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Never in my wildest dreams

8/16/2014

12 Comments

 
Write a Book.
That’s what I wrote on my bucket list. I never imagined how much those three words would change my life. My initial motivation was simple. Unlike the fabulous Cherry Adair, numbers are my friend. English was not. So I thought the best way to improve my spelling, grammar and vocabulary would be to write a story
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I'm really bad at guitar.
Every birthday and Christmas my husband shakes out my bucket list for inspiration. One year he helped me tick off ‘Learn a musical instrument’. He gave me a beautiful guitar and paid for lessons. But to be honest I’m really crap at it.  

The following year, he scoured my list again and at number 69 - I kid you not - is ‘Write a Book’. So hubby purchased the Year of the Novel Course at the Queensland Writers Centre. During this course, I wrote Lost In Kakadu and it literally changed my life.
But writing it was the easy part. Editing that shitty manuscript took eight years of hard slog. I followed up that first course with several more. Then I hired an editor who also offered mentoring and boy did she have her work cut out for her. I learnt about POV’s and cliché’s, first person and third person perspectives. I learnt syntax, synonyms, sentence structure and just about everything else in between. I wrote short stories, drafted two more manuscripts and learnt the joys of character arcs. I worked hard, did my homework, read the prescribed reading, experimented and practiced. Then practiced some more.
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At the Romance Writers Conference, James Scott Bell said that you CAN learn to write - I know exactly what he means. My poor editor nearly gave up on me many times. But now, with my beautiful R*BY trophy glistening with inner glow on my kitchen windowsill she admits the tears were all worth it.
Without my bucket list, I may never have discovered my passion for writing. 
By the way I had also written ‘Publish My Book’ and ‘Win The RuBY  Award’ on my bucket list. But never in my wildest dreams did I believe it would happen with my debut novel. 
My rather unconventional speech...
It's not every day someone uses a Muppet's reference in their winning speech. I have no idea where that came from, but at least the crowd laughed. Thank you Romance Writers Australia for creating this truly amazing competition.
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Romantic Book of the Year 2014 Winner trophy - stunning
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The winning slide at the Romance Writers Conference
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I couldn't wait to tell my hubby of my win. He's the one who made it happen.
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My debut novel Lost in Kakadu -
A story of survival, grief, adventure and undying love is out now.
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Who, When, Where and Why of Lost in Kakadu

6/25/2014

3 Comments

 
This story isn't just a survival story... Tea Cooper hits me with four big questions.

Escape Artists are rocking the Romantic Book of The Year (R*BY Awards) nominations.  The finalists in the Romantic Elements category are: Under The Hood by Juanita Kees and  Lost In Kakadu by Kendall Talbot,  and in the Short Sweet category A Father At Last by Julie Mac. I caught up with Kendall Talbot to find about the Who, When, Where and Why of Lost in Kakadu – which, in case you haven’t read it yet, is a fantastic Aussie suspense.

 Tea Cooper
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In your wildest dreams WHO would play your characters when it’s made into a movie?
My Story is Australian so I’d love Australian actors to play my characters. Abigail, my leading lady has an incredible character arc. She begins as a rich pretentious bitch who is completely useless in the harsh wilderness she’s literally crashed into. But not only does she learn to live she develops into a strong passionate resourceful woman who can wield an axe and eat all manner of grubs in order to survive. She discovers who she is and develops a wicked sense of humour along the way. This simply has to be the gorgeous,  talented, Cate  Blanchett.

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My hero, Mackenzie, is sexy, dark haired, with eyes the colour of molten honey and has an Adonis body. Even before the crash his life was a rollercoaster of tragedy and triumph. But he’s a man who truly believes in love and isn’t afraid to show it. Eric Bana is the hunky man for this role.

If you know either Cate or Eric, don't forget to mention my book.

Tell me WHEN you came up with the idea for your RUBY nominated book.
I love hiking in our great Australian bush. There’s nothing like the solitude, the earthy smells, the melodious birds and our abundance of beautiful and sometimes not so beautiful flora and fauna. I wrote this story during the Year of the Novel course at the Qld Writer Centre. But it wasn’t until I was hiking for 4 days in New Zealand’s Milford Track that the story truly came alive. During the hike we carried our own food, water, clothes, bedding etc. We walked in the sun and the rain. We tramped through crystal clear streams and climbed a mountain so high I was on top of the world. 
During these 4 days I imagined being lost in the wild without any luxuries. Abigail is a woman who was so horrified about being in the bush, her heart would race just at the thought of it. But when the sun went down and complete blackness consumed her and the bugs came out, just the sound of rustling in the bushes would send her over the edge. Then to give her even more misery, I trapped her with a complete stranger, a man she would never even associate with back at home. Abigail hits breaking point, and then, only then does she truly discover who she really is. 
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Climbing Milford Track in New Zealand. I'm on top of the world.
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Tell my WHERE your story is
set.

