I must say, the setting alone is wonderful in this author’s novels: wartime Australia – Perth WA. The stories are great and just look at the gorgeous covers.
The best news is, we have a copy of Taking A Chance to giveaway this week. See below for details.
Welcome to the Harvest, Deborah.
Start by telling me if it’s scones and tea or some other homemade delight you have whipped up for me today? 🙂
It’s – ta da – a Thermomix orange cake. I adore my Thermomix.
(What the heck is a Thermomix? Sounds like we are back in the 1940’s again!)
At home… My mum says garden gnomes make a house a home! Are you loud and proud in your love of garden gnomes at home, a closet gnomer or with a strict ‘no gnomes’ policy at your place?
No gnomes, but a cement duck and two tin brolgas that are delightfully rusty and fall over in any strong wind. And because we live in Perth, the Fremantle Doctor does for them most afternoons in summer.
(Okay, you’d best explain The Fremantle Doctor in a comment!)
What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?
Avocados! We have a huge avocado tree that grows a fabulous crop of tiny little avos every year . . . and every year whatever fruit the Fremantle Doctor doesn’t blow away, the birds manage to knock off. Grrr.
(Damn this Doctor – whoever he is!)
If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find? 
Lots of left over soup, oodles of vegetables (because we have a weekly delivery of organic veges that we never seem to get through). And too much wine.
(And I assume the Fremantle Doctor character is a bit of a freeloader as well? Oh, and there is NEVER too much wine!)
If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)
Bluey green – to match my eyes. I adore that deep blue-green colour. And yes, sadly, I sort by colour twice a year and then watch as it all gets mixed up over the months in between.
(Woot! We have our first official sorter! Well, the first one to actually admit to sorting, think! Good on you, Deb . And may I say, that photo of you in red is just lovely.)
What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)
Comfy pyjamas in a sort of snowflake motif, red dressing gown and brown ugg boots – you had to ask!!
(Nothing lovelier than a lady in red!)
Whose home would you like to housesit and why?
Rivendell. Love those elves …
Country curiosities…
We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?
One that’s not too dressy and has a wide brim and can be scrunched up and thrown into a handbag or a suitcase. Our Perth sunshine can be a killer.
(Perhaps you need to see a doctor about that!)
If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?
A silver birch, because they’re so beautiful and remind me of Finland. And they grow in Bridgetown where we have a holiday cottage.
Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?
The plot demanded it.
(I’m disappointed, Deb. I was sure he was off to see that Fremantle Doctor!)
About you…
Your turning point: when was that point in your life that you realized that being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a reality and a career?
When I had a phone call from my agent on my birthday two years ago, and she told me that Pan Macmillan had made an offer for my manuscript of A Stranger in my Street.
(Wow! I had a call from MY agent the day before my 50th. No wonder we clicked online.)
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Having to stop to eat, or sleep or go to the day job and not being able to just WRITE.
(Oh yeah!)
Fun stuff …
What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his/her creator.
My family say that Meg (from A Stranger in my Street) is a lot like me so I suppose she’d like to spend time with me.
Nell (from Taking a Chance) is the sort of woman I’d like to be – taller and slimmer and braver and better looking, with much better fashion sense . . . Hmmm, Nell’s a kind person and she likes older women, so I think we’d get on, especially if I could help her out on one of her journalistic crusades.
If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
Elizabeth Bennett – I fell in love with Pemberley and Mr Darcy when I was sixteen. I’m sure I’d cope with them both for a week.
(I was kinda in love with Mr Darcy too–until he appeared as a 12 foot statue. Now he’s just creepy!)
If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?
Tell you all about Perth in World War 2 – I love to share my research, and most of it doesn’t get into the novels.
(I would LOVE that! I may break into my very own rendition of The Andrew Sister’s Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy!)
What food would you be?
Did I mention how good my orange cake is?
(No, but I am happy to try it!)
What was the best thing before sliced bread?
Porridge – hey, I’m part Scottish?
Name 5 uses for a stapler that has not staple pins.
