Episode 26: Happy First Birthday!

Don’t miss this episode if you want to know:

💛 Has Jo written THE END for Book 3? 

💛 What did Fiona get up to at BAD?

💛 Did Jacq write us the best intro ever? 

Along with your favourite regular features:

✍️ 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠-𝙞𝙣

✍️ 𝙎𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨 for the next 2 weeks

✍️ 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: 𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺 - What has a year of podcasting together taught us? We talk the highs, the lows and septic systems!

So many shoutouts this week so listen to see if we are talking about you!

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then & A Shadow At The Door
• Fiona Taylor - host of the Reading By Candlelight pod, writing her first novel
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:06

Welcome to the WordCamp, a podcast tracking the publishing journey of three Australian writers. On this episode, we're celebrating 12 months of podcasting. And what's been achieved? Joe Dixon has released and toured for book two, typed the end on her third manuscript for the third time. Attended festivals, appeared on panels, hosted authors, she achieved, and supervised a comprehensive route. Fiona Taylor has made massive inroads on her manuscript. Despite feeling as though she hasn't moved forward, interviewed authors, launched authors, retreated a festival, and cocktailed her way through a year of travel and moving out. And Jack. Well, Jack kind of keeps her writing under it. So all we know is she's fixed the tap, had a new septic system put in, lost a cat, fostered a cat, and finally worked out how to rethread the whippersnipper without using YouTube. I think it's going to be a book release real soon in another blue. But you do know I knew that. Happy birthday, ladies.

SPEAKER_01: 1:22

Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Have a happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Have a happy birthday.

SPEAKER_00: 1:34

And welcome, listeners, to the word count.

SPEAKER_02: 1:38

Welcome, dear listeners, to episode 26 of the Word Count, a real-time, real-life writing journey podcast following three writers to publication. My name is Fiona Taylor, and as always, I'm here with my co-hosts, best-selling author Joe Dixon. Hello, everybody. And internationally award-winning podcaster Jack Alum. Hello! This is a very special episode for us because this week we celebrated the word count's first birthday. That's right, dear listeners. You have been listening to us for an entire year.

SPEAKER_04: 2:13

Oh dear.

SPEAKER_02: 2:14

Does it feel that long? No. What have we achieved in that time?

SPEAKER_04: 2:19

Should we go into that?

SPEAKER_02: 2:20

Shouldn't there be cake? Yes, there should be cake and there should be champagne. You can be certain that two out of three of us are drinking bubbles right now. Jack, do you have a whiskey?

SPEAKER_04: 2:30

I do have a whiskey.

SPEAKER_02: 2:32

So cheers, everyone, and happy first birthday to the webcam. Yay to us. Celebration time. We do need to find out what we've all been doing for the last two weeks. And as always, Joe is first.

SPEAKER_03: 2:45

Okay, so it's been an interesting two weeks for me because I have been in Melbourne for the whole two weeks. Um, my youngest son and his girlfriend went off for their first international trip together to Thailand and then across to Tokyo, and they had the best time. But for two weeks, I came up from Tassie and House sat their apartment and their rabbit very precious, very loved little rabbit. The rabbit survived. I survived. It was just so it was bliss. I've got to say, coming from a property where there's no takeaway, no restaurants, um or very little. And it my my day is always book ended by chores and animals and garden and creatures and oh work to sit in a little studio apartment in the inner city in the middle of the CBD with a bottle shop below me, literally, and a big W and a Woolies and a food court and restaurants and state library right next door. And oh my god, life is so easy. I haven't cooked for two weeks. I just haven't. And I get this one rabbit, and the sweet, gorgeous little thing would come and hop up on the bed in the morning and run around the bed telling me to get up. So job done. I'm going back to the farm tomorrow. But I have loved it. I've loved it. And then of course I got to catch up with beautiful people like Fiona and Ann Freeman and Rob McDonald. I did keep myself fairly quiet because I did have to finish a book, um, which I have worked diligently at, and there'll be more about that later. And that is me. That's quite two weeks, sitting in an apartment in the city, living a different life and doing nothing but write a lot.

SPEAKER_04: 4:14

Well, living the dream.

SPEAKER_03: 4:16

Live in the dream. Jack, what have you been up to? Well, I've been work, yeah.

