When it all began...

Someone enquired the other day as to when I started writing my novel '209 A Story'? ... I immediately replied 1977!

The look on their face could not have been more telling so I explained...

When I was in year three I was reading a child's encyclopedia and I was drawn to a entry about a ship called RMS TITANIC... the visiting teacher at the time asked me what I was doing and so I told him what I was reading. It was at that very moment that I had originally thought how, one day, I would like to write a novel about the most famous ship in the world.

As with most childhood dreams ... reality takes over and one moves on!

However, when I was at high school I signed up to be part of the school play for that particular year. Not that I had visions of winning an Academy Award or anything of the like, however, I loved the quality that my former school tried to instill in each of their students... 'Challenge Yourself'.

Like most teenagers I was incredibly self conscious and as opposed to when I was playing sport where every move you made contributed to the success of the team (...more pressure), to get up on a stage and play a role as someone else allowed me to do just that... be someone else.

So, sign up for the school play I did...

I landed the role as Mrs Astor, first class passenger on RMS TITANIC in the TGS 1984 production of 'The Ship of Fools'! ...(a pitfall from going to an all boys school!)

Later in 1994, when I was living in England, I went to Greenwich to stand on the line where time begins! I look up and see a poster advertising an exhibition of 'Artifacts' that had been recovered from RMS TITANIC... and then spent the next 4 hours enthralled.

Roll on to 1997... and the release of THAT MOVIE!

By 2004 I had completed my 'latest' novel - a collection of four books collectively titled THE FOUR SEASONS... each one titled a different Season and each one based on a different emotion (ie. Autumn-Loss, Winter-Greed, Spring-Love, Summer... REALITY!)

and then it was time...

My latest project would be a book about RMS TITANIC.

It would have been easy for me to have written a novel about the journey as there is so much information about it. 'Challenge Yourself' came flooding back every time I sat down to write...

'209 A Story' is not about the voyage from Southampton to its date with destiny. It is about a voyage of one of its passengers prior to boarding the ship and how, throughout everyones life, there are people who will play a part. One may know these people and then there are others whom one will never meet. It is what inspired me when I was teaching and inspires me every day when I write... That each part we play in this life can have an enormous impact on others; even if we don't know it at the time.

Four years later and now the novel is in 'final edit' stage...

I often think back to that day all those years ago... to a naive child whose imagination was sparked by an event so horrible that it made history. In ways, my efforts are in memory of all of them...

Have a nice week everyone

Thanks for your emails

Cheers Steven

PS... Challenge YOURSELF!

Sport, War, Editing & Signing a Deal

It has been an interesting few weeks in the build up to the signing off of the novel '209 A Story'... (and btw thanks for all the email!)

I went to Queensland to visit my parents and to get out of the city. As much as I love Melbourne, city living can become overwhelming at times - particularly when one is trying to edit a novel.

I was able to visit my old school and visit with staff who were teaching at Toowoomba Grammar School when I was a student there. I was impressed with work currently being undertaking at school on the the new school Museum.

Several weeks earlier I visited Sydney Grammar where Arthur McCrae had been to school and it got me to thinking... How much have these schools changed in over one hundred years?

Obviously, the gentile times of the late 1890's is a complete contrast to the technological establishments of today. However, looking over the photographs of the former students at both schools during the 1900's and seeing the boys of today who were on their lunch break bought memories flooding back to me of my own years at Grammar. I even saw several photographs of myself in my 'blazer dress'. The one thing which has settled in my mind during the intervening years, (more than I care to attache a number) is this... The education of children is still as important as it was back then and the dedication of the teachers of today is quite incredible.

One thing that struck me in a similarity of the two schools was the old sections of both Grammar Schools. On the walls of the 'Big School' at Sydney Grammar and in the 'Old Hall' at the Toowoomba Grammar School, there are dedications to the boys who had paid the ultimate sacrifice to give us the freedoms we enjoy today and secondly the trophies to the many and varied sporting achievements... 'Sport and War'.

