Whats Up?

Well I'm writing, writing, writing....up to 20,000 words on the manuscript rewrite. Have taken the advice of a potential publisher and their interest in the book, emphasis on "potential" it aen't no done deal yet!
Taken all the raw material, transcripts, letters, anecdotes, etc etc, and finally found a way into the story... looking for an in, some sort of portal, threshold, door. Looking and wandering through the forest of words all the time thinking to myself, there's got to be a way into the story somewhere. A beginning, a good hook that gets the reader turning the first page before they even register they've read four or five paragraphs.  I'm very pleased with it thus far. It reads so much better, got a good flow.

So, I'm on my way... again. And thats the nature of writing, I've said it before and yeah I'll say it again, its all about tenacity, holding on to the dream, the goal, never giving up. Never. Was going to spell that in capitals...

NEVER GIVE UP

Like a true soldier I'll see the campaign through and I'm loving the revisiting of all the interviews and all the amazing people I've spoken too. I treat that part of it very seriously, they have given their time and  said use whatever you need, including sending old maps, photos and precious momentos. They have bestowed all onto me and I feel very privileged. I feel too, being Franks niece and being a woman in a mostly male domain regarding the subject matter - this has endeared me to a lot of these old fellas. And I know my subject, I can keep up with them, they appreciate that I do. 

For me its not about the hunting. I'm interested in social history and how our collective past is shaped by specific historic activities and occupations that dont exist anymore. Thats what my passion is and thats what drives me. Its the stories from everyday people that inspire me as a writer. 

Been reading Rex Forrester books. He has some interesting thoughts on the deer cullers personality, and interestingly I have just been writing that section in the manuscript. My interview with Gerald Goodger touches on the same thoughts.  That they were mostly outcasts, some shy, some antisocial, they were good at being left alone, didn't like being told what to do, liked to explore and forge their own paths. 

Upon the upland road

Ride easy stranger

Surrender to the sky

Your heart of anger

JK Baxter

That's the ones that made it past the first season. The stayers. Jack Wildermoth remembers new recruits hightailing it out of the bush in droves. He'd pass them on the tracks never to return. He did eighteen seasons, he knows some things. And Jack's one of my all time favourite cullers, he's an absolute salt of the earth guy. Tough as they come with a heart as big as a camp oven. He started out working in the Westcoast coal mines at sixteen. His father died and he had to provide for his mother and younger sister. Thats what I'm talking about. Thats what drives me. 

I interviewed Jack at his home with my mum knitting on his sofa. I said to mum, 'could be a long day, Jack likes to talk, bring your crossword book and your knitting.'

Well I have to go, got a book to write. Its been the longest hiatus between posts ever, but the traffic is still constant from around the globe. Thank you everyone, and remember to look back through the old posts, there's some good stories and photos to check out.

Louise x

Glaisnock Rock Bivouac Part One

In the 1952 book Deer Hunter by Joff Thomson, he mentions a rock bivvy up the Glaisnock River thats in Chapter 18 titled: The Glaisnock Headwaters.

I've found two fairly comprehensive articles which I'll link to here. Both on the area and both mention the Rock Bivouac with map co ordinates. Its an interesting place and historically significant in our hunting history, quite famous in New Zealand especially for the Fiordland waptiti hunters.

http://www.nzoutdoor.co.nz/gary_NZOH_June_2012.pdf
http://www.rodandrifle.co.nz/assets/Uploads/glaisnock.pdf

Its situated near Midnight Creek, and was first used as a dryrock bivvy by Jim Muir in the 1930s. Hunters have camped at the site ever since and hundreds of names are carved into the rockface.

I wonder if any documentation exists regarding detailed photos of the graffiti left by hunters. It must do and I'd be keen to see some of them. If anyone has pics or knows someone who does please get in touch.

Frank and George Erceg visited this area on their Fiordland Photographic trip in 1961. (See the August posts for some of George's diary entries and photos.)
I wonder if they stayed there, or stopped for a bit to boil the billy and check it out? George doesn't mention it in his diaries but they were in the area.

I'd love to visit the place and stay a few nights. That would be an awesome experience. Maybe I will do that one day. But not during the bugle. I'd like some peace and quiet, and  I'd make a sign saying Writers Retreat - your welcome if you have a bottle of something and yarn to tell me.
I'd just hang out and soak up all the history, oh and make camp oven bread.

There's some books mentioned in one of these articles so they're going on my list. Hmm lets see if I can find a photo to finish....

