Carry Me Home On Location Cover Photo Shoot

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My Honey-Girl ~ cover model for Carry Me Home

With April weather most suitable for a photo shoot, our little crew of four headed out to make the cover magic happen. And Phillip Island responded with fabulous weather and sublime skies.

Sophie, my daughter, Rel Mollet, world’s best VA, and me, the author… did what we were told.

The real boss this day, was Jason Lau (Jason Lau Photography) who threw himself into the task of capturing all three heroines on location, on the very island where their fictional lives took shape.

Only this time, it was real and I was looking at my girl in historical costume, ankle deep in the shallows with the sun just starting to drop behind her.

And now, in her purple skirt … she was Finella Mayfield.

Much of the photography for later covers was taken on the beautiful property of Glen Isla House and its heritage listed gardens ~ the inspiration for books 2 and 3. (more about that later)

But it was on the beach where I’d built sandcastles with my babies… that the cover for Carry Me Home came to life.

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Yes, there was a wig in that bucket. No… we didn’t end up using it.

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Photography for author website banner ~ Ventnor Beach, Phillip Island

 

 

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Wardrobe adjustment, Glen Isla House, Phillip Island

 

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Honey-Girl… we put her on a chair to capture the autumnal grape vine in the background.

 

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Shoe-holder, hand-holder…. Rel Mollet has done it ALL~ Love you Rel.

 

Sadly, the thrill of our on location photo shoot diminished when we discovered later that day, that while Sophie traipsed around the island in beautiful costumery, The Costume Factory from where we’d hired all her outfits, had fallen at the hands of arsonists. Completely burned to the ground in a senseless attack. A heartbreaking end to a day which otherwise had captured more than I expected. All that was left of the extensive collection in Flemington, was what was out on hire that weekend. Including the costumes we’d carried over the island all day.

 

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Carry Me Home, Book 1 ~ The Blue Wren Shallows

 

 

 

The Costume Hunt

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Petticoats and Frills

So, I had a story.

And I’d decided to share it with my readers. Off it went for critical sessions with some of the best critique partners a girl could asked for. Back and forth, revisions and blood letting and more blood letting, until Carry Me Home was ready for big the guns ~ a hired editor.

While the book sat among her well sharpened knives, I turned my attention to that all consuming, non writing task… the book cover!

For as long as I could remember, I’d dreamed my own Honey-girl would model for the Carry Me Home cover photography. And once I’d booked the photographer, I knew I wanted to shoot all three Blue Wren Shallows covers on the same day. With said Honey-girl.

This meant hunting down all the costumes for the entire Blue Wren Shallows books series. And who better than to hunt alongside me, than Rel Mollet herself.

We headed off to Melbourne’s premier historical costume hiring warehouse, The Costume Factory, and rummaged through what felt like acres of exquisite costumery. One rack held all the costumes used in Heath Ledger’s Ned Kelly movie.

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Acres of Costumes

 

Right era… but nothing grabbed us for Finella, or our other heroines.

Each hanger sagged with not only the richness of upholstery fabrics used for their exquisite stage sway, but extra weights in the hems.

Soon, we found our arm muscles flexing more than we were used to.

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Rel made me!

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She started it!

That’s our excuse for giving into the giddiness that miles of dress-ups bring, even to the most grown-up.

By day’s end, we’d found a great selection and the following week, Honey-girl and I returned for a fitting.

When we’d decide on dresses, we added shawls, petticoats and bustles, shoes and even a wig. The ensemble was wrapped in plastic, the wig went into a bucket for easy transportation, and we were set for a day of photography on location, at the beaches of Phillip Island.

All we needed was good weather.

Not much wind, please.

The right light and NO RAIN.

And if you know Phillip Island, you’ll know this was some order. Tomorrow, I’ll share how that all played out!

 

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Honey-girl, dressed in yesteryear… not letting go of the modern day

 

 

Dotti

Why Phillip Island?

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Many hIMG_3807ave asked how Carry Me Home came to be written. And why I set this love story on Phillip Island.

The better question would be… How could I not?

Phillip Island has been our family holiday destination for more than 40 years. Many of my childhood memories are of summers on the island and as soon as my own babies were able to sit up, they dipped straight into the Ventnor rock pools.

This majestic volcanic outcrop, surrounded by picture perfect coastline, has charmed many over the centuries. Some years ago, a newspaper tribute captured some of the stories of the early island settlers. It included old photographs which only hinted at how life might have looked for those who chose to make Phillip Island their new home.

I already had the love. And so began the wonder.