I then headed west to the farm, to visit my folks and family members. In particular, my amazing father. His dedication to sustainable farming in these difficult times for those people on the land who face drought and the uncertain effects of 'Climate Change', is admirable and still a powerful influence behind my own dedication to the successful launch of the '209 A Story'. It was a complete get away and the something that struck me more than anything was the brightness of the enumerable stars that would dramatically twinkle every night from horizon to horizon. It was incredible to stand outside and just to look 'up'... even if my father was constantly telling me to, 'watch for snakes!'.

Several weeks later I drove to Brisbane to take at look at the Picasso Exhibition at the GOMA. Upon my return to Melbourne, to finally ready myself for the signing of the 'deal' for '209 A Story', I found myself on a tram heading up Swanston Street and from the tram window at my stop I saw an enormous advertisement for the latest exhibition at the State Library of Victoria that opened while I was away. It's title made me smile with a recognition that everything is going to be all right. It is called ... 'Sport and War'.

Have a good week everyone and thanks again for your email and kind words of support for the launch.

Cheers
Steven

Time to Get Away ...

Hello Everyone - I am out of Melbourne for a bit - I am staying at my family's property in South-Western Queensland. I will upload the blog on Tuesday - Australian Time - when I can get access to the Internet as it is still awaiting connection. Thanks for your emails - all going well - Peace - Steven

A Trip to Sydney, A Cut Lip & The Former First Lady of the USA

Somone famous once said -

'Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't.'

I have always liked this quote very much.

I had visited Washington DC on my last trip to the United States, and I walked around 'The Basin' where the famous cherry blosoms were still closed for the season and the monument to Thomas Jefferson was being overrun by tourists. I decided to walk the entire way around the lake to take photographs, at various points, and have them developed in black and white to use as a momento of the trip. It was while I walking that I came across a dedication to Elanor Roosevelt - 'the someone famous' who made the above quote.

More about that later...

Over the past week I have experienced a myriad of emotions regarding to '209 A Story'...

On Monday I was still smarting about the decision to go with the Australian Publishers rather than the bigger name from elsewhere.

On Tuesday I was delighted to receive invitations from the publicist Jillian Bowen to attend a launch for 'grlmobile' in the city and from Trevor Jones - the pianist who has just returned from a world tour and is performing at 'Chapel on Chapel', this coming week.

By Wednesday morning my back was finally feeling much, much, much, much better... (THANK YOU!) ... and that is when it happened ... I managed to cut my lip when I opened a plastic packet with my teeth. I then wanted to know why is it that the most inconviently painful things in life are often the most simple... for example, a paper cut, a sore back or ... a cut lip?

I was also looking forward to my trip to the capital of New South Wales; to visit Sydney Grammar School, to have a meeting with a jounralist about an interview for their program re:'209 A Story', and also to have catchup's with family members of one, Arthur Gordon McCrae.

However, on Wednesday afternoon I recieved an email from someone who questioned my credibility as to 'writing such a story of significance'. They also criticised my efforts for the various launches of the novel in the UK, Australia and in the USA. This rather captious email really did get to me. It also scared me somewhat becuase it made me realise that this is the type of thing that people will say and write as we get closer and closer to 21st March 2009...

I went to bed at the end of a long day as I had also been applying for various positions and had completed several phone interviews which lasted for almost thirty minutes each... as I do not like being out of the workforce and I sometimes find writing incredibly isolating.

The critical email came back to me as I lay in bed Wednesday night whilst trying to read. Apocryphal seeds started to sprout in my mind... What if they did not like me? ... put it out of your mind Rafter and keep reading... What happens if they ask me questions about members of their family and I did not know the answers? What happens if this 'nobody' and 'commoner' was somehow not good enough for the prestige of one of the oldest schools in the country? ...Grrrrr ... READ! Did people think my idea silly? Who was I to have written a novel in the first place? What happens if people did not like it? This negative germination of thoughts continued until it annoyed me so much that I had had enough.

