Jac Buchanan's Blog
May 14, 2022
Secrets Beneath the Ghost Gums
Well, it's about time! I'm finally publishing again. And yes, this is another experiment on style - so don't expect it to be similar to others. Though admittedly, none of my readers ever do.
Secrets Beneath the Ghost Gums
This time I've taken inspiration from the likes of Poe and Dickens, though a beta-reader said it was equally reminiscent of Christie. No complaints from me.
Why Poe? I find his characters remarkably empty for the most part, which is entirely the opposite of my usual characterisations. Now wouldn't that make an interesting challenge for me? I think so. There's an art to hooking readers under that condition.
"The owner of the deep voice stalks down the hallway, flanked by a guard and an assistant. Cane thumping the floor with the finality of judgement. Light creases of a life well lived. Angular welts from branding dancing across a stern face that spoke of years of practice. Her mother’s broad nose and proud stance. Plaits secured at the back of her head, creeping down her back. "
- Sneak Peak at The Ki'ren Chronicles, by Jac Buchanan. Typical of my usual characterisations, and challenging to drop for Secrets Beneneath the Ghost Gums.
Dickens on the other hand, is someone who has a wonderful narration; that sense of the story being read to you by the character. So off I trotted to give that a shot.
In comes the conflict: With this being macabre, how on earth could I master a sense of danger in past tense (which tells the reader the narrator lives) when my favourite Dickens is past tense? A common writers' condundrum.
What followed was, somehow, my house being packed up and what little things of value I own arriving on the doorstep without my having made any arrangements. More curious still, I received a phone call from the bank. They were sad to see me go though I had not tendered any resignation.
- As you can see from this sample of Secrets Beneath the Ghost Gums, Dickens's past tense won out.
Did I make the right decision? Well, you'll have to give the sample a read and let me know.
Preview ARC on Booksprouts
Secrets Beneath the Ghost Gums
This time I've taken inspiration from the likes of Poe and Dickens, though a beta-reader said it was equally reminiscent of Christie. No complaints from me.
Why Poe? I find his characters remarkably empty for the most part, which is entirely the opposite of my usual characterisations. Now wouldn't that make an interesting challenge for me? I think so. There's an art to hooking readers under that condition.
"The owner of the deep voice stalks down the hallway, flanked by a guard and an assistant. Cane thumping the floor with the finality of judgement. Light creases of a life well lived. Angular welts from branding dancing across a stern face that spoke of years of practice. Her mother’s broad nose and proud stance. Plaits secured at the back of her head, creeping down her back. "
- Sneak Peak at The Ki'ren Chronicles, by Jac Buchanan. Typical of my usual characterisations, and challenging to drop for Secrets Beneneath the Ghost Gums.
Dickens on the other hand, is someone who has a wonderful narration; that sense of the story being read to you by the character. So off I trotted to give that a shot.
In comes the conflict: With this being macabre, how on earth could I master a sense of danger in past tense (which tells the reader the narrator lives) when my favourite Dickens is past tense? A common writers' condundrum.
What followed was, somehow, my house being packed up and what little things of value I own arriving on the doorstep without my having made any arrangements. More curious still, I received a phone call from the bank. They were sad to see me go though I had not tendered any resignation.
- As you can see from this sample of Secrets Beneath the Ghost Gums, Dickens's past tense won out.
Did I make the right decision? Well, you'll have to give the sample a read and let me know.
Preview ARC on Booksprouts
October 22, 2021
The Jac Journal 23-Oct-2021
Telling Fictional News Since NOW!
Police Commissioner Accused of Blaming Women for Attacks
By Jac Buchanan
The West Australian Police Commissioner yesterday issued instructions to women on how to keep themselves safe, only to receive backlash from women’s rights groups.
Advice was issued for women to “…travel in groups, avoid walking at night, and ensure someone knows your whereabouts and when to expect you home.” Women’s rights groups say the Police Commissioner is “putting the onus on women rather than placing blame where blame is due” saying the advice takes women “back to the dark ages”.
Alternative advice has been issued by women’s rights groups, advising men “…to monitor one another’s behaviour, commit to respecting and protecting all…cont. pg. 7
Doherty Caught Skinny Dipping
By Jac Buchanan
Rare photographs of You & I star, Jane Sarah Doherty, have surfaced and held exclusively by The Jac Journal.
Ms. Doherty was arrested by police late last year, but released on her own recognisance, after being caught skinny dipping with then-partner Felicity Armand.
This is not the first time Ms. Armand has been photographed nude–appearing in Playboy alongside newcomer and superstar Bretman Rock.
Sources in Ms. Doherty’s camp advised they had attempted to buy the photos for some time, and despite offering a larger payment than The Jac Journal, were unsuccessful.
