Visit Kylie’s blog and win a copy of Border Watch

It’s my turn this week to be a guest on someone else’s blog. Kylie Griffin, fantasy fiction writer and contest maestro, is hosting me at her blog  – www.kyliegriffin.com. Drop by and have a chat. I’m giving away a signed copy of Border Watch and, in the interest of broadening my knowledge of Australia, the question Continue reading


Kylie Griffin – Emerging writer (and RWA Contest Diva!)

Welcome to my blog, Kylie. It’s lovely to have you here. Hope your Christmas and New Year were full of fun and laughter. I loved reading your blog about your goals for 2010. Thanks for the invitation, Helene! I had a lovely cold Christmas lunch with my parents here at home. Unfortunately my sister and Continue reading


And the truth of the matter is?

So my roster’s changed and I’ll be in Sydney for another three nights… sigh… Wonder if Zeus, the demented staffie, will remember me? Lets hope my husband does… I took this photo of a sunrise over Yorkey’s Knob a couple of weeks ago, but only downloaded it today. Didn’t realise what a deep pink the Continue reading


Of possums and mangoes

Last night at about 2 am, right after the sixth run of emergency sirens had wailed up Vulture St, the resident possum came galavanting across the corrugated iron roof wearing her hobnails boots. Cranky with the world for keeping me awake I figured I might as well get up and say hello. What else did Continue reading


Sounds a bit fishy…

I grew up in East Brisbane and coming home to visit always throws up something interesting. I love my early morning walks threading my way through the backstreets, enjoying the changing face of the suburb and smiling at the growing sophistication that’s come to a working class suburb. Nothing shows that cosmopolitan journey more than Continue reading


Magpie song

For the last three days I’ve been staying at my parent’s home. It always feels a little weird to be in the house alone. The ghosts are a benign presence, more silent guardians than intrusive interlopers. The traffic roars up the road outside in an incessant rumble (dare I day 24/7…) The sounds of neighbours Continue reading


Random acts of kindness

Today is one of those days when I’m proud to be a member of the human race (and I don’t always feel like that). My mother’s in hospital in Brisbane after falling and breaking her leg (she’s 87 years old so her bones aren’t as strong as they were. She used to bounce right back Continue reading


Guest Blog with Fleur McDonald, author of “Red Dust”

Hi Fleur, welcome to my blog. I’m very excited to have you here chatting with me! For those who haven’t already discovered her,  I’d like to introduce Australian Author, Fleur McDonald, and her wonderful book  ‘Red Dust.’ “After the tragic death of husband in a light-plane accident, Gemma Sinclair is left with the daunting task Continue reading


Hamster fetish? Give me a spa room any day…

I can understand people treating their pets like children (Zeus the wonder Staffie is definitely NOT a dog…) but treating myself like my pet maybe going just a tad too far for me – especially if that pet’s a hamster. Check out this ABC story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/17/2745682.htm Apparently people are paying good money to be treated Continue reading