- Quotes that resonate with my emotions and bring back memories of people I’ve encountered.
- A memory of someone I haven’t met before.
- Lyrics that strike a chord within me.
- The first light of the morning.
- My dogs’ sleeping peacefully next to me, their presence comforting and calming.
- The scent of the ocean.
- Funny moments that provoke laughter, reminding me of the joy in life.
- A collection of unsaid words: reflecting on the things I wish I could have said.
- Long conversations with my best friend, uncovering stories and shared experiences.
- Recalling the moments that time may try to fade.
- The bittersweet feeling of missed opportunities, a reminder to seize the present and not forget.
- Memories that remain imprinted in my mind, ensuring that important details are remembered.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Resensie: Anderkant die blou – Zelda Bezuidenhout
Lienke en Dezi beleef die vakansie van hulle lewe in Kalkbaai. By die hotel ontmoet hulle Danroy, ’n kelner wat vakansiewerk doen, wat hulle na al die mooiste plekke in die baai vat. Hulle leer ken Danroy se “skwad” en sy geliefde Uncle Kaz. Dan is daar ’n tragedie op see wat Danroy en sy ma se lewe omkeer. Soos Uncle Kaz altyd sê: “Mens het net drie goete nodig om gelukkig te wees: iemand om lief te hê, iets om jou hande mee besig te hou, en iets om na uit te sien.”
Anderkant die blou is antie Zee (my niggie se noemnaam vir haar gunstelingskrywer) se jongste boek en ek wil meer hê. Ek het dit baie geniet, hoewel ek nie aanvanklik van Dezi gehou het nie (sy was bietjie sturvy), het ek haar later geniet.
Twee karakters wat my diep geraak het was Lienke en Danroy. Danroy se opregte liefde vir oom Kaz was wonderlik. Ek kon hul Cola-gesprekke saam met mekaar sien en geniet. Ek wens eintlik daar was meer daarvan in die boek.
Ek het ook geweldige empatie met Lienke en haar pa gehad. Ek kon haar kant, asook haar pa se kant insien. Hulle is ook graag karakters wat ek meer wil sien, want dit voel asof hul verhouding potensiaal het. Potensiaal vir Lienke om meer te leer en vir haar pa om sy dogter te ondersteun.
My een probleem was egter met die geheim wat aan die einde van die verhaal onthul word. Ek voel teenstrydig oor hierdie geheim, want aan die een kant was ek baie bly dat dit slegs aan een karakter onthul is. Aan die anderkant het dit my met die gevoel van “te maklik” en baie vrae gelaat.
Ek was mal oor die avonture waarop Danroy die vriendinne gestuur het. Dit was so ongelooflik uniek en fun. Goeie boek – my niggie is nou besig om dit te verslind.
Beskikbaar by:
Twyfel en skryf
Ek het gister een van daai dae gehad. Jy ken die soort dae wat die twyfel in jou kop sê: “Jy is nie goed genoeg nie. Jy sal nooit ’n goeie skrywer wees nie.”
Ek haat daai dae, want meeste van die tyd weet ek nie wat om te doen nie. Elke ritueel wat ek tot dusver uitgedink het, werk nie.
Ek moet deur die mood gaan en wag tot dit oorwaai. Gewoonlik is ek hardkoppig en skryf steeds, want my mother didn’t raise a quitter.
Gister het ek agter die kap van die bly probeer kom:
- Hoekom voel ek so?
- Wat het hierdie gevoel ontlok?
Dit voel soms asof daai stem uit die bloute kom, en ek vries. Dis vreemdste ding is dat dit gewoonlik gebeur wanneer ek op my produktiefste is. Ek probeer myself motiveer met You’ve got this.
Ek soek oulike Instagram memes op, lees boeke van my gunstelingskrywers, gee ons plante water, lees my Rae Rivers-notas van vorige ROSACons of kyk ’n goeie fliek.
Gister het ek deur my vorige gepubliseerde werke gelees. En om dit te sien, my gepubliseerde werke, het my laat beter voel.
Ek het besluit om ’n CV of Accomplishments saam te stel vir die dae wat ek twyfel. Ek is trots op:
- Getuienis van Bilo ~ Die eerste storie wat ek geskryf het sonder om die kommersiële standaard “Afrikaans” en verwagtinge in ag te neem. Dis die eerste storie wat ek in my “stem” geskryf het.
- Opoffering ~ My eerste kortverhaal vir Kuier, die verhaal wat gemaak het dat ek lief raak vir kortverhale.