- Weapon
- Doorstop
- Something to amuse Jacob and Olive (the step-grandchildren)
- Paperweight
- Piece of contemporary art
How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).
I’m a lawyer who writes romantic murder mysteries set in World War 2 – my legal eagle friends think it’s 9.9. I think I’m about a 5.
How wonderful. Great Q&A, Deb. I loved Stranger in my Street. (Readers: see my Goodreads review.) All the very best with Taking A Chance.
Oh, what’s that? You are giving a copy away? Woo hoo!
Okay, readers (Aust) here is your chance. So take it!
Leave a comment and tell us which character you would want to see as a statue and in what situation. Deborah will pick a winner in 7 days from now.
Find out more about Deborah and her stories www.deborahburrows.com.au
Hi Jenn, It’s me, Deb Burrows. I thought I’d better explain that the Fremantle Doctor is a gusty, very welcome, sea breeze that makes hot summer afternoons in Perth bearable. We love the Freo Doctor over here. 🙂
Thx Deb, feeling much better now. Must be that doctor’s influence 😉 Actually, I lived in Perth for a year back in ’84!! Would love to get back there one day. Thx for explaining though.
Hi Jenn I am so happy to be the winner of your book House for all Seasons & I’m really looking forward to reading it. Thank you so much & to Nicole Alexander as well.
Kathy Gallagher.
My pleasure. I hope you enjoy the story. If you do, and you enjoy sharing you passion for reading with others (be it online or with friends) pls let others know about the book. I’m back to work, editing book two for release next year. Cheers
Deb – your books sounds fabulous – here in NZ we hear numerous stories about WWII in Aus. It’s on my to-read list, Rae
Hello Rae. Thx for dropping by. And Deb, Rae was my very first crit partner. Wonderful writer. Because you like historical/period stories, you will probably enjoy Rae’s fictionalized memoir – Love At The End of the Road. Not historical as in Rae is THAT old! 😉 The house at the centre of her story has a wonderful history (and you know I love house stories!) Anyway, love connecting readers and writers. Cheers.
Thanks so much, Rae. I love NZ – went there seven years ago and adored Middle Earth (see my Rivendell comment). I think that a lot of our experiences in WW2 were similar in NZ and Aust.
Hi Rae and Jenn
I’ve downloaded Rae’s memoir from Amazon and it’ll be the first thing I read when I finish the first draft of the book I’m trying to get to my agent. I love people’s stories. I also love old houses. What more could I want from a book?
Aw, that makes me smile. A lovely reward. connecting readers and writers is what I love about Author Harvest.
Lol, another entertaining ‘bale up,’ ladies. Kept chuckling over the doctor comments thinking, ‘Jenn, where were you when Australia won the America’s Cup and the Doctor played such an important role?? But then I remembered that I’m a sailing tragic and you’re a land lubber 🙂
Your books sound fabulous, Deborah, so on to the TBR pile they will go!!
Thanks Helene – I was wondering whether to mention the America’s cup – but thought that Jenn might wonder what it was!
It was such a fun time to be in Perth/Freo when we hosted the cup.
Oh you gals are sooooo funny!!! 😉
Another great Q & A Jenn! I loved Deb’s first book, have a copy here:) And of course I would love her second book as well;) A statue…mmm… The rabbit from Alice in Wonderland as he scampers across the grass “I’m late, I’m late….” in a park somewhere where lots of kids and their families play and have fun:) Thanks for the opportunity to win Taking a Chance too Deb:)
HI Brenda – I’m so glad that you loved Stranger. I’m sure you’ll also love TAC.
I’m sure I will too Deb 🙂
Hi Jenn and Deb,
Thanks for another great interview. Home grown avocados would be delicious! I’ll have to keep my eye out for this book. I love Aussie historical stories.
I’m not big on statues. I guess they’re a lovely monument and a tribute, but they seem to pop up too often for my liking.
I’m off to find out what Thermomix is now 🙂
Cath xo
Hi Cath,
I’ll tell you, Thermomix is the closest thing to heaven for a lazy cook like me.