Beautiful textures. Great photo. Not sure where... and that's either George or Frank in the foreground. 

Update: Its George!

Creating a Narrative

I sent the manuscript off to a publisher recently and received instant feedback which was very promising. They thought I had the start of a good book but that it needed more pulling together, and they offered a few other very good suggestions and thoughts.
They praised my writing and want to see the manuscript when its further along. This is all very encouraging.

So... I'm about to begin working on the overall structure.  Creating a narrative for the material is a huge task, but vital to writing a great book. I never envisaged it to be only about deer cullers, its about a time and a place in our national history that doesn't exist anymore. Although that might be obvious, that of course that time doesn't exist anymore, it's about finding ways to write it with subtle not so obvious layers - thats where the magic lies.
Writing to me is about the hard work of re writing and re writing until its so distilled and powerful it resonates with the reader on many levels. Stephen King talks about this in his book "On Writing" You rewrite, you edit, but the words that get axed they're all still there.  Ernest Hemingway likened his writing to an iceberg, you only see the tip but what lies beneath the surface is enormous.

I will dream and muse on what the storyline will be. How do I want to integrate all the material? Where to begin? By looking at other publications - biographies and memoirs, seeing how other authors create a vehicle to tell their story. I'll revisit workshop notes on brain storming, do some mind maps - they're always good fun and bring up unexpected threads and ideas.

Last year I attended Kathryn Burnett's brainstorming workshop at the Auckland Readers and Writers Festival, she's so vibrant and full of ideas her workshops are fun and very helpful. I've referred to her notes before and keep them handy.
http://www.kathryn-burnett.com/about-kathryn.aspx

I'm having to stretch my brain and go somewhere with this book that I hadn't given thought too until now. I saw it going in a certain direction and now it's taking me in another. After the initial shock, and a shuffling of the feet this way and that, I see this is so dam exciting.

Up until now I've been absorbed with all the research, interviews and collecting images, scanning and creating the archive which has also included completely changing how I file my research. I now have four filing cabinets and the system is working fantastically. Before that everything was in folders in clear sleeves, sometimes ten deep and all on bookshelves. It took time to locate documents and pull everything out, and put it back again.

I have everything in order and easy access to all the material.  Thats all done and most of the interviews are completed so its time to take the next step. I'm with a new sets of goals and more challenges. I'm creating the space to think about this next step. Theres no distractions anymore. I cant say, but I'm not there yet, I'm not ready there's still this to do, that to do.

One can think up many reasons to put something off. I dont tend to do that - not usually - I know, because the vacuuming always needs doing, the dishes stack up and the gardens a bit of a mess; thats because I have to write. Anyway, we live surrounded by native bush so 24 hours after a house clean every-things moved back in again, daddy long leg spiders, the cats dragging in bush debris and the occassional half eaten rat. Too Bad...the writing must go on!!

Speaking of which, I'll keep the posts coming and do some interesting side storys to keep you all visiting.

The author relaxing at home, west Auckland.

And as always, thanks for dropping by, the traffic to the blog the last few months has been from: Slovenia, Croatia, Russia, China, Australia, America, Scotland and of course NZ, that's so cool. Thank you everyone xx

The reading list for the next month includes:
Witi Ihimaera's, The Parihaka Woman (he has some interesting thoughts on creating a narrative so thought I'd give this one a go).
http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/ihimaerawiti.html

Dave Drangsholt s book on Dave Saxton.
http://www.halcyonpublishing.co.nz/hunting-books/128-sax-preorder-9781877566165.html

Art/biography books see how the authors integrate research into a storyline alongside images - that was my big brothers suggestion, and a good one.
Plus a trip to the library for a few leisurely hours and look through a pile of books.

Back again soon. Until then take care - where ever you are!
Louise.

Mid Winter Update

Mum's old shed Christchurch

Been so damn busy and have neglected my bloggy-blog, sorry! Well I start to feel guilty if I haven't posted every ten or so days.

Not a hell of a lot to report though. I'm looking at where the Frank Erceg manuscript can be sent to next. First publisher has said thanks but no thanks, but thats normal in the publishing business. They have been inundated with proposals and were kind enough to say if I havent found a publisher by the end of the year they'd have another look at it. This is the nature of the game!!!