- Three is a crowd ~ My eerste ROSA write-a-scene-kompetisie wat ek gewen het. Ek kon nie glo toe Romy Sommer my naam roep nie!
- Die huishulp se kind ~ My eerste kortverhaal wat vir die Toyota US Woordfees-bundel aanvaar, nadat ek drie keer afgekeur is.
- 25 ~ Die aantal gepubliseerde kortverhale wat uit my pen verskyn het.
- 3 ~ Die aantal werke wat ek vanjaar voorgelê het.
- 17 ~ Die aantal werke wat ek klaar geskryf het in 2020. Een reeks, twee boeke en 14 kortverhale.
Om skrywer te wees is om met twyfel en rejection saam te leef. Ek wonder hoeveel mense gee op na die tiende rejection brief? Of die twintigste? Of selfs die 100ste?
Ek het vanjaar vyf keer probeer quite. Gedink: Genoeg! Ek kan my tyd beter gebruik, my vriende meer sien, meer betaalde werk aanvaar. Maar dit werk nie so nie!
Tien dae (die langste tyd wat ek ooit ophou skryf het sedert 2014) later het ek weer ingeval. Vir my (en vir meeste van ons, dink ek) is skryf nie ’n keuse nie. Ons moet skryf, nie oor die deadlines of ons name op gepubliseerde werke (al is dit ook hoe nice) nie.
Maar omdat ons met stories rondloop en hul wil uit. Ek is bevoorreg dat die karakters my gekies het om hul stories te vertel.
Ek vat dus die slegte dae, en begin weer wanneer ek kan.
#ROSACon – 2020 is improving!
I love October because it’s my mom’s birthday, but this year it’s also ROSACon (20–25 October)! I loved ROSACon because I always return feeling empowered, inspired and capable.
Last year I couldn’t attend the conference because I lived in Cape Town, and the flights and accommodation was out of my budget. This year the conference is online, which means I can sit in my leggings, eat two-minute noodles and get educated. Dis mos nou lekker!
I’ve only signed up for a couple of days, instead of the whole conference. I love this option, because the conference takes place in the same week as my mom’s birthday.
Find out more about the sessions, speakers, etc.: https://www.rosacon.co.za/schedule
One session I’m looking forward to is Writing series with Nalini Singh. Nalini is my favourite author, and I love her Guild Hunter mythology. But the craft lessons is also something I look forward to, as well as the writing sprints …
So basically everything.
The one aspect I’ll miss is catching up with authors I love like Elsa Winckler, Didi Potgieter, Marie Dry, Joss Wood, Romy Sommer, Felicia Snyman, and many more.
But I love how affordable it is, especially given the amount of sessions, as well as the world-class agents, editors and speakers you have access to. When I worked at a publishing house many moons ago – I was always surprised at how few authors realized the value of investing in your craft. The truly great authors, in my opinion, are still willing to learn, to grow and to adapt.
I can’t wait – 2020 is looking up!
……
ROSA is offering scholarships for authors who can’t afford to attend.
Ikhwezi Scholarship
Several of our guest speakers have donated their speaker fees to create a scholarship for writers from disadvantaged communities. Four full scholarships to attend the conference will be offered. To apply, please send a motivation letter to conference@romancewriters.co.za. The motivation letter should include a little about you, why you want to attend the conference, and any past writing experience you have, to help us understand your situation.
Applicants should be:
- Actively pursuing a writing career
- Familiar with and interested in the romance genre
- At least 18 years of age
- From a marginalised or historically disadvantaged community
Partial scholarships for members
Ten partial scholarships will be offered to ROSA members in need of financial assistance. These scholarships will cover one week day and one weekend day per member. To apply, please email a motivation letter to conference@romancewriters.co.za.
Agents of SHIELD season 7: episode 1
I missed the team!
I didn’t know what to expect from the first episode <a href="http://<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0899SC38K/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0899SC38K&linkCode=as2&tag=cliffamastore-20&linkId=1be77c9ce983b5ddd2706bbcf01b9433"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B0899SC38K&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cliffamastore-20" ></a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cliffamastore-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0899SC38K" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />" data-type="URL" data-id="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0899SC38K/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0899SC38K&linkCode=as2&tag=cliffamastore-20&linkId=1be77c9ce983b5ddd2706bbcf01b9433"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B0899SC38K&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cliffamastore-20" ></a>![""]("//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cliffamastore-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0899SC38K")
I have been looking forward to season seven since I’ve watched the final episode of season six. The first episode was just a hint of what I wanted to know. Not enough to sustain me until next Wednesday, and it didn’t answer any of the questions I have: What happened at the Lighthouse? How will LMD (life model decoy) Coulson react to being back? Where is Fitz?
