A Rural Writer’s Life

Please welcome Mandy Magro to the blog today. A fellow Penguin Australia author, Mandy’s new book, JACARANDA, has hit the shelves and I’m sure it will be a roaring success as was her debut novel, Rosalee Station. Looking forward to reading it very soon! Over to you, Mandy 🙂 Hi Helene, it’s so lovely to Continue reading


The Importance of Great Mates!

Today the very talented Shannon Curtis is visiting the blog. A fellow Australian Romantic Suspense writer, Shannon’s also a wonderful raconteur and I’m looking forward to interrogating her at this year’s RWA Conference on the Gold Coast! Without further ado, it’s over to Shannon (and there’s a giveaway so join in the conversation to win!) Continue reading


Library Lovers

This morning a dedicated band of readers braved the rain and wind in Cairns to visit Smithfield library for a  National Year of Reading author chat with me. Thanks to Sivan and her team of librarians (they are so different to the librarians who had me terrified into submission when I was a child!) for Continue reading


The Road to Pingaring

Fiona Palmer, author of three lovely stories all set in rural Australia is my guest today. Her latest release ‘THE ROAD HOME’ is a wonderful heartwarming story about one girl’s struggle to prove to herself and her brother that she can run the family farm. Thanks Helene for having me. I can’t wait to get Continue reading


Mission Possible

Mission Beach will always be special for me and this weekend added more great memories. GW and I headed south out of Cairns on Friday night so I could conduct a writing course on behalf of the Queensland Writers Centre on Saturday. The brand new Mission Beach Community Arts Centre hosted the day in their Continue reading


R*BY 2012

Today was supposed to be a no blog day. In fact it was supposed to be a limited internet day as I’m hurtling towards a deadline with the story still taking shape. I’m on reserve for flying hoping the phone doesn’t ring but I just have to share my good news! Shattered Sky has made Continue reading


Masochistic tendencies…

Why oh why do I do it…. I have an end of May deadline for my next book on top of an already busy month with two library visits and a QWC writing course to run in Mission Beach, but still I go and buy irresistible books!! (And over the next month these three lovely Continue reading


Sarianti

Anyone who’s dined at our place will recognise the photo on this page as I am proud to have the largest collection of Sarianti dinnerware and