I'm doing a power point presentation at the West Auckland Historical Societies monthly meeting on July 17. Will be talking about my award winning essay from last year on the Dalmatian community in west Auckland and our family history connections to the area. See earlier post from November: Out West Essay Competition.
Very excited about this as its another step in the right direction, connecting to larger groups and sharing the work and talking about the processess and influences. I can see doing something like this with the Frank Erceg Project one day. Travelling around the country and talking about the book and how it all happened - and I can get to meet you all in person as well.

I've been spending a lot of time this year researching the history of deer in New Zealand from the 1860s on and now its being put to good use. I'm writing some articles for NZ Outdoor Hunting magazine the first to be published will be later this year. And that's what I intended to be doing right now so I wont be hanging around here for too long.

... just wanted to say a big mid winter cosy-warm-hello to you all, and thank you for the great traffic this site gets and the e mails. Cheers everyone, will be back soon.

Louisex

Christchurch

Demolition of Scales Building cnr Montreal and Cashel St.

Carl checking out the demolition

Christchurch was good, it was family time and catching up with some of Frank's buddies.
We had two big shakes while I was there but you expect that these days. I spent an afternoon with my brother Carl checking out some of the red zone - from behind the cordons. We stopped to watch the demolition of the Scales Building on the corner of Montreal and Cashel Street. Then checked out the Container Mall and walked alongside the Avon River then down Gloucester Street into the Botanical Gardens.
It was a leisurely few hours just wandering around and there's nothing like walking through knee deep autumn leaves in Hagley Park!
They had their first Winter frosts while I was there with some bitterly cold mornings and then those brilliant clear blue skies and sunshine all day.

I enjoyed a Saturday evening at the Miller Bar on Lincoln Road with Carl and Shary, down the road at Addington the Crusaders thrashed Auckland. Heho. I gunned for the Crusaders of course, its my home town. If you're in ChCh drop into the Miller Bar & Cafe, it oozes character, originally a classic style ASB bank the bar is the original wooden counter. There's a big log gas fire, excellent food and cruisy live music that doesn't invade one's conversation.

One of mum's roses

Mum still lives in the same house I grew up in, so it really is special hanging out in my old room and she has the most beautiful flower garden. In 2009 she won a "Christchurch Community Pride Award" for her effort in beautifying the street. Many gardeners strive to receive these awards, neat rows mapped out with a tape measure all perfectly spaced with their plants in varying degrees of height not unlike those old school photos with the tallest kids in the back row.
Mum's not like that, she digs and pokes, pulls bushes out, puts something else in simply becuase she likes the look of it she mixes it all up -  and what a display of texture and colour.

On the Sunday Mum and I visited Jack Wildermoth in Coalgate. We sat round his big open fire and chatted about his time as Ranger  for the Riccarton Bush Reserve in Christchurch, where he worked for fourteen years until retiring in the late 1980s.
We also talked about his deer hunting days of course and I was also very keen to learn more about his first job at fifteen, working in the Burke Creek Coal Mine on the Westcoast. Jack was born in Reefton his father and grandfather were miners before him. His father died when he was a teenager, so he had no choice, he had to go to work to support his mother and younger sister. He's tough - a real coaster is our Jack and has a great sense of humour, he made me laugh several times recounting stories and I got the feeling the loved having an auidence. It was a pleasant afternoon.
We had breakfast at the West Melton Pub on the way out to Jack's. It was another fine Canterbury day, clear blue sky and the drive out to Coalgate heading towards the Southern Alps was a treat.

Mum enjoying a cuppa at West Melton Pub Canterbury.

Bacon, eggs and hash browns... all washed down with a pot of tea.

I also caught up with Kevin Whitelaw after years of corresponding and never meeting it was about time we did. Kevin has written articles on NZ wilderness, hunting, and related subjects for many years. He is a wealth of knowledge and generous with it. Thanks Kevin and Pat for a lovely night out. Look forward to seeing you all again soon.

The not waiting game...

View from my desk in the Waitakere Ranges west Auckland.

Regarding what this blog was set up for, to generate interest and gather an online community for the Frank Erceg book.
Earlier this year I sent an extract of the manuscript and some sample images to a publisher. They're in the process of making a decision and this all takes time. One has to be patient and until then there's still a lot of work to be done.

This week I'm off to Christchurch for an extended weekend to see family and undertake some more interviews, see what else I can dig up.  I've got a couple of articles to write for NZ Outdoor Hunting magazine on my return, which I'm looking forward to getting stuck into. This has involved months of full on research, collecting data and learning more on the early days of hunting in New Zealand. I'm pleased NZOH asked me to write these historic based articles, I've learnt heaps and  fast becoming a deer-hunting historian nerd. I love it!