What I loved about this episode?
Coulson is back. Even with Sarge last season, it felt like something was missing. I loved Fitz, Simmons, and Skye/Daisy from the beginning, but I grew to love Coulson and Melinda in season one; both as individual characters and as a couple. Their growth has been one of the biggest attractions for me. Episode five was the best episode of season six: we saw a deep understanding and history between these two characters. But more importantly, I saw them being light and silly around each other. It’s a side that’s rare to see between these two warriors. Now that Coulson is back, I wonder: How will their relationship change?
I love Enoch; he is probably one of the best secondary characters I’ve seen in a while. He brings levity to each episode. His performance is a great balance between stoic and dramatic.
Luke Baines. It was great seeing those cheekbones again, but I also love that he can portray a Chronicom so well.
I also love the inciting conflict: Do they save Hydra to save SHIELD? Or do they stop the creation of Hydra and save hundred of future lives? What if something worse arises in Hydra’s place?
The discussion between Simmons and Yo-Yo, about her (Yo-Yo’s) arms was heartfelt. Both of them showed the strength in their vulnerability.
Daisy looked amazing in that green dress. [That’s how I’m showing up to the next wedding after this pandemic.]
What I didn’t like about the first episode?
At the beginning of each season, the main team is separated from the rest of SHIELD. We as viewers never get to see how the rest of the organisation fared. I often wondered what happened to those characters: How many agents died in the Lighthouse attack? How many survived?
In season seven this grated more, because Yo-Yo and Mac brought back Flint from the dystopian future. Why isn’t he mentioned? They consider him their child, so how is he not their first worry when they are safe? Flint has a broken leg, is from a dystopian future, and knows no-one else in SHIELD. How hard will it be for him to adapt?
Onward …
I can’t wait to see what happens to May. How was she affected by the other world/universe? And of course, how will she react to LMD Coulson? How will their relationship change?
And where is Fitz?
** The link above is an affiliate link – if you buy through this i get a small percentage without any additional cost to you.
Why I started the Marina Keegan challenge?
Last year, I went through a bit of a dry spell. I didn’t write for six weeks. I, of course, had many (valid) reasons for why I couldn’t write.
I had recently moved to another city, started a new job, and had to create a new home. A lot of new. I was also still finding my feet at work.
Then I started reading The opposite of loneliness by Marina Keegan. In the introduction, Anne Fadiman tells the story about how Marina reacted when she wasn’t chosen for one of Yale’s secret societies.
![""]("//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cliffamastore-20&l=am2&o=1&a=147113962X")
This is an affiliate link – if you buy through this i get a small percentage without any additional cost to you.Marina’s e-mail to Anne:
“I ended up getting a bit screwed over on the secret society front so I’ve vowed to spend the 12 hours a week writing a novel. (Tonight is tap.) If I was willing to devote that much time chatting in a tomb I should be willing to devote it to writing! 6 – 12 Sundays and Thursday. Might call it BOOK and BOOK.”
When I read this short quote I realized a few things:
- Marina Keegan was wise beyond her years. (And I would love to have her sense of humour.)
- Seeing opportunities in failure will lead to progress.
- The best writing comes from an authentic place.
- Life is too short NOT to do what makes you happy.
- If I’m willing to devote time to things I don’t like, I should make time for my writing because I love it.
It also made me realize how paralysing the fear of failure can be. If I was honest, I haven’t been writing because I was afraid to fail, so I failed by default.
I started the Marina Keegan challenge and devoted 12 hours a week to my writing. Since then I have complete two manuscripts, a few short stories and I recently started blogging again.
This challenge taught me accountability and the power of hard work. Passion is a start, but it’s not a complete plan. You have to put in the work and if you want the dream, you’ll create time for the hustle.
…………
I publish a short story with Louise Minnaar’s “Uitgeboul deur liefde”. If you are looking for a quick and easy Afrikaans romance, buy here: https://lapa.co.za/romanza-boeke/roma…
2 boeke wat my lewe verander het
Ek onthou byna elke boek wat ek ooit gelees het.
Daar is boeke wat ek nooit weer sal optel nie, boeke waaruit ek nie meer dieselfde plesier kan put nie, want my waardes het verander. Daar is boeke van my gunstelingskrywers wat my herinner waarom hul my gunsteling is.
Ek onthou die eerste romanse wat ek ooit gelees het – van die plot tot die klere wat die karakters gedra het toe hulle die “ek is lief vir jou” geuiter het.
