Connie Lansberg is a
singer/songwriter and now author based in Melbourne
Australia .
She’s had her original songs placed in some of Australia ’s best loved TV shows
that play around the world and The Connie Lansberg Quartet is a fixture in the Melbourne jazz scene. Her
most recent original musical project, Alone with Bees, performs her songs
written especially for The
Perfect Tear. This is Connie’s first novel and the movie is coming
soon.
She also received several grants from the Victoria Council
of the Arts for the development of mobile phone games that she created.
Connie joined the Melbourne Writers Group in 2010 to work
on ideas and scripts and during this time the idea for The Perfect Tear began
to develop and take shape. She continued her education by taking scriptwriting
classes at the Australian Film and
"The first thing anybody tells you about this business
is to say what makes you unique and different, but I couldn't and the very idea
of it never sat well with me and after much deliberation, I finally realized
why.
Because, I'm not unique or different – I'm exactly like you
and I love that.
We each have a unique filter through which we interpret the
world, and with this filter in place, I write stories and songs and you might
find them surprising or intriguing or confronting, you may relate or you may
not. They may make you laugh and sometimes, even cry.
You may or may not understand what I'm trying to say and
you may not understand me, however, rest assured, once we get past the filters,
at our core, we are wonderfully and beautifully, exactly the same."
A HUGE THANKS TO MS. LANSBERG FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS
1) Where do you draw your
ideas from when you write?
For this first book, it
was a series of songs I wrote with the idea of an unenlightened state and then
from the view of having your eyes opened. They were turned into the screenplay
of The Perfect Tear and then the first book was written. I think years of
reading great books also seeps into you and it seems to me, the ideas are
endless. Forming these ideas into a story, however, takes some serious editing.
2) Are there any certain
musical artists/groups that fuel your writing? And speaking of fuel- any food
or drinks that you crave when writing?
I didn’t read this
question before I answered #1! What a great question and the answer, as in
question 1, is my own songwriting seems to have the kernel of the bigger story.
I find that I write a song and then later I can easily attribute it to one of
my characters. As for food, if you don’t eat sugar or any flour based
foods, craving for anything disappears. Coffee however, two cups a day, is a
must.
3) Speaking of writing, do you
heavily outline/plot OR do you just sit and write, letting the story/characters
tell the story as you type?
I would never get
anywhere if i just sat and wrote as proven to myself when I first started
writing without a map. Now I use a beat sheet just to lay out the main events
that will move the story from beginning to end. Mind you, in-between each beat,
anything could happen and often does. It’s a great delight to me when all of
sudden your characters are telling you what to write.
4) What's next?
I’ve started the second
story, which takes place nine months after the first story ends. There’s only
one new character, but roles have changed.
5) Who do you enjoy reading?
I love Ken Follett for
sweeping drama and Zadie Smith for her ability to write about her culture and
for fantasy the classic Anne McCaffery. I don’t understand why her books
haven’t been made into movies.
- Visit Connie Lansberg’s website.
- Connect with Connie on Facebook and Twitter.
- Find out more about Connie
at Goodreads.
Title:
The Perfect Tear
Author: Connie Lansberg
Publisher: Rockit Press
Pages: 320
Genre: YA Fantasy
Author: Connie Lansberg
Publisher: Rockit Press
Pages: 320
Genre: YA Fantasy
The Perfect Tear begins with the Singers of the world who, during their
initiation by a multi-dimensional being, are
given a magical three-pronged hair comb to use as tuning forks to help keep the
world in harmony. They are a special
breed of women, able to connect their voices to the vibration of the earth in
order to create this needed balance and equilibrium for all.
The story follows the main character Eleanor, from age six
to sixteen. She is a good natured and
dutiful young girl, with a profound ability to interact with both animals and
nature. Like her mother, she is a powerful
Singer
but has not yet been initiated because she has not reached the age of
maturity. After the unexpected death of her mother, a grey mist descends upon
the earth and the world fails to thrive, forcing this innocent child into a
course of action that she had never asked for, nor had ever envisioned.
Set against a backdrop of abandonment, loss and betrayal,
Eleanor is determined to find her way through strange and dangerous landscapes
in her desperate search for the Perfect Tear, a dark and powerful
crystal that contains the Third Vibration, which she must find and release in order to heal the land – and
save her world. Just like the notes of a
song must connect to create a perfect melody, Eleanor has to discover the
proper associations needed to create this special harmony.