Polly likes to keep me company

Aside from this project, I've joined NZ Society of Authors and have been working with an editor on a novel length manuscript for their assessment programme due the end of May. If I am accepted into the programme I'll have the opportunity to work with a professional assessor on the story.
Then there's the day job,  although I have today off. Each week the goals are set and deadlines put in place otherwise its too easy to whinge and moan about not having enough time. We don't have a TV and live in the bush, our driveways about 1/2 mile from the end of the road so the peace and quiet its great for writing.
Read more about my writing routine at Stephen Townshend's Germinal Press blog:
http://www.germinalpress.com.au/blog/the-writers-routine

Steve's a good ol' kiwi boy, his family knew the Erceg's during the time they lived in Taumarunui. Steve's now based in Sydney and is the founder of Germinal Press, in a short time GP has made a mark in the publishing business with some great titles in the The Last Word series, including Rugby World Cup 2011 and  Mixed Martial Arts. Make sure to check it out.
My other posting on his site was for the Rugby World Cup: what to do in Auckland, that was fun to research.
http://www.germinalpress.com.au/blog/rugby-world-cup-2011-party-central-vs-the-west

Well I've got a day to get on with,  words to hammer out a pile of library books to return and a very small cabin bag to think about packing for tomorrow. My ticket to ChCh is a grab a seat carry on 7 ks only - will be interesting!
Will be back next week, thanks for dropping by.

A good keen woman reads Crumpy...

Well I finally got round to reading the kiwi classic 'A Good Keen Man' by Barry Crump. Can see why it has appeal to the masses and sold over 300.000 copies, its an easy and fun read. He also has some touching and poetic moments writing of the surrounds and hut life, of the stillness of nature, giving some eloquent passages that surprised and delighted me.

Scattered throughout the book is the repititive phase good keen man having good keen fun with the other good keen men and Flynn ain't he a good keen dog and some of the hunters well they're not good keen men. There's one good keen woman towards the end. I have thirty pages to go if I hear that phase one more time, I might have to throw the good keen book across my lounge and hope it vacates the premises swiftly through the good keen doorway out into the good keen bush. You get my drift ! But ahhhhhh, bugger me if I'm not enjoying it.
My copy is from the library, a 50th anniversary edition with an introduction by author Jack Lasenby.
Jack writes for children and teenagers and his books and short stories are widely read by people of all ages, and include the series of Harry Wakatipu the pig headed pack horse which sounds a hoot and I want to read some.

I've just skipped to the new Zealand Book Council's website to read his bio:
http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Writers/Profiles/Lasenby,%20Jack

But I'm digressing here, back to the good keen book and the very last sentence on page 224:

"The world of stone fireplaces, trees and rivers belonged again to the owl and the possum."

In Jack's introduction on page 13 he mentions that he:

"can't help but notice it's the owl, not morepork, not ruru. And is there a play, I wonder, on Lear's 'The Owl and the Pussycat'? It never pays to underestimate Crump."

Well this got my creative juices going. Here's my play on the classic Edward Lear poem, I hope you like it.

      The Owl and the Possum
       by Louise Maich 
       Dedicated to  Barry Crump 1935 - 1996
       Adapted from the original "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear.

I

The Owl and the Possum sat in the bush

Side by side in two beautiful trees,

Ruru in a Rimu and Possy up a Kauri

Chomping on all the leaves.

The Owl looked up to the stars above,

And sung to a small guitar,

“O lovely Possy! O Possy my love,

What a hunk of a Possy you are you are,

What a good keen Possy you are!”

II

Possy said to wee Owl, “You’re a good keen fowl!

And your singings not too bloody bad you know.

Say let us shack up, I’ve saved a few bucks:

But what shall we do for a ring?”

They hit the road with their meagre load,

To old Dave’s car-wreckers yard.

In a recycle bin they both did hop in,

And a Tui-beer tab caught the light of the moon

The moon

A Tui beer-tab caught the light of the moon.

III

Old Dave said, “Before you take it, first let me shape it,

Into a fitting wedding band.”

They took it away and were married next day,

By the Kereru who lives very grand.

They dined on kiwifruit, pav and whipped cream,

And scoffed it all down with a runcible spoon:

They got pissed on le Brun and danced to Dragon,

And Ruru stole the spoon,

The spoon,

And Ruru stole the spoon.