Posted on 25 Comments

Author Harvest ‘bales up’ Rachael Johns (with giveaway!)

Author Harvest

photoRachael, both Jilted and Man Drought have such intriguing first chapters, making them impossible to put down. So intrigue me now. Describe the special treat you’ve whipped up for me today.

If I knew you were going to come round, I would TRY to whip you up something fabulous but alas, I seem to have lost my ability to cook, so you’d probably end up with a plate of Choc Mint Slice biccies (Arnotts) – they are my fave!
(Truth is, you could do a fictional spread and I’d be happy, because what you’d make up, just like your books, would be more than satisfying. Awww!)

At home with …

My mum says garden gnomes make a house a home! Are you loud and proud in your love of garden gnomes at home – or a closet gnomer?

I am a HUGE fan of garden gnomes. My granny always had some in her garden and so when I got my own garden (I use the term loosely), I of course bought a few gnomes of my own. All these gnomes were having a perfectly fine life until my son came along a few years later and at about two became obsessed with them. The collection grew quickly because we bought him a cheap gnome whenever we saw one. Unfortunately he insisted on carrying at least one (sometimes two) gnomes around with him wherever he went, which often resulted in serious accidents. We had a gnome hospital and graveyard in our life for quite a few years. Sadly, not many gnomes made it past my son’s early years and our garden today is sadly lacking.

(My fave garden gnome is Jamie Drury! Am I allowed to say that?)

What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?

Snow peas. We have done so quite a few years and it is so great to be able to pick a few and enjoy whilst in the garden.

(Agreed. I love slicing them very fine-on an angle-and using them as a garnish and in salads.)

If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find?

Too many things past their use-by date and lots of Diet Coke!

You are such a ‘Stand Out Star’ (hehe, couldn’t resist that one!) If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out?

(Oh wait, let me guess! Umm…pink?)

Pink would be the predominant colour but sadly, I don’t sort ANYTHING!!!

What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)

Comfy black yoga pants and a stripey Bonds tee. Not planning on going out again today, not that I’d necessarily dress up more if I was – lol

If you were to housesit someone else’s home, whose home would it be and why?

My Aunty and Uncle’s holiday house in Queenstown NZ. It’s halfway up a mountain, overlooking the lake and quaint tourist town- I love it!

(That would be ‘One Perfect Night’ then, eh?)

Country curiosities…

We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?

I actually really love wearing caps!!! Have done since I was a wee lass. In year seven one of the boys and I had this thing going – both of us always wore caps and we’d always say to each other, “You’re not so good without your cap!”

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?

I would like to be a cat! In a good house. I reckon those cat’s have it good. Mine is in bed (mine) like twenty-three hours a day!

Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?

Because the grass is greener on the other side!?

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 signed my first contract!!! And then when I got my first REAL deadline – writing a book my publisher had already bought. EEK!! It’s scary on this side of the fence!

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

The last third of the book. It seems to flow until then and I’m quite happy with what I’ve written but when I hit this point, I always start doubting my ability AND the book’s excitability!

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?

The Night Woman – cos I have night terrors and this freaks me out a lot. It freaks out my husband too! But at night, I feel almost like I have no control over myself. This sounds scary and it is, but it would make an interesting book.

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Can’t think of anything. See I’m really very boring!

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 protagonists love me cos I give them life!!! Although sometimes they want
to throttle me because of the things I throw at them, but they are all very
forgiving.

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?

Kate Middleton – hehehe, have always had a thing for Prince Will!

(Well, right now you’d have to have a thing for morning sickness! Poor girl.)

If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?

Log you onto Facebook!

(Well, at least you won’t leave me ‘Jilted’!)

What food would you be?

Red velvet chocolate cake with cream cheese icing!

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

Books

How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).

5

(You are so NOT average, Rach.)

Find out more about Rachael and her books below.

