#writeroundoz – Jenn J McLeod – small-town storyteller

Posted on 18/04/201621/04/2016 by Jenn J McLeod — 8 Comments

#WriteRoundOz w/ Kayte Nunn (giveaway)

As I travel around this beautiful country in my caravan, I sometimes get to ‘go home’. I’m heading to my childhood to see…Kayte Nunn on Sydney’s breezy northern beaches.

Kayte Numm Thank you for letting my park my rig on your…

Front lawn.

What’s that I see written on your ‘welcome mat’?

Did you bring the wine?

(You never have to ask!)

Now…

Downsizing my life into a 24 ft caravan meant leaving lots of things behind in boxes. What (or who!!) would you have trouble leaving behind if you took off in a caravan?

My (admittedly dwindling) wine collection. My KitchenAid Stand Mixer (well, in my dreams I have one. The reality is a battered hand mixer, but it still turns out great cakes).

Whose home would you like to visit in your caravan and why?

I’d park it outside Eddie Redmayne’s house just for the pleasure of seeing his beautiful cheekbones every day. Alternatively, I’d park it outside John Denver’s ranch (yes, I know he’s dead but I bet he lives on a ranch in heaven), and ask him to sing Annie’s Song to me.

Do you REALLY have room at your house to park a fifth wheeler caravan and do you mind visitors? (Oh, sorry, you don’t have to answer that one!!)

Country curiosities…

My latest novel, Season of Shadow and Light, has a strong horse theme. (I love what horses can teach us). If you were an animal what would you be?

A giraffe. They are so tall they can reach the highest branches, they have gorgeous long eyelashes and move with a lanky elegance (quite the opposite of me!).

You’re cooking and your food going up against the best cooks from the CWA (Country Women’s Association). What would be your winning dish?

Cake. Cake and more cake. I love to bake. I’ve just got a batch of caramel date cupcakes out of the oven, actually. Procrasti-baking is what I do best when I am supposed to be writing.

About you…

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Sitting down at the computer – see procrasti-baking, above.

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

Because all the recent bestsellers have the word ‘the girl’ in them (The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl, the Girl in the Red Coat): The Girl Who Loved Cake (and wine).

Favourite four…

Favourite place in Australia: Whitehaven beach. I have been there twice and always come away wishing I had more time there.

Favourite holiday destination: Anywhere where the sun is shining and there’s blue water or plenty of powder snow.

Favourite movie: Before Sunrise.

Favourite quote: ‘Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you… And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.’ ~ Marianne Williamson

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

I’d read poetry to you – the First World War poets probably, Edward Thomas, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke…

Time for… Fact or fiction. (Giveaway)

Kayte, you’re a fiction writer. How about you tell us a secret and we’ll guess if it’s true or not. Every comment goes into the draw.

Okay, folks, to go into the draw to win a print copy of Rose’s Vintage* take a stab – fact or fiction?

“The heroine, Rose, in Rose’s Vintage is really me.”

(* Aust postal addies only – sorry o/s folk.)

Connect with Kayte:

Website: www.kaytenunn.com

To buy: http://www.booktopia.com.au/rose-s-vintage-kayte-nunn/prod9781863957991.html

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27813678-rose-s-vintage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kayte-Nunn-1024204577640591/

Posted on 09/06/201508/06/2015 by Jenn J McLeod — 2 Comments

#WriteRoundOz w/ Chris Taylor (WIN)

A few years back, when managing a writing competition, was the first time I saw the synopsis for The Profiler. I remember thinking at the time it sounded like a great story. Now I have Chris Taylor, from NSW, on my blog with a copy of The Profiler to give away to one lucky reader.

Hi Chris! Thank you for letting me park my rig in your front paddock. I’ll be sure not to run over the lovely row of oleanders you have growing there.

What’s that I see written on your welcome mat?

“Beware of the kids”

Living in a caravan means I miss my HUGE refrigerator. If I looked in your refrigerator right now, what would I find?

Lots of leftovers. I cook huge meals and then feed the kids leftovers for the next few days. Saves me having to cook every day. They complain of course, but I’m the boss, right?

Downsizing my life into a 24 ft caravan meant leaving lots of things behind in boxes. What (or who!!) would you have trouble leaving behind if you took off in a caravan?

With five young kids, it will be a long time before I get to leave anyone behind for a caravan!

Whose home would you like to visit in your van and why?

Hugh Jackman because he is so hot and so darned nice!

Do you REALLY have room at your house to park a fifth wheeler caravan and do you mind visitors? Oh, sorry, you don’t have to answer that one!! 🙂

I live on 25 acres about 10km from my nearest town. There is plenty of room, Jenn. Drop in anytime!

(Oh, 25 acres. Yowza!)

Country curiosities…

My latest novel, Season of Shadow and Light, has a strong horse theme. (I love what horses can teach us). If you were an animal what would you be?

I love horses, too, but I would like to be a dog. Everyone loves dogs and they get lots of attention.

You’re cooking and your food is going up against the best cooks from the CWA (Country Women’s Association). What would be your winning dish?

Angel food cake

(What is angel food cake? Sounds sweet?)

About you…

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Plotting. I like to sit down and summarise the story from start to finish before I begin. Once I have my summary, the writing comes easily.

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

The Aussie author from the bush who made it big!

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

Never given it any thought, Jenn. I always try to answer honestly, no matter the question.

