In ‘Lifecycle of a Novel, Part 1’ I detailed what it took to bring my novel, Exuberance, to conclusion, including the week spent at Varuna, The Writers' House as a result of being shortlisted for the Varuna Awards for Manuscript development. This was 2005 and I had spent the best part of three years nurturing a small army of characters, watching them develop their own personalities, face their demons, reveal their secrets and unfold their lives on the pages of my manuscript.

Do you remember the person who inspired you the most?
I am not referring to a role model, writer, or historical figure. Think of the teacher, parent, mentor or friend who recognised a particular talent you possess and who, by encouraging you to pursue it, helped define the person you went on to become. She or he might have been an influential figure in your formative years, or they might have made their entrance later in life, as happened in Merrion’s case.

Video: Andrew Host delivering his speech, 'Good from Bad' at the 2010 Area 16 Toastmasters Contest - courtesy of Andrew Host
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How to Change a Life in Seven Minutes - 
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Someone (possibly Jose Marti, the Cuban poet and revolutionary) once said that in order to leave a lasting legacy, there are three things we need to accomplish in life: have a child, plant a tree and write a book. Having recently published a novel as an eBook, Exuberance, I have been reflecting about the legacy and impact that our words have on others; and not just the words written in books.

Background
When I first heard about the legendary Indian Pacific Train journey, the expression ‘bucket list’ hadn’t been invented yet. It would have been the late 1980s and I was newly arrived in Australia. 

Once upon a time there was a young woman who arrived on the shores of Australia with barely a world of English. For someone who, according to her mother, had been ‘born talking’; someone who had grown up with her head buried in novels, who wrote her first award-winning poem (in Spanish) at the age of 10, finished writing her first novella at the age of 14 and won her first national writing competition at the age of 15; someone who had always understood the world around her in terms of metaphors and grew up dreaming of becoming a professional writer, having to find a voice in a new language at the age of twenty appeared to be an insurmountable challenge.

Have you ever walked out of a conference or seminar after seeing a particularly good presenter, and felt inspired, moved and motivated by the power of their delivery and their message?  At the Toastmasters’ International Speech Contest finals (District 70) last May, I had the opportunity to see not one, or half a dozen, but eleven such speakers: ten contestants vying for their chance to represent the District at the World Championships of Public Speaking, and 2011 World Champion Jock Elliott, who was the keynote speaker.  Following are some of the inspiring messages I took home that night.