And, in case I haven’t plugged Rachael’s books enough, we are giving away a copy of Man Drought!
Leave a comment, telling us what you do that freaks out your partner/kids/parents/etc.

And… If you enjoyed this interview, there are loads to come over the summer, autumn and winter harvests. While you’re here, why not do as Rach does and subscribe to my blog so I can deliver blog excerpts straight to your INbox.
(See SUBSCRIBE option – top right of this page)

The winning comment will be announced here one week following this blog post.
Until then, post away.

Giveaway closed: The winner of Man Drought is Lily Malone. (Winner chosen by independent reader (aka house guest) and decision based on … and  I quote… “how desperately she sounds like she want the book.”  I had to agree!

Thank you everyone for dropping by.

Blogwww.rachaeljohns.wordpress.com

Websitewww.rachaeljohns.com

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/RachaelJohns

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachael-Johns/260103224001776

 

Posted on 22 Comments

Author Harvest ‘bales’ up Karly Lane

Hi Karly,

A ‘quick’ trip down the highway and here we are. Karly. Congratulations on rural romance book three — Bridie’s choice. Speaking of choice… Do I need to make one? Is it scones and tea or some other homemade delight you have whipped up today?

Photo: Marie Miller

Tim Tams… you can’t go wrong with Tim Tams…plus I don’t want to kill you with my cooking….

(And after reading some of your answers, below I am not going to complain. You join my list of ‘do not let this woman near a stapler’ people – right alongside Juliet Madison and Jaye Ford. Ouch!

A little Jenn fact: Karly Lane was the first person I saw demonstrate ‘The Tim Tam Slam’. Impressive!

Now, Karly, 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 here…no self-respecting garden gnome would set foot in this mad house!

What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?

Kiwi’s actually…and blueberries…

(Yum!)

If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find?

Depends if you’re fluent in species of mould .I’m pretty sure I’ve grown a whole new variety in the food in the back of my fridge.

(Ahh… not so yum!)

If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)

Oh you’re are a funny one, Jenn…sort!!!!! I’m lucky if my clothes get from the folding basket TO the wardrobe!

(I love that you call it a ‘folding’ basket rather than an ironing basket. LOL I have one of those too.)

What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)

Well thanks to the stupid weather we’re having at the moment, I have a combination of winter jeans, summer t-shirt and jumper…with thick socks..I look sexy 😉

(I know what you mean…. about the local weather, not so much about the looking sexy bit!!!)

Country curiosities…

We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?

I don’t do hats…but I love my boots.. bring on winter, I say! You can NEVER have too many boots!

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?

A cat.. who had one of those ‘special’ owners who leaves the mansion to their pets in their will…I wouldn’t be a good stray…I need to belong to a rich person…yep, I think I could handle that.

Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?

Cause chooks are stupid. Obviously it saw something move in the wind and ran across to see if it was editable…well, that’s what my chooks would do anyway, despite the fact the greedy things have more chook food than they can eat right there on this side of the road…

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?

The day I saw my first book on a shelf.

(I remember that day too! I remembering buying the book and saying, “my friend wrote this”. Your 4PAN writer friends were all so excited for you. It’s lovely being a member of such a supportive bunch.)

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Having the patience to work through a plot problem.

(That sounds like what I call ‘a black hole’. Nasty place.)

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?

Memoirs of a Sex Goddess Housewife…

(With a ‘folding’ basket, a mould-filled fridge and not-so-sexy sock feet! Hmmm!)

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Q. Are you really a Sex Goddess Housewife?

A. Why yes…yes I am.

(Cute!)

Fun stuff…

What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his/her creator.

Of course…my characters want to remain alive in the sequel.

If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?

I would attempt to cook you something…I’m told that’s pretty funny.

What food would you be?

I don’t think I’d like to be food…would kinda suck really…not much of a life expectancy is it?

(Unless you are in your fridge apparently!)

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

A really sharp bread knife.