For More Information
Lerion forced his lips into a smile and nodded
politely in an effort to feign interest in the creations of his fellow novices.
Their excited chatter and heightened energy pulsed the length of the room. They
seemed foolish to him, but he managed to conceal his disdain. Social
transparency in his society was the norm, but hiding his feelings from the collective
was something he excelled at. It was his secret talent. Today however, he
struggled to maintain a pleasant countenance.
The novices were allowed to see their competition for
only a few moments and Lerion extended his glance the length of the narrow corridor
again. He had to be certain he would win. Only the best young designers were
invited to enter the Creation Contest, and then, only once. Lerion knew this
was his only chance to achieve his dream, and he forced himself to scan the
room once more. He was searching for any design that might pose a threat, but
after another quick reconnaissance, nothing he saw gave him cause for concern.
He took a quick, shuddering breath and lifted his chin. Why had he been so
nervous?
He felt his energy uncoil and his step became light.
He’d worked for this opportunity almost from the day his two co-creators sung
him into being–he deserved to win.
Lerion clenched his jaw. The arrogance of his desire
was not lost on him. The Creation Contest was much more than a matter of whose
design was the most innovative or which novice showed the most initiative. The
winning design had to uphold and even surpass the standards of creation set by
the Ancient Ones. It had to enhance the evolution of their society as a whole.
Had he achieved that?
He stopped in front of a nine-dimensional hologram
and pretended to be intrigued with the design, while he slyly studied its
creator, a feminine-biased novice named Lalycri. The energy emanating from her
shimmered against his outer layer and he involuntarily vibrated in response.
Her eyes lit up and he swallowed hard. Her animated smile caused her nose to
crinkle and her energy swelled in gentle waves. It undulated softly through
him. He felt himself surrender to the pleasure of it and immediately blocked
its flow. He would not allow himself to respond. This was not the time to
reveal his attraction to her, and he nodded curtly. He had to admit, he found
Lalycri appealing and she peaked his curiosity. On any other day, he might have
encouraged her, but this kind of personal chemistry often led to a desire to
co-create, and he was not about to break the rules. Not today, anyway.
Novices were forbidden to form creative partnerships
of any kind. Only those having twelve activated strands of DNA were allowed the
privilege of co-creation.the privilege of co-creation. Lerion sighed. He had
activated only seven strands of the twelve that lay within each of his cells.
More than all the other novices, but still, not enough.
Determined to ignore her vibrant energy, Lerion gave
Lalycri a small nod. He leaned in and studied the extremely unusual construct
while she beamed at him. He couldn’t work out what its purpose might be, and he
stiffened. It had never occurred to him Lalycri might be competition. How had
she managed such a complicated design?
He made sure to keep his voice polite rather than
accusatory. “I had no idea you’d been selected.”
Lalycri tilted her head and her smile faltered.
“Well, I was.”
Her tone had a sharp edge and he realized he had
insulted her. “Certainly. I’m not surprised.”
“You sound surprised.” Lalycri’s voice was stern but
the twinkle returned to her eyes. “I’m grateful for the honor. It’s definitely
the most daring design I’ve produced so far.” She lowered her lashes and her
mouth grew firm. “I would give anything to win. I long to pit myself against
Tsera.”
Her words came fast and her voice had a ferocious
quality that startled him. Lerion blinked and looked sharply at her. They all
wanted the honor of winning. However, it had not occurred to him there might be
others who desired to win as much as he did. Nobody could want this as much as
he did. His every cell informed him being Main Creator was his destiny, and the
idea she could snatch it from him was ludicrous.
He felt his vibration quicken, but Lalycri did not
seem to notice the change in his demeanor. She smiled brightly, as if she had
not just made a startling admission, and began to prattle without taking a
breath.
“I should not say this, but, every night, I dream I
win the honor of competing against Tsera.” Lalycri laughed out loud. “And then,
I beat her at the game to become Main Creator, much to her astonishment.”
Lerion found the musical quality of her laugh
charming, but couldn’t help being irritated by her unfounded confidence and her
delusion they were competing on the same level. Yet, he’d never seen a design
quite like this.
He nodded toward it. “Explain it to me.”
“A vibrational matrix capable of protecting the
smallest of creation sequences. Once a unique sequence is within my matrix, no
one will be able to access it or use it in any way.” She lost her smile and
gazed at Lerion intently. “Every sequence in existence would remain safe within
this matrix.” She paused and stared at him. “My voice is the only key.”
