ORDER Fleur's newest novel 'Into the Night'
There’s nothing more exciting for a farm kid than going on a crop inspection with dad, (more commonly known as The Boss). They get to roll in thigh-high grass, run through it with the dogs and peer into long leaves of barley/wheat/oats to see what’s hiding at the very bottom. Of course any information that…
A question I’m often asked is, ‘Why are there always colours in your book titles?’ It’s a question with many answers, but the main one for me is the colours of the land. This photo is a prime example – brilliant white sheep against dark, rich green grass and a fluorescent canola crop in…
Today, despite my sadness, is quite a special day – something I never dreamed could happen. Today Red Dust is available in the USA at most bookstores. It’s also on Independant Publishers Group website here. Or at Amazon here. If you are a visitor to my blog from overseas, firstly welcome, and you haven’t…
Dogs mean everything to me; they always have. I adore their loyalty, unconditional love and the way they look like they’re smiling when they hang over the back of the ute looking into the wind. Today my old dog and ‘first child’, Rex, died and I am crying floods of tears. But I have to…
Rural Lit is the fastest growing genre in Australia at the moment and I’m really proud to be a part of it. Today I’m bringing you the newest author on the scene, Cathryn Hein and her book Promises. I haven’t read it yet, but I’ve heard nothing but good reports about it. When I’m in…
My blog has been a bit quiet on the farming side lately–only because I’ve been so busy in the sheep yards. The approaching spring is a really busy time, particularly for sheep graziers. It means flies. We’ve been running all our sheep through the jetting race, trying to head off any problems. We’ve been crutching…
Maggie MacKellar has been to hell and back in the last few years. The loss of a husband, while pregnant, then the death of a mother, would be enough to send most of us to the wall. Not Maggie. In fact she is not only my Guest author today, she’s also my Guest for…
This months book club is discussing Jon Bauer’s Rocks in the Belly. Unfortunately the file was too big to hear all of it, so you come in just after the intro and we’re talking about how short stories can turn into novels. Listen below or download here (right click and choose ‘Save Target As…’ or ‘Save…
There was a stow-away on our local school bus this week. This little joey was rescued from the pouch of a dead kangaroo and taken to Jo, a local lady who raises orphans. She also happens to drive our school bus. The kids thought it was so cool having a ‘live joey’ going to school…
I was so lucky to meet Tony while in Perth recently. We discovered a mutual love of Michael Connelly’s writing and talked the craft of writing. It was so exciting to listen to what Tony had to say. Fleur: Welcome to the amazing author Tony Park. Tony has published over eight fiction novels plus a…
‘Tilly and Tessa were twins. They looked exactly alike…’ Have you ever heard this kids story? It used to be one of my favourites when I was about three or four. Mum still groans every time I mention the book – she thinks I made her read it thousands of times. I’m sure I wouldn’t…
I’m sitting in my office this afternoon with Rocket, my Jack Russell dog, at my feet. The wind outside is howling and intermittent rain showers are coming up from the coast. The fire is going and as many clothes as I can hang in front of it are drying. The puddles outside are growing larger…
I’m really excited to be showing you the book trailers fro Red Dust and Blue Skies. Just click on the links and you’ll go to Youtube. Red Dust Blue Skies Thanks to Paul from Booktease.
People come and go in our lives. Some are easily forgotten and some stay with us forever, even if we’re not in contact. This morning I found out that my old music teacher died from cancer. I’ve been shocked at my sense of loss, even though it’s been nearly twenty years since I’ve had contact…
These are my favourite views of our farm. It seems to say everything about it – natural (all the bush that has been left as stock shelters), fertile (that dark green is a lovely, healthy looking barley crop), undulating. Then the man made things – good fences and a great road that also acts as…
I love crutching time. It’s wonderful when the sheep leave the yards with beautiful clean, white rumps and we know that really, there shouldn’t be any problems with flies. There is real satisfaction in finishing a job that needs doing. The top photo is the last of about 1,000 ewes that went through the shed…
Leaden clouds hang in the sky. The anticipation of a downpour is thick in the air. We feel the winds pick up and hear the distant rumble of thunder. A flash of lightening, then the plop of a drop: one, two and then a million! Large, heavy drops which, as they hit the ground, throw…
Here’s a Purple Road. This was taken somewhere between Ceduna and Port Augusta. Would you like to name two characters in my newly finished book, Purple Roads? Well here’s your chance: At the moment, their names are Cam and Belinda. Cam is a truck driver, while Belinda is a stay-at-home mum with four boys. I…
I went to sit with my first ‘child’ today. Although he’s a bit dottery on his paws now, and old and grey around the muzzle with weepy eyes, underneath he’s still my old Rex. He was born one cold blustery winter night under the combine in our machinery shed. Coincidentally it was on my dad’s…
Within my circle of friends, it’s well known that I can sometimes be an idiot. My best antic is mixing up my words and saying the wrong thing, or acting without thinking. Most of my family and friends smile and say “Oh, Fleur….” when I’ve done something particularly ridiculous, and today I think I might…
All country folk have a driving short-cut story don’t they? and usually they don’t end well! Here’s my take on it: Setting: Afternoon barbeque, blokes having a few beers, girls around the table with a wine. Conversation: Bloke 1: ‘Gotta head over to *insert town’s name* tomorrow.’ Bloke 2: ‘Oh yeah? What for?’ Bloke 1:…