Jackie Parry – author

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Live Interview – We Love Memoirs

Do you love memoirs?

If you do, you must join the FB group We Love Memoirs, and here’s why:

  1. They are the friendliest group on FB
  2. They regularly have fun competitions with FREEBIES!
  3. There is constant laughter, fun, parties, and jokes posted by lovely people
  4. There’s no self-promotion (authors cannot join just to advertise/market)
  5. The group consists of both authors and many readers
  6. So many recommendations – you will find just the book for you!
  7. Friendship, support, help, and advice (if you’d like it) is freely available
  8. They host weekly Sunday Spotlight LIVE interviews with authors… and…
  9. THIS Sunday it is me!

We Love Memoirs is hosting my live interview this Sunday 1st October

TIME: The interview will start at 6 am AEST. DON’T forget, Aussies, the clocks spring forward Saturday night.

So, it’ll be easy to stop by – Saturday evening for UK/Europe, Saturday afternoon for most parts of the USA, Sunday all day for Aussies… and let’s see what happens.

I’ll take a couple of breaks to care for one of our horses with a cut leg – but that shouldn’t take too long. It’ll give you time to think up some curly questions for me!

Come along and say G’day. You need only join the group and then you can ask me ANYTHING you like, on ANY subject you like! Please share this where you can.

Here are some pictures to whet your appetite…

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Where in the World do you Write?

I can write anywhere

Over the years of travel I’ve always made time for writing.

At school I wrote, through jobs – I wrote. Then I started writing for myself – there’s much more motivation there!

Here are some of the places where I’ve made camp and tapped away (‘thumped’ Noel says) on the keyboard.

Isla de Cocos - note the wet trousers (from knee down) we were anchored out and dinghied in avoiding the sharks nipping at our feet!

Isla de Cocos – note the wet trousers (from the knee down) we were anchored out and dinghied in avoiding the sharks nipping at our feet and stepped out of the dinghy too early!

 

Magdelana Mexico

Magdelana, Mexico

 

In a TSR (Travelling Stock Reserve) while trekking with our 5 adopted horses - just Noel, me, our 5 boys and the occasional bit of writing!

In a TSR (Travelling Stock Reserve) while trekking with our 5 adopted horses – just Noel, me, our 5 boys and the occasional bit of writing!

 

One of my favourite pictures - sailing (and writing) in my slippers along the NSW coast. On board our first boat Mariah II

One of my favourite pictures – sailing (and writing) in my slippers along the NSW coast. On board our first boat Mariah II

 

Renovating a 1920 Dutch barge in France. In the background was welding, grinding, hammering etc - it was bedlam and very hard to work/live in the same room as the renovations!

Renovating our 1920 Dutch barge in France. In the background was welding, grinding, hammering etc – it was bedlam and very hard to work/live in the same room as the renovations! (Love the jim-jams!)

 

On board Mariah II again, traversing The Great Loop - a year long adventure through the USA and Canada that I still miss today!

On board Mariah II again, traversing The Great Loop – a year long adventure through the USA and Canada that I still miss today!

 

 

On board our Dutch barge again - with Lily the cat who adopted us! And we're still renovating.

On board our Dutch barge again – with Lily the cat who adopted us! And we’re still renovating.

In NSW, Australia - we are dismantling an American Barn - so part of the way through the process.... I tap away!

In NSW, Australia – we are dismantling an American Barn. Part-way through the process…. I tap away!

Where do you/can you write?

 


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Unhealthy Writing!

Writing and Middle-Aged Spread!

I sit a lot. I have to, I’m a writer.

Coupled with middle age, this is not a good recipe for a healthy life.

So in order to combat midde-aged-spread (how lovely) I have a game plan.

  1. I’ve taken up baking again. Not pastries and cakes, well not all the time. But vegetarian and healthy foods. I have a huge appetite, and eating less is just not going to happen. Here’s one of my favourite recipes.

    Red Bean Moussaka

    Red Bean Moussaka

  2. Painting! Owning a boat keeps you fit, when we move, furling ropes, climbing ladders (for locks) and handling lines keeps me fit. Plus painting is a regular task. We’re thankfully at the point where we just need to touch up our paintwork. Here’s my latest project. I love this anchor winch, it’s functional and beautiful!

    Anchor Windlass- before

    Anchor Windlass- before

    Anchor Windlass - after

    Anchor Windlass – after

If you are a writer/author or sit in an office, what are your tactics to stay fit and healthy?


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Where Is The Best Office In The World?

Here of course….. sailing along the NSW coast in Australia, on our way to our next adventure.