SPEAKER_04: 4:20

Work pretty much, work, a little bit more work. I moved the work back into the office, because you know, it's gonna get warmer soon. And uh, and my office is pretty much the coldest room in the house, or the hottest room in the house, doesn't matter which way. Um, it's seasonal. So moved back into there just in time for the snow, the sleet, and the hail. Tackled the first of the spring mowing.

SPEAKER_03: 4:41

Oh my god, how it would be all too wet. It's too muddy.

SPEAKER_04: 4:44

No, no, this was this was before all the the wet, but after all the wind. So the wind had blown everything dry. And the the grass was so long it was kind of knee-high. Oh gosh. And you could see ripples.

SPEAKER_03: 4:59

We'd like a sheep to come and mow your lawn for you. I I I'm happy to let one go.

SPEAKER_04: 5:03

Well, I mean, the dog would love a sheep, but I'm not too sure the dog would love the sheep for the right reasons. Anyway. But that's me, Fiona.

SPEAKER_02: 5:10

No, I was busy for the last two weeks.

SPEAKER_04: 5:13

Well, we we kind of know that you do tend to do busy. We're busier than usual, or busier with something new, or just busy, busy.

SPEAKER_02: 5:20

Busy, busy. I went to Mark Mapetosa's Russell's book launch for the Hit Woman's Guide to Reducing Household Debt. Joke. I was there. I was there. I forgot about that. Yes, I was there. We had so much fun and we met some lovely writer friends of Mark's from Veruna. Shout out to Anne, Inessa, and Zoe. If you hadn't read Mark's book, add it to your TBR. I'm telling you, now Mark will be a big deal. And now he's my friend and he can't ever ghost me like never. Then I flew to Bad Sydney Crime Writers Festival. Note to self never fly in and out of a festival in just 36 hours because I came home physically and mentally exhausted. And you know what?

SPEAKER_04: 6:10

You know what we're gonna say. This is like when you said that you had no sleep going to Fiji.

SPEAKER_02: 6:14

Oh, you don't care? It's like you've got to go to the festival.

SPEAKER_04: 6:17

I know you had a fabulous time, didn't you?

SPEAKER_02: 6:20

It was so worth it. There we go. I had a night out with uh with author Holly Craig and her Sydney and Canberra Wright Clubbers, Sky, Ika, Deb, Mandy, and Camille, who has just shared her book cover for her upcoming release, The Woman in the Waves, which looks amazing and was designed by author Ann Freeman, who is obviously multi-talented. She is. And also author Karina May came along and she showed us the arc for our upcoming novel, That Island Feeling. And so it was just such, it looks fabulous. I am really on board for this coming out. Love, we also saw the cover, which isn't the arc cover, and the cover is amazing, and such a talented group of writers to celebrate with. And we went to a champagne bar and then a cocktail bar and then a 20-stamed bar. So it was a bit tight. You know what I said about no sympathy?

SPEAKER_04: 7:19

Yeah, I'm really feeling that no sympathy vibe.

SPEAKER_02: 7:22

Okay, okay, fair, fair, fair. The next day it was back-to-back sessions at the festival and hanging out with amazing crime and three-or authors. So uh shout out to multi-published authors, Petronella McGovern, Danuka McKenzie, Hayley Scrivener, and Karen Maine who allowed me to hang out with them. I have no idea why, but they are all so damn talented. And oh no, it's not that I don't know why they're so damn talented. I do not know why they're getting out with them.

SPEAKER_04: 7:56

It's all right, you you totally pause. It's okay, we got that.

SPEAKER_02: 8:00

Because they are so damn talented, so welcoming, super fun to boot. And Holly Craig and Deb Jordan are so lovely to me, and we had lots of fun together. And I also got to meet some new authors to watch. Except Matt is only new to traditional publishing. He's published like 300 novels and he's only 26. Okay, he's published 35. But so impressive. And we got to celebrate Danuka's birthday upstairs and the bar above the library before I went to the danger awards. And the delightful Karen Main won the Danger Award for Best Debut for her brilliant book, Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder. That's such a good book. That's so good, isn't it? And then Amanda Hampson won Best Fiction for the Tea Ladies.

SPEAKER_04: 8:58

Another great book.