I wondered what it would have been like to live on this remote island in its first decade of white settlement. How would people have arrived (without the bridge which now connects it to the mainland at San Remo)? What difficulties would they have faced in creating a new life? What comforts would they have enjoyed… or longed for?

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I  wondered… who would choose to come here?

And so I created one character, Shadrach Jones, who chose for himself. And then I added Finella Mayfield, for whom the choice had already been made by her father. I threw these two already troubled souls into each other’s midst, and watched how the wild weather, isolated location, and general mischief of life overturned their plans and dreams.

And when I was done, I discovered it was not enough to stop with Shad and Finella. So much more of the island’s delicous history beckoned.

So I find myself gladly marooned there, still … working on the next two books in the Blue Wren Shallows series.

I am a happy castaway. Not just on this island, but trapped in a time I can only dream into existence.

That’s where you’ll find me. Sifting through the remnants of lives once lived. Taking inspiration from those who pioneered a hard yet satisfying life, and fleshing out those who my imagination suggests might have walked among them.

Dotti

 

 

 

 

Buckle Up, Baby!

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Summer Smiles in the Phillip Island Sun

What’s a girl to do when she’s written a love story.

Share it with a friend, that’s what.

Only, my dear friend is not just a reader. She’s a reviewer and all round fabulous person with a heart for supporting authors.

Rel Mollet (go find her and show her some love – link here) and I share a wonderful sister bond. So when I decided to self-publish, Rel strapped herself into the rollercoaser beside me.

Like a faithful, God-sent hand from above, Rel rolled up her sleeves.

“Buckle up, baby,” she said.

And then pulled out the whiteboard and markers and FORCED me, yes forced me, to take a long hard look at my many options, my chicken-hearted fears, and my deep held desires.

In February 2015, on a sunny weekend at Phillip Island, we mapped out a strategy for the year ahead which cemented my self publishing foundation. Carry Me Home was a fully written book already but I had loads to do to clothe it for market.

With the aid of delicious food, hours in the water and mandatory movie watching, the plan came together. 2015 was to be the year.

And thank God we were only in February. I had a to-do list the size of a whiteboard.

But it was only February… and the water still warm… which begs the question:

Is that Dotti, the hard working author, splashing around in the waters of Phillip Island… or the equally hard woking Rel Mollet?

As we say in Australia…. What do you reckon?

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Celebrating Release Day ~ Carry Me Home

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IMG_4090I’m so thrilled to share this pinch me author moment! It happened a few weeks ago when Amazon sent through a proof copy of my debut historical romance, Carry Me Home!

Isn’t that delicious?!

I won’t lie. Holding it in my hands for the first time warranted a tiny flood of happy tears. Along with crazy high-pitched phone calls to friends and a super-long string of Viber emoticons.

It’s a thrill to share this picture with you, today. There’s nothing to compare with the moment your first book arrives in the mail and it’s all done.

Ready to share. Dressed up for taking out.

Today… is the day you too could make this book your own. Won’t you join me? Hop over to Amazon where the digital version is available for instant download to your Kindle.

The long-awaited print copies are also now available for purchase and will be delivered to your door. Exactly like the one you see in my photo!

If you live in Australia and would like a signed copy, send me a message. Let’s get Carry Me Home into your hands, too.

Thank you for the many good wishes you’ve sent my way this last week since the website went live. You guys are amazing!

Bless you for cheering me on,

Dotti

Ink Dots ~ The Heartbeat of Yesteryear

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CarryMeHomeWebHey you… look where you’ve landed. The new home of Ink Dots. Welcome!

Whether you’re a faithful Ink Dots follower or a new friend, I’m so thrilled you’re here. I have fabulous author news I want to share with you.

My Australian Historical Romance, Carry Me Home is available for pre-order on Amazon… TODAY!

Yes, after talking about it, dreaming and praying for years, THAT day is here.

So, please… enjoy looking around my new website. Press all the buttons. Sound all the whistles.

Sign up for the newsletter for earlybird book news. Pre-order the Kindle version of Carry Me Home for delivery to your e-reader on December 1, when the print version will also become available for purchase.

Over the next few weeks I’ll share how Carry Me Home went from dream to manuscript to cover-bound book.

You are a big part of my wild writing adventures and I owe so many for the powerful encouragement you’ve sent my way. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Mwwaa!!

Now, it’s time to celebrate.

I’m giddy. I’m thankful to God. And I’m humbled to stand where I am. The author of Carry Me Home, the first book in the Blue Wren Shallows series, set on Australia’s breathtaking, Phillip Island.

Dotti