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The Manuscript Versus the Market
Thoughts after attending Claire Keegan's writing course, How Fiction Works, in Brisbane last week.
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Natasha Lester
5
April's Magazine Is a Love List!
One wedding and one funeral, 12,000 words of a new book, and lots of things to love.
3
The Mademoiselle Alliance
When I drafted this newsletter on Friday, I started out with the announcement of the title for my 2025 book. But then on Saturday, a man walked through…
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Natasha Lester
38
The Getaway Car (Ann Patchett’s, Not Taylor Swift’s!)
New notebook. Fear. Scribbled sentences. John Truby’s Anatomy of a Story. Excitement. Fresh flowers. A new Scrivener document. A cup of tea. An urgent…
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Natasha Lester
13
March Magazine: Wow, That Struck a Chord!
Yes, we have a title for the 2025 book and I LOVE it! I also have lots of recommendations for you as well as my new piece of writing advice: "remember…
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Writing

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The Getaway Car (Ann Patchett’s, Not Taylor Swift’s!)
New notebook. Fear. Scribbled sentences. John Truby’s Anatomy of a Story. Excitement. Fresh flowers. A new Scrivener document. A cup of tea. An urgent…
 • 
Natasha Lester
13
March Magazine: Wow, That Struck a Chord!
Yes, we have a title for the 2025 book and I LOVE it! I also have lots of recommendations for you as well as my new piece of writing advice: "remember…
2
March’s Monthly Digest: Goodbye Social Media
If you want to keep in touch after the end of March, the best place to find me is here.
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Natasha Lester
41
The Edit: What It Is, How I Tackle It, Why I Love It
It all comes down to the power of the humble sentence.
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Natasha Lester
11
10:05
Rhythm, Writing and Reflections on Summer
It’s about half past ten in the morning, I think. I’m not absolutely sure; I gave up clocks and watches a few days ago. All I know is that the sun is…
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Natasha Lester
6

Recent posts

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March’s Monthly Digest: Goodbye Social Media
If you want to keep in touch after the end of March, the best place to find me is here.
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Natasha Lester
41
10:05
The Edit: What It Is, How I Tackle It, Why I Love It
It all comes down to the power of the humble sentence.
 • 
Natasha Lester
11
The Bijoux Magazine: Something Personal, Something Swift & Something Sydney
In which I critique a piece of my own writing to reflect on how a writer develops their voice. And I can't not mention Taylor Swift after this past…
7
February’s Monthly Digest: I’m Going Into the Writing Cave!
Here's a discount code for newsletter subscribers to use when booking into my Historical Fiction Masterclass, as well as a free place for someone facing…
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Natasha Lester
37
Rhythm, Writing and Reflections on Summer
It’s about half past ten in the morning, I think. I’m not absolutely sure; I gave up clocks and watches a few days ago. All I know is that the sun is…
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Natasha Lester
6
January's Monthly Digest: There's So Much Happening in Natasha Lester-Land in 2024!
The first thing I want to say is welcome! So many new people have subscribed to Bijoux over the past month. I don’t know why, but it’s lovely to have…
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Natasha Lester
11
The First Bijoux Magazine of 2024!
Writing advice I'm going to live by this year, as well as a round-up of my recent travels through Europe and Africa, which were just the shot of…
6
Which One is Your Best?
Being the festive season, I’ve been out a lot at the kind of gatherings where you make small talk with strangers and new acquaintances. It’s pretty…
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Natasha Lester
26

My Writing Journey

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Which One is Your Best?
Being the festive season, I’ve been out a lot at the kind of gatherings where you make small talk with strangers and new acquaintances. It’s pretty…
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Natasha Lester
26
On Success, Taylor Swift and Making it Last
"I give myself five seconds a day to be like, Yes, this is happening! And then the rest of the day, I'm trying to figure out how to make it last…
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Natasha Lester
12
June's Monthly Digest - What Really Happens on a Writers Retreat!
I went to Hawaii with nine other writers. Did we write? Was it just a sneaky way of writing off a holiday? What do you do on a writing retreat anyway?!
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Natasha Lester
88
When Big Dreams Come True – Some Exciting News!!
May's monthly update is all about one very exciting thing! A new book deal!!!
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Miscellaneous Musings

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April's Magazine Is a Love List!
One wedding and one funeral, 12,000 words of a new book, and lots of things to love.
3
The Mademoiselle Alliance
When I drafted this newsletter on Friday, I started out with the announcement of the title for my 2025 book. But then on Saturday, a man walked through…
 • 
Natasha Lester
38
The Bijoux Magazine: Something Personal, Something Swift & Something Sydney
In which I critique a piece of my own writing to reflect on how a writer develops their voice. And I can't not mention Taylor Swift after this past…
7
The First Bijoux Magazine of 2024!
Writing advice I'm going to live by this year, as well as a round-up of my recent travels through Europe and Africa, which were just the shot of…
6

Women Who Dared

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The Magazine. In November's Issue: Venetian Velvet Ateliers & Florentine Perfumeries!
Last magazine for the year! Here's what I'm reading, writing, watching, buying and listening to. And links from across the internet that are worth…
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Courtesan and Muse, Or A Greater Designer Than Coco Chanel?
How a clue in the form of a flower led me to archives across the world that proved, without question, that yet another woman from history has been…
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Natasha Lester
18
The Magazine: The Fashionable Woman History Forgot
We’re a mere six weeks away from launch, so come behind the covers and see what inspired ASTRID BRICARD. Let’s also meet the remarkable Anne Klein, go…
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Natasha Lester
Now it's Time to See the Australian Cover! Plus June's Bijoux List.
Last month I showed you the gorgeous North American cover for THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ASTRID BRICARD; this month I have the Australian cover to show off!
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Books

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My Fave Books of the Year
It’s the time of year when lists of favourites are compiled. So here’s my summary of the books I’ve loved reading in 2023.
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Natasha Lester
9
August's Monthly Digest: Book Tour Dates (Hurray!), Book Recommendations and How I Get Into the Writing Mindset
Australians, we here go! I'm coming to NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, Canberra and South Australia in October, as well as Perth, of course!
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February's First Friday Discussion Thread: The Books I'm Looking Forward to Are ...
On the first Friday of every month, I write a post that everyone can contribute their thoughts to. This month, it's about the books we're looking…
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Natasha Lester
21
Top posts
The Magazine: September Issue
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Which One is Your Best?
 • Natasha Lester
26
March’s Monthly Digest: Goodbye Social Media
 • Natasha Lester
41
July's Bijoux List: On Self-Doubt (and realising mine is much worse than I'd thought)
16
The Mademoiselle Alliance
 • Natasha Lester
38
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