I must say, the setting alone is wonderful in this author’s novels: wartime Australia – Perth WA. The stories are great and just look at the gorgeous covers.
The best news is, we have a copy of Taking A Chance to giveaway this week. See below for details.
Welcome to the Harvest, Deborah.
Start by telling me if it’s scones and tea or some other homemade delight you have whipped up for me today? 🙂
It’s – ta da – a Thermomix orange cake. I adore my Thermomix.
(What the heck is a Thermomix? Sounds like we are back in the 1940’s again!)
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, but a cement duck and two tin brolgas that are delightfully rusty and fall over in any strong wind. And because we live in Perth, the Fremantle Doctor does for them most afternoons in summer.
(Okay, you’d best explain The Fremantle Doctor in a comment!)
What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?
Avocados! We have a huge avocado tree that grows a fabulous crop of tiny little avos every year . . . and every year whatever fruit the Fremantle Doctor doesn’t blow away, the birds manage to knock off. Grrr.
(Damn this Doctor – whoever he is!)
If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find? 
Lots of left over soup, oodles of vegetables (because we have a weekly delivery of organic veges that we never seem to get through). And too much wine.
(And I assume the Fremantle Doctor character is a bit of a freeloader as well? Oh, and there is NEVER too much wine!)
If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)
Bluey green – to match my eyes. I adore that deep blue-green colour. And yes, sadly, I sort by colour twice a year and then watch as it all gets mixed up over the months in between.
(Woot! We have our first official sorter! Well, the first one to actually admit to sorting, think! Good on you, Deb . And may I say, that photo of you in red is just lovely.)
What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)
Comfy pyjamas in a sort of snowflake motif, red dressing gown and brown ugg boots – you had to ask!!
(Nothing lovelier than a lady in red!)
Whose home would you like to housesit and why?
Rivendell. Love those elves …
Country curiosities…
We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?
One that’s not too dressy and has a wide brim and can be scrunched up and thrown into a handbag or a suitcase. Our Perth sunshine can be a killer.
(Perhaps you need to see a doctor about that!)
If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?
A silver birch, because they’re so beautiful and remind me of Finland. And they grow in Bridgetown where we have a holiday cottage.
Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?
The plot demanded it.
(I’m disappointed, Deb. I was sure he was off to see that Fremantle Doctor!)
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?
When I had a phone call from my agent on my birthday two years ago, and she told me that Pan Macmillan had made an offer for my manuscript of A Stranger in my Street.
(Wow! I had a call from MY agent the day before my 50th. No wonder we clicked online.)
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Having to stop to eat, or sleep or go to the day job and not being able to just WRITE.
(Oh yeah!)
Fun stuff …
What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his/her creator.
My family say that Meg (from A Stranger in my Street) is a lot like me so I suppose she’d like to spend time with me.
Nell (from Taking a Chance) is the sort of woman I’d like to be – taller and slimmer and braver and better looking, with much better fashion sense . . . Hmmm, Nell’s a kind person and she likes older women, so I think we’d get on, especially if I could help her out on one of her journalistic crusades.
If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
Elizabeth Bennett – I fell in love with Pemberley and Mr Darcy when I was sixteen. I’m sure I’d cope with them both for a week.
(I was kinda in love with Mr Darcy too–until he appeared as a 12 foot statue. Now he’s just creepy!)
If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?
Tell you all about Perth in World War 2 – I love to share my research, and most of it doesn’t get into the novels.
(I would LOVE that! I may break into my very own rendition of The Andrew Sister’s Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy!)
What food would you be?
Did I mention how good my orange cake is?
(No, but I am happy to try it!)
What was the best thing before sliced bread?
Porridge – hey, I’m part Scottish?
Name 5 uses for a stapler that has not staple pins.
- Weapon
- Doorstop
- Something to amuse Jacob and Olive (the step-grandchildren)
- Paperweight
- Piece of contemporary art
How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).
I’m a lawyer who writes romantic murder mysteries set in World War 2 – my legal eagle friends think it’s 9.9. I think I’m about a 5.
How wonderful. Great Q&A, Deb. I loved Stranger in my Street. (Readers: see my Goodreads review.) All the very best with Taking A Chance.
Oh, what’s that? You are giving a copy away? Woo hoo!
Okay, readers (Aust) here is your chance. So take it!
Leave a comment and tell us which character you would want to see as a statue and in what situation. Deborah will pick a winner in 7 days from now.
Find out more about Deborah and her stories www.deborahburrows.com.au