Lerion blinked and the back of his neck felt cold.
There was something odd in the way her eyes bore into his with such intensity.
Lalycri was a more gifted designer than he had first thought. She might very
well be a true competitor, and this thought made the energy in his temples
pound. “Have you tested it thoroughly? Are there any innate weaknesses?” He
could hear the irritation in his own voice.
Lalycri frowned and pushed her pretty face close to
his. “If there are, I shall not be telling you.”
She paused and gazed at him with her large liquid
eyes. “I imagine your design is exquisite,” she said.
Heat rushed into Lerion’s face. He also had a talent
for reading energy and intention in others, and he felt her energy change from
jagged jolts of excitement to the more circular movement of congruity. Her
compliment appeared to be genuine.
Glancing down the long line of uninspired designs, he
nodded and almost smiled a real smile. His creation was exquisite and,
though he longed to boast about it and crush her silly dream, he remained
silent. All in good time.
Lalycri took a step forward and touched Lerion’s arm.
He had to stop himself from snatching it away, which would have been a grave
insult. He didn’t like being touched without permission, but he instantly
adjusted his thoughts and frequency into a consistent flow so as not to hurt
her feelings.
She smiled and gave his arm a squeeze. “I have no
doubt, Lerion, you will be the one chosen. We all know how brilliant your ideas
are and how...driven you are.”
What did she mean? Was she mocking him? Without
permission, he pushed his consciousness through her etheric layers and fully
connected with her mind. It was strictly forbidden, but he couldn’t stop
himself.
He found himself caught up in a swirl of overwhelming
thoughts and feelings, all strangely thrilling to his senses, but within the
thrill of their mingling frequencies, he discovered Lalycri’s thoughts were not
harmonious with her words.
Lalycri’s internal oscillations surged, and he was
keenly aware of both her shock and pleasure. He quickly broke the connection,
his nerve endings tingling at the energetic disruption. What had he done? He
refused to look her in the eye, but felt keenly the distress he caused her by
his intrusion and subsequent withdrawal. Her energy fluctuated wildly and she
winced. She was hiding something.
A wave of panic caused his head to jerk back. “I must
go. I do not wish to miss the announcement.” He turned to leave and felt her
energy swirl downward, a sure sign of her indignation. He stopped and searched
for a compliment. Anything to placate her. “Your design is clever and useful.
Honor to you.”
Lalycri pulled her lips into a tight smile and raised
her eyebrows in acknowledgment of his praise, but said nothing more. Lerion had
no idea what words would elevate her dampened vibration, so he bowed his head
in a swift movement and left. He clenched his fists and moved rapidly down the
corridor.
With each step, he silently berated himself for his
gross indiscretion. Novices were forbidden to connect directly, one to one. How
could he have been so rash? Lalycri had every right to report his intrusion. It
would mean instant disqualification from the contest.
Lerion forced himself to breathe deeply and with
great effort, managed to bring his anxiety under control. He lifted his chin.
Hiding his emotions, though socially unacceptable, was not forbidden, and he
was good at it. He allowed himself a rueful smile. It was a necessary skill. He
found his fellow novices irritating. And weak.
From his many forays into the Void, the unending
nothing, the absence of light, the disconnection from the Main Energy Grid,
Lerion had discovered his ability to hide his intentions from the whole and how
to appear congruent while his true agenda remained hidden. This prodigious
ability separated him from the others and made him different, a thing he
relished.
He shivered involuntarily at the memory of darkness,
of disconnection. Part of their training as newly created beings was to prepare
for the Void. No further activation could take place until disconnection with
M.E.G. had been experienced and indeed, survived. Many did not. Their unbounded
terror overwhelmed them, and they were reabsorbed into the Main Energy Grid.
Lerion would never let such a thing happen to him. He was the only novice who
had made several trips to the Void in order to defeat the terrible, crushing
fear and accelerate his activation. It won him an enormous amount of respect
from his fellow novices.
Nevertheless, sometimes, like now, he just felt
alone.
His thoughts returned to his indiscretion. The
actuality of a one-to-one connection was intense and pleasurable, something he
hadn’t expected. He forced the memory out of his conscious mind. He had to bury
the experience, and as long as Lalycri remained silent, he would get away with
it.
She had revealed a small talent for shielding her
thoughts. However, given time, he would discover her secret. Of that, he was
certain.
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