New Zealand Crime Writing Pays At Last

Two Kiwi writers recognised with awards. Read here.

Murder @ Work, a murder mystery novel: Murder @ Work - ebook sale

Murder @ Work, a murder mystery novel: Murder @ Work - ebook sale: "For the rest of January 2011, the Kindle version of 'Murder @ Work' will be available at a 50% discount. That's only $1.99! Check it out!"

Lava Lamps that turn into Volcanos

This is why my new year's resolution is to never buy cheap goods from cheap sources again: Gifts Go Off With A Bang!

Megamind 3D

Imagine a movie in which the bad guy makes you feel sorry for him within the first five minutes. Imagine a movie in which the good guy irritates the living daylights out of you.

As a writer, you can't help wondering how the movie makers will paint themselves out of that particular corner. And they do. Beautifully.

It's a bonus that the movie is in 3D and that it's totally suitable to kids while being totally entertaining to adults.

2010 was the year I...

2010 was the year I...

• Realised that my family is more important than my writing
• Decided what kind of novels I want to write
• Made a firm resolution NEVER to buy cheap lead-laden junk from a $2-shop EVER again

I do believe in Santa, I do, I do, I do believe in Santa, how about you?

Dear Santa, this Christmas I would like:

• joy
• laughter
• soft voices
• magic and wonder.

Dear Santa, all year long:

• more time for writing would be good
• more patience with the children
• more tenderness and understanding
• financial peace.

Stranger Than Fiction

2010 was a strange year. If - ten years ago - I'd written a futuristic novel set in 2010, what editor would swallow that in 2010:

• the heroine's royalties from writing e-books exceed tenfold her royalties from print books;
• an octopus in Germany correctly predicted almost every game in the FIFA World Cup;
• Russia and an unknown country starting with a Q (who can even name a country that starts with a Q?) beat USA and UK in the bid to host the World Cup in 2018 and 2022;
• 33 trapped miners in Chile were rescued from under 700m below ground after months of careful preparations - the miracle was watched on TV around the world;
• but when 29 trapped miners in a coal mine in New Zealand a few months later, no rescue attempt had been made?

Stranger than fiction? Post your "incredible 2010 stories" here.