Most mornings when I’m in Sydney I go for a walk. The contrast from the beach where I live and the city is energising. I have the best of both worlds. I know the houses now by their dogs (and the occasional cat), by the smells from their gardens and by the muted mumblings of Continue reading
Author: Helene
I live by a beach just north of Cairns – my own tiny slice of paradise in North Queensland. When I'm not writing, you'll find me flying Dash 8 aircraft for QantasLink around regional Australia.
I write romantic suspense with feisty, confident heroines who (not surprisingly) work in the aviation industry. My stories are set in the top end of Australia – a wild and wonderful, larger-than-life environment just begging to be showcased in anticipation-filled novels.
Diplomacy or honesty?
I chuckled my way through this article over morning coffee. “Diplomacy not a strong suit for Britain’s ambassadors as they head home.” The Australian has a story on the valedictory letters sent home by retiring ambassadors. Oh, but I’d love to see some more of them!! I think the Brits are wonderful (I’m married to Continue reading
Headed north…
At the airport and the sky sullen. I can sympathise. I feel like a sulky child that’s had her toy taken away. For one glorious week I’ve pretended to be a full-time writer. Now it’s back to reality… I’m a full-time pilot, and writer in my spare time. But I’ve had a taste now of Continue reading
And here we are!
Celebrating our wonderful week!
Last day at Varuna :-(
The last day. Tomorrow the alarm will wake me at 05.15 and I’ll start the long trek home to the north. For the first few hours I’ll have company. David is catching a flight home as well. He’s headed for Harare and Africa. His journey will only be half complete when I’m home, hand in Continue reading
Eleanor’s Life
Started reading Eleanor Dark’s biography, “A Writer’s Life”, at 2 am when the roar of the wind woke me. I felt I owed it to the woman, whose studio I’m writing in, to understand something of what her life had been. For a woman in the 21st Century it’s easy to forget how women born Continue reading
Another day of wonderment
Sitting in the presence of such creativity is clearly working. The words flowed and flowed and flowed some more today. And surprisingly it was the “love scene,” which is usually a difficult part to write for me… Don’t know whether I should admit that solitude is clearly inspirational for the sensuous side of life? Maybe Continue reading
A Day of Community and Conversations – Varuna
Five writers, five different stories, five different lives. The morning’s conversation wove its way through so many themes. From David came the observation that African natives build in circles – both houses and villages. Western societies build in straight lines. Is that why the cultures clash so tragically? From Toni, a beautiful story about a Continue reading
Varuna – LongLines programme
Wow, I’m here. After the weekend from hell, Varuna is a slice of paradise. Highlights of my weekend included forgetting to take my reading glasses to work and then discovering my boss had turned up to do a routine check of my performance and I could barely read the simulator screens, let alone my notes… Continue reading
What price will travellers pay for clean, green aviation?
The aviation industry has spent the last one hundred years dealing with rapidly advancing technology. Is it ready to face the changes that will be imposed by Emission Trading Schemes? Kevin Bullis of Technology Review doesn’t believe so. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/23561/?a=f The article makes some interesting points about how far technology can go to reducing carbon emissions. Continue reading