Placing Tim Winton's 'Breath' (great book btw)on the bedside table, I got up and went into the lounge and did something that I do not usually do... I watched television!!!

After surfing the channels for several minutes I suddenly was becoming more anxious regarding the lack of anything to watch than the bountiful harvest of self doubt that had just occured in my mind. I was about to switch the television off and then ... I heard mention of the name of a person whom I have admired for quite some time ... And this is what I heard...

'We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.'

... I smiled again for that was all I needed to hear - again ... several words of encouragement from the former First Lady of the United States, Elanor Roosevelt...

I was received at Sydney Grammar School at a little after 10am on Friday. The reason I was there was due to it (Grammar) being the school that Arthur Gordon McCrae attended between 1894-1898. Following 5 handshakes and many smiles all round (ouch ... the lip!)- I then was offered a cup of coffee that I proceeded to spill down the front of me due to the sudden shock of the hot cup touching you know what ... OH GOD COULD IT GET ANY WORSE? ... at least I was lucky that I had a tissue.

Like my meetings later with the members of the McCrae family and the journalist, we discussed many things about Arthur and the school, my journey with the reasearch for the novel, the launches in the United Kingdom, Australian and the United States and the ways in which some people find the story most incredible... and even some doubt it all. Nonetheless, time will tell and this is what I have learned from the offerings of this week...

I have always tried to look on the brighter side of life and at no stage do I boast about myself as an individual becuase as far as I am concerned - it is not about the achievements of my past - it is about what I do today and the excitement of my tomorrows. Like Arthur, I have not lead an 'ordinary life' and at some stage I will write about it. But someone else said it better and it makes me realise that everything will be alright...

'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.'

Yeah... once again thanks Eleanor Roosevelt... you really are an inspration.

Have a nice week everyone

Peace
Steven

ps the other thing I learned - don't open plastic packets with your mouth!!

Paris Vs New York? The Publisher, The Lawyer & The Publicist

There is always one question I ask people when I first meet them...

It's a question that I have asked for as long as I can remember and it's a question that surprises some, comforts others, annoys, challenges, mystifies, stupefies and can even strike a note of discomfort. But, it is my little way of sussing somebody out, as to their character and outlook in life...

I have gotten so good at asking the question that I don't even think about it before I meet someone - I just find an opportune moment and launch on in there.

What place do you prefer Paris or New York?

Generally, it's not the first question I ask because that would be slightly unfair and a tad rude on my behalf...I did, however, do it once - and boy it was certainly not an answer I expected nor wanted. In the end - it was the only thing we talked about and I was so tired after his hour long monologue of his dislike (I even think he used the 'H' word) of the French and the Americans - that I almost considered changing my question!!!

As you can imagine the answers, over the years, have become a study in themselves. If I were an analysts of such data I would have a field day...

In general...

I have been to both - they're great
- OK response!
I have been to both - New York is too big and the French are rude
- says narrow minded.
I have only been to Paris but I would like to go to NYC some time
- says adventurer.
I have only be to New York but not had an opportunity to visit Paris
- says unromantic.
I have not been to either
- says opportunity to come...

More about that later...

It's been a tad cold recently here in Melbourne and the heater has been on for most of the week. When I hear people grumble about it I try to ignore them for most times when I want to complain I think of my long since past friend, Arthur McCrae, and how he and almost 1700 others were cast off into the northern Atlantic early on the morning of 15th April, 1912.

I am very fortunate to have visited the Fairview Cemetery in Halifax Nova Scotia. My trip to Canada was the last leg of, what I have called, my 'Arthur Trips'. You see, Arthur McCrae really was ahead of his time. When he had finsihed at Sydney Grammar School he took a year off (GAP YEAR) before attending the University of Sydney. Furthermore, after completing his studies, he became a Working Holiday Maker; firstly to Africa then to Siberia.

I just had a thought - I wonder what the look would be or reaction received if the question I posed to new acquaintances - which do you prefer Africa or Siberia? tee hee...