Since knowledge of the arrest became public, police have been criticized for letting Ms. Doherty “off the hook”. Ms. Doherty released a statement in response
to the criticism, saying, “Trans woman Polly Denver should have been afforded the same privilege that I, as a cis woman, was granted.” Ms. Denver has endorsed Ms. Doherty’s statement.
Ms. Doherty split with Ms. Armand citing “mutual reasons”. Neither were available to comment on the photos.
Police Commissioner Accused of Blaming Women for Attacks
By Jac Buchanan
The West Australian Police Commissioner yesterday issued instructions to women on how to keep themselves safe, only to receive backlash from women’s rights groups.
Advice was issued for women to “…travel in groups, avoid walking at night, and ensure someone knows your whereabouts and when to expect you home.” Women’s rights groups say the Police Commissioner is “putting the onus on women rather than placing blame where blame is due” saying the advice takes women “back to the dark ages”.
Alternative advice has been issued by women’s rights groups, advising men “…to monitor one another’s behaviour, commit to respecting and protecting all…cont. pg. 7
Doherty Caught Skinny Dipping
By Jac Buchanan
Rare photographs of You & I star, Jane Sarah Doherty, have surfaced and held exclusively by The Jac Journal.
Ms. Doherty was arrested by police late last year, but released on her own recognisance, after being caught skinny dipping with then-partner Felicity Armand.
This is not the first time Ms. Armand has been photographed nude–appearing in Playboy alongside newcomer and superstar Bretman Rock.
Sources in Ms. Doherty’s camp advised they had attempted to buy the photos for some time, and despite offering a larger payment than The Jac Journal, were unsuccessful.
Since knowledge of the arrest became public, police have been criticized for letting Ms. Doherty “off the hook”. Ms. Doherty released a statement in response
to the criticism, saying, “Trans woman Polly Denver should have been afforded the same privilege that I, as a cis woman, was granted.” Ms. Denver has endorsed Ms. Doherty’s statement.
Ms. Doherty split with Ms. Armand citing “mutual reasons”. Neither were available to comment on the photos.
October 9, 2021
The Jac Journal 09-Oct-2021
The Jac Journal: Telling fictional news since NOW!
Saturday, 09-Oct-2021
(Follow on #TheJacJournal on Twitter for more)
You & I No Longer! Doherty flees
By Jac Buchanan
Sources within You & I claim that star Jane Sarah Doherty has today fled Melbourne amid claims of stalking.
Ms. Doherty’s agent, Samantha Pelin, released a statement that neither confirms nor denies the claim. “Women all over Australia are being stalked, their lives in danger, and yet the government fails to implement even basic laws that will protect such women, and police fail to provide victim-centred protocols that could yield greater protection and better investigative procedures,” said Mx. Pelin.
The Police Commissioner was not available to comment on Mx. Pelin’s statement, however Ms. Doherty has said in past statements that the police failed to undertake sufficient investigation. Sources inside the Commissioner’s office state that investigations are on-going.
The West Australian Premier, meanwhile, has pledged an additional $10million to assist in relocating victims of domestic abuse between states and the territories.
Aboriginal corporations continue to campaign for on-country shelters and Aboriginal-led and run community services. To date, the split of funding to these facilities is unknown.
Perth Serial Killer
By Jac Buchanan
Perth appoints Special Detective Akkerbak, formerly of the Northern Territory Special Investigations Unit.
This comes as the body of Melissa Garner, a woman in Perth’s inner suburbs, was found dead in her home.
Ms. Garner is the third such woman to be stabbed to death in her home in Perth in the last 12months. cont. pg 4
Hotel Drug Scandal
By Jac Buchanan
Anonymous reports have been made to WorkSafe and the Liquor Licensing Commission regarding one of Perth’s biggest venues.
No stranger to such claims, calls have been among women’s rights groups to investigate claims of systematic sexual assault reported across multiple venues.
Similar claims are being…cont. pg 12
Saturday, 09-Oct-2021
(Follow on #TheJacJournal on Twitter for more)
You & I No Longer! Doherty flees
By Jac Buchanan
Sources within You & I claim that star Jane Sarah Doherty has today fled Melbourne amid claims of stalking.Ms. Doherty’s agent, Samantha Pelin, released a statement that neither confirms nor denies the claim. “Women all over Australia are being stalked, their lives in danger, and yet the government fails to implement even basic laws that will protect such women, and police fail to provide victim-centred protocols that could yield greater protection and better investigative procedures,” said Mx. Pelin.
The Police Commissioner was not available to comment on Mx. Pelin’s statement, however Ms. Doherty has said in past statements that the police failed to undertake sufficient investigation. Sources inside the Commissioner’s office state that investigations are on-going.
