It looks like you've still got that writerly gift, Kate! Fortunately your shenanigans haven't severed anything there. Fabulous book list, and thank you so much for the mention of our festival! I'm in shock it's next month already. And I can't read an x-ray either, so I was very grateful for your caption and stopped trying to find the fault line - speaking of which, your panel in our festival is called Fault Lines of Place. There you go. Cracks - where the light gets in. All of that. Wishing you a speedy, but paced, recovery. xxx
Thank you dear Jo. VERY excited for your always excellent festival and what a perfect panel name x Also always delighted to read your notes from the bookshop, almost feels as though I'm sitting in one of your comfy chairs in the bookshop observing all the goings on. Thank you xx
Sorry to hear about your mishap Kate- I missed you at the South Coast WF. I was looking forward to hearing your conversation with Hayley. Rest up and heal! And enjoy the fallow period.
Good to see you here again Kate but oh, what a pain for you - literal and metaphorical. These abrupt stops are frightening, but there will be gold that comes from it. Sending you all the love and recovery. x M
Sorry to hear you've been laid low Kate, and hope the healing is fast. I'm also comforted to hear about someone else's creative process being complicated and, at times, tortured. Having 'all the time in the world' is never enough for me. Which is probably why my 'fortnightly' substack is more like every 6 weeks!
When you sent this, I realised that I’ve missed the Bowerbird, Kate - but don’t worry, you haven’t snapped your ability to write! When I had my double knee replacement, I thought I’d be so productive, resting in bed and writing, but between the drugs and the physio and the healing, I did very little creatively and couldn’t concentrate for long. However, I listened to podcasts related to the themes in my novel and soaked in some ideas. Be kind and gentle with yourself. I think there is also something about being vulnerable - and that has seeped into my latest novel. (In practical terms, my only tip is having a bag you can sling over your shoulder full of everything you need to carry!) Much love and healing to you xx
Thank you so much Pet xx this is all incredibly useful. Can't tell you how comforting it has been to hear how others have traversed the 'being laid low/still' territory. Love the idea of 'soaking' into ideas. Thank you xx
Oh no! So sorry to hear about your achilles, Kate. I thought you’d gone MIA but assumed you were busy in your writing cave. So tough dealing with injuries that put you out of action. Especially as a woman. 😞 Take care & reach out if you need anything 😘
Thank you Mandy! Got a rude shock yesterday when the plaster came off and I tried to put my foot down - evidently it will be some time before I'm dancing again!! But slowly slowly inching towards the writing - I hope your writing is going well xx
Totally get that shock that you can’t dance yet. I remember thinking I’d be going home in Levis after childbirth! Be sure to do any physio exercises when you can - you’ll be dancing in no time.
Kate, how lovely to see you pop into my inbox! But ouch, I’m sorry to hear about your abrupt stop. Sounds like you’re recovering, though, and I hope it continues peacefully enough – both in body and on the page. xx
20 years in and I'm much kinder to myself now. Adrenaline and ambition are long-sailed ships. And with all of that noise out of the picture what's left is the work of moving the dream to the page. How it seems to go now is writing a couple of times a week and trying to maintain focus on the one project and dreaming of a Greek island and three weeks off to just read and swim. I think of all the books and writers that have come and gone just in the time that I've been writing. So many! Maybe you're about to go into a new phase! (NB: but I get that this lo-stakes approach is a bit of a career killer.) Rest up!
All the best healing vibes to you Kate - I’m still discombobulated by your description of the Kris Kneen! And bring on October and Brookey’s sisters! Can’t wait!
I’m all messy slingshot with no planning and always pantsing, but the quiet recently came to me too. It helped me finish a thing with no end. It helped me be unafraid of my own company in the midst of divorce and sorrow. I love that quiet, and it loves me, and you as well. Xoxox
I can't believe you think The Bowerbird would ever be considered inbox clutter, Kate! From where I sit, one possible point of you sharing posts is filling the void left by your podcast. I'll read anything you write about living the writing life, creative process and I love your book recommendations. I am sure I've said something like this before, so at the risk of repeating myself, reading behind-the-scenes updates about your work in progress always makes reading your published novels all the more special!
Lovely to read your Bowerbird again. Bummer about your Achilles tendon, and your netball career. I hope your recovery goes smoothly. You had me laughing imagining you on a knee scooter with a cup of tea flying through a lounge room covered in kids sporting equipment. I hope this unexpected slowness brings you creativity and many many words. Kate :)
It looks like you've still got that writerly gift, Kate! Fortunately your shenanigans haven't severed anything there. Fabulous book list, and thank you so much for the mention of our festival! I'm in shock it's next month already. And I can't read an x-ray either, so I was very grateful for your caption and stopped trying to find the fault line - speaking of which, your panel in our festival is called Fault Lines of Place. There you go. Cracks - where the light gets in. All of that. Wishing you a speedy, but paced, recovery. xxx
Thank you dear Jo. VERY excited for your always excellent festival and what a perfect panel name x Also always delighted to read your notes from the bookshop, almost feels as though I'm sitting in one of your comfy chairs in the bookshop observing all the goings on. Thank you xx
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Sorry to hear about your mishap Kate- I missed you at the South Coast WF. I was looking forward to hearing your conversation with Hayley. Rest up and heal! And enjoy the fallow period.
