In less than one week I’ll be back on Australian soil. So excited. Also hoping I might get to meet some of you in actual real life at the various events I’m doing around the country to talk about my new book Everything Changes But You.
If you do come along, you’ll also be able to meet this little chap below: My Chanel couture troll. He’s dressed in a scrap of fabric and some pins I picked up off the floor in the Chanel couture atelier, years ago when I was there with Kate Moss. She was having fittings. I was taking it all in with my eyes on stalks.
He’s one of the fetish objects I have to have around me to feel right to write.
That’s what I’m going to talk about this time, how I approach the process of writing. I’m not one of those people who likes to sit in the corner of a cafe and scribble in a notebook. I like a very controlled environment, with particular music, a fast boiling kettle, my fetish objects and pictures around me.
I’d love to see what you like to have near you to feel in the zone. Is there a particular mug? A pencil sharpener? Certain books you have to have in sight? If there are, please bring them along for a show and tell.
Here is where I’ll be when, hope you can come along.
Sydney – Wednesday 24 October, 7.00pm
Mosman Library, 605 Military Road, Mosman
Tickets $10 ($8 concessions). Bookings on 02 9969 9736.
Brisbane – Thursday 25 October, 6.15pm
Mary Ryan, 40 Park Road, Milton
Ticket $5, includes refreshments.
To book, please call 07 3510 5000
Melbourne – Tuesday 30 October, 7.00pm
Matilda’s Books, 15 Hamilton Place, Mount Waverley
Event is free, but bookings essential on 03 9888 1433
Melbourne – Wednesday 31 October, 6.30pm
Readings Hawthorn, 701 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn
This event is free, but you must book on 03 9819 1917
Canberra – Thursday 1 November, 6.00pm
Paperchain, 34 Franklin Street, Manuka
This is a free event, but please book on 02 6295 6723
Bowral – Friday 2 November 10.30am
Bookshop at Bowral, at The Gibraltar Hotel, Cnr Centennial Rd & Boronia St, Bowral
$20 per person, includes morning tea. To book, call 02 4862 1634
Style Notes 
Oh, no Perth visit? Devastated! 😦 Luckily, getting to read your new book will partially make up for not getting to meet you.
Have put in a request to the publisher… you never know. It was slated and then got shelved, maybe we can bring it back!
We should start a petition for a Perth visit!
I have asked… fingers crossed xxx
Excellent, I’ll keep all my fingers crossed!! Keep us updated if things change, I would be there in a flash!
Dear M
I will definitely come to the Brisbane one. Let me know if you would like to have dinner with Old Mr FF and I or a drink! So happy I will have another book to read!
yes yes please!!! xxx
Yay! – I’ll be at Mosman Library (my local library, how easy is that?). Can’t wait to read this one!
x
So exciting, I will absolutely attend the launch. I’ve ben waiting for this book with baited breath!
You are so so lovely x
I’m really sad that you won’t be visiting Adelaide this time, Maggie. Next time, tell your publishers not to ignore the western half of Oz!
Hope you have a great trip – you’re coming back at the right time of the year! Nice weather here, and probably not-so-nice in the UK
xxx
I did come to S Australia two years ago so maybe they like to mix it up a bit. I’m touched you care xxx
Hey Maggie, your publishers have left out half the country!! There are readers and fans in Perth too!! Such a shame. Good luck with the book. Would’ve been great to hang out.
I’ve put in a request… xxx
Ooh ooh, I am trying to get a posse together. I will be the heavily pregnant one hoping she’s achieved Quality Blonde and not Chalet Girl Blonde 😉
ha ha ha excellent xxx
no SA visit either
I came to Adelaide two years ago, so maybe they are alternating? Didn’t do Bowral then. Sorry! x
Oh how exciting, you are my favourite writer and my inspiration for my own non-fiction fashion writing, would love to meet you! I could even be a creepy fan and bring all my copies of every book you’ve written for you to sign lol. Will have to see if I can make the Brisbane one as it is quite early so will struggle getting there after work. Looking forward to it!
Great! Don’t forget to bring your fetish object/picture that you have to have near you when you write. We’re going to show and tell x
SO excited you’re coming to Canberra, and to my favourite bookshop! Paperchain is lovely. Looking forward to meeting you in person after many years and many books 🙂
Great! Really looking forward to the visit. x
Squeeeee!!! I can’t believe that you are coming to my suburb (Mt Waverley Melbourne)! I have already booked and I think I will have to frock up.
yay! and bring your fetish object/photo… x
Oh Maggie…I see you have a little gap between Brisbane and Melbourne. Any chance of a fun trip to Noosa ? We have a Mary Ryan here also. it would be such a treat to see you here. Fingers crossed !