The title that says it all: Lost in Kakadu. My characters really do get lost in Australia’s fabulous heritage listed Kakadu National Park.  It’s 20,000 kilometers of virgin Australian bush and it offers some of the most amazing scenery including
cascading waterfalls, ancient caves complete with Aboriginal paintings, great stone plateaus, crocodile infested wetlands and even a deserted mining town. Perfect. Simply perfect for a survival story.

Tell my WHY you think your story is a RUBY finalist?

My life motto is: I’m grateful that I’m mortal, it motivates me. This story isn’t just a survival story, it’s about living every day as if it were your last. I think Australian readers love my action adventure style of writing, my hidden messages about accepting who we are, and if they love my characters as much as I do, then they too truly believe in love. Sometimes crashing down to earth is exactly what we need. I personally want to thank each and every one of my readers for believing in my story as much as I do.

Tea Cooper writes timeless romance from the ocean to the outback. http://www.teacooperauthor.com. LILY’S LEAP is now available for pre-order on amazon, itunes & kobo and for reviewers on NetGalley. Release date July 1st, 2014 Escape Publishing
 
3 Comments

Ruby, Ruby, RUBY - YAY

6/11/2014

1 Comment

 
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Winning the Romantic Book of the Year (The RUBY) has been on my bucket list for years and today I came one step closer. My debut novel, Lost in Kakadu is one of the four finalists in the Romantic Elements category. The Ruby is Romance Writers Australia’s premier award and the only one of its kind in Australia. 
I’m so glad I  persisted through all my manuscript rejections. I’m so proud that I ignored the
‘It’s too controversial’ comments. Because if I didn’t then my book would never have reached publication. My publisher calls Lost in Kakadu meaty, challenging and risky. Yep, I agree.

I'm crying with excitement and to say I'm speechless is an understatement.
Maybe Lost in Kakadu is exactly what Australian readers wanted right now. With a survival theme, fabulous Australian setting, mystery, secrets, grit, grief, adventure, and of course a happy ending, what more could a reader want?

This story isn’t just a wild ride with unconventional characters,   I hope it also makes readers think about how we need to live our lives to the fullest, to be true to ourselves and accept who we are. Sometimes crashing down to earth is exactly what people need.
Check out some of the crazy things I do HERE
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So if you are truly ready to get lost in a book, I hope you check out Lost in Kakadu.

Lost in Kakadu was eight years in the making and many many people have touched it in one way or
another. I would never be a finalist in such a prestigious award without each and every one of you. This award nomination is for all of us.

Thank you Romance Writers Australia for this wonderful opportunity. Thank you Australian readers for believing in my story and thank you to Escape Publishing for believing in me. I'm up against some very talented authors, but hopefully when the winners are announced in August, I can tick off another achievement on my bucket list.
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1 Comment

My Characters Are Mean

2/10/2014

1 Comment

 
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To honour my exciting three nominations in the ARRA Awards (Australian Romance Readers Association Awards) the characters of my book Lost In Kakadu are taking me to dinner. But I’m a little nervous. No that’s an understatement, I’m extremely nervous. I can be a little tough on my characters. Some would call me a sadist. 

But it’s for a good cause. A couple of good causes actually. Not only do my characters truly discover who they are, my readers also have a jolly good time following their journey.

So where would my character Abigail take me? It would be a highly pretentious, swanky joint with a
million dollar view, where they serve the best ingredients and most expensive wine. Just because I threw her into the jungle with nothing but a few cans of beans and sack or two of flour, doesn’t mean she’d forget the life of luxury she had before the plane crash. Right?
How about my character Mackenzie? He’d take me to his own restaurant, wouldn’t he? I know I gave him a troubled life, full of tragedy and triumph. I guess he also suffered near starvation and I tortured him with the chore of catching his own food with  nothing but a sling shot made from Abigail’s fancy lace bra. I admit I took him to hell and back in Lost In Kakadu, but he did get to tantalise his chef’s pallet with some good old fashioned Aussie tucker. Eating witchetty grubs, frogs and snails will make him appreciate perfectly cooked lobster.
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Surely they’ll remember that sensual waterfall scene? How about the breathtaking scenery? 
 
But when Mackenzie wraps a black tie around my eyes, the knot in my stomach turns into a giant slab of cement. I guess it’s his way of showing me how dark it can be in the jungle. I remember I wrote, “The blackness around him was like swimming in a tar pit.” I’m experiencing that now. But wait, where are they taking me? And why do I need to take my shoes off? The rocks under my feet are sharp and the branches snapping against my arms are rough, against my cheeks they are brutal. Was that a spider web? 
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Abigail instructs me to sit, the snigger in her voice is not good. I reach out expecting to feel a chair, but no, a craggy log will do. And given that I made my characters rough it out without any luxuries, I shouldn’t be surprised.
A plate is positioned on my lap. “Eat.” Abigail seems a little cranky. Doesn’t she remember her path of self-discovery? What about their unexpected romance?

