Blog: Winter 2023

What I Did on My Winter Break

Britni’s Life Story

I’ve been busy.

Not on Medium, obviously.

As I mentioned back in March, I’ve got a couple of published stories in the pipeline.

One was published under a pseudonym in Adventures Without Clothes in April.

I sent off for a physical copy and seized the opportunity to grab a copy of my very first book Coding by Candlelight which is about adventures at a computer camp. (Do they still have those? They did when I was a bit younger, anyway)

And the other is on track to be published in an anthology produced by the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild in September. All Australian science fiction, fantasy, horror etc. writers were eligible so I tossed my hat into the ring.

My story — This is Spärkle Tap — was submitted at about three minutes before the deadline and I thought — about five minutes later — that it showed signs of being rushed, particularly in the ending.

I’d pretty much given up on it and was planning to publish it here when I received word that it had been accepted. Some editing notes were included and I’ve revised it a few times.

I had a bit of fun with it and thought the topic rather timely with the rise in the popular consciousness of AI.

The payment offered — $30 — was pretty modest so I requested an extra author’s copy of the book instead. To be honest, I’ve had several stories do a lot better — in one case far, far better — on Medium and while the public exposure will be nice, I suspect that when I’m allowed republication after twelve months and I put it up here I’ll get a little more return.

Travels

In June I broke my pandemic travel drought and flew to Scotland via a couple of places I hadn’t previously visited. Fabulous trip and the weather in Scotland was amazing. A long way in every respect from the cold grey drizzle of a Melbourne winter.

Remember how I wrote about the Tartan Noir author William McIntyre? I am working my way through his series of Scottish legal thrillers and enjoying them immensely.

When I got to Scotland, I found my way to Linlithgow and listened to a talk he gave in a packed hall. Brilliant man and I was able to have him sign a couple of books as well as pick up a special offer of half a dozen more in the series.

I did a few other things in Scotland, like take a narrowboat ride on the Falkirk Wheel and Union Canal, but that’s another story. I found a co-writer to compose two-handers with and if that works out I’ll put up links in due course. Some interesting ideas thrown around.

I took another break from Melbourne in July with a holiday on the fabulous Gold Coast. Wide golden beaches, tall golden surfers, whales leaping out of the Pacific, and glasses of champagne on the balcony overlooking it all. Shorts and tank top kind of weather.

Melbourne

My home town isn’t all dreary.

One day I went for lunch with a friend — my editor, actually, a man of considerable charm, talent, erudition and a whole bunch else, whom I have written about previously — and on the way back home I took the number 48 tram.

I took a seat near the back and settled back to catch up on social media. After a few stops I began to notice that this was a little different to the usual tram ride.

People around me were smiling.

There was a trip commentary going on. The speaker system, usually a routine series of announcements about “Next stop is xxxx”, “Change for the St Kilda and Doncaster lines” etc. was rattling away with observations about points of interest, sporting events, and handy advice.

“Next stop has about a thousand Melbourne Girls College students waiting to board. If you haven’t got a seat yet, I suggest you grab one now.”

Sure enough, the tram stopped and all the spare space was taken up by schoolgirls, neat and trim in their uniforms.

“Welcome to the Tramily,” the driver’s voice continued. “If anyone has a birthday today, speak up. And if you are too shy, perhaps you have a friend who will share the good news.”

And, believe it or not, a few moments later the entire tram was singing happy birthday to Emma.

This guy has been around for years. How come I hadn’t heard of him? I best take more tram trips in future. I want more rides with Melbourne’s Happiest Tram Driver!

In other news, I dropped in for brunch at Vespa Rossa recently. This is a laneway bistro in the heart of the CBD where I set my Laneway Coffee story.

I ordered the same meal I had in the story, and once again it was delish!

I took my time and enjoyed every mouthful. Cannot recommend this place too highly.

Not too far away, on Flinders Lane, is the City Library. Always worth popping in, if for no other reason than to peruse their “For Sale” trolleys near the entrance.

What happens is that when a bestseller comes out, the library system buys (say) a hundred copies to cater for all the members with that title on their reserved list. After a couple of months, everyone has read the book, they are piling up, taking shelf space, so most of them are culled. The books, that is.

You want recent bestsellers — some without library markings, even — check out the racks. I always poke my nose in and snarf up a bagful.

Sad to see that there are so few bookshops left. Flinders Lane used to have a good half dozen. Not to mention some sprawling new bookshops here and there.

City Basement Books, a real old-school used bookshop is still in business on Flinders Street. Hill of Content, a rather more upmarket establishment is on Bourke Street near Parliament. Paperback Books, an independent bookseller, is only a few metres further on.

And here I am spruiking my Amazon affiliate links. You can blame me; I’m part of the problem. Not to mention the pandemic …

Britni

The bold links above are affiliates; buy through these links and they shoot me a few cents in return.