Favourite things…

Favourite place in Australia: anywhere along our beautiful coastline

Favourite holiday destination: Nashville, Tennessee

Favourite movie: Les Miserables, starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway

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

Read for you from one of my favourite books!

WIN a paperback copy of Chris’ first book in the Munro Family Series, The Profiler.

Tell us one of your favourite books (it does not have to be one of ours!) to enter the draw. Winner announced end June 2015. (*Aust postal address only*)

Posted on 15/05/201512/05/2015 by Jenn J McLeod — 11 Comments

#WriteRoundOz w/ Sandi Wallace – WIN!

#Write Round Oz is dropping into Sandi Wallace in the enchanting Dandenong Ranges in Victoria.

Sandi, thank you for letting me park my rig on your …

… drive? Hmm, it’s a bit tight. Am I going to knock over a rhododendron or two on my way out?

Oh, I hope not, Jenn! I’m rather attached to my rhododendrons.

Oh! Oops about the rhododendrons but what’s that I see written on your ‘welcome mat’, Sandi?

Enter at own risk. Crazy writer lives here.

I miss my HUGE refrigerator. If I looked in your refrigerator right now, what would I find?

I’ll go check… Phew, lots of healthy stuff (I’m a personal trainer in my ‘other’ life) and uh-oh, a couple of things well past their use-by.

Downsizing my life into a 24 ft caravan meant leaving lots of things behind in boxes. What (or who!!) would you have trouble leaving behind if you took off in a caravan?

It might be cosy with my hubby, dog, two cats, and me, but I couldn’t leave any of my family behind. Out of the household items, I’d probably miss my lovely big bookcases the most.

Do you REALLY have room at your house to park a fifth wheeler caravan and do you mind visitors? Oh, sorry, you don’t have to answer that one!! 🙂

If you can’t get the van up our curving drive, you can park on the verge out front and you’re very welcome, just let me know in advance. 😉

Country curiosities…

My latest novel, Season of Shadow and Light, has a strong horse theme. (I love what horses can teach us). If you were an animal what would you be?

I love horses too, although I haven’t been riding in a long time. I’d be a horse or a cat. I’d choose horse on one of my energetic, ‘I want to be outside and free days’, cat when I’m feeling lazy, ready for a snooze in a sunny nook of the house. That pretty much sums up my active and sedentary/personal trainer and author personality split!

You’re cooking and your food is going up against the best cooks from the CWA (Country Women’s Association). What would be your winning dish?

I do a mean spaghetti! Look out lovely ladies at the CWA.

(Ooooooh! CWA ladies everywhere are quivering in fear!!!!!)

About you…

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

I can fall into the trap of thinking too far ahead and need to work on focusing on the ‘right now’.

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

The Armchair Detective

Favourite four…

Favourite four characters in my book Tell Me Why: John Franklin (he’s a maverick cop, so just flawed enough, and looks lovely in and out of his blue uniform), Georgie Harvey (far from perfect and never boring, I love this gutsy woman), Pam Stewart (she’s a bit naughty and would make a brilliant grandmother) and Franklin’s daughter, Kat (a chocolate box without descriptions, she brings back good and bad memories – sorry, Mum! – of being fifteen-going-on-twenty-five).

Favourite place in Australia: Home (in the Dandenong Ranges), Daylesford, Harrietville and other country towns – we tend to swap one hill (home) for another on our holidays.

Favourite holiday destination: Country Victoria but I’d like to do a little overseas travelling with my hubby one day.

Favourite movie: I’m hooked on crime movies but can’t re-watch them too often because the plot stays too fresh in my mind. The movies I tend to see repeatedly are rom-coms like The Holiday and Love Actually. Who doesn’t love a bit of romance?

(*snap* my fave movies too – along with Dirty Dancing, of course!)

Favourite quote: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

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

I’d ask, ‘Tell me why?’ We’d chuckle. I’d wink, then talk about my book Tell Me Why and how it came to be published.

And I’d say… Tell Me More, Sandi Wallace!

Tell Me Why is book one in my Rural Crime Files series and my debut novel. I’m pretty stoked to have achieved step one in a lifelong dream to be the writer of a crime series and standalone books. It is an authentic, gritty, rural crime story with a touch of romance and stars Franklin and Harvey. They will return in book two, Black Saturday, which will be released later this year.

Give us the blurb.

Picturesque Daylesford has a darker side.

Melbourne writer Georgie Harvey heads to the mineral springs region of central Victoria to look for a missing farmer. There she uncovers links between the woman’s disappearance and her dangerous preoccupation with the unsolved mystery surrounding her husband.

Maverick cop and solo dad John Franklin is working a case that’s a step up from Daylesford’s usual soft crime; a poison-pen writer whose targets are single mothers.

Georgie’s investigation stirs up long buried secrets and she attracts enemies. When she reports the missing person to the local cops, sparks fly between her and Franklin. Does he dismiss the writer too quickly?

A country cop, city writer, retired farmer and poison-pen stalker all want answers.

What will they risk to get them?

What will be the ultimate cost?

___________________________________________________________

WIN a print (signed) copy of Tell Me Why.

We are looking for the funniest or best response to: ‘Senior Constable John Franklin has just flashed the strobes and whooped the siren on the marked four-wheel drive. He is waving you over to the verge. What have you done?’

Winner announced here, on the blog in two weeks. Australian postal addresses only.