SPEAKER_02: 9:00

Sorry, Joe. I didn't win.

SPEAKER_03: 9:02

That's all right. I didn't expect to. There's some amazing books out there.

SPEAKER_02: 9:06

Tim Ayliff won People's Choice, but we did try, Joe.

SPEAKER_03: 9:10

I did.

SPEAKER_02: 9:11

Also, congratulations, Tim. Yay, you. There are so many other people I could shout out to, but I put you all in a post and we only have 30 minutes. So I'm not doing that. Then I flew home. My brain was mush. It took me days to recover. So next year I'm going for the entire festival. I think spread the joy. Spreading the joy makes it easier. Oh, and I met Joe's agent Benithon on secret squirrel business, and he is delightful. He is very lucky.

SPEAKER_04: 9:46

I love secret squirrel business. You're not going to tell me anything more, though, are you? No.

SPEAKER_02: 9:50

Online. What else? Joe and I had dinner at the moat under the state library in Melbourne, and we missed you, Jack.

SPEAKER_04: 9:58

But we'll you know what I saw that reel, I didn't think he looked like he missed me at all. Actually, so I thought you guys are looking there so you're having a great time.

SPEAKER_03: 10:08

It was gorgeous. It was, I've got to say, it was absolutely gorgeous.

SPEAKER_02: 10:11

Beautiful place. But we will see you in person next week.

SPEAKER_04: 10:14

We got to do one more shout out because I was going to do this earlier, but then I forgot. But then you were doing your shout-out, but then I remembered. But you know who I'm going to shout out, don't you? Yes. Yes. The amazing, the incredible, the absolutely delightful Ariane James. Yes. Massive congratulations because she's been picked up with HQ and a story. Now I haven't read the whole story. I've only read the synopsis, but the way she writes is beautiful. It's like, it's like, you know, one of those, I kind of feel as though it's like one of those books that you know you can pick up and it'll just roll you in and then roll you through.

SPEAKER_02: 10:52

I'm so excited for her. She is such a beautiful person, as well as a very talented writer. And we are just excited when our friends get deals with bottles. Yes. Yes. We did get to toast the word count on its actual birthday, Jo and I, which was lovely. And then Joe and I had brunch with the loveliest author on the planet, Rob McDonald, a K-A-R-W-R-McDonald. And he listens to this, so this will embarrass him. But he was, he's just so nice. Very kind to me, and I'm incredibly grateful. So thank you, Rob. You know what this is for.

SPEAKER_04: 11:34

Is this more secret squirrel stuff?

SPEAKER_02: 11:35

Is this more secret squirrel stuff?

SPEAKER_04: 11:37

You don't realize this means I'm gonna have to buy a bottle of gin when we go up to um the MBR.

SPEAKER_02: 11:42

Nobody can get me drunk enough for me to spill secrets. Nobody.

SPEAKER_04: 11:48

Okay, all right. We'll move on straight to torture, then that's fine.

SPEAKER_02: 11:52

And I think that's it. No, wait, my laptop died, and then it decided to have a last hurrah. So fingers crossed, it keeps working long enough to get it to the genius bar because it ran out of warranty last month. Last month! Oh, there's movies for you. We need to move on to accountability, but before we start, I'm going to recap what everyone's goals were last episode. Joe's said, my novel will be finished and I will have written the end. Jack was going to finalize the selections for New Zealand Webfest, and I was going to go to Bad Sydney Crimes Festival and write 3,000 words. So let's see how we all did. Let's check in.

SPEAKER_00: 12:38

Accountability check-in.

SPEAKER_02: 12:43

We will leave Jota last because her goal was the biggest. So I'm gonna go first. Yes and no.

SPEAKER_04: 12:52

Believe that's uh she's taken that from the Jack School of Answering.

SPEAKER_02: 12:56

I went to Bad Sydney and I wrote 1,500 words and then my laptop died.

SPEAKER_04: 13:02

I think that's pretty. That's pretty good. Actually, she has gone to the Jack School of Answering. That's magnificent. And as for me, yes, uh podcast elections have been finalized.

SPEAKER_02: 13:11

There you go. So we oh my goodness, Fiona, Tick, and Cross and Jack Tick. Joe, it's your turn.

