AUTHORS – Page 16 – Jenn J McLeod – small-town storyteller

Posted on 16/08/201516/08/2015 by Jenn J McLeod

On the road to Barmoya

What a great name for a novel.

What an inspiring location.

As the coastal fringe of Queensland buzzes with southerners seeking a warm winter, and we finally understand the mantra “beautiful one day, perfect the next”, we are in Rockhampton, super excited to stay with special friends on their not so little piece of cattle paradise in Barmoya (half way between Rockie and Yeppoon).

Our arrival a few weeks ago nudged the all-female team at the time up by two. The girls (about 5 of them) were on the go from first light until sundown—on quad bikes, utes, and horseback—working with the 1200 head of Brahman cattle, eight horses, several pigs, four farm dogs (plus Dash the Dachshund who wants to be a farm dog) and all under the watchful eye—yes, only one—of the one-eyed dude dog.

HPK girls and Lou — Hard working girls! (and Lou, the dog)

We feel like we’re in our very own real life episode of McLeods Daughters, helping out where we can. (Well, The J is working, while Daiquiri the Dude dog dreams of being a farm dog and I sit and write.)

Finding inspiration is not hard in a place like this, with Mt Hedlow on our doorstep.

Remarkable is probably the best word to describe Henderson Park Farm Retreat. But the place has come a long way since the family’s earliest settlers purchased it (and a whole lot more) back in 1885. The landscape is not at all what I expected–although I guess I know why the town is called ROCKhapmton (and the view is different every day).

You know it’s said some people come into you life for a season and some for a reason? Well, this lovely couple certainly came into ours for a reason. Drunk with conversation (and wine) we feel blessed to have such generous and wonderful friends in Marie and David (and family), here on Henderson Park.

Special friends, Marie and David, at my book launch in 2014

While staying on their farm I have been writing book #5. No title yet, but I can tell you it is set amongst the stunning landscape right here on the outskirts of Rockhampton.

Those who know me well can attest to me NOT a morning person. I love my bed and have enjoyed only one voluntary sunrise in the last few decades. That was May 1, 2013—the official release day of my debut novel. So, if this is all a dream, please don’t wake me up. Unless it’s for a sunrise like this. (And I can tell you the sunsets are just as remarkable here in Barmoya.)

Henderson Brahman grey and Jenn — Making new friends

Henderson horses editing — Editing with friends

Posted on 02/08/201530/10/2016 by Jenn J McLeod — 2 Comments

#WriteRoundOz w/ Honey Brown

Hi Honey, I’m home!!

To celebrate Honey Brown’s latest release (Six Degrees) I am dropping in to say “Hi, Honey, I’m home!” (Sorry, could not resist that one.)

Honey Brown – author of exceptional talent and versatility – thank you for letting my park my rig on your…Hmm, impressive sealed driveway and roundabout! (All country folk love a good driveway).

And what’s that I see written on your ‘welcome mat’?

Within that little Hive, such Hints of Honey lay (from an Emily Dickinson poem)

If I looked in your refrigerator right now, what would I find?

Last night’s leftovers, far too many wilting vegetables in the crisper, beer and a bottle of Vodka.

Downsizing my life into a 24 ft caravan meant leaving lots of things behind in boxes. What (or who!!) would you have trouble leaving behind if you took off in a caravan?

Our very large and picturesque dam. I’d miss all the squawks, flaps, croaks, the thousands of different sounds that drift across the paddock from it.

Whose home would you like to visit in your van and why? (anyone, anywhere)

Stephen Fry’s house. I hear he has wild parties, and I imagine some amazing people would turn up as guests, also he seems to be such a wonderful mix of intelligence, warmth and thoughtfulness.

Do you REALLY have room at your house to park a fifth wheeler caravan and do you mind visitors? Oh, sorry, you don’t have to answer that one!! 🙂

You’d probably love it down by the water. Just don’t be disappointed when I serve reheated leftovers for dinner.

Country curiosities…

My latest novel, Season of Shadow and Light, has a strong horse theme. (I love what horses can teach us). If you were an animal what would you be?

A big cat. Tiger, lion, jaguar or panther. Cats give the impression of enjoying their bodies, all that stretching, sunning, lazing around, showing off that they do, and that enjoyment of their own flexibility, strength and capability really appeals to me. They’re also at the top of the food chain, so, hopefully, I wouldn’t spend my days fearing being eaten.

You’re cooking and your food going up against the best cooks from the CWA (Country Women’s Association). What would be your winning dish?

