaving a story that engages and captivates readers. It’s a craft that requires skill, patience, and a whole lot of creativity.
That’s where I come in. With years of experience in the world of fiction writing, I can guide you through the process of turning your ideas into a compelling novel. Whether you’re a first-time writer or a seasoned veteran looking for a fresh perspective, I’m here to provide the guidance, feedback, and support you need to bring your novel to life.
And…
Over the course of our journey together, we’ll explore the fundamentals of novel writing, from character development and plot structure to pacing and dialogue. You’ll learn how to craft a narrative that not only tells a story but also resonates with readers. By the end of our time together, you’ll have a solid foundation in the craft of novel writing and the confidence to take your work to the next level.
Ready to Join?
Are you ready to bring your novel to life? To join me on this exciting journey, all you need to do is book your spot via https://josephinemoon.com/write-a-novel-in-a-year/ Places are limited, so be sure to secure yours early. I can’t wait to see what stories we’ll bring to life together.
Lastly…
Writing a novel is a journey that requires passion, commitment and, importantly, guidance from an experienced author. Don’t put it off for another year! Let’s embark on this adventure together and make 2024 the year you write your novel. I look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your writing dreams.
Jo x
Lovely ones, for years and years, you’ve been telling me how much my books make your mouth water and make you hungry and how much you want me to write a recipe book. Well, finally I have put together my first recipe book, and it’s available from today, just in time for Christmas celebrations and gift giving.
What’s in it? My blue ribbon winning strawberry jam recipe, for one. 🙂 These recipes are family friendly, all gluten free by default (but you can substitute your own flour, no problem) and usually dairy free (but you can also substitute your usual replacements). They are highly flexible recipes, made for you to play with. Cooking is creative, after all, so I want my recipes to be inspiring and supporting, as much as they are instructional.
I’ve also included a five-page special event guide on How To Throw A Tuscan Feast. This is a great event for a special occasion, such as Christmas, Easter or (as I did) for a special wedding anniversary. I’ve also included recipes for cakes, cupcakes, icing, cocktails, apple crumble, a hearty chicken dinner, gingerbread and more.
My food stories and recipes are inspired by my bestselling foodie fiction books. For years, I’ve wanted to bring you, my readers, this accessible, family friendly and tested collection of some of my favourite recipes. This is the first volume of recipes, accompanied by behind-the-scenes stories and memories. It’s a great idea for a Christmas gift for a loved one, especially if you can’t catch up in person – you can send this ebook to them, wherever they are.
I hope you love it.
Jo x
Fellow writers, for the first time, I’m offering 2-3 places for you to receive personalised attention on your manuscript and enjoy a three-night writing retreat in the quaint, peaceful town of Cooran on the Sunshine Coast, Qld.
(If this is the first time you’ve been to my site, you can find out about me here.)
Dates: Thursday 23 November to Sunday 26th November, 2023
What: Novels, children’s, memoirs and other non-fiction are all welcome to apply.
Cosy crime in the style of Phryne Fisher, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder or The Maid is welcome.
“Thank you so, very, much – it was lovely meeting you and thank you for being so gentle and positive with your feedback. I was incredibly trepidatious, and knowing that there is some merit in my attempt at long-form… Well I don’t think I can put into words just how much this means to me!”
A Full Manuscript appraisal client
Your notes have been brilliant, thanks again.
A first three chapters client
I look forward to being in your group and wonderful community.
It’s a short drive to shops and cafes in Cooran and Pomona. Cooran has a really cute little general store, which might easily have enough to help you out over the three days, including artisanal bread, gluten free treats, meat, fruit, veg, pasta, Kenilworth cheese and more. If you don’t have a car, let me know and we’ll sort out a bit of shopping for you on the way in.
You’ll also find Hinterland restaurant and bar in Cooran.
Pomona Hotel and Pomona Distilling Co are in Pomona, as well as several cafes and an IGA.
Rest assured, you are in control of your time. Everything is optional. If you decide you want to hibernate for three days, that’s fine! Join in, or fly solo. This retreat is yours!
Thursday 23rd November. Travel to Cooran. Check in from 2pm. Settle in with drinks and grazing platters for dinner as we get to know each other and chat books and writing. (Check with me in if you need an airport transfer.)
Friday 24th November. Manuscript focus. Group chat plus individual brainstorming/consult/chats with me about your development plan for your manuscript.
Saturday 25th November. Free time in the morning. Writing sprints and live readings in the afternoon.
Sunday 26th November. Check out by 10am and back to the everyday world. (Check with me in if you need an airport transfer… I’ll do my best to help!)
Your place on retreat includes:
* “lifetime membership” and “lifetime invitation” means for the duration of the time that I am offering these services… which is hopefully many years
**Please note that a manuscript assessment does not include editing services. Editing is an entirely different process. This means, I do not fix your words, sentences, paragraphs, typos, spelling, punctuation or grammar. (Having said that, it is highly likely I will pull out sections of text to demonstrate how you could improve your writing style and fluency.)
Thank you so much for yesterday and for sending these notes. Your suggestions and line notes are amazing. So much to think about and go through. I am especially impressed since I had the first fifty pages looked at by [an organisation] and your suggestions resonate so much better with me… I have a lot of work to do but am very grateful for your feedback.
First 50 pages client
This retreat is for a writer who has a completed manuscript (at least a full first draft) and who is seeking feedback and is committed to embarking on another draft of development.
This retreat is for a writer:
What: Novels, children’s, memoirs and other non-fiction are all welcome to apply.
Cosy crime in the style of Phryne Fisher, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder or The Maid is welcome.
$3,300 (all inclusive, from manuscript assessment to farewell at checkout/the airport).
If you and your project sounds like something I believe I can add value to, I will send you a booking sheet ASAP so we can get the ball(point pen) rolling.
Cooran is part of the Noosa hinterland. You will be perfectly placed to extend your stay on either side of retreat. The famous Eumundi Markets are on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Glorious Main Beach at Noosa Heads is a mere 40-minute drive from Cooran.
This is a rural property with uneven terrain surrounding the house. There are 10 steps that lead to the house entry. There is no disabled access in this home. I apologise for, well, the world, really… that everything is not created with disability access requirements in mind, especially since 1 in 5 people in Australia has a disability, and that disability is a normal variation of human beings. I will always try to find ways to work around the world’s shortcomings if possible. I hope this will change for future events.
I’ve been doing a spot of designing lately and I am making myself a range of bookmarks, one for each of my books and then probably some for my favourite books of all time. If you love them, you can order your own as stickers (just leave the backing in place to use as a bookmark) or a magnet.
A lot of people (Autistic, mainly) have messaged me to say that The Wonderful Thing About Phoenix Rose made them cry. Sobbed, even. This surprised me, honestly, because that’s not the vision of the book I hold in my head. Overall, I consider it an uplifting book (as do the reviewers). There are some painful moments in the book (it wouldn’t be a story if there weren’t) and many of them were painful for me to write. But as is my style as an author, I surround the pain with life affirming goodness so as to stay on the side of ‘complex’ rather than ‘distressing’. But I get it now, the pull towards tears, because this happened.
Yesterday, neurodivergent social worker, Joanne Hatchard, of Better Being Me – Neurodivergent Family Therapist posted this reel to Instagram and Facebook and it made me cry. Why? Because she was able to articulate so clearly why I wanted to write this story and why Autistic representation matters and our community is so hungry for it.
You see, we (the Autistic community) know there are many books out there with neurodivergent main characters. We know it because we can see it and we can see the signposting that the author has built into it, whether they are aware of it or not (I have definitely written Autistic characters into my past novels without realising it), and sometimes these books are massive bestsellers. Global bestsellers. Oh, the irony of readers loving these “quirky”, “socially awkward”, “different” characters on the page… but not so much in real life, a point mega children’s author, Sally Rippin, also makes in her non-fiction book, Wild Things: How We Learn to Read and What Can Happen if We Don’t. Some examples that come to mind include Anne Shirley (overwhelmingly cited by the Autistic community as a classic Autistic/ADHD character) and Pippi Longstocking.
But my Autistic community is not benefiting from this because we have not been identified. It bites, frankly.
In a perfect world, we would never have to identify or explain anything to anyone. We would all simply be accepted exactly as we are and when we ask for help we get it, without having to justify why. Sadly, the world is not there yet.
We need to start identifying Autistic and ADHD characters on the page. We need to explicitly connect their wonderful qualities, curiosity, bravery, compassion and empathy with the word Autistic because if we are deliberating cloaking Autistic characters under euphemisms (of usually narrow, stereotypical traits) of “walking to the beat of their own drum” and “fixated on routine” and such we are shaming Autistic people.
If we don’t name it, we shame it.
Joanne’s amazing words capture it in 90 seconds. Please, click the image to hear her say the words so many of us are craving.