Anyhow, over the years I have travelled to most of the stops on Arthur's journey and it has always inspired me to continue to search for information for facts and also, to wonder what it was like for him while expanding the story line of fictitious characters in the novel... it has always been exciting and, at times, I do feel his presence with me. Not in a hocus-pocus way - just times when a decision needs to be made about something in the novel - I would often ask - What would you do, Arthur?

So, it was with this in mind that my week commenced with three serparate meetings regarding the novel. I met with potential publicist, my lawyer and the potential publisher(grrrrr!). As previously written I have taken on a business manager who travels all over the world and is someone whom I know has my best interests at heart. But it was now time to close a potential deal with a publisher and also take on someone who would represent me with/in the media.

All three got the same question... At three different meetings - Which would you prefer Paris or New York?

And I received three very different responses....

The Publisher.

The one thing I have learned over time about the publishing house industry is... they are up there with banks! It is unfair for me to mention names when I speak in the negative because my mother always told me that should I have nothing nice to say that I was to say nothing at all.

The deal that was on the table was one, in which, I was to sign away my rights to the novel, potential movie and other various media...and in return I would get 8% cut of 30% of the RRP (rec retail price) - hmmmmmmm -

How did I know what response I would get to my question? The response was sharp and to the point - 'Hate visiting Paris and the New York is not the same as it use to be!'



The Lawyer.

My lawyer is one of those old school people who is my age; married with kids and quite serious with everything he does. His wife, also a lawyer, is a mirror image of him. Their children are going to be exactly the same and the share price for Country Road, Ralph Lauren and Burberry will continue to remain firm.

He (Tom Lawyer) had a card up his sleeve... and that was the one thing that every author wants to have at a meeting regarding the offer from one of the BIG PUBLISHING HOUSES ... that being a counter offer from another publishing house!

Once again, I thought I knew what my response would be from Tom Lawyer and it was exactly what I expected until the final comments about Paris - Q. Do you prefer Paris or New York - A. I visited New York once when I was doing some research, had a good time. Took my wife to Paris after our wedding - and then said with a laugh - 'we did not see much of Paris'... ( Go Wild Tom!) - then again - they are paid to be serious! ... tee hee!

And then ... finally

The Publicist.

A mutual friend had recommended to me that a certain person by the name of Jillian Bowen was 'YOUR' ie 'MY' type of publicist.

I was happy to meet her following several email back and forth regarding stopovers in Tasmania and family shorthorn cattle trips to Dubbo. This week was it...we planned to meet.

We really did hit it off well for a business meeting. She was extremely professional and her demeanour was one of getting to know the client before making a commitment to them...

But it was her response to THE QUESTION that made me realise that I was on the right track...

New York V's Paris???

Without so much as a moment hesitation... her response ...

'I go to New York for my head and Paris for my soul'

I had found my publicist and also ... a new friend...

btw - What do you prefer Paris or New York?

Have a good week everyone and thanks for your email...

Regards Steven

Today's Post will be up late Sunday Afternoon...come back later!

A Nobody, A Book & Ten Thousand of His Closest Friends...

Just off Toorak Road in South Yarra I am doing some writing in one of my favourite cafes; a place I have been frequenting for the past four years. It's coffee is made well, the staff are friendly and in winter, no matter what the weather is like outside of the congenial and smallish establishment, the room is always 'warm' with feeling. Well almost always ...

Like all good life experiences (and novels for that matter) there is often an occasional lesson to be learned, conflict to be overcome and a sense of humility that can be fostered.

I was organising my week, jotting some notes, planning for my catchup with screen play writers and sending an sms to my business manager re: the publishers(grrrrrr!), when I saw this woman get up from her table and I heard her snap gruffly, 'It's a bit bloody cold in here!' Furthermore, she dramatically threw her arms around her body as though she had just taken a dose of strychnine!