Lasagne. Only to then realise it’s the only savoury dish amongst the cakes and slices! They give me a prize out of sympathy, and send me off the right pavilion.

About you…

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Controlling the characters. If I give them too much freedom, they runaway with the story and take it somewhere crazy and extreme, but if I rein them in too much, they become stiff and stilted and the energy drains from the work. It’s a case of gently coaxing them along, not stepping on their toes too much, steering them carefully to each plot point.

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

Raw and Unauthorised – I just know I’d open up too much, say too many revealing things, then wish I hadn’t, and then try to stop the publication!

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

Q: How much truth is in your fiction?

A: A lot. But not in the sense of the things that happen. The story is made up (I haven’t actually ever murdered anyone, or, for that matter, had a kitchen experience like the one in Six Degrees…well, not quite anyway), while the truth is in the feelings and emotions, the reactions, the settings, the tone and landscapes, the character traits. For me there’s more honesty in art and fiction than there is cold hard fact. Stories, paintings, songs, sculptures, movies, all tell us so much about what it is to be human and are so revealing of what it’s like to live on the planet.

Favourite four…

Favourite place in Australia – My sister’s kitchen with all the family around.

Favourite holiday destination – Any five star hotel in walking distance to shops, galleries, cafes and fine dinning.

Favourite movie – Brokeback Mountain

Favourite quote – “Take my advice and please yourself.” Bob Brown, my dad.

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

Take you for a walk and not talk either.

Okay, I’m off for a walk. The I’ll be back to post my review of Six Degrees. (But don’t wait. Get reading now. You won’t be disappointed.)

Honey Brown books…

Six Degrees (Simon & Schuster) and Ventura Publishing

Aussie suspense stories (Penguin)

Connect with Honey Brown… on Facebook

About Honey Brown…

Honey Brown lives in country Victoria with her husband and two children. She is the author of five psychological thrillers: Red Queen, The Good Daughter, After The Darkness, Dark Horse and Through The Cracks. Red Queen was published to critical acclaim in 2009 and won an Aurealis Award, and The Good Daughter was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and shortlisted for the Barbara Jefferis Award in 2011. Dark Horse won the Sisters In Crime 2014 Davitt Award. Her sixth novel, Six Degrees, is her first foray into rural romance, and will be released in August 2015.

Posted on 14/07/2015 by Jenn J McLeod — 9 Comments

#WriteRoundOz with Lisa Ireland (Win a signed copy)

Lisa Ireland, a brilliant new voice in rural romance, invites you to Linden Gully and the wedding of the year…

And lovely Lisa Ireland, from Victoria, also invited me to park my rig on her…

… ridiculously steep driveway! (Yikes!)

Jenn, I’m not really sure how we got the rig down there and as for getting out … How do you feel about permanent visitors?

(Well, it kind ‘Feels Like Home’ already, Lisa!)

Oh, and what’s that I see written on your ‘welcome mat’?

Kettle’s On!

Jenn, I love nothing better than a cuppa and a chat with a friend. I was raised by a woman who believed there was no problem so big that it couldn’t be solved by a natter over a good cup of tea. I tend to agree (although coffee’s my preferred hot beverage!)

(Not sure a good natter will get my rig up that driveway, Lisa!! I may require something a tad stronger to even try.)

These days quite a bit of my chatting seems to be done on the phone or online, which is almost as good as seeing a friend in person, but not quite!

I miss my HUGE refrigerator. If I looked in your refrigerator right now, what would I find?

Champagne. If you’d come last week there would have been a lot more, but I’ve been celebrating the release of Feels Like Home with friends and family and my stocks are sadly diminished.

Apart from the booze I have the fridge stocked with lots and lots of milk, meat, fruit and veggies! I live in a house full of men. My husband and I have three boys, two of whom are teenagers. The third is not-quite-a-teenager. They eat a lot! We go through three litres of milk a day. (I kid you not!) Dairy farmers … you’re welcome.

Downsizing my life into a 24 ft caravan meant leaving lots of things behind in boxes. What (or who!!) would you have trouble leaving behind if you took off in a caravan?

I love caravanning and hope to do more of it in the future, so I’ve thought about this a lot! There’s really nothing material I couldn’t leave behind, but Big Kid is really not a kid anymore, so I highly doubt he’d leave his job behind to come travelling with his ‘olds’. I’d miss him … occasionally! Also, we have two big dogs, Millie the Labrador and Lulu the Boxer. Travelling with two ginormous dogs can be tricky. At the moment when we go on holidays, ‘the girls’ stay behind with Big Kid or if Big Kid is travelling with us they head off for a week or two in a doggy resort. I could never leave them behind for any length of time – I’d miss them too much.