SPEAKER_03: 13:17

They're sitting looking at me with such expectation on their face, and the answer is I have not finished it. How close are you? I'm very close. Are you like a page close?

SPEAKER_04: 13:28

Two pages.

SPEAKER_03: 13:28

No, I'm probably about uh four chapters away from the end. Oh, I get to this, I get to this point, and of course, because I write mystery and I'm not thriller, it's not paced enough to be a thriller, but it's mystery and suspense, and of course you've got the culmination coming at the end. And I get to this point where I feel like I'm on this slippery slide towards the end, and it's going, you know, it's all being revealed, and the secrets are coming out, and the mystery's being unshrouded, and and I go, whoa, I'm going too fast, I've got to slow this down. And so I go and print out the entire manuscript and start reading it just from the start. Yeah, so I went down to because the other thing that I had beneath the apartment in the Melbourne CBD was an office works. So I just titled downstairs on the day that everything was going chaotically crazy towards the end of the book and just printed out the whole manuscript just so I could go back and read over and lay it on the floor. I just needed to take a breath.

SPEAKER_04: 14:22

It's like Joe, I admire your process so very, very much. I mean, your your writing is amazing. You published books are phenomenal. And now we see the process that you are so thorough in in doing it. And I'm kind of just in absolute and utter awe.

SPEAKER_03: 14:38

Well, I think we get to the end bit where I just feel I'm losing control of it and I start to forget what happened in earlier chapters, and I need to just make sure that the threads are running where they're meant to run and tying up where they're meant to tie, and that everything is connected.

SPEAKER_04: 14:53

Yes, this is why I'm still unpublished.

SPEAKER_02: 14:58

Honestly, Joe's third novel made me want to give up writing because I didn't know why this well. I will never write scene and atmosphere and characters as well as she does.

SPEAKER_04: 15:13

So four chapters, Joe, just four to go.

SPEAKER_03: 15:16

And I guess so saying that you could you feel that you could never write this, I think that's that's well, she could never write she could never write like Joe.

SPEAKER_04: 15:24

And that's because she never wrote Fiona.

SPEAKER_03: 15:26

But all of this is learned. I mean, you've got to think I took I I got serious about writing in 2009. It took me 12 years to get to the point of getting a book deal. There's a lot of hours of practice and a lot of reading and a lot of learning. It's a it's a it's not something I was born with, I don't, I don't think. It's just practice and practice and practice. But no, four chapters to go. Yes. Got to finish reading if about one quarter of it. And I look, I know where it's going, and it's almost like I just get scared of losing control of it towards the end. Like I'm going like you know what when you're running down the hill and you feel like you lose control and you think you're going to fall over. Look, you know what? Just go with it. Just go with it.

SPEAKER_04: 16:03

Because you know, there's editing.

SPEAKER_03: 16:04

Yes, yes, yes. It will be done. Take my advice, I'm not using it. It's like I've told my I've told Benithan, my agent I'll get it to him next week. So I'll get it to him next week or the week after.

SPEAKER_02: 16:20

I hope you're not listening to this.

SPEAKER_03: 16:24

Can I just say that Phil's intro for this episode is the best?

SPEAKER_04: 16:28

Just gonna tell you he was threatening to sing. I think he should have.

SPEAKER_02: 16:32

I love it. It is the best intro. So no need to think of an episode topic this week, dear listeners, because it's our birthday. Yes, one year ago I took these two lovely and more experienced writers than I into starting an accountability writing podcast. But little did they know what they were letting themselves in for. Sorry, not sorry. And here we are, 26 episodes, and one year later, what have we actually achieved? If anything at all, let's talk about what one year of the word count has meant to us. Joe, we're back to you going first.

SPEAKER_03: 17:12

Oh my goodness. Okay, I'll just sum it up really quickly. So a year, so that that takes us back to 23. Launched my second book, did a book tour in Tasmania, did a book tour in South Australia and Victoria, did another book tour in Tasmania with Kylie Orr, which was wonderful. Went to Sydney and saw my head office, which is fantastic, was treated like royalty. Agent. Oh, got an agent, thank you. Yes, got an agent towards the end of last year. Um, uh Nythan took me on, which was just out of the blue and just um so exciting and wonderful. Signed the contract for the next book deals, which is books four, uh three and four, and then wrote book three, and then trashed book three, and then rewrote book three, and then trashed the rewrite of book three, and I've almost finished rewriting book three. For the third time, it's a charm.

