House for all Seasons – Page 7 – Jenn J McLeod

Posted on 01/04/201216/12/2012 by Jenn J McLeod — 6 Comments

Coming back to the country for real!

With the theme of my Seasons Collection novels (book 1 – House For All Seasons – out May 2013) about people coming home to the country, I figured I should reconnect with my own country roots. So here I am in South Australia.

I am on a road trip with my 81 year old dad, travelling roads he travelled as a young man growing up and working on farming properties around the York Peninsula. Towns like Bute, Kadina, Alford.

While my part of the family grew up in Sydney where dad was a policeman, Dad was born in Adelaide and there was a family farm in Bute where I spent some wonderful school holidays. In fact there are a couple of fond memories of my Uncle Don and Aunty Joan’s farm that make it into my stories.

Today I will be seeing Aunty Joan for the first time in something like thirty years and I have just found out some cousins are travelling to Wallaroo all the way from Port Lincoln to say hi.

What ties us as family is my grandparents who we will all remember today. Clem and Elmie Lewis.

Posted on 13/11/201119/11/2014 by Jenn J McLeod — 1 Comment

Seasons of Change

I love the seasons – the sights, the smells, the sounds. I love the birds, the flowers, the foliage. (Just now, I’ve come inside from picking strawberries in a summer rain shower – try it!)

I’ve loved watching the changing seasons this past tweleve months (which has been an interesting, emotional, learning, growing year for me as a writer) hence the pics (above) – a favourite tree of mine because of the way it changes.

Even more inspiring are the emotions each season stirs. I guess that’s why I’m drawn to include the seasons in my stories.

In House For All Seasons, four women as different as the four seasons shed more than their city skins when they reconnect with their country roots.

In The Simmering Season, it’s summer storm season and the NSW country town of Calingarry Crossing is sweltering. As emotions bubble away, and a school reunion brings home more than just memories, you’ll discover there’s no keep a lid on some secrets.

I’m about to throw myself into book three, Season of Shadow and Light. With a title like that, I can’t wait to see where it takes me. (Although one thing I know for sure is, it will take me home to the country 😉

Posted on 28/06/201129/06/2011 by Jenn J McLeod — 1 Comment

Autumn in Calingarry Crossing

I’ve heard it said that autumn is like a second spring, with every leaf a flower.

A fitting description for Calingarry Crossing’s celebration of colour this autumn past, spectacular foliage blurred against a canvas washed green – hills and plains alike.

It is also said that one person’s loss is another person’s gain, and Calingarry Crossing was on the receiving end of unprecedented rainfall, the run-off from flood waters further north. The devastating 2010/11 summer storm season that flooded Australia’s eastern states brought new life to so many inland areas.

As we take a short drive, we can see Calingarry Crossing’s creeks and dams are now full, and while flood victims further north/east are still putting their lives back together, the folk in Calingarry are breathing again…”and don’t it smell sweet!”

Autumn Leaves is the title of Part 3 in House For All Seasons, in which Amber leaves her A-lister lifestyle and her husband. Amber no longer knows what’s real in her life and hopes returning to Calingarry Crossing will help her find redemption and a fresh start.