Maar daar is twee boeke wat altyd ’n besonderse plek in my hart sal volstaan: Diekie vannie BoKaap deur Zulfah Otto-Sallies en Driehoek deur Sophia Kapp.
Ek het Diekie vannie BoKaap in standerd ses (graad agt) in Afrikaans by meneer Moses gelees. Ek onthou die mostertgeel dun boekie en die titel wat so maklik op my tong geval het.
Ek onthou die dag toe ons dit klaar gelees het, die stilte in die klas omdat ons (spoiler alert!) ’n goeie vriend in Diekie verloor het. Ek onthou hoe gretig ons almal was om dit op te voer, en hoe beïndruk ons was met Revine se acting. Ek onthou dat ek en my vriendin, Nadia, “ouens op die hoek” was en terug na ons bank gestap het terwyl ons “Jaloersbokkie” sing.
Ek is baie lief vir Diekie en Ice vir die volgende redes:
- Dit was die eerste keer waar ek my alledaagse lewe in print gesien het.
- Die karakters is mense wat ek ken en liefhet.
- Die taal was bekend op my oor en tong, ek het nooit gesukkel om dit te lees nie. Ek kon ’n woord lees en die bedoeling, en hart, daaragter verstaan.
- Dit was nie vir my ’n “mooi storie oor bruin mense” nie, dit was ’n mooi storie.
Ek het Tessa Badenhorst in Die verhuising ontmoet. Sy was bekkig en ’n no bullshit-vrou, maar ek het nie gedink sy sal my gunsteling- Sophia Kapp-karakter word nie.
Tessa is die vrou waarteen elke ma jou waarsku: sy is seksueel-vry, het ’n indrukwekkende vloekskat, is brutaal eerlik, skeer almal oor dieselfde kam en word ’n alkoholis gedurende die verloop van die storie. Op die bad girl-skaal weeg sy ’n solid tien, maar Tessa is ook die vrou wat ek graag wil wees:
- Iemand wat nie haar foute wegsteek nie.
- Wat eerlik is met almal, maar veral met haarself.
- Wat empatie het met almal se omstandighede.
- Wat verantwoordelikheid vat vir haar eie lewe, foute en besluite.
- Wat aan haarself werk, want sy weet sy is dit waardig.
- Wat weet sy is haar eerste liefde, en dit maak haar nie selfsugtig nie.
In ’n wêreld waar die Instagram reel so maklik as die waarheid aangesien kan word, is Tessa steeds ’n heldin waarna ek streef. Sy is ’n hot mess – op die beste manier. Deur haar het ek geleer daar is nie iets is soos perfeksie nie.
Tessa het ’n getroue vriendin geword – ’n ride of die. Ek lees Driehoek een keer per jaar. Deur haar het ek geleer dat foute soms die beste deel van die lewe is, en dat bad girls blêddie goeie vroue kan wees.
Hierdie twee karakters, hierdie twee boeke, het my laat tuis voel wanneer dit gevoel het asof ek nooit my eie plek in die wêreld sal vind nie. Deur hulle het ek geleer dat elke mens sy eie sak sout dra. Ek is baie dankbaar vir hierdie boeke en skrywers – vir ’n huis toe ek andersins onwelkom gevoel het.
Let’s talk $$$
South Africa is on lockdown and it has affected a lot of people’s ability to earn. I know people who have lost their only source of income, and people who still earn, but their expenses are higher. Today I want to talk about finances.
Photo: Pixabay.com
I received my first money lesson from my mother at the age of eight. My mother has always worked, even when unemployed she started her own business. I was never going to be a lady of leisure because my mother didn’t just work because she had to – she also worked because she wanted to. [As I am writing this, she can’t work – because of the lockdown and is so bored and frustrated.] It is one of the traits I have learned from her and one I am most grateful for.
I have seen horrific stories on social media, about people not being able to cover their living expenses. Some people stand in line for hours to receive care packages. I have felt the pressure on my income with grocery prices climbing the ladder and my utility bills increasing because I am working from home.
Photo: Pixabay.com
April is Financial Awareness Month in the United States of America and when I learned about if from The Broke Black Girl Instagram account, I wondered why South Africa didn’t have one. We live in a very unequal society, and I can’t discuss the complex causes of that here. (It could fill a book.)
But it is heartbreaking that in this digital age, most people are still very uneducated especially about their finances. This December I heard about, but haven’t watched, a show called, I blew it. It showed how uneducated people are about handling their finances.
But financial education is far off when taking into account how much of our nation is still illiterate. Not to mention how reserved we are when talking about money. I can’t remember how often I heard, at university mind you, that “the only people who talk about money, is those who don’t have it”.
