Emma Stevens: A New Zealand author of an Alaskan love story
Romantic memoirs from New Zealand writer Emma Stevens
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Interviews and Interviewers

29/4/2015

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For a novice like me, the interviews I have had about Walking on Ice started out ordinary enough, and they went sort of like what I was expecting. Initially I would refer the interviewer to my back cover for more information that they could copy and paste to their article.  Ro Cambridge had cast her experienced hand and sharp eye over every word on the back page of Walking on Ice, her talent forming succinct and powerful images that my wandering sentences could not distil as well.  Journalists were more than happy with this efficient 'cut and paste' ploy.

Lately however, my questioner has taken me down roads less well travelled.
After an hour or so of sharing quite intimate stories together, I have been left wondering a) how the public might respond to such ramblings and b) how the interviewer will be able to explain the inordinate amount of time spent on the phone to me.

When the article comes out,  I have been more than surprised that my interviewer has managed to piece together some interesting and relevant general information about the story, not mentioning material from our intimate chats.

It has made me think about writing such a book and the effect it has on the reader.  All but one of my interviewers has read the book, or started the first few chapters "and can't put it down" ( surprised tone).  It seems that these are the ones who want to talk about why on earth I went out there, how did I manage the isolation, what happened to my dog, did I have many more spiritual experiences, have I ever been back, and why not?  How on earth did I find time to write while working full time, do I find the writer's life more fulfilling, and what is Gary doing now?  (for starters)

It is as if I have a new group of  friends interested in my private life, and  amazed about the unexpected journey I took. "Life can turn on a moment in time, can't it?" "Your story is so inspiring to me." To hear that from an experienced writer/ journalist. SO cool.



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Talk, talkĀ  and more talk

16/4/2015

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Well with this week's 'lull',  I am gearing up for a few more public engagements next week.  My week's worth of yarns starts at Nelson Public Library this Sunday. I have heard  that some may be expecting me earlier than the advertised time of 2pm.  This is because some advertisements have claimed 1:30 as the starting time.

So I will be at Nelson Library this Sunday from 1:15 onwards... talk officially scheduled to start at 2pm.

I must say I was rather startled at the last library talk I gave to find a group sitting in rows in readiness for what I thought was the previous speaker. I was quickly informed that no, they were waiting patiently for the author to arrive.... gulp, me!  And I was early!

Following Sunday's talk, Gary aka Kotzman and I are heading to our favourite summer haunt Pakawau along with our rescued greyhound Carter ( see pic below).  I am scheduled for lunch and a talk at the Country Women's group there on Tuesday midday. That will be followed by beach walks and a stay at our favourite Pakawau camp ground.  The following day, Wednesday 22nd April there is another library talk scheduled at Takaka Library at 1pm.

 Friday evening I have been invited as guest at a local Book Club in Ruby Bay, to enjoy a special dinner and field some questions about Walking on Ice.  What is  great but also scary about this engagement, is that I know there are some high school teacher voracious readers in this group, and therefore I am expecting some pretty educated questions to answer...

so I must remember to stay with one glass of wine. 

I will continue to hope that the cooler weather  endures into next week-
oh for a breeze from Alaska- so that I won't need fans, electric and hand held to cool my fevered brow.  But anyway Oh What Fun I Am Having!
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Embarking on a New Adventure

3/4/2015

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I now live with my husband in New Zealand (in a much, much warmer climate!) and I have published Walking on Ice the first book about our lives in Alaska.So much has happened since I began writing about how an unexpected late-in-life romance lead to a life in the wilds of Alaska. 
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I now live with my husband in New Zealand (in a much, much warmer climate!) and I have published Walking on Ice the first book in a series about our lives in Alaska.

Reception of Walking on Ice has been beyond my wildest dreams. 

Something about the story fascinates people. The romance? The adventure? Alaska? Perhaps it's all three. All I know for sure, is that it's become almost a full time job to keep up with requests to speak at libraries, storytelling events and book groups. And of course to keep on writing. I am feeling really pleased that my second book,  the sequel,  Nesting on the Nushagak has just gone to the editors.

I am thrilled that Walking on Ice, and the story it contains is going to feature in an up-coming issue of the New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

The process of writing and then publishing Walking on Ice has led me into another kind of adventure ... I'll be sharing that adventure here, in this blog.


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    About My Blog

    Resettled in New Zealand with my husband, I began writing about my experiences with him in Alaska. 

    I had no idea that I was embarking on a whole new adventure - as author, self-publisher and storyteller. 

    This blog is a journal of this new adventure.

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