So the new book came out while I was in Perth kicking off my tour. It was amazing to see The Sunburnt Country up in the bookshops and to hear they were selling so well. I started with a trip to Albany where the guys from Paperbark looked after me down at the boatshed. I’ve signed a heap of books too, so if you are near Albany and would like a personally autographed book, drop in and see Lockie or Georgie. Here is Georgie and I parked right next to the wine table! Too bad I had to drive. I had to get up early, leaving at 5am to get to Albany on time. I had missed heaps of Kangaroo’s on my way to Lake Grace, and was quite releaved seeing as I was driving my new car. Well newish. But just out of Lake Grace my good fortune came to an end as a

The winner of the signed copy of The Sunburt Country is…..   Missy!! Congrats Missy, I have just sent you an email! And just in case you were wondering the silo in the paddock was taken in WA. Thank you all for joining in. Not long now until release day. I’ll be in Albany on the 24th at the Boatshed and then in Perth on th 26th, Margaret River 27th and Busselton on the 28th. Check my events page, or facebook for more information. Cheers x PS Thank you for all your birthday wishes.

As promised here is the next chance for you to win a copy of The Sunburnt Country. Today I got my first copy in the mail. Always such a great feeling, to hold your words in your hand and admire the cover. They have compacted this book, with the words smaller on the page. I don’t like it when they spaced it all out as if trying to make the book look bigger than it is. And on the plus side it will be lighter to post this way lol. So for your chance to go in the draw to win a signed copy of this book, all you have to do is watch the book trailer here, and then comment and tell me which picture you think was taken in WA. Every comment will go into the draw, regardless if wrong or right. It will be drawn on Friday the 15th. x Also a

Okay, so I didn’t get around to drawing the comp this morning. I was up at 5.30 for a walk up to the top of the rock and back, getting home an hour later. Then I was in a mad flap to get the kids ready as I had to head into Katanning for the day leaving no time for the draw. Got home late, unpacked, fed kids and finally did the draw. Sorry. But on the bright side I gave you all an extra day to enter the competition. (I’m looking at the positives.) So after drawing a number out of a hat, the winner of the signed copy of The Sunburnt Country is…. “Bec” (I don’t have your last name but I have your email address and will be congratulating you very soon!!)  Bec said her favourite car was an FJ Holden ute. Congratulations Bec.   Now don’t worry. I will be running another competition and a

The power is back on and the generator is stashed away. (Although I just found the long extension cord chewed to bits by the dog. Not impressed!!) So I have for you today the first chapter of The Sunburnt Country. I hope you enjoy it. Don’t forget to read how to enter the competition to win a signed copy of my new book at the bottom. Enjoy and have a happy Australia Day! (I’m a proud Aussie) Hot westerly winds rattled the old tin roof and blew a small eddy of dust into the workshop. Jonelle put down the container of coolant and reached for the radiator cap that was resting on the car’s motor. She should have been more careful but it was too late: her dusky-pink nail polish chipped on contact with the motor. ‘Oh, crap. Nae’s gonna kill me,’ she mumbled. Her nails were hardly worth doing, always kept short out of

This photo is an unlikely setting for a book but that is exactly where my guest Loretta Hill set her books and I can tell you it was a perfect choice. Loretta’s first hand experience turns her books into a charming, engaging read with likeable characters with the red dirt backdrop. She’s here today talking about her fabulous characters from her new book The Girl in the Hard Hat. Welcome Loretta.                         Dear Fiona, How are you? I’m great! Thanks for having me on your blog today to talk about my latest release, The Girl in the Hard Hat due to hit shelves this month. I’m so excited about this book. More excited than I was for the first one! I think it’s because of everything I went through to get it done. The manuscript was due on my publisher’s desk by August this

On one of my trips to Perth last year I caught up with Sara Foster (a bestselling psychological suspense writer) and her gorgeous daughter for a chat. It’s always wonderful meeting other authors as we have so much in common. Being able to share and swap stories face to face is a treat for me as the nearest author is miles away. We both got our first contracts in 2008 – wow has time gone by fast. I’ve asked Sara over today and here she shares her thoughts.   NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS Usually by the time 1st January comes around I have a neat list of resolutions for the coming year. However, this year I’ve suddenly found myself in 2013 while still trying to catch my breath from 2012! However, one thing I have vowed to myself is to make sure I don’t get distracted from the essence of what I love about writing

It’s getting to the exciting time, count down to release date. 27th of Feb is getting closer. The blurb: Jonelle Baxter is a young woman in a man’s world – a tough, hardworking motor mechanic from an idyllic country family. But lately things in her perfect life have been changing, and her workshop isn’t the only local business that’s struggling. Daniel Tyler is new in town, posted from the city to manage the community bank. As he tries to rein in the spiralling debts of Bundara, he uncovers all sorts of personal dramas and challenges. The last thing Jonny and Dan need is an unwanted attraction to each other. It’s going to take more than a good drop of rain to break the drought and to keep this small but very colourful community thriving. From the bestselling author of The Road Home comes a moving and heartwarming story about love, change and courage – and

Last year’s competition was so awesome that we just had to hold it again. After a very hot day (up to 40) we all gathered at the ‘Tree’ for a sausage sizzle while we waited for the sun to set. Here is just a few locals gathered around, the blokes (as usual) were positioned around the back tray of the utes. That way they had somewhere to put their stubbies when they’d finished. (And some poor bugger took home a rattly ute lol) When it was dark enough we all loaded into the Silver’s bus (thanks Tessa for the loan & for driving the crew of excited locals around!) as well as a few extra full car’s, we headed off to the first stop. (This event took 2hrs, with 6 farm gates to view) Lots of gravel driving! At our first stop you could see some lights but it wasn’t until on closer inspection that

Our 87th community Christams Tree was on Saturday night. Lea and I had spent all week setting up for it, as well as our big two day trip to Perth. This is us, enjoying our cosy corner in the Hall. This year we had bouncy castles for the kids to jump on after Santa left. (Luckily we had no casualties except for Lea’s boy & mine lol) The kids loved the massive castle, and I must admit it was lots of fun. I joined the kids a few times. It’s always a little sad to see the numbers down each year. We are losing the older kids and not gaining any smaller ones. We only had 30 kids this year. It didn’t seem that long ago we had 60. We hate to think what it will be like in 4-5 years! We are planing a big 90th in 3 years time. It will be a