SPEAKER_02: 17:58

For the third time, and that is where I'm at. That is my year. Jack is right. Third time's a charm.

SPEAKER_04: 18:05

Third time's a charm.

SPEAKER_02: 18:06

Okay, Jack, what's your year been like?

SPEAKER_04: 18:08

Uh well, 26 episodes on writing for writers about writing without writing what I'm writing. So I think I'm on track.

SPEAKER_02: 18:16

You're so funny. You're the best thing about this podcast. Whenever, whenever I'm out and about, people say, Oh, are you Fiona Taylor from the word count? I go, yeah, and they go, We love Jack. And I go, we love her too.

SPEAKER_03: 18:35

There are so many people that are invested in or have vested interest in your septic system and your tattoo hatch.

SPEAKER_04: 18:41

And it's not and I'm and I'm loving, I'm loving the support because I never thought the septic system would be such a thing.

SPEAKER_03: 18:48

Yes. The realities of living in the you know, rural Tasmania.

SPEAKER_04: 18:52

It's where it's when the tractors go past the road. I'm just like, oh, I haven't seen that tractor before. That people go, um, where where where do you live? All right, move it on because it's Fiona's turn.

SPEAKER_02: 19:02

All right. I feel like the word count was both the best and the worst idea I've ever had. I thought, dear listeners, it would keep me accountable for my writing. And truly, that's just out of the window now because we've all realized I have bigger problems than just my word count. But the reasons why I do not regret it, and it is the best idea I've ever had, are these. I get to do this with two incredible women. I am so proud to call my friends. They are both amazing creatives, writers, supporters, champions, and the kindest, most caring humans to be.

SPEAKER_04: 19:43

You're gonna make us cry.

SPEAKER_02: 19:46

Um Jack is funnier, but Joe had the experience and therefore the wisdom. Rob McDonald said to me today that together, as the word count, we are greater than we are as individuals. And he is just oh, that's so sweet. We are a dream team, and even if nobody ever listened to us, I would still make you both turn up every fortnight to do this. So take that as a warning that we are forever. I have also learned so much about producing audio, social media, marketing. And while I'd done a little with Reading by Candlelight, the podcast, I learned so much more producing an episode every fortnight. It's been such a steep learning curve, but an amazingly fun one. And I love learning new things. And this has just been a joy from start to from you know, just a joy from the beginning. And I think too that, like, because now I'm in my 60s, I think that learning new things and understanding how everything works is just such a blessing. Yeah, I also think that Jack has made us funny. So I want to say thank you to Jack for that because heaven knows I've never been funny, and I love you, Joe, but you aren't either.

SPEAKER_04: 21:14

How on earth can one person make another couple of people funny?

SPEAKER_02: 21:17

Jack's intros that she and Phil record are absolutely magic, and they make me laugh every single time I hear them. And I cannot believe Phil agreed to record a different intro for us every episode. So take a digital bow, Jack Elum, and accept that without you, we would never sound this professional. No, we are just pretenders, folks. So pretending.

SPEAKER_04: 21:46

I don't actually, I think the beauty of the podcast is we're not pretending, we are Wartson all. Yes, absolutely. We are we are the highs, we are the lows, we are the strong and the vulgar. Everything, we are the mistakes, we are the holes in the backyard.

SPEAKER_02: 22:02

I feel like we're we're we're kind of every person.

unknown: 22:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 22:07

And in the spirit of celebrating small wins, we hit number four on the podcast charts for books. We've had three thousand. We did. You remember? Yeah, don't you remember?

SPEAKER_01: 22:20

I post oh no, you posted.

SPEAKER_02: 22:24

We've had three thousand eight hundred and twenty downloads in 25 episodes. We have nine hundred and twenty-four followers. Thank you, dear listeners. We are grateful for every single one of you. We have had one book launched, one Millie finished, a fixed septic system, racked up a million frequent flyer points, and have been nominated for a Melbourne award. I am so incredibly proud of what we have created, what we have achieved. And I hope you both know how grateful I am to you both for saying yes and that I love you.

