Next in my Writers Whereabouts is Cathryn Hein. She writes about Mt Gambier, which I can say I have visited and seen the gorgeous Blue Lake. I hope you enjoy this snippet into Cathryn’s life and  my favourite photo is the one of Cathryn jumping on Dinks. Look at you go, Cathryn! Thanks so much for inviting me on Writer Whereabouts, Fiona. It’s a lovely idea for a series, albeit a little tricky for me given our penchant for moving around. Five and a bit months ago we were Melbournians, catching trams, grinning each time we passed the MCG, and loving its football tribalism. Five years ago Newcastle was home, and what a fabulous one it was too. This time ten years ago we were four months into what turned out to be a three year stint living in the south of France. In a few years time we could be somewhere else. I hope

  Jenn J McLeod is taking you home to the country…. Gosh, I’m glad I’m not following on from Tony Park’s post [add link]. My writer whereabouts would seem rather tame after his – and in more ways than one; my little corner of the country is delightfully dull in terms of wildlife. It’s quiet and peaceful, which was a very lovely change from the hectic corporate existence in Sydney. Where I began… I wasn’t always small town girl. Growing up in Curl Curl – a leafy Sydney beachside suburb – I was more likely to find sand in unmentionable places than Redbacks on my toilet seat (or feet, Fee!). One day I woke up and found myself living in Sydney’s Hills district in a ‘McMansion’– the air-conditioned cocoon with an automatic garage door that swallowed us up into a private oblivion, then spat us out every morning like clockwork to tackle the 1.5-hour city

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

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

I’m excited to have fourth generation grazier and bestselling author Nicole Alexander here today to share her inspiration. Nicole’s new book, Absolution Creek is out now, and a fine addition to her growing colletion of rural books. When you read Nicole’s section below you can see why her books are written so beautifully and just how easily she takes us into her world visually. Thanks for stopping by Nicole! Inspiration Many things inspire me through the course of a day; a flock of birds winding their way to a waterhole at sunset, clouds drifting against a duck-egg blue sky and the caress of the wind on my skin. Although as a grazier I’m particularly aware of the elements and the landscape around me, there is something about spring that makes me both joyous and curious about life in all its many forms. Spring is about renewal and birth, and to an extent, determination. I imagine the myriad plants which

Well what can I say….it’s fantastic to have another book out on the shelves and the reviews so far have certainly made my year! Here are two recent ones. Book’dout Beauty and Lace And all the comments on my facebook page are wonderful. Thank you all so much for taking the time out to comment on The Road Home or share your photo’s of it.  It really makes the hard slog so worthwhile.  There are more reviews due in some papers and magazines in April as well as radio interviews. This is while I head to Perth for a small tour.  These are my dates… Tuesday 10th April – 12.30pm Talk Event Dymocks Hay Street & City Library.  Wednesday 11th April – 6.30pm Talk Event Dymocks Morley & Ballajura Library. Thursday 12th April – 6.30pm Talk Event Wanneroo Library – 23 Dundebar Road, Wanneroo – more details to come. Thursday 12th April – 11am I will drop

I’m very excited to bring Margareta Osborn to my blog as my guest author. (Along with Fleur, Margareta and I are apart of our Rural Writers Rock campaign.) I have been waiting for Bella’s Run to be out long before it was contracted. So finally, the day is here, and it’s very exciting. I met Margareta in person last year at the RWA Conference. We kind of clung together in the sea of wonderful authors and got to know each other a little better.  You couldn’t find a more genuine, down to earth, lovely lady!!  For those who haven’t heard about you and your book (and they really should) please tell us about Bella’s Run? Bella Vermaelon and her best friend Patty are two fun-loving country girls bonded in a sisterhood no blood tie could ever beat. Now they are coming to the end of a road trip which has taken them from their family farms in the

  I have been walking in the mornings at 5.30am with my mum. Sometimes we walk  around the paddocks behind our house and up to the rock. It takes us about an hour return trip walking fast. But as much as I hate getting out of bed it is so worth it. The air is so fresh and clear, the kangaroo’s are out and so are the birds.  We take the dogs with us  and they also walked to the top of the rock. One moment was rather scary when we were at the top watching two big Eagles float in the air as it rushed over the rock as one of the dogs spotted it…and this dog isn’t mine, its our neighbours dog.  Even scarier when it darted off after it.Typical. Now years ago we went up the rock as kids with our little Jack Russel, Patch.  He chased a lizard and ended up rolling over the edge of the

We have one very special event in our little town every year, our community Christmas Tree. It was the 86th year in a row, this year. Myself and my mate Lea take delight in keeping this tradition going and every year we try to make each tree that little bit better. We start planing, then we hit the shops in Perth for two days, helping Santa buy the gifts. We have a set budget to work with and we like to get bang for our buck. The bigger the better! We are Santa’s little helpers. The district comes together in the morning to set up the decorations. And usually its also a catch up with people we haven’t seen in a while. A few years back we also started a colouring competition. A Christams picture gets sent out with their specail invite from Santa. We divided the kids up into three sections and stick their pictures on