Fleur McDonald is one of Australia’s leading rural literature authors, with her books becoming best sellers almost as quickly as they hit the shelves. Having sold over 500,000 copies of her books, she has solidified her position as one of the country’s favourite storytellers.

The first page…

I set a challenge on my Facebook page that if we could get 100 likes, I would post a paragraph of my next book Crimson Dawn. Well, talk about being overwhelmed with ‘likes’! At last count, we were nearly at 160! So, to make it worth your while, I’ve decided to post the whole first page.…

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The sun sets…

I’m sitting here this afternoon, knowing I should post a blog, as I haven’t for about a week, but wondering what the hell to write. As I look out my office window, there are a few chooks scratching on the front lawn and Law, the old red Kelpie, is snoozing in the sun. The cattle…

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Book vs eReader

When Red Dust was first published, back in 2009, eBooks weren’t a big thing. At that point, the publishing world was sitting on the edge of a cliff. Overseas had started to make noises about eBooks, which in turn needed a device to be able to read them on. The Kindle and many other types…

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I’ve been tagged!

So, I’ve been tagged… I’m not really sure how any of this works, but Lisa Heidke tagged me to answer some questions about my current release or what I’m working on now. I chose my current release, Silver Clouds, because that’s probably of more interest to you guys than what is a year away for…

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Dear Diary…

Gillo and Russell Woolf from our ABC radio in Perth had a brilliant segment on yesterday about diaries. They wanted to know if any of the listeners had ever kept one. I wish I could have posted it hear for you to listen, because it was so good. But there wasn’t a podcast made of it.…

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Beaching it and a wedding anniversary

Last night was our seventeenth wedding anniversary. Hard to believe that so much has happened within that time. Especially when the wedding seems like only yesterday. Two kids, two or three farm bought and sold and bought again. And as with most families, there are few people missing from our family now, who were there…

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Precious cargo

  There are times farming seems like it’s a long road without an end. The list of jobs to do, can be longer than your arm. Sometimes it feels like your treading water, not getting anywhere. And as with most jobs, they all should have been done ‘yesterday’. That’s how it is for us at…

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Fun times

I love photos. Photos are memories and I’m always snapping, where ever I go. Every time I release a new book, the call comes for new publicity photos. This is one of my least favourite things to do, because I’m much happier behind a computer screen, or out in the paddock, than I am in…

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Tilly and Tessa

  One of the things I’m told I’m good at, as an author, is my descriptions of country. This is some more amazing country I was imaging when I wrote Red Dust. (If you visit this page, you’ll see the book trailer for Red Dust and some more of the country.) Native pines, granite, vivid…

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The dreaded Christmas card

  Are you a Christmas card sender? I used to be. I’m not any more. Well, actually, that’s not quite true. I start with every good intention. For example, I actually buy the Christmas cards. Usually in about October. To give myself plenty of time. And I usually cart them in my handbag, so I…

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Sleep talking… Um, singing

We have numerous species of birds flitting around the house and I love the noises they make. There’s all the usuals like Magpies, Crows, Butcher Birds, Willywag Tails and Pigeons. The Boss is a mad keen bird watcher and has taught me lots about these feathered creatures. There were many other varieties I didn’t know…

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More stories? Or not?

The last few weeks, although really busy, have been cause for reflection. I tend to get a bit melancholy as the year draws to a close and this year, even more so. In two weeks time, my eldest will be finishing primary school and as the new term starts next year, she’ll be heading into…

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Flying High

Let me try and paint you a picture. It’s five in the morning and chopper pilot, Scott Bridle (http://scottbridle.com) is pacing the outside of his machine. He’s doing his checks; oil, fuel and making sure it’s airworthy. From the yards, voices of the stockmen, getting ready for a day mustering, hang in the air. The…

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A small flood

I don’t think I have ever seen a weather phenomena like I did yesterday. Our day started at 5am. We had three trucks to load and knew it was going to be hot. But it was freezing, when we first arrived at the yards, so the jeans and jumpers were pulled out of the wardrobe.…

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Trials and tribulations

What a week of weather! I know if often seems as if farmers are always complaining about weather and that’s a fair comment, but so much relies on it! On Thursday last week, it was fairly bloody hot and humid after a thunderstorm the previous couple of days. I was drenching sheep and the shearers…

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