Banquo's son insanity

It's insane, I know, that I usually wake in the early hours of the morning. It's often because of one of the cats; sometimes it's hubby snoring; or it's because I've come out of my deep sleep and gone into light sleep which is always about either the current stress in our lives or a scene from 11th Century Scotland.

So, I lie there. Awake. Listening to the hum of the fuse box, the night birds (or far too early birds) outside, the tick of the clock in the main bathroom - placed there to help the girls keep track of time. I think: I'm fully awake. Time is precious. Get up.

Nine times out of ten I do. So, at 4:45am many mornings I can be found un-stacking the dishwasher, sorting out the washing, making lunches (and sometimes making the evening meal). This takes me to 5:30, so I check email and blogs.

By 6:00 am I'm ready to write. That's what I do for an hour.
7:00 is me resetting the jug for my cup of tea while I go get the paper. (In our neck of the woods, we are last to get the morning paper - wahh). I also put on the eggs for my breakfast, call out to the hubby and eldest before I settle at the dinner table to do the Sudoku and Code Cracker.

All through this un-cracking of codes, I continue to wake the family; continue with the laundry.
By 7:30 they are surfacing and I'm dressed and fed and doing more chores.

Am I a goddess? No. Look at the end of the day. I'm in bed by 8pm; sometimes, if I'm really lucky, it's 9! I miss out on all those family things like discussing whether Chandler really is the best match for Rachel - meh.

Today I did equivalent to the morning routine, in the afternoon, took a child to the doctor (waited 45 mins - gah) then went out to the horse then came home. God-like husband cooked fab meal but I'd retired straight away to type the minutes of last night's NZSA meeting - cos I said I would. Oh, and I sorted the laundry and put another pile in the machine (don't be mad but this family ALWAYS uses the drier!) so that school shirts and socks are available for tomorrow.

During today, I fended off the bank, the gardener, the mechanic and the lawyer - such is my charm. I also marked 38 essays. And, my class room is still tidy.

Why do I do it?

Because I am a story teller and a teacher and mother and wife. Plagued with all these roles (not a cook - though I can; nor a gardener - though I can - nor someone who sews, paints, knits, runs - though I can and I can and I can - but I choose not to)

I am Tania Roxborogh who is a teacher who writes or a writer who teachers. I am also mother wife friend. And, I hope, good enough at doing all these jobs.

do not envy me, dear reader. The life of a write is not an easy one. We are driven. Plagued. Obsessed. Compelled. Exhorted. Required.

We must write.

I think of the line from Janet Frame's Poem 'Yet Another Poem About a Dying Child' (which I study with my Y11 class) which says: he must rock the web of pain until the kind furred spider with night lamp eyes and soft tread wraps him warm and carries him to a safe place, and eats him.'

Brilliant poem.

Says how I feel at present about being a writer - there are good bits and there are painful bits. We all have to go through what we have to go through to be what we are destined to be.

By the way, though I'm in a struggle place, the writing is coming along well and I'm pleased.

Watch this space

So soon after the awards announement I have subcumbed

Bloodlines begins with a kidnap.

It does not being with Flea.

But soon there is a battle.

Man, these Scots make trouble for themselves. heh heh

Banquo's Son Shortlisted for the NZ Post Children's Book Awards

Wahoooooo. What an absolute thrill to receive this nomination. I am in excellent company and I am delighted to get the nod.
The other finalists in my category are:
My buddy Brian Falkner for Brainjack



My dear friend and mentor, Fleur Beale for End of the Alphabet

Mandy Hager, for The Crossing

And, finally, Lia Hills The Beginner's Guide to Living

A strong race if I do say so myself. I loved reading my fellow nominees' books. Let the fun times begin.

For details of all the finalists, go here,

Bloodlines - third draft

I have a deadline of the 1st of April - my dear agent negotiated an extension to have this date, thank goodness, because I doubt I would have been able to meet the 1st of March (which was yesterday, New Zealand time).

I still have about 40,000 words to write in less than three and a half weeks.

you see, I'm sure you've figured it out, I teach FULL TIME in a secondary school (which I do not begrudge - I love my job!).

This is currently my life: up at 4 or 5 am and write for an hour or two; be mummy between 7am and 8:30am; be teacher extraordinaire between 8:30 and 4pm; mummy again till after dinner and, sometimes, if I'm not knackered, I might write again.

The response to the early draft of this book has been doubled edged: it is better by far, the critics say BUT you have a lot of work to do, they add.

And, I do.

Don't get me started on the whole historical accuracy thing. I have spent hours and hours trawling through books on early medieval life. You would not believe what I have learned about these amazing people.

Anyway, the story of my man Fleance and his quest for happiness continues and, dear reader, it will all be worth the angst - this author promises.