Sailing (and writing) in my slippers along the NSW coast

Sailing in my slippers! And Writing – this was the beginning of Of Foreign Build… Note the bikes (bike wheels upside down outside the stanchions), the outboard is under the blue canvas by my head. We were on our way!

 

Perhaps in a TSR (Travelling Stock Route) on the BNT (Bicentennial National Trail) with 5 horses and a tent…

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Somewhere nearby there are five very happy horses, gallavanting, galloping, and rolling in the creek! Meanwhile, notes on the horse trekking book A Standard Journey started here….

 

What about on a 1920s Dutch barge in France? Not bad, but we were (and still are) renovating – it’s a noisy, dusty, and messy place to live and work.

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Magdalena Bay, Mexico – the cafe was closed but wifi was on!

In beautiful locations the work doesn't stop!

We’d recently purchased Pyewacket in San Francisco and were on our way to La Paz… but plans changed rapidly. We spent two years sailing back to Australia via Pitcairn and Easter Island, etc…. a tough journey – detail of which in my next book This Is It, out January 2016.

 

On a barrel in the boat yard in Panama?

The dinghy dock payment each day was good fun too!

Well at least I got to stay relatively clean!

 

Puttering along the Intracoastal Waterway of America. Near South Carolina on our 10 metre sailing boat Mariah II.

I make time to write anywhere/anytime!

Flat water sailing – yippee!

I’m a travel writer – literally. If you want to travel and work you can – you just have to make it happen.

Where’s your favourite office? Where’s the most exotic, fun, extreme place you’ve worked?

 


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Whirlwind UK Book Tour A Success! And Cake.

Two radio interviews, two events, and numerous roast dinners!

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of family and friends catch-up and events for my recent release A Standard Journey – 5 horses, 2 people, and 1 tent.

The story is about how we adopted five Standardbred horses, trained them (and they us). The seven of us then set out into the Australian bush for several months; all our belongings carried by horse.

I donate 50%+ profits to horse/animal charities and this led to me a guest appearance at the Redwings Sanctuary at Oxhill and their stand at The Horse Of The Year Show.

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At Redwings Oxhill, just before the reading/signing. I tried not to reveal the outcome of a dramatic event in the book, but the audience were desperate to know!

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Redwings do a wonderful job – their team at Oxhill are extraordinary in their passion and care.

I had a wonderful time at the Horse Of The Year Show connecting with readers and helping Redwings raise money via their merchandise (including A Standard Journey), to help rescue more horses.

Redwings Stand and their wonderful team. My books are near the front.

Redwings Stand and their wonderful team. My books are near the front.

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They did a lovely job with my table and I added the bookmarks and koalas which went down a treat!

Radio!

Between the mayhem of driving around the country I was invited onto two radio shows (one with Noel).

Firstly, with the incredible Carol Graham. Carol is an author, radio talk show host, health coach, motivational speaker, blogger, businesses woman, mum and grandmum!

Carol is a wonderful interviewer and here you can hear her easy-listening interviews with extraordinary people. She deftly shares their laughter and inspirational stories, and encourages everyone to never… ever… give up hope.

My interview will be appearing shortly – I’ll put the link here and give another shout out when it’s ready!

The BBC

Lastly, we met Nick Coffer from BBC 3Counties Radio. We had great fun chatting to Nick (who thinks we need therapy!), and left mini koalas hanging all over his studio to make our presence known and remembered. Here’s the link to listen, jump forward to around 37 minutes – the interview runs for about fifteen.

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Having fun before we went in the studio.

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With Nick Coffer, having a great time!

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I could get used to this (note the koalas taking over!)

Roast Dinners

Several yummy roast dinners, care of my lovely mum, kept me going (and tightened the jeans somewhat).

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… and CAKE, you’ve got to have CAKE!

I learned a great deal from all these events. Switching from social media to ‘getting out there’ has really worked for me, and is so much more fun.

I’ll write a blog soon on what I learned and what I’d do differently next time.

Has anyone else had great success and fun ‘getting out there’?


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Come & Say G’day!

Best-selling author appearance

I’m excited to be on Redwings Horse Sanctuary Stand at The Horse of The Year Show at the NEC in Birmingham this week.

I have gifts and fun stories just for you!

On 9th, 10th, 11th October, stop by and say g’day.

  • Read an excerpt from my book that is helping Redwings to raise money for their rescued horses.
  • If you like the book you can purchase a paperback or an ebook.
  • You get a great story that will stay with you forever, and with that you help a wonderful charity!

Redwings Horse Charity (4)


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You Know When You’re A Writer When…..

.. you can write anywhere…

Sailing (and writing) in my slippers along the NSW coast

Sailing (and writing) in my slippers along the NSW coast

How do you know you are a writer?