Whose home would you like to visit in your van and why?

Amanda Knight’s house would be my first port of call. She’s my critique partner and although I speak to her every day on the phone, there’s nothing like catching up in person. The bonus of parking my rig in her driveway is that she lives near a lovely beach in sunny NSW and she’s just a hop, skip and a jump away from my other lovely writing friend, Janette Radevski. I can see the three of us sipping wine under the caravan awning and talking the night away.

(Make that four! Especially if she has a driveway. I would love to natter with Amanda and Janette)

Do you REALLY have room at your house to park a fifth wheeler caravan and do you mind visitors? Oh, sorry, you don’t have to answer that one!!

Ha ha, I love visitors and friends are always welcome, but we do have a serious driveway situation! We live on a narrow dirt road so you might have to park the rig at the bottom of the hill and trek up on foot!

Country curiosities…

My latest novel, Season of Shadow and Light, has a strong horse theme. (I love what horses can teach us). If you were an animal what would you be?

My two favourite animals are dogs (seriously what’s not to like?) and horses. I no longer own any horses and can’t ride due to a back injury, but in my dreams I often take my favourite horse out for a gallop! However, even though I love my dogs and ponies, I wouldn’t necessarily want to be either of those animals. I’d choose to be a bear. I love the idea of preparing for winter by stuffing yourself silly. The whole “I’m not going anywhere until spring” idea has a lot of appeal for me. Plus nobody messes with a bear!

You’re cooking and your food is going up against the best cooks from the CWA (Country Women’s Association). What would be your winning dish?

Look, I know I’m a writer and I know I’m supposed to have a good imagination, but this is just stretching it too far. I am a hideous cook. I hate cooking with a passion and if I won Lotto tomorrow I’d hire someone to do it for me. (Sadly this will never happen as I never buy a ticket!) Those CWA ladies would be kicking my butt big time. I do make a passable beef stew, but I wouldn’t call it award winning.

About you & your writing…

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

All of it! Seriously, I’m one of those people who loves having written, but does not actually love writing. I’m a shocking procrastinator, so maybe the hardest part is getting started. I do have to say that I like the first draft stage – when the story is shiny and new and anything is possible – way more than editing. Editing sucks!

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

“Talking Underwater – a guide for beginners” or perhaps “A Chocolate (Block) a Day.”

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

I have always wanted to be asked how I stay so humble now that I am a New York Times Bestselling Author. Sadly I am not a New York Times Bestselling Author so I won’t be able to answer that question.

Favourite four…

Favourite place in Australia: Melbourne, closely followed by Mission Beach

Favourite holiday destination: New York

Favourite movie: So hard to pick just one. I’m a sucker for a good Rom Com and one of my faves is Friends With Benefits. (Bonus points for the New York setting!) But I think my all time favourite is Good Will Hunting: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Robin Williams – doesn’t get much better than that!

Favourite quote: “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” – Lucille Ball

About the book… Feels Like Home (out now)

When celebrity novelist Johanna Morgan surprises everyone by arriving back in Linden Gully three weeks early for her best friend’s wedding, she’s shocked to find her ex-boyfriend Ryan Galloway is back too and well-integrated in the community as the local vet.

Jo’s maid-of-honour duties are not the only thing that’s brought her home. The family homestead of Yarrapinga is now her responsibility, and Jo needs to decide whether to keep it – and replace old memories with new ones – or sell it and cut off all ties to her childhood and her home.

Ryan has brought his young daughter home to Linden Gully to provide stability after the death of her mother. The last thing he needs is Jo’s return, and all of the emotional turmoil that she brings with her.

Thrown together as attendants at their best friends’ wedding, Jo and Ryan have no choice but to grin and bear all the tension. But it’s not only resentment lingering between them. The attraction is still there, and the heat and the memories.

They say you can’t come home again, but maybe, for Jo and Ryan, home is not just a place, but a state of the heart.

Can’t wait to buy the book? Here are some links…

Amazon Amazon Australia Google Play iTunes Kobo or Booktopia

Want a signed print copy?

Just leave a comment. Tell us what ‘Feels Like Home’ for you?

(Australian Postal addresses only. Winner chosen in two weeks.)

Author website: lisairelandbooks.com and Harlequin author page: http://www.harlequinbooks.com.au/author/lisa-ireland

Jenn #WriteRoundOz