The Slave of Bracelets, my Anaïs story adapted from my novel Nights in Paris, got third prize! But even better than being a finalist was the whole event: we were flown to Auckland and put up at a phenomenally posh hotel — what luxury, and what a wonderful treat!
I shook Helen Clark’s hand, which was great too, as I’ve always been a fan. She waved at me once about six years ago, but I didn’t ask if she remembered! (I was at the airport with some friends and we decided to wait and see who the limo was for. When we saw who it was we all waved like idiots, but she was kind enough to smile and wave back. It’s at times like this that you really know you’re in NZ — a PM in any other country wouldn’t even have noticed us.)
Before the ceremony there were gallons of champagne and piles of canapés, but I was far too nervous to drink more than half a glass in case I tripped over on the stage (I had heels on and I’m more of a Docs girl, so you can see the danger there) and I didn’t want to eat anything in case I spilt something down my shamelessly revealed cleavage.
I was ravenous AFTER the ceremony, and could happily have downed a whole vat of cham, but by then there was nothing left and it was time to go! Ah well, our hotel was nearby, with its glorious room service! The next day we had a wonderful time walking up and down Ponsonby Road, browsing in all the boutiques, and it was so sunny and warm and not windy — I love Wellington, but I had forgotten that windless days exist!
The Slave of Bracelets is also shortlisted for the Fish Historical Short Story award. Thank you, Anaïs! I really hope that you would have liked your story. I can imagine Anaïs saying: “Ouais, pas mal, mais plus érotique, Sarah, plus érotique”…. well, we’ll see!
I was telling a friend about my stories, how I really get into the characters so I can write as they would, and he said: “Isn’t that impersonation?” Gasp — certainly not! I think a far more elegant description would be to call it “literary acting”.
My Colette chapter is slowly taking shape; it can be so frustrating being at the beginning stage of a story, when you’re not sure the direction the story is going to go in. But that’s exciting too, knowing that the possibilities are only limited by your own imagination (talk about pressure!). So I’m letting myself just get into the character and write, without worrying about the plot. The narrative always seems to just come on its own, somehow.
My inspiration for the Anaïs story was the Henry and June soundtrack, and my muse for Colette is a photograph of her above my desk. She is dressed in drag, smoking, with her shockingly short hair (she was about 15 years’ ahead of her time) in a wild, unruly bob (like mine when it’s short). Colette has her head slightly to one side, and seems to look straight at me, saying “Vas-y, ma fille. Come on, my girl, you can do it.”