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Thanks For the Memoir-ees!

We Love Memoirs!

As an author, currently writing my third memoir, I’ve become a fan of all memoirs.

What’s better than delving into another person’s life? At the very least we learn that our fears, hopes, dreams, worries, and lack of sanity are sentiments that are not exclusive – (maybe that last one is exclusive to me!)

Let’s Celebrate
Monday 31st August is We Love Memoirs Day and will be celebrated worldwide.

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We Love Memoirs (WLM) Facebook group was set up on 31st August 2013 by two memoir authors, Victoria Twead and Alan Parks, who wanted to create a place where memoir readers and authors could come together and chat.

Who Are They?
Victoria Twead is a New York Times bestselling author of “Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools” and the “Old Fools” series, while Alan Parks is the author of “Seriously Mum, What’s an Alpaca?” and the “Seriously Mum” series.

The Ethos
Victoria and Alan were determined to foster a warm community and have always discouraged authors from pushing their own books at readers.

Overwhelming Success!
The results have been astounding, and WLM has grown quickly. New friendships are formed every day, and WLM meet-ups across the globe have become common. Small wonder that We Love Members is often described as “the friendliest group on Facebook”.

Image courtesy of africa at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of africa at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Whether you love writing or reading memoirs (or both), you’ll love this group. Join WLM today and start chatting with memoir authors and readers.

See you there!

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Afterlife of Books and Magazines

I don’t usually deface books or magazines, but the other day I did – out of desperation.

I should apologise to Motor Boat Monthly Magazine. But the magazine in question was several years old, ten I think, and it had been read several times, by us both – AND, they went out of print last year (according to Wikipedia).

Instead of throwing out the magazine we became inspired. Most people, who live the nomadic life (especially on boats) learn this knack, everything has at least two uses. We certainly had a use for the stiff folds of paper.

Saving your sanity
So, what can you make with an old Motor Boat Magazine, coloured tape, paper, scissors and string?

You can make something to save your sanity – that’s what!

Freedom at a price
Mooring on the French canals is a wonderful freedom. At many places, most times, you can stop for the night or even a day or two.

Currently, shade is our top priority. Fortunately, we have found great shady spots, safe depths and tied up safely on a straight stretch. (Why oh why do so many boats tie up on a blind bend?)

Slow down
It’s here, tied blissfully to a quiet spot we are hounded by hire boats that insist on racing alongside with total disregard of the ‘rules of the road’ – you must pass all moored vessels at no more than 3 kms/hr.

What happens?
As the water is sucked and pushed alongside a speeding boats’ hull, we shift forwards then backwards and our mooring pegs, that have been driven into the bank, are literally pulled out.

When we see a boat approach and ask them to slow – most do. Some look at us as if we are mad!

So, we made a sign, that’s reinforced with Motor Boats Monthly magazine. It is nowhere near big enough, it’s a little amateurish (hastily cobbled together in desperation and fear of being set adrift!), but it’s a start. I am already planning Mark 2.

What creative ideas have you developed to improve your life on the road?


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From Author to Calendar Girl?

A cheeky smirk played on my lips when I read the new message,

“From Wednesday you are our Calendar Girl!”

I’m giggling again now, as I can imagine your eyes scanning down to find the Calendar Girl shot – whether excitedly or in horror!

You must banish all of these visions dear reader, as the reference to me being Calendar Girl, is my photography! But do not despair – read on…. there are ‘exciting’ shots to follow!

Sweet Flower Cottage

Sweet Flower Cottage

This was taken on the Canal du Centre, France, as we puttered by on our 1920s Dutch barge – which is our current home, project, and escapade.

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Maybe this (below) is what you’d expect as a Calendar Girl!

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Admittedly, I am a few years older now, maybe a little softer in places and definitely sporting more grey hairs – I’ve earned every single one of them!

If you want to know why or how I’ve earned my grey highlights, laughter lines, and a life that is extraordinary, take a look at my sailing and horse-riding memoirs (Amazon link WITH excerpts):

A Standard Journey, 5 horses, 2 people, and 1 tent
Of Foreign Build, From Corporate Girl to Sea-Gypsy Woman

And just for being good sports and reading to the end of my post – here’s another recent picture that had Noel rolling his eyes! Well, a Calendar Girl has to have a beauty regime!

In the Rhone River, France, clay 'beauty' treatment (aka 'playing in mud!')

In the Rhone River, France, clay ‘beauty’ treatment (aka ‘playing in mud!’)

To find out more about this, you’ll have to start reading our travel blog

Do you have any grey-hair making moments on your travels you’d like to share?