An Author’s Inspiration Album

The Author Note at the start of my fifth novel, A Place to Remember, reads:

“Dear readers,

I’m sorry to break the bad news. . . Candlebark Creek and the Iron Pot Hill Farmstay Retreat do not exist. The characters, their names and the events in this story are fictitious, and no resemblance to any persons living or dead is intended. What does exist is the amazing landscape halfway between Rockhampton and Yeppoon in central Queensland’s Capricornia region, consisting of twelve remarkable and ancient volcanic plugs, known collectively as the Mount Hedlow trachyte.”

Mount Hedlow and the entrance to Henderson Park Farm Retreat

“I was privileged to work on this manuscript while camped in a paddock, under the shadow of Mount Hedlow, and finding my muse among the striking landscape that has been home to five generations of the Barrett family since 1865.”

In action at Henderson Park

“While Candlebark Creek is fictional, Henderson Park Farmstay Retreat on the road between Rockhampton and Yeppoon was an incredible place to write and I am so excited to be bringing you, lovely readers, my fifth novel – A Place to Remember.”

Yes, it sure is a place to remember. Love at first sight for me, just as it was love at first sight for my characters, Ava and John.

This photo album is my ‘author vision board’. Photos that helped me remember and get into the right frame of mind throughout the various editing phases of the story.

In these photos (if you have read the book) you will find things like Ava’s cottage, The Deck at my Iron Pot Hill Retreat where my characters enjoy dinner. The sausages and the prairie oyster and lots of other little things. These photos, many provided by the people who know the place best, will help you picture Candlebark Creek (aka. Henderson Park Farm Retreat). There is also pictures of our Cawarral campsite where we stayed with friends while tackling edits that conjured up Iron Pot Hill Farm Retreat.
It’s great to be shining an international spotlight on Queensland’s spectacular Capricorn Coast (Rockhampton Region) where cowboys really do meet the coast.

(Move cursor over photo for captions)

The Ridgeline

 

Welcome to Henderson Park and Mount Hedlow. Nice shot, Rebecca Farr.
Candlebark Creek (or Hedlow Creek for real)
Candlebark Creek
The interlopers
THAT favourite fig tree
Muster, herding, whatever! 🙂
Mount Hedlow in the mist, by David Barrett
Ahh! The deck and Ava’s cook’s cottage
The brittle, brown plains
Pretty Boy and Ed – farm stay favourites
That tree again.
At my teeny tiny desk
I really am writing this book. See the names on the screen.
From my writing desk
Love cows!
The campsite at sundown
The dreaded prairie oyster
Ouch! The crush.
Mount Hedlow in morning mist
Ed and me in 2015
Marie and Pretty Boy
Researching with The Little Dude dog aboard.
The moon over Ivy-May
Good night
My writing desk
Salt plains and Mount Hedlow
Not looking too shabby for 17 million years of age!
Dash! Who thinks he’s a farm dog.
Strangler fig
The strangler fig
Curious creatures
The Dude Dog was NOT impressed
More company
Our camp site
Yes, even Ryan’s sausages inspired me!
Thanks Annika and family for letting us stay so long!!
Our Cawarral campsite, not far away and perfect for my edits.
Sonya’s cute dog is based on Coco-licious. Only she’s not a Cav!
Cool dude with John Tate’s horse, Paddy
Just because they inspire me
More horsey inspiration. Thank you John and Michelle and the Carwarral kids.
Everybody’s talking about the book.
Everybody!!
With The J
He was interested until the bit about the prairie oysters!
Nope! Not reading THAT bit.
‘Rockhampton Queenslander’ by John Newman
Capriconia Region – where the cowboys meet the coast.

Thank you to Annika and Ryan at Henderson Park for providing many of these images. These images are copyrighted and cookied and, therefore, not for downloading. Thank you for respecting our copyright.

 

 

And the cowgirls!

It’s real! Go there. www.hendersonpark.com.au

Available now on ebook. CLICK to view options. Print books out  March 19 (AU and April 5 (UK)