Author Harvest ‘bales’ up Karly Lane

Hi Karly,

A ‘quick’ trip down the highway and here we are. Karly. Congratulations on rural romance book three — Bridie’s choice. Speaking of choice… Do I need to make one? Is it scones and tea or some other homemade delight you have whipped up today?

Tim Tams… you can’t go wrong with Tim Tams…plus I don’t want to kill you with my cooking….

(And after reading some of your answers, below I am not going to complain. You join my list of ‘do not let this woman near a stapler’ people – right alongside Juliet Madison and Jaye Ford. Ouch!

A little Jenn fact: Karly Lane was the first person I saw demonstrate ‘The Tim Tam Slam’. Impressive!

Now, Karly, 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 here…no self-respecting garden gnome would set foot in this mad house!

What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?

Kiwi’s actually…and blueberries…

(Yum!)

If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find?

Depends if you’re fluent in species of mould .I’m pretty sure I’ve grown a whole new variety in the food in the back of my fridge.

(Ahh… not so yum!)

If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)

Oh you’re are a funny one, Jenn…sort!!!!! I’m lucky if my clothes get from the folding basket TO the wardrobe!

(I love that you call it a ‘folding’ basket rather than an ironing basket. LOL I have one of those too.)

What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)

Well thanks to the stupid weather we’re having at the moment, I have a combination of winter jeans, summer t-shirt and jumper…with thick socks..I look sexy 😉

(I know what you mean…. about the local weather, not so much about the looking sexy bit!!!)

Country curiosities…

We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?

I don’t do hats…but I love my boots.. bring on winter, I say! You can NEVER have too many boots!

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?

A cat.. who had one of those ‘special’ owners who leaves the mansion to their pets in their will…I wouldn’t be a good stray…I need to belong to a rich person…yep, I think I could handle that.

Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?

Cause chooks are stupid. Obviously it saw something move in the wind and ran across to see if it was editable…well, that’s what my chooks would do anyway, despite the fact the greedy things have more chook food than they can eat right there on this side of the road…

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?

The day I saw my first book on a shelf.

(I remember that day too! I remembering buying the book and saying, “my friend wrote this”. Your 4PAN writer friends were all so excited for you. It’s lovely being a member of such a supportive bunch.)

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Having the patience to work through a plot problem.

(That sounds like what I call ‘a black hole’. Nasty place.)

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?

Memoirs of a Sex Goddess Housewife…

(With a ‘folding’ basket, a mould-filled fridge and not-so-sexy sock feet! Hmmm!)

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Q. Are you really a Sex Goddess Housewife?

A. Why yes…yes I am.

(Cute!)

Fun stuff…

What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his/her creator.

Of course…my characters want to remain alive in the sequel.

If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?

I would attempt to cook you something…I’m told that’s pretty funny.

What food would you be?

I don’t think I’d like to be food…would kinda suck really…not much of a life expectancy is it?

(Unless you are in your fridge apparently!)

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

A really sharp bread knife.

Name 5 uses for a stapler that has not staple pins.

1. a paper weight,
2. a book mark,
3. a bug killer,
4. a weight to pin a spider in place till hubby comes home to kill it,
5. for getting someone’s attention when the TV is too loud to hear you.

 (Crikey! I gather this is on a bad plotting day!)

How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).

1 …I’m completely sane…everyone else is weird.

Tell us about your latest Allen and Unwin release 

Bridie’s Choice

Bridie Farrell and Shaun Broderick come from opposite sides of the tracks. But unlike Bridie’s family, who are perennial strugglers, the Brodericks are the wealthy owners of Jinjulu – one of the most prestigious properties in their local district.

All her life Bridie has longed to leave the small town she grew up in. But time afer time family responsibilities have kept her anchored there. Meanwhile, Shaun’s dream of taking over the management of Jinjulu is dashed by his dictatorial father who tries to rule Shaun’s life both on and off the farm.

The Brodericks are dismayed when Shaun falls in love with ‘that Farrell girl’, whom they deem unsuitable. And they don’t just make their feelings clear to Shaun but to Bridie as well.

Faced with a choice, Bridie must decide whether to turn her back on her heart or her dreams in order to make the biggest decision of her life…

From the author of the bestselling rural saga North Star and Morgan’s Law, this absorbing novel is about alternative destinies and the power of love.

While you’re here, why not leave a comment. Or subscribe to jennjmcleod.com to have future posts delivered to you inbox.

Thank you Karly and readers. http://karlylane.com

http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=651&book=9781743311608