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I’m having a house party!

house party

 

My first-born has just turned three — three years out there in the big book-loving world so I’m giving a copy away this week.

I had Monica Mc’s The House of Memories and The Island House by Posie Graeme-Evans as ‘house guests’ back in 2013, so it made sense to again have a house party to celebrate. (Although I dare say, if Monica, Posie and I were actually in a room celebrating there would not be tea!)

So…

 

Happy 3RD Birthday HFAS

To enter the draw: leave a comment, share & tag, or CLICK to Tweet: [Tweet “Look who’s turned 3! @simonschusterAU #Australia #fiction #giveaway http://wp.me/p1zse7-1ZU “]

Four women.

Four lives unravelled.

The truth will bind them forever.

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And the winner is…. Blog Tour Wrap-Up

Three books

Thank you to the book bloggers, authors and readers who joined in my blog tour and made it such a great celebration.  I wish I had more books to giveaway.

The winner of the 3-book giveaway is: Melissa Woods.

If I wasn’t exhausted enough from the huge blog tour, yesterday I returned home from a 13 day road tour.

No wonder I’m feeling tired!

Because Season of Shadow and Light is a such special story to me….

… I enjoyed all the Q&As. If you want to know more about the story’s characters or you want some insight into my writing of this novel, you may want to check out these posts.

Book Blogger Q&A:

Duffy The Writer asked me about Alice and I didn’t know how to answer. Then this happened.

Fiction with a side order of food: Shelleyrae from Book’d Out has me talking food and hugging carrots!

Writing on the road: I’m chatting to Tien’s Blurb about my gypsy life.

Reading, Writing and Riesling: I mean…do we need anything else? Just add some fun travel goss.

Kathryn’s Inbox: Kathryn White asks me about the title concept of Shadow and Light (among other things!)

Sam Still Reading: Visit the real pub that inspired The Billabong Hotel in Coolabah Tree Gully.

Road Trip To Revelation: Rowena Holloway takes a road trip with me. Hop in, buckle up, and hang on as I take readers through some storyline twists and turns.

Write Note Reviews Author Insight: Monique has me tapping out my favourite songs and spilling the beans.

I chatted to some special author friends:

Jennifer Scoullar’s blog – I was six the day a horse ate my buttons

Margareta Osborn’s blog – Smiles

Lisa Heidke’s blog –My Blog Post of Whys and Hows

Cathryn Hein’s blog – Friday Feast and talking about a real dish!

Café Carla – Author Q&A

Helene Young – The inspiration behind the book

Loretta Hill – A letter

(NB: the 3-book giveaway on these blogs is now closed)

Industry Reviews for Season of Shadow and Light

Book Muster Down Under

Duffy The Writer

Book’d Out

Tien’s Blurb

Reading Writing and Riesling

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Kathryn White’s Inbox

Sam Still Reading

Write Note Reviews

Rowena Holloway

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I never expected wonderful today. Then this happened . . .

Without a mum to share the day I never expected wonderful today. Then this happened . . .

Maybe it’s fitting that it’s mothers’ day, because what I’m about to share with you involves a mother who loves her son.

It’s been a strange few days here in the caravan park knowing there are about five people currently reading Season of Shadow and Light. I walk by their site and see their heads bent over the book. Sometimes they look up, wave and call out what bit they’re up to.

‘Definitely weird’ as little Matilda in the story would say!

I’ve had some terrific online feedback and read wonderful reviewer comments about this novel, but I’m afraid nothing will ever compare to what just happened.

One of those readers in the park came over to our van. She wanted to tell me how much she enjoyed the story. More importantly she wanted a way to thank me for telling Alice’s story.

She said, “It’s not much. It’s only small.” Then she handed me this pin.

Rainbow pin

You see this reader has a gay son and for twenty-three years she’s fought for him, protected him and loved him. She talked about the challenges, the battles, the difficulties, and she told me about the poems she would write that had once helped her and others around her, bringing greater understanding and acceptance.

Times have changed (there’s still a long way to go) so she’s fighting still, using her words in letters to politicians and helping to end bigotry and bullying in schools.

This pin might look small, but it is huge and  I am overwhelmed with pride right now and so touched.

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