Name 5 uses for a stapler that has not staple pins.

  1. a paper weight,
  2. a book mark,
  3. a bug killer,
  4. a weight to pin a spider in place till hubby comes home to kill it,
  5. for getting someone’s attention when the TV is too loud to hear you.

 (Crikey! I gather this is on a bad plotting day!)

How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).

1 …I’m completely sane…everyone else is weird.

Tell us about your latest Allen and Unwin release 

Bridie’s Choice

Bridie Farrell and Shaun Broderick come from opposite sides of the tracks. But unlike Bridie’s family, who are perennial strugglers, the Brodericks are the wealthy owners of Jinjulu – one of the most prestigious properties in their local district.

All her life Bridie has longed to leave the small town she grew up in. But time afer time family responsibilities have kept her anchored there. Meanwhile, Shaun’s dream of taking over the management of Jinjulu is dashed by his dictatorial father who tries to rule Shaun’s life both on and off the farm.

The Brodericks are dismayed when Shaun falls in love with ‘that Farrell girl’, whom they deem unsuitable. And they don’t just make their feelings clear to Shaun but to Bridie as well.

Faced with a choice, Bridie must decide whether to turn her back on her heart or her dreams in order to make the biggest decision of her life…

From the author of the bestselling rural saga North Star and Morgan’s Law, this absorbing novel is about alternative destinies and the power of love.

While you’re here, why not leave a comment. Or subscribe to jennjmcleod.com to have future posts delivered to you inbox.

Thank you Karly and readers. http://karlylane.com

http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=651&book=9781743311608

 

 

Posted on 14 Comments

Author Harvest ‘bales up’ Sara Foster

Jenn J McLeod Sara Foster

I’m pretty excited to have ‘baled up’ Sara Foster for Author Harvest. It’s a bit of a fan moment *blush* having this author of three novels: Come Back to Me (Finished it last week. Intriguing!); Beneath The Shadows; and her latest released Shallow Breath.

Enough of that though. Let’s get to the important stuff. Tell everyone what you’ve whipped up for me today, Sara.

I love scones but haven’t tried making them. Would you like some chocolate cake or lemon drizzle cake instead?

(Yes, a little bit of both would be lovely. Thanks for offering! Umm, a little bit more… Yes, cream AND ice cream would be lovely. No, no, I’m fine, keep going… I’ll tell you when to stop.)

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?

We haven’t been blessed with any gnome dwellers at our place as yet, but if we struck lucky and one decided to set up camp here, I should imagine we’d be pretty loud and proud about it. (We do have a lot of smurfs, so I don’t think gnomes are too far away.)

(Sara, you may be aware of the recent court case in which Smurfs claimed they were, in fact, gnomes. Apparently they argued their case until they were blue in the face… hehehehehe!)

What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?

I always have ambitious plans for veggie patches – we have had some success with rampant zucchini, self-seeding tomatoes (which escaped the compost bin) and a zealous lemon tree – but I’d love to be able to grow more – potatoes, watermelon, onions, carrots, tomatoes, I’ll eat them all!

If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find?

If it’s a Monday you’ll find lots of fresh veggies. If it’s a Friday you’ll find few veggies, and a bottle of wine.

If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)

I don’t sort it by colour (but I do sort it by garment type!). I think you would find a lot of neutrals with some splashes of colour now and then. (Hmm, sounds a bit boring!)

What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)

Luckily (because I will be honest) I’m wearing a blue Dangerfield dress and leggings.

(I’ll be honest. I have not idea what A Dnagerfield dress is. Should I? All I can picture is Rodney Dangerfield  in drag. Not pretty! 

It gets worse. After searching for a suitable image and finding this one, now all I can hear is Fozzie Bear going: “Wocka Wocka Wocka!” )

Whose home would you like to housesit and why?

