I wonder if you've ever heard of a little town called Orroroo? It's at the base of the Flinders Ranges, a tiny blip of a gorgeous town, the main street an eclectic mix of old and new and on the main drag between Perth and Sydney.

Well, it's November, and November can be an important month in writer-world. November means NaNoWriMo. What does that mean, you might ask?

Tuesday is the D-Day. Deception Creek Publication day.

Ugh. I'm nervous. I always get nervous when a book comes out - you'd think it would get easier, but it doesn't. I have a need for you readers to like my characters, like my story and basically like everything about the book!

Do you have long-lasting memories of hanging out in your grandma's kitchen? I sure do …

Well, what a year, huh?

Oh my gosh! So many questions as to whether there is going to be a sequel to Red Dirt Country!

I've always told my kids that "if we don't share our stories, then how can we help people?"

I've got quite a personal post today. A post about anxiety, heartache, discovery and in the end, immense satisfaction.

When I was a kid, I used to spend recess and lunch in the library.

I guess there are a few of you who think that's a bit geeky and boring; for me, it was anything but.

On the 24th of May, an ABC news report told Australia that 21 women had been killed in 21 weeks by an intimate partner.

My guess is that you’d gasp and think, ‘how horrible, that must be in another country.’

You’d be wrong.

'Have you put on sunscreen?' Mum always used to ask as I headed out the door to ride my bike or go swimming.

I hated sunscreen.

You told me you'd like to read a bit of STARTING FROM NOW...

Here's the prologue and first chapter.

• Prologue

• Chapter One

STARTING FROM NOW doesn't hit the shelves until October 5, but you've got the opportunity to get your hands on a copy, a month early!

What's the saying about never working with kids and animals?

Jack usually defies that saying, but today he wasn't acting quite the way I'd hoped he would!

Happy Monday!

Aren't Mondays sometimes a bit hard to get warmed up to? Hopefully, this will make your day a great day!

First up, exciting news! It's only six weeks until my new novel, STARTING FROM NOW, is released. You can preorder from Booktopia.

When I was on tour for WITHOUT A DOUBT, I came across this blue door (pictured on the computer screen). I was sitting in a narrow alleyway, drinking coffee (because I'm a bit like Detective Dave and nothing happens in the morning until I've had my coffee), when I saw it.

Have you ever wondered what happens the morning after a novel gets finished?

Screenshot of a laptop that has words on it, the end of a manuscript says THE END.