Having completed my first story now, I thought I'd better put something here! So, those who've read my story will have picked up I'm from New Zealand. Yeah, it's a long way from anywhere and we talk funny. I think my story is pretty typical, I started watching True Blood but got curious about the books and had to look them up online (I like to look everything up online). I thought maybe I'd read 3 or 4 and get bored because generally I don't read books that form a series. Yeah, I read them all. And then I found the whole fan fiction thing, which I love - it's so interesting seeing what everyone writes. I got slightly obsessive. Then I tried writing and I got really obsessed by that. My ironing pile is suffering. I'm on maternity leave at the moment and I think my husband is starting to wonder what I do all day...

So that's me. If anyone ever wants to know anything about my writing or New Zealand, just PM me. Seriously, save me from the laundry.

Ooshka.

Order of Stories

In case anyone out there is starting from scratch, here's the order in which to read the stories I've written -

Homestay

Home for Christmas

Homecoming

Home Again

Home is Where the Heart Is

Home Truths

I also have two one-shots featuring the same characters (Eric Northman is Not Hot! and The Naming of Things), these will make sense if you'd read Homestay right through, including the epilogue, but you don't necessarily need to have read any of the other stories. The story Things I'll Never Understand is from Lorena's point of view, within the Homestay universe.

Right, so there was a request to hear what we sound like. Normal I think is the answer to that one, but anyway, I dug these out of Youtube.

This is from our Breakfast TV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWtfbN5af4c&feature=channel

These two are promos for NZ TV shows. I picked them because they're also filmed in Auckland so you get to see a bit of the city (although none of it is Mt Eden). I would warn though, not to watch if bad language, nudity, sex, talking about sex or violence is going to offend you. Basically if you hate True Blood on TV you wouldn't like this, especially the second one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbm5Rkg1slY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OklclPee5KM&feature=related

I also found this which is a tourism video for Auckland, full of lots of pretty pictures. It's useful if you want to get an idea of how our harbour looks, with the city centre situated right on it. Yeah, we're lucky!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxy0NHYV9ew&feature=related

Links for Chapter 5 of Home Again

Eric's t-shirt

http:///shop/MENS/T-SHIRTS/LONGESTDRINKMENST-SHIRTGRY.html The image on the men's is a bit unclear though, so if you really want to see the logo, look at this link to the women's version http:///shop/WOMENS/T-SHIRTS/LONGESTDRINKWOST-SHIRTWHT.html

Sookie's t-shirt

http:///shop/WOMENS/V-NECKS/NZTIKITOURWOMENSV-NECK.html

Design of the Maori Flag -

http:///en/consultation/maoriflag/tinorangatiratanga/

NZ slang to American dictionary

http:///new-zealand/guide-book/language/dictionary.aspx

L&P advert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVYsHLQin_g

Playlist of Songs

Home Again – Shihad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdTUG0TGVI&feature=fvw

So True – The Black Seeds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDyUcmoIkl0&feature=related

Down in Splendour – Straitjacket Fits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlVQyJHBKzY

Dance Stamina – Pluto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1_E2w4Fs0

Buck it Up – Goodshirt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg6sE1i5UAc&feature=related

Wandering Eye – Fat Freddy’s Drop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCJg63SziL4

Always on my Mind – Tiki Taane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3euc9pmst4M

Why Does Love do this to Me? – The Exponents

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9F8nh3MvTc

Welcome Home – Dave Dobbyn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQlVmvXAGLI

Links for Chapter 13 of Home is Where the Heart Is

Sookie's dress

http:///shop/custommade/LD732TinRoseDress.html

This gives you an idea of weddings at Piha, I based the lodge Sookie & Eric use off this one

http:///Black_Sand_Weddings_.htm

Eric's ring - you'll have to scroll through to picture 10 of the gallery, but the top ring in that picture has the Koru design.

http:///ring_design.html

Links for Chapter 28 of Home is Where the Heart Is

Sookie's jewellery stand

http:///product.asp?id=7814

Sookie's print

http:///product.asp?id=8156

Eric's t-shirt

http:///mens/merino-and-sweatshirting/wlygdteeweta.html

Beige brigade shirt

http:///catalog/popup_image.php?pID=28

Why Homestay Eric remains terminally confused...

This is a blog post from an actual American living in NZ who has discovered that we say it's English, but it's really not the same language at all...

http:///2014/01/new-zealand-slang.html

Links for A Southern Fried Christmas

The Gruen Transfer TV Show Pitch - Invade New Zealand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv8bkYKbMo0

Boh Runga Tui earrings - http:///jewellery/shop-online/tui-earring

Link for Pam's dress in chapter 28 of Be There

http:///estore/style/cp5061-03.aspx?c=339