The West Australian Premier, meanwhile, has pledged an additional $10million to assist in relocating victims of domestic abuse between states and the territories.
Aboriginal corporations continue to campaign for on-country shelters and Aboriginal-led and run community services. To date, the split of funding to these facilities is unknown.
Perth Serial Killer
By Jac Buchanan
Perth appoints Special Detective Akkerbak, formerly of the Northern Territory Special Investigations Unit.
This comes as the body of Melissa Garner, a woman in Perth’s inner suburbs, was found dead in her home.
Ms. Garner is the third such woman to be stabbed to death in her home in Perth in the last 12months. cont. pg 4
Hotel Drug Scandal
By Jac Buchanan
Anonymous reports have been made to WorkSafe and the Liquor Licensing Commission regarding one of Perth’s biggest venues.
No stranger to such claims, calls have been among women’s rights groups to investigate claims of systematic sexual assault reported across multiple venues.
Similar claims are being…cont. pg 12
October 4, 2021
Authors that Inspired Accidental Prostitute
A great deal of research went into
Accidental Prostitute: A Short Noir
, and not just the subject matter. As I was challenging and developing my style of writing, inspiration from other authors was warranted.
Sara Baume's
Spill Simmer Falter Wither
was a great example of 2nd person point of view. Although I had read others, her in-book narrator made an interesting diversion that was essential to the structure of Accidental Prostitute.
It's a difficult point of view to pull off successfully, and one that I want to revisit again, to put more focus on the 'you' and less on the 'I'.
Kicked Out is a collection of short stories, one of which is Phillip J. Reeves's My Nuclear Family: Surviving the Fallout. This was the exact style of writing I wanted to achieve. Very factual, and using such facts to build emotion rather than writing emotions and trying to force them upon a reader.
This formed the basis for the prose style, although from my own cadence and contraction-free manner was overlayed. I found it a highly useful combination for the PTSD component of the narrator's characterization.
Although there were others read in the making of Accidental Prostitute, there are by far the most influential. Both are highly recommended reads.
Sara Baume's
Spill Simmer Falter Wither
was a great example of 2nd person point of view. Although I had read others, her in-book narrator made an interesting diversion that was essential to the structure of Accidental Prostitute.It's a difficult point of view to pull off successfully, and one that I want to revisit again, to put more focus on the 'you' and less on the 'I'.
Kicked Out is a collection of short stories, one of which is Phillip J. Reeves's My Nuclear Family: Surviving the Fallout. This was the exact style of writing I wanted to achieve. Very factual, and using such facts to build emotion rather than writing emotions and trying to force them upon a reader.This formed the basis for the prose style, although from my own cadence and contraction-free manner was overlayed. I found it a highly useful combination for the PTSD component of the narrator's characterization.
Although there were others read in the making of Accidental Prostitute, there are by far the most influential. Both are highly recommended reads.
October 2, 2021
Behind the Scenes on Accidental Prostitute...
Accidental Prostitute: A Short Noir
was created in layers - not my usual approach, or suitable for every book/author, but an interesting one nonetheless.If you want to know what went into it: This is it!
The Basic Story
Most of story went in, such as the encounter in the first chapter, the workplaces and people, and those fleeting mentions of sex. It was rough, it was in past tense and first person point of view, but it was there.
Mainly though, it was a story about how the victim recovered from the event.
The Structure
First pass on a rough draft is always the big picture. This was when it changed to being about how those memories were recovered, and als changed to second person point of view with a in-book narrator, present tense, and....THE CHARACTERS BECAME GENDERLESS!
That was a really important moment, as it gave the story a depth that didn't exist, by acknowledging the gender diversity of victims and saviours (or Damsels and Knights).
Symbolism and PTSD
There was some minor symbolism to begin with, but repetition played a part in framing the flashbacks, which then forced greater attention to detail.
The ring was noticed by many to be a trigger, and by some to be representative of tarnished armour (a false hero). Heading further into the story smooth, untarnished metal comes into play - signifying the real hero.
Additionally, visual prompts and descriptions all came out. All of them. I've always wanted to do that, to see if it creates a more inclusive read for blind people. I chose this story, as it has a further meaning: we don't see what goes on behind closed doors. We don't always see the perpetrators of injustice, or our heros, or our victims.
Easter Eggs!
Without appreciation, I had borrowed a line from a poem of mine, as it was entirely fitting to the moment. Then I learnt what an Easter Egg was, wondered if this counted, and low and behold - yes!
So I put in two more - both of which also had a great deal of importance and relevance to this story. Happy hunting!
I hope you enjoyed this little jaunt behind the scenes, and how they play out in Accidental Prostitute: A Short Noir