This was especially said by a former sorority sister, who was so terrible at finances, that none of us should’ve taken anything she said to heart. But we did, and it took me a few more years to get rid of that notion than I’d like to admit.
In my next YouTube video, I talk about the money I’ve earned as a short story writer. This talk was, in part, inspired by the amazing Joss Wood, who talked about finances during a 2017 ROSA [Romance Writers’ Organisation of South Africa] Conference.
I have been earning money with my writing since 2015. 2016 was my most productive and profitable year – I published six short stories and earned about R6 000. I published six stories, but wrote 68 and submitted 32 short stories.
What do I do with my short stories’ earnings?
- Tax = 25%
Of the remaining 75% I do the following:
- Treat = 10% like Seattle Coffee or buying books
- Reinvesting in my writing career = 10%
- Save = 80%
I started my journey to financial freedom and awareness in October 2019, and during this pandemic when I feel overwhelmed, especially regarding my finances, I read or listen to these experts. They keep me sane:
- The Broke Black Girl: https://www.thebrokeblackgirl.com/
- Her First 100k: https://www.herfirst100k.com/
- The Financial Diet: https://thefinancialdiet.com/
- The Six Figure Chick: http://thesixfigurechick.co/
Movie review ~ “Like A Boss”
During this time of staying indoors 24/7, I like to watch movies. A lesson I’ve learned from watching “<a href="http://<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083JP6W7Q/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B083JP6W7Q&linkCode=as2&tag=cliffamastore-20&linkId=fccb3bc36dbf504e9bdae9b2a70aa79c"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B083JP6W7Q&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cliffamastore-20" ></a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cliffamastore-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B083JP6W7Q" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />" data-type="URL" data-id="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083JP6W7Q/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B083JP6W7Q&linkCode=as2&tag=cliffamastore-20&linkId=fccb3bc36dbf504e9bdae9b2a70aa79c"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B083JP6W7Q&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cliffamastore-20" ></a>![""]("//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cliffamastore-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B083JP6W7Q")
Lesson learned.
Description: IMDb
Two friends with very different ideals start a beauty company together. One is more practical while the other wants to earn her fortune and live a lavish lifestyle.
The link above is an affiliate link – if you buy through this i get a small percentage without any additional cost to you.
5 YouTube videos that inspired me to be a better writer
I currently discovered Booktubers and whoa, what a revelation and education that has been. I believe that every writer should continue to grow and learn, should continue to evolve or they become obsolete.
I just didn’t consider YouTube as a writing resource. Two of my personal favorite BookTubers are Meg LaTorre from iWriterly and Merphy Napier, whose “Dear Author” series is a must-view for any inspiring author. Here are five YouTube videos that have taught me some amazing lessons.
3 Pieces of Writing Advice That Changed My Life by Diane Callahan – Quotidian Writer
Description: There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all writing advice – we can only find what works best for us through trial and error. For me, aiming for rejection, treating my writing like a business, and turning envy into positivity have reshaped me into not only a better writer but also a better person.
Writing is not for the lazy and you need to put in the work; even more so as a self-published author.
Common New Writer Mistake: You Are Not the Exception to the Rule by iWriterly
Description: One of the biggest newbie writer mistakes is thinking you’re the exception to the rule. Let’s talk about why that mindset could hurt your success as a writer. This video will be broken into two sections: 1.) Thinking We Are the Exception to the Rule: Mindset Overview 2.) Unhealthy Writer Mindsets & Rules Writers Think They Don’t Have to Follow.
HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH YOUR FIRST BOOK: Creating a Publishing Checklist by iWriterly
Description: Whether you’re self-publishing your very first book or you have a few books under your belt already, it’s important to have a roadmap to know where you’re going and where you hope to end up. In this video, Meg LaTorre will share a sneak-peek into her self-publishing journey, specifically creating a publishing checklist for self-publishing her first book.
I am a huge advocate for self-publishing when it’s done right. A lot of writers think of self-publishing as not having to put in the work and are then genuinely surprised when their books bomb. You need to put in the work – always. Writing is not for the lazy and you need to put in the work; even more so as a self-published author. There is a huge stigma surrounding self-publishing and every aspect of your book needs to communicate to your reader that you respect their time and money.
Merphy Napier started the “Dear Authors…” series so allow readers to give an honest opinion on different topics. The opinions are heartfelt and give great advice and insight into how readers experience your work.
Dear Authors… Main Characters
Dear Authors… Great Beginnings to Books
Cliffordene Norton 