Avoiding 'second-novel syndrome'

How do writers come up with fresh ideas when the first book is out on the shelves and the pressure for a second in on?

I interviewed Nick Earls, Will Elliott, Christine Bongers, Deborah Kalin and fellow Brisbane writer Jason Nahrung to find out.

The results? You'll have to get your hands on a copy of the March 2009 Writing Queensland (free with membership of the Queensland Writers Centre) to find out!

Dealing with the dead

I'm working on an article for Black magazine about people who deal with the dead - morticians, pathologists, police, ambulance workers etc.

The crux of the article is what is it like to have to deal with death on a daily basis? What are the coping strategies that people use to deal with it - especially those who have to deal with traumatic deaths?

If you would like to be interviewed for the article, or if you know someone who works in these kinds of areas, please email me: garykemble [at] yahoo [dot] com [dot] au or gary [at] brimstonepress [dot] com [dot] au.

Haunted Australia: Toowong Cemetery

I've just released into the wild a set of photos my wife and I took for the 'Haunted Australia' column in Black Magazine.

If you'd like to read the article, you can pick up a copy of Black from your local newsagents, or from http://www.blackmag.com.au

You can view the photos at Flickr.

(If you have trouble viewing, please email me: garykemble AT yahoo DOT come DOT au)

Interview with Shaun Tan

I recently interviewed Shaun Tan about his new book Tales From Outer Suburbia. You can read the interview at Articulate.

Black #1: on sale now

Issue one of Australian dark culture magazine Black is now on sale.

I haven't had a chance to see where exactly it is available, but if you ask at your local newsagents you may be pleasantly surprised.

If you don't have any luck there, every Borders store in Australia should be carrying it.

For those overseas, you can subscribe here.

Issue one features a range of juicy content, including my articles on Heath Ledger's turn as The Joker, the secret life of a Dominatrix, an interview with The Zombie Diaries director Michael Bartlett, and a feature about the ghosts of Toowong Cemetery.

Writing software feature

My feature on writing software is now available in Writing Queensland magazine (exclusive to members of the Queensland Writing Centre).

I went into the research process a sceptic, came out a convert -- I definitely think writing software is worth checking out, given many of the programs offer a free trial period.

I don't think writing software is for everyone, but some will find it useful to strengthen their weak spots.

If you've read the feature and have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below and I'll do my best to give you an answer.

James Doig on Australia's horror heritage

I have just interviewed James Doig on his Australian Gothic and Australian Nightmares anthologies of vintage Australian horror/supernatural fiction.

"I guess there is a danger here that we're becoming homogenised, subsumed by the latest Hollywood blockbuster. Just as the regional ghost story in the United States and Britain has pretty much disappeared, there is a danger that national traditions will go the same way. Too many modern stories have their roots in American popular culture - Stephen King, Hannibal Lector, Night of the Living Dead - rather than our own traditions.

"That said, I should say that our best writers have their own unique, distinctly Australian, voices. Terry Dowling, Margo Lanagan and Lucy Sussex are as good as anyone writing today, and there are many more who are right up there."

Read the full feature on Articulate...

Learning the hard way

Have been on many 4.30am starts lately, hence my lack of Kemblogging.

However, I heard the other day that an article I wrote, "Learning the Hard Way" -- recounting all the stuff I've learnt from having my novel-length manuscripts not published -- will feature (hopefully) in the April edition of Writing Queensland.