This action would not have been of interest had I not see her behaviour (some members of my year one class had more maturity) - AND ALSO - that I was wearing my ipod at that time listening to the dance version of 'Big Girls Don't Cry' (how appropriate ... tee hee!) and I could still hear her infantile howl.

Now... I have a sense of loyalty to the ten or so cafes that I have attended assiduously because as I wrote before, I have been frequenting them over the past four years. To have someone whom I have never met criticise the place, really got on my goat and it is only moments like this (and perhaps also on a dance floor at 3:32am) that the rational side to my character appears to desert me...OH GOD!!!

SHUT UP RAFTER...

Don't do it...

please don't...

So, looking over my collection of classic literature and my journal, I say rather pragmatically - 'Hmmmmmmmm' just loud enough for her to hear...

I SO WISHED I HAD NOT...

because...

I am sure she may have caused herself an injury (further adding insult to her temperature situation!)when at the end of my foolish, improper, indecorous, imbecilic and just plain DUMB comment she swung around in my direction...

The glare could not have been worse than the feeling of a thousand knives all thrown at the same time (well metaphorically speaking I would hope) - My goodness was she angry... and not just at the temperature... or lack there of. I was now the subject of her wrath.

I can confirm that it was certainly with no amount of humility or concern for my well being that she asked, 'What's your problem?'

Put simply - this was not a very nice situation in which I found myself. Literally being in the proverbial 'corner', I did what any sane person would do... I grabbed for my heart and pretended that I was about to have a heart attack... No, I am only kidding...tee hee!

No, I stood my ground in a rather unconventional way...

I looked her straight in the eye and said...

'A problem, fair lady, that I did not have until your rather brusque verbalisation as to your level of discomfort beseecheth me'

You should have seen the look on her face... (priceless) I just smiled.

She stormed out the door leaving her 'stuff' at her table and I looked at the waitstaff who burst into laughter.

Moments later - the door flung open and she was standing alone in all her glory... in a full length fur coat...

The look on my face was equal to that of hers to my ridiculous comment.

Obviously, some people feel the cold but it appeared a bit over the top considering we were indoors in Melbourne, Victoria; not in a open cattle carriage of a train bound for some town in northern Siberia!

She just smiled and resumed her seat.

My song had finished - but it did actually give me an idea - because the sms that I had just sent my Business Manager was regarding my lack of 'collateral' for doing the 'bidding' with the publisher (grrrrr!)because ... I am, in the literary world, ... 'A Nobody'

More about Ms Unhappiness in a minute...

I return home and I set up a 'Group' on Facebook called, 'Can't Wait for the Launch of '209 A Story'' ...

DING ... DING ... DING...

Within three seconds I had 3 people join and within 5 days I have 500 people in the group ... and it continues because I am determined to have 10 000 people on the group by the time of my meeting on Friday - (sideline... OMG - I JUST HAD A THOUGHT - what happens if Ms Unhappiness works for my Publisher! tee hee!).

My rationale is this - there are approximately 60 million people on Facebook - we are all connect by less than 6 degrees of separation and if I ask my 100 friends to ask ten of their friends to join - and then I ask those people to find 10 people - BANG ... 10k by Friday... all people wanting to know about Arthur's Story... SWEET! Then the publishers(grrrrrr!) will have to think more of me than just being a NOBODY!

So, if you read this and you want to join my group - please do so...(again... another sideline OMG - what happens if Ms Unhappiness is sent a request to join the 'Group' and reads this blog??????)

Finally, Ms Happiness is one of those people who scare me. In this life I think it is about realising that day to day life is often presented with difficulties - that is why it is called 'life' and not 'death'. I want to say a 'THANKYOU' to her because apart form the possibility of her reading this, her action of going over the top with her full length fur inspired me to go over the top with my attempt to make sure that when I approach the 'difficulties' of the meeting later this week with two people across a desk - I will at least know that I, Steven Rafter, have ten thousand others standing behind me wishing the best of luck...

Thanks people... Have a good week

Cheers Steven