I hope that you get a chance to read TAC -it’s all Australian (unlike Thermomix which is a product of German engineering genius).
Love the sound of your books Deb! More for the tottering TBR pile 🙂
Lovely to “meet” you. How awesome to get “the call” on your birthday!
Hi Kerrie – It was amazing. I was having lunch with a couple of girlfriends and saw the message to call my agent. They were at the counter ordering and I just walked straight out of the cafe without a word and disappeared into an alley to ring my agent. They thought I’d been abducted. When I returned and told them the news we had a girly screaming session in the middle of the cafe. 🙂
I do hope that you get a chance to read Stranger and TAC.
Well I just love this interview because I’m ‘back home’ in WA and I know who/what the Freo doctor is… and my sister has relatives who are lining up to get the mother-in-law’s ‘Thermomix’ when said mother-in-law falls off her perch (how macabre is that!) so I know what a Thermomix is… and I’d love to live in Rivendell too (because I know where that is)… So I am reading your interview feeling decidedly superior to Madam McLeod (which doesn’t happen often 🙂 )
And anyone who nominates use of a stapler as a piece of contemporary art, yet thinks they only rate about a 5 on the Author Harvest ‘weird scale’… that’s my sort of woman!
I would like to see a statue of Harrison Ford in his Han Solo outfit in Kings Park and I’d like him big enough that the Freo Doctor won’t blow him over.
Thanks for a great interview with a fab West Aussie writer Jenn J! Happy edits to you.
Lily M
Hi Lily – you’re a girl after my own heart! And a Sandgroper to boot!! 🙂
Hi Jenn. Thanks for another great ‘Author Bale Up”.
I love your probing questions…. I often sit and muse about what my answers would be to your questions, were I an author in your bale up.
Deborah, I love the sound of your books. Having been born and bred in Western Australia, I grew up listening to stories about WWII from my grandparents, and I often wish I could have learned more about what they both went through. Alas, that was not to be, so I try to understand a little more each time I learn something more about the war. Will have to add your books to my TBR list!
As for a statue I would like to see (apart from naming a few celebrities that I have read biographies of) I would enjoy a LARGE statue of Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia! What can I say, I’m a sucker for animals…
Can’t wait to read your books, Deborah, and thanks for sharing.
Karen
:-0
Thanks so much Karen,
Another Sandgroper! It’s been lovely speaking to people after my library talks about their experiences in WW2 Perth or hearing the stories their parents and grandparents told them. It’s one of the delights of being an author, to be able to connect with people so personally. I think that writing the books has really made me aware of what my parents went through. I’m in awe of that generation.
Yay. good news.
Hi Jenn and Deborah,
Always fun visiting. Love the Aussie-isms–the Freo Doctor! I think that would make a good knock knock joke! As for a statue, I’d like to see if there are pigeons brave enough to sit on Mary Poppins!
Best wishes on your latest release, Deborah.
Cheers, Susanne
Thanks so much Susanne
I hope that you get a chance to read Stranger and TAC. I’ve tried to put in just enough ‘Aussie-isms’ in the books but not too many.
Well, Karen Stalker, I LOVE that you LOVE my very probing questions!!!! LOL The good news is, ASLAN happens to be a fave for both Deb and Me. So you are the winning comment. Sincere Thx to all those who took time to drop by. The good news is I have two more amazing authors with giveaways cling up. Fran Cusworth and Dianne Blacklock. So stay tuned.
Thank you Deborah Burrows for being such a great harvestee.
OH MY GOSH!! Thank you both so much! I’m so glad to find fellow Aslan fans – my kids love the movies, but just can’t get them into the books. Oh well!
Thanks again so much Jenn for your awesome interviews, they’re always such fun. Thank you also Deb for the opportunity to win one of your lovely books. Will let you know when I’ve read it!
😉
Whoo hoo….. the postie delivered my beautiful new book yesterday. Thank you so much Deb and Jenn for the chance to win. I can’t wait to start reading it. 😉
Yay! Love a postie with a parcel.