SPEAKER_04: 23:01

Oh, that's so sweet. I didn't think we had an option to say no. Did you think we had an option to say no?

SPEAKER_03: 23:06

I know, I I I you know I was dragged into this. Um, I didn't think we didn't know. Still trying to find a way to get out, but yeah. Like while we're in the general love fest, Fiona, the work that you put in is phenomenal. It's phenomenal. And to both of you, like I tell the people, I just turn up. Fiona, you put the work in and produce this episode and make it so polished. All of us, it's all do not cut this, Fiona. Do not cut this. And I do not want you to cut this. You must accept praise for what you do and the time that you put in. Jack for writing the intros and getting that gorgeous man Phil to do them for us and bringing the humor and the lightness. Like that, like Rob said, we are the better for being the sum of parts rather than individuals. And we we just we balance each other beautifully. And I'm not funny, but I'm trying.

SPEAKER_02: 23:56

I'm not funny either.

SPEAKER_04: 23:57

So that's like I think I think you guys are selling yourselves short. You're absolutely hilarious. I don't know where this has come from. And I do know that you're ask our children. You're incredibly wonderful and generous with your support, your advice, what you're going through at the time. You share your writing journey. So honestly, and let's face it, all I can do is share my whippersnipper.

SPEAKER_03: 24:25

Okay, I think people are going to get so bored of us loving each other. Yes, really.

SPEAKER_02: 24:29

So it is that time of the episode where we all set our goals. Joe, always first.

SPEAKER_03: 24:35

My goal is to finish the book. Funny, that sounds awfully familiar. Um, and then my other goal celebrate finishing the book.

SPEAKER_02: 24:43

Yes, yes, we are going to absolutely raise the roof at Northern Beaches Breeders Festival because we have got an awesome place, and we are just going to send Brendan out to buy all the alcohol. Thank you, best literary husband.

SPEAKER_03: 25:00

Jack, what are your goals for the next fortnight? I've got to have an amazing time at Avalon.

SPEAKER_04: 25:05

Absolutely. But um, I've got to learn how to change headlight bulbs on the new one. Yeah, yeah, that's that's tomorrow's job. Um, and uh, and you know, fix the blades on the lawnmower. Gotta learn how to do that too. And uh yeah, that's me. Fiona.

SPEAKER_02: 25:22

Laptop withstanding. I'm hoping to just do some daydreaming about my characters and plot because next week, as you've heard, we fly to the Northern Beaches Readers Festival in Avalon Beach, aka the friendliest book festival ever. We are all staying together in the one very lovely Airbnb that looks over the water. We will have the most amazing time, and there are too many authors to mention. So just Google Northern Beaches Reader Fest Readers Festival and you'll understand our excitement. Also, almost four days together. Oh, really?

SPEAKER_03: 26:03

Yes, because I'm so glad somebody else can count.

SPEAKER_02: 26:07

And we are going to meet our Phil.

SPEAKER_04: 26:10

That's right, because I mean I've I've worked with Phil for years, and and it's really funny that that we've been doing this for a year and you guys haven't had the chance to meet him and to thank him in person.

SPEAKER_02: 26:20

Yeah, and there will be photos, many photos taken.

SPEAKER_04: 26:24

Yes, I'll take lots of photos. I'm you'll be in lots of photos.

SPEAKER_02: 26:29

I'm excited. Are you both excited?

SPEAKER_03: 26:32

Yeah, yes, yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02: 26:34

That's settled then. The word count is excited to be going on the road. So, dear listeners, that's it. The birthday celebrations are over, which is so sad. And also explains why my birthday goes for a whole month. A day just isn't long enough. To every one of our listeners, from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for listening to three friends prattle on about our writing, celebrating our wins small and large, sharing our sorrows, and having as many laughs as possible along the way. We will never stop being honest with you. We wanted to be as transparent as possible about our journey to publication and everything in between. We are so humbled that you care enough to listen. And we hope that you will keep listening because there is a lot we are going to be sharing with you in the next 12 months, and we want you to be the first to know. So it is goodbye from them. Goodbye, everybody, and happy birthday to us, and it's goodbye from me. Wishing you all the best with your writing over the next two weeks and check in with us next episode at the WordCount and find out if we hit our goals.