Tag: Helene Young

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Picture it. Win it.

I love pictures of the country.

I forgot all about this photo. (Well, it was a while ago!) I can’t even remember exactly where it was but I snapped it, dreaming about living in the country and one day telling country stories.

Twenty-five years later I am living that dream, writing my small town stories on a small property in regional NSW. And I reckon this photos says “come home to the country”.

My next blog post will invite you to share what characterises small town life to you, with every comment going into a draw to win an autographed copy of Helene Young’s latest novel, Burning Lies. (You can even post a pic if you are better with a camera than a pen! I will tell you now.)

Like me, Helene chooses wonderful regional settings for her stories. With Burning Lies it is the Atherton Tablelands – a sprawling farming area to the west of Cairns, which the senior Captain for Australia’s largest regional airline says is inspiring, both on the ground and from the air. “The abundance of abandoned airfields from the war era, the scattered population, and vast tracks of undeveloped wilderness lends itself to a suspenseful, rich and compelling love story.”Burning Lies cover

So my friends – country and city – start thinking about that perfect small town (real or imaginary, as a picture or in words) and pop back here next week (19th) for your chance to win Burning Lies.

 

 

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The Lucky Seven – Jenn J McLeod

There’s this ‘thing’ going around. It’s called “The Lucky Seven” and the clever Juliet Madison has tagged me.

The challenge: Post seven lines from an unpublished work of fiction.

I have chosen lines from my debut novel House For All Seasons (release date May 2013) a story about four women reconnecting with their country roots.

The Golden Rules of this challenge:

  • Go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript
  • Go to line 7
  • Post on your blog or Facebook page the next 7 lines, or sentences, as they are – no cheating
  • Tag 7 other authors to do the same

So here goes: House For All Seasons, Page 77, line 7:

‘As for me,’ he said, taking Sara’s hand. ‘I prefer a more traditional hello. Welcome to my home.’ He tugged her arm, pulling her down until he could kiss her on both cheeks, lingering a little longer than tradition, in Sara’s estimation. ‘Come on in.’

The affectionate welcome had set a kookaburra amongst the butterflies in her stomach. Will was fast becoming Sara’s constant companion, if not in person by day, then in her mind each night in bed when she closed her eyes and imagined she was sixteen again, and brave.

Well, there it is. Now it’s back to Facebook to tag some 7 writer friends to do the same. Seven very different but wonderful authors.

Bronwyn Parry, Helene Young, Lisa Heidke, Anita Heiss, Jaye Ford, Christine Stinson, Dianne Blacklock

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If you can’t beat ’em, read ’em – Australian Women Writers Challenge 2012

Woo hoo Elizabeth Lhuede for initiating this challenge. What a champion, promoting Australian women’s fiction across the blogsphere. This is another wonderful opportunity to support our writers.

The challenge: help counteract the gender bias in reviewing and social media newsfeeds that has continued throughout 2011 by actively promoting the reading and reviewing of a wide range of contemporary Australian women’s writing.

I’m accepting the challenge for 2012, although not aiming too high. ‘Stella’ level sounds pretty good to me (read 3 and review at least 2 books) even though there are sooooo many good authors with books due out next year (not to mention this year): Helene Young, Rachael Johns, Lisa Heidke, Rae Roadley, Bronwyn Parry, Fleur McDonald, Fiona Palmer, Cathryn Hein, Kylie Griffin, Jaye Ford, Mandy Magro, Annie Seaton, Karly Lane, Jenn J McLeod … no, not really. Just seeing what it would look like 🙂

My motto for 2012: if you can’t beat ’em, read ’em!