I came two years ago and it was such heaven… there’s no harm in me asking the Penguins, I’d love to come! x
Yay! So excited, I’ve booked for your Matilda’s Book store visit in Mt Waverley, and perfect timing for the release of your latest book, just in time for the summer hols x
Great! Look forward to seeing you xx
Wonderful Maggie. The lovely Readings Hawthorn is where the cafe staff know my kids by name. I’ll ring them tomorrow!
Great! I love that shop too, you’re so lucky to have it… x
Booked!
I’d love you to resume the blog too (I’ve heard Tumbler is good for uploading pics – not personal experience though).
And here’s something I enjoyed reading in today’s Age (which you’ve quite possibly already seen…)
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/treacherous-heels-the-very-height-of-misogyny-20121019-27wc9.html
BTW Maggie, I do so hope you resume this blog. I find it a lot more satisfying than Twitter.
Oh Annie, I so long to, it’s just the time. It’s driving me mad. The problem is it’s so clunky uploading the pics, it takes me hours to do one post, so when I come back from my book tour one of the things on my to do list is to invest some time finding out how to blog more efficiently. Thank you for nagging me! xxx
Oh Maggie I hope the Perth visit can be approved!!! You are my fave author & I would LOVE to come along to this!!!
Oh yes I’m with Annie, missing your blog x
OK this is my pre-New Year resolution. I’m going to get ON it xxx
So very excited to see you in Canberra. Ill be the heavily pregnant one postponing a wedding anniversary dinner with my husband to come! And something new for my kindle to read when shortly ill be up all hours of the night! Yay!
WOW that’s commitment (or is it committment? haven’t had enough tea yet).Thanks so much for coming xxx
Any more news on the Perth visit?
Wishing you a wonderful tour.
Apart from harrassing you on Twitter, I also contacted Penguin to say that we Perth ladies would have really loved to see you. Shall stop there in case I come across as a cranky online whinger!
Am so there. See you Wednesday night in Mosman. I’ll have my show and tell ready to go. And an apple for the teacher 😉
Mosman last night was a really interesting peek into your writing world & I can’t wait to start your new book. Enjoy your book tour & the Aussie sun
Thanks so much for coming along. What a great crowd! I really enjoyed myself. best Maggie x
Dear Maggie, I just re-read Cents and Sensibility, closely followed by Mad About the Boy and then Shall We Dance. Your books have been lifesavers whilst sitting with my mother in her last days. I know I should have been reading “worthy” words (not that yours aren’t, but you get my drift)… Mum loved clothes, shoes and bags even more than me and I know she would have loved what I did. When we lived in NSW many years ago it was a treat to dress up and travel to Sydney each December. First stop (after DJ’s morning tea) was the 7th floor -back when it was terribly genteel and displayed true designer “gowns”. We would windowshop to our heart’s content and then schlepp back to Central, content and a tad weary.I am so looking forward to your session at Hawthorn: now I am a country lass, I will have to gussy myself up a bit for the experience. Thanks for the years of reading pleasure; enjoy your visit. Jane.
Dear Jane, thank you so so much for your beaautiful comment. I am so sorry to hear by your mum and more touched than I can possibly tell you that my books gave you some comfort at that horrible time. Hearing that makes all the long days alone in a room totally worth it and I will remember what you said when I’m back at the desk getting down to the next one when i get home.
very best regards
Maggie xxx
I’ll be coming tomorrow night too at Matildas.
I am a closet fan of your books on hols and enjoy your column in the Sunday Age too.
Hi Maggie….loved listening to you last night at Readings (Liverpool Jo from the front row) and thank you for allowing us to peek into your writing world and routine. Seeing your inspiration for your characters and place settings let me come to Everything Changes But You in such a different way..almost as if I’d seen the movie before reading the book! I can so relate to having family and friends all over the world and am sure I’ll come across a few home truths as I get deeper into the novel. Safe trip back to Blighty. Until next time…
Thanks so much for that Jo _ i’m sorry I couldn’t do a better Liverpool accent ! I love your idea that it feels like you’ve seen the movie first. xxx
[…] week I was excited to meet one of my favourite writers: Maggie Alderson, novelist and journalist. She was promoting her new book “Everything Changes But You” and zipping around Australia on a whistle-stop […]
I too was at Readings last week, I was a little over excited when I met you Maggie, so apologies for my ravings and holding up the book signing queue!