There is nothing like the word Haighs for giving a person away as a South Australian! ‘What is Haighs?’ as a friend asked the other day. What?! Only the best chocolate in the world! Better than Swiss, better than (sorry to all native Western Australians!) The Margs Chocolate Factory (only marginally though) and certainly better…
Yesterday, my son turned 21! Yes, 21! And I made a mistake. Every April book, usually comes out on his birthday and for some reason, I thought this year’s was the same. So I thought Hayden’s birthday was today, rather than yesterday. Good thing I worked out on Sunday that wasn’t the case! So it’s…
It was lockdown and lockout. The WA government had told me I couldn’t visit my parents in South Australia because the borders were remaining shut for the foreseeable future. I would normally head to their place in the Flinders Ranges for a break. (Mum at nearly 77 still cooks the best schnitzel and makes the…
Last year I made a decision I wanted to go camping a lot more than I had been. When I was a kid, our family used to camp a lot; we saw some amazing and wild parts of Australia, places I’ll never forget. So with all that in mind, I bought this little ripper (which…
Did you spend much time in your library as a kid? Do you still now? I loved our little library at the Orroroo Area School when I was a kid; if I lived in Orroroo I’d still love it. I remember out library being full of fun things like beanbags so we could snuggle in…
Merry Christmas. I hope it’s full of love and laughter for you all. I’m sure many of us have mixed feelings about this Christmas. Some of us haven’t finished harvest and the thought of having to stop for a few days, even to rest, is annoying. Many of us haven’t seen family for a…
Don’t be silent when you see violence. The headline of the State Government’s 16 Days in WA campaign to prevent domestic and family violence is a reminder that we all have a role to play in calling out violence in our community, including our regional communities. And on the International Day for the Elimination…
As you can see my white boards are beginning to fill up with ideas, character descriptions and a few other things. I don’t always use everything that goes up on these boards, and there’s nothing plotted here, only a place to throw ideas and thoughts at. I’ve been troubling over how to start Book…
Who remembers these books? The Reader’s Digest Selections, with four books in one. A bookworm’s dream. Well, that’s how I saw them when they turned up in Mum and Dad’s mailbox. I can’t remember how often, maybe once a month. I’d grab it before they did and curl up in Dad’s chair and read.…
I’m often asked what it takes to write a book. Having finished my 19th novel about twelve hours ago, I reflected on the question, whilst sitting on the patio with a wine, screaming: ‘thank god that’s done!’ So, I compiled a list. A workable laptop. Not one that dies with only copy of your…
Have you got long lasting memories of hanging out in your grandma’s kitchen? I sure do. My Nana H was the best cook – some of her specialties were chocolate chip biscuits, sponge cake, trifle and bread rolls made from scratch. In fact she taught me how to make bread from scratch and I still…
I’m often asked what my office looks like. Usually it’s too messy for me to take a photo – I’ll have research and papers all over my desk so it’s all at my fingertips as I write. But when I started the new novel (tentatively called Swindler’s List!) I tidied the desk and took a…
I’ve always told my kids that “if we don’t share our stories, then how can we help people?” That’s why they don’t mind me talking about the challenges they live with; they embrace them and are what makes them who they are (that doesn’t take away, they’ve had extra challenges to deal with and hard…
I’ve got quite a personal post, today. A post about anxiety, heartache, discovery and in the end, immense satisfaction. Today is International Day of Disabled People. I have two children with disabilities – although as a great friend pointed out to me the other day: ‘I don’t think of your kids as disabled.’ Nothing more…
When I was a kid, I used to spend recess and lunch in the library. I guess there’s a few of you who think that’s a bit geeky and boring; for me it was anything but. The quietness and coolness of the Orroroo Community Library, where my great friend, Mrs Mackay, was the librarian for…
On White Ribbon day Breaking the Silence launched into Albany. If you haven’t heard about Breaking the Silence, then let me tell you; it’s a directory of services which are available in one area and tailored to each individual town; so far we have Esperance and Albany online. The plan is by 2021 that we…
Are you feeling a little tired? Don’t feel like reading a bedtime story to the kids? Well, I’ve got your problem solved! Pop them into bed and let Jack and I read them my latest children’s book, What Should a Horse Say? When I was little my mum used to be really tired at night…
There is a Facebook photo with a picture of a strawberry saying: ‘cut ‘em up, don’t throw ‘em out. Please continue to support Aussie Farmers through berry tough times.’ What a great campaign created through horrible circumstances. I wonder what makes someone or some people want to bring an industry to its knees? What…
I love music and I think this image is such a good reflection of how I feel when I listen to it – all emotions and thoughts and love and hate and fear all mixed up into one loud bar of stirring sound. It doesn’t matter what sort it is; country, piano, rap, popular. If…