As soon as I read the headline I just knew…Achilles. Sending healing vibes.
Thank you Christine! x
Good to see you here again Kate but oh, what a pain for you - literal and metaphorical. These abrupt stops are frightening, but there will be gold that comes from it. Sending you all the love and recovery. x M
Thank you dear Meg, keeping eyes out for the gold and enjoying the quiet and slow x
Oh dear, Kate, sometimes the universe gifts us a rest if we are unable or unwilling to take one ourselves. Enjoy the support of others ❤️
I will see you at Miller’s. I’m very excited to be doing another workshop with you. And fun is what my writing is right now, so YAY 🥳
YES for writing being fun atm, Kylie! Enjoy! And you are so right - 'unable or unwilling to take one ourselves' xxx Thank you x
Sorry to hear you've been laid low Kate, and hope the healing is fast. I'm also comforted to hear about someone else's creative process being complicated and, at times, tortured. Having 'all the time in the world' is never enough for me. Which is probably why my 'fortnightly' substack is more like every 6 weeks!
Ha, so much yes Rochelle - time is a sticky old construct in creative land huh?! Thank you for your words x
When you sent this, I realised that I’ve missed the Bowerbird, Kate - but don’t worry, you haven’t snapped your ability to write! When I had my double knee replacement, I thought I’d be so productive, resting in bed and writing, but between the drugs and the physio and the healing, I did very little creatively and couldn’t concentrate for long. However, I listened to podcasts related to the themes in my novel and soaked in some ideas. Be kind and gentle with yourself. I think there is also something about being vulnerable - and that has seeped into my latest novel. (In practical terms, my only tip is having a bag you can sling over your shoulder full of everything you need to carry!) Much love and healing to you xx
Thank you so much Pet xx this is all incredibly useful. Can't tell you how comforting it has been to hear how others have traversed the 'being laid low/still' territory. Love the idea of 'soaking' into ideas. Thank you xx
Oh no! So sorry to hear about your achilles, Kate. I thought you’d gone MIA but assumed you were busy in your writing cave. So tough dealing with injuries that put you out of action. Especially as a woman. 😞 Take care & reach out if you need anything 😘
Thank you Mandy! Got a rude shock yesterday when the plaster came off and I tried to put my foot down - evidently it will be some time before I'm dancing again!! But slowly slowly inching towards the writing - I hope your writing is going well xx
Totally get that shock that you can’t dance yet. I remember thinking I’d be going home in Levis after childbirth! Be sure to do any physio exercises when you can - you’ll be dancing in no time.
My writing is slow atm with life in the way. Xx
Kate, how lovely to see you pop into my inbox! But ouch, I’m sorry to hear about your abrupt stop. Sounds like you’re recovering, though, and I hope it continues peacefully enough – both in body and on the page. xx
Thank you so much Kim x
20 years in and I'm much kinder to myself now. Adrenaline and ambition are long-sailed ships. And with all of that noise out of the picture what's left is the work of moving the dream to the page. How it seems to go now is writing a couple of times a week and trying to maintain focus on the one project and dreaming of a Greek island and three weeks off to just read and swim. I think of all the books and writers that have come and gone just in the time that I've been writing. So many! Maybe you're about to go into a new phase! (NB: but I get that this lo-stakes approach is a bit of a career killer.) Rest up!
This is brilliant. Thank you Simmone. Kinder to myself is an excellent idea xx
Welcome back, Kate! It's so lovely to read your writing again. Wishing you a fruitful recovery. May it be everything you need xo
Thanks so much, Shelley xx
All the best healing vibes to you Kate - I’m still discombobulated by your description of the Kris Kneen! And bring on October and Brookey’s sisters! Can’t wait!
Thank you Chrissie! KK's is hard to describe and UTTERLY worth the read! And yes huzzah for Brooke! xx
Oh Kate, ouch!!! Gentle healing to you.
I’m all messy slingshot with no planning and always pantsing, but the quiet recently came to me too. It helped me finish a thing with no end. It helped me be unafraid of my own company in the midst of divorce and sorrow. I love that quiet, and it loves me, and you as well. Xoxox
So much love to you, Jasper xx These are such beautiful wise words. Thank you xx
I can't believe you think The Bowerbird would ever be considered inbox clutter, Kate! From where I sit, one possible point of you sharing posts is filling the void left by your podcast. I'll read anything you write about living the writing life, creative process and I love your book recommendations. I am sure I've said something like this before, so at the risk of repeating myself, reading behind-the-scenes updates about your work in progress always makes reading your published novels all the more special!
Awww, thank you, Juliet, this is very affirming! Shall be sure to update you then on the messy chaos of this new book xx
Lovely to read your Bowerbird again. Bummer about your Achilles tendon, and your netball career. I hope your recovery goes smoothly. You had me laughing imagining you on a knee scooter with a cup of tea flying through a lounge room covered in kids sporting equipment. I hope this unexpected slowness brings you creativity and many many words. Kate :)
Thank you, Kate - I think my kids have been taking unauthorised videos of me navigating the mess and chuckling!
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Oh I can hear you talking in this, it's wonderful xxxxx
Thanks my friend, slowly slowly, right? Xx