“Do I get cutlery?” But I already know the answer.
Help me people. These characters are mean. Mean I tell you. If you're an ARRA member, I'd love you to vote for me, so my characters understand that sometimes crashing down to earth is exactly what people need.
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Lost In Kakadu is nominated for:
* Best Romantic Suspense 2013
* Best Book Cover 2013, 
and I've been nominated for:
* Best New Author 2013
Australian Romance Readers Awards. (ARRA)
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Here's a little snippet of the crazy research I did for Lost In Kakadu.  Maybe I am a bit crazy?
Or you may want to watch my book trailer. But I have to warn you, I write books better than I make movies.
1 Comment

Every Woman's Secret Weapon

10/2/2013

2 Comments

 
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I call myself a method writer, as in I like to draw from experience when I create my scenes. In writing Lost in Kakadu I had a huge amount of research to do and short of experiencing a plane crash I like to think I totally stepped out of my comfort zone with most of my research.  

But not all of it was bad. Yes I did sit in the pouring rain, eat witchetty grubs that I dug from my garden and create as many meals as I could with just four ingredients, one of which being baked beans. 
One of the fun things I did was create a sling shot with my bra! 
Fortunately our figure-shaping-torture-devise has most of the minimum requirements to make this deadly contraption. Yes ladies, your sexy lingerie may save you one day, literally. With stretchy elastic straps and a flexible cup, the only other necessity is a forked branch.

So as this device is integral to several scenes in my Lost in Kakadu I promptly set about converting one of my boulder holders into a crude hunting device. Fortunately for me, I had scissors, string, a stapler, sticky tape and many other construction helpers at my disposal. Despite all my additional equipment my first attempt was rather pathetic.

The realization that I was cheating had me rethink my objective. After all, I was trying to experience a scene for my book. My characters merely had a pocket knife, an axe, some wire and a selection of Abigail’s rather expensive lingerie.
So I tossed away my ‘luxuries’ and started again.  I was fairly happy with the result.

While I didn’t manage to hit any creatures with my final product, I was able to send a rock a distance of about six meters.

How cool is that?
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So next time you’re lost in the wilderness, don’t despair ladies. A weapon or hunting device is just a quick flick of the fingers away. However I do suggest that from now on, you invest as
much money as you can on quality underwear, you never know when it’s going to come in handy.

Want to know more about the crazy research I did?  CLICK HERE
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Lost in Kakadu is a story of survival, love, grief and self-discovery.
2 Comments

Have you ever hated your boss?

9/19/2013

2 Comments

 
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I had a boss I hated once. 
But I loved my job and was determined to shut out her unfounded  angst  towards me. 
I only worked there for eight months but during the last few months I spent my spare time dreaming up things that would ruin her day.

The writer in me, took over. Killing her off would’ve been too nice so I dreamed up things that would’ve sent her crazy if they actually  happened.
 I also imagined reasons why she was so horrible. I gave her tragic moments in her life that shaped her and to some degree justified her despicable behavior. Of course I don’t think she had any excuses, she was just a nasty piece of work.

But now, as I reflect on those last six months of working hell, I realize that I’m lucky. Because without that experience I would never have created Abigail Mulholland, the heroine in my book:  Lost in Kakadu. Abigail is a rich pretentious bitch who survives a small plane crash in Australia’s rugged wilderness. Learning to live in such a brutal environment takes Abigail to shattering point.

But as the weeks thread into months her Botox fades, her makeup runs out and the physical labor shapes her body into a lean sensual figure that she's proud of. As she gathers the pieces of her sanity she discovers a new woman within her who's not afraid to wield an axe or eat snails in order to survive. The pompous façade disappears and a strong, passionate and resourceful woman emerges with a wicked sense of humor and a fierce determination to live.
         
I love this character, she has incredible depth and I hope my readers enjoy and feel her personal growth too. And unlike the real woman who inspired my character, I love who Abigail becomes. Authors get the best revenge... don't you think?

So… have you ever hated your boss? 
Now that you know what inspired my character, I would love to know your thoughts on Abigail Mulholland in Lost in Kakadu.

Lost in Kakadu -
"A thrilling, captivating, deep, adventurous and memorable read"
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Crashing into an ancient Australian wilderness is pretentious socialite Abigail Mulholland’s worst nightmare. She survives the accident with two complete strangers, however things go from bad to downright hellish when rescuers never come. As she battles to live in an environment that’s as brutal as it is beautiful, Abigail finds herself also fighting her unlikely
attraction to Mackenzie--a much younger man. A man she’s willing to change for.

Want to read more?  CLICK HERE
Or is a Hunky Hero more your thing?  Check out my other leading character.  Mackenzie is no crocodile Dundee, but he is handsome, sexy and can cook a mean snake kebab. 
Check out Mackenzie Steel HERE.
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