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.)
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 Sunday, 18th May, 2025, 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.
Book now! Places are limited, so be sure to secure yours early. I can’t wait to see what stories we’ll bring to life together.
What a delight to have met you and participated in your wonderful course. It was so helpful in many ways, and seeing the other participants once a month, hearing about their stories and nutting out our ideas and processes together was really special.
JK – Write Your Novel participant
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
Last call to book your place in the Summer of Short Stories or Write Your Novel for 2025.
Early bird registrations close midnight tonight, 30 November, 2024 (AEST).
Start your new year on the write foot. Join the fast and the furious in the four-week short story writing course. Finish the month with three short stories to pitch or enter into competitions.
Then, follow on with Write Your Novel. Over six months, we’ll coax that story out of your head and onto the page.
Let’s go!
Jo X
Tick Tock! You can join the Summer of Short Stories now at EARLY BIRD pricing!
A. They jump straight to writing a novel without first mastering the art of the short story. That’s like me at 16, dreaming of competing in the equestrian events at Olympic Games. Alas, my beloved horse, Hercules, refused to jump a ground pole, despite being a whopping 17 hands high.
A novel is a marathon, and few of us are genetically blessed to simply get up and run marathons. Most of us, though, can manage a short jog through the park with our dog or kids. That’s the beauty of short stories. They are fast! They are fun! And then… they are DONE!
Seven Reasons to Write Short Stories:
We’ll read stories, write stories, and practice offering and receiving feedback in a structured, helpful way. By the end of the four weeks, you’ll have three short stories ready to submit… or as I like to call it, throw spaghetti at the wall! You never know what will stick.
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
Yesterday, I used the ‘C’ word online for the first time this year. Yep, I said it: Christmas.
This year, I am kicking off my Christmas cooking with a batch of my finest strawberry jam. And what is the recipe I’m using? Nothing other than my blue ribbon winning strawberry jam from the Royal Queensland Show (the Ekka), 2019.
I had never made jam before that but, as I like to do, I researched my food theme and competitive jam making thoroughly in order to write about a family of jam makers in my novel, The Jam Queens.
Researching is one of my favourite parts of writing a book so I do it thoroughly, that’s for sure. I will always try to do whatever it is my characters are doing so that I can write about it authentically. And I was glad I did because officious world of competitive jam making is staggeringly strict! To say I shocked to take 1st place in a Royal Show is an understatement. Beginner’s luck, no doubt, but still something that was incredibly exciting and fun.
This week, I’ll be using my blue ribbon winning recipe (which is printed in the back of The Jam Queens) to make gifts for loved ones, not for competition. I am a ‘slow jammer’, making my jam over several days. And the heavenly aroma of macerated strawberries is reward enough.
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.