This is a very useful question! If any readers out there have a property in the Lake District suitable for an enthusiastic couple and a house-trained three-year-old, let me know as I’m planning to do some research there next year and as yet have nowhere to stay!

Country curiosities…

We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?

I find hats hard – they look nice but I don’t enjoy wearing many of them. I do like bandanas – they don’t fly off so easily in windy Perth. I sometimes worry that bandanas have an ‘age-by’ date (which I may have already passed), but I don’t want to stop wearing them!

(I like scarves – not that I can wear one without looking like ‘Con the Fruiterer’. Instead I put one of my characters in scarves.)

If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?

Again, too much choice! Today I’d be a cat so I could curl up and have a nice long nap.

Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?

Because the grass is always greener on the other side?

About you…

Your turning point: when was that point in your life that you realized that being anJenn J McLeod Sara Foster author was no longer going to be just a dream but a reality and a career?

Sometimes I still feel like I’m in the dream! I’d say a big turning point was going to Sydney to meet publishers, and signing my first contract with Random House. Or perhaps even just getting an agent – that was a big score.

(I think you have a cover angel looking after your designs too.)

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

The business side of writing is sometimes tough, but at other times exciting. Deadlines can also be daunting, but I’m getting used to it!

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?

Planet Foz – because some of my friends call me Foz, and I’m often in my own little world.

(Oh no! Now I am totally fixated on Fozzie Bear. Now all I can picture is YOU plucking away at your keyboard saying: “Wocka, Wocka, Wocka!!”)

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Q: How does it feel to have sold a million books in the first week of publication?

A: Amazing.

(Oh! Yeah! Love it!)

Fun stuff…

What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his/her creator.

I’m pretty sure I would get on well with all my protagonists – but we have already hung out intensely, and there comes a point where we both need a break!

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?

I always find it hard naming just one. Perhaps the Dalai Lama would be fun – to experience that much inner peace would be lovely.

If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?)

I’d read you the first two chapters of my book!

(I have to say… that single question at the beginning of chapter one is powerful stuff. And that, reader/writers, is some hook!)

What food would you be?

Chocolate – then I’d eat myself.

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

Enormous sandwiches.

(Oh, good thinking. I’ll be in that? What’s your favourite filling?? Mine is peanut butter and vegemite together. Yum! )

Name 5 uses for a stapler that has no staple pins.

  1. Giving it to a three year old. Stated purpose: ‘safely practicing stapling’. Real purpose: ‘five minutes of peace.’
  2. Covering with green paint and pretending it’s a crocodile to entertain said child.
  3. Litter picking tiny pairs of worn pants found in random places.
  4. Removing old pieces of toast that have been hidden down sofas, under car seats, etc.
  5. Pretend microphone (for child, not me of course!)

 (Inspired!)

How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).

Sometimes 1, sometimes 10, depends on the day (and who you ask).

(And if you have a stapler in your hand at the time!)

Sara’s books are fantastic reads (have just finished Come Back To Me). Her latest – Shallow Breath – is out NOW. For information about Sara and all her books – http://www.sarafoster.com.au/

Blurb: Shallow Breath

Two years ago, Desi Priest made a horrific mistake and destroyed her family.

Now, she is coming home to make amends: to her daughter Maya, who’s nurturing her own dangerous plan; to her brother Jackson, who blames himself; and to her close friend Pete, who has spent years shielding her from a devastating truth.

But as Desi returns to her beloved house by the ocean, there is a stranger waiting for her. Someone who needs her help. Someone whose arrival will reveal a chain of secrets hidden for over twenty years.

And one by one the family will be forced to confront the possibility that they have somehow got things terribly, tragically wrong …

Set across five continents, Shallow Breath is a compelling novel of dashed dreams and second chances. But most of all it is a story about love, and what it really means to be free.

Did you enjoy this interview?

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See who else has taken part in the harvest so far – HERE.

Author Harvest is just getting started. There’s plenty more in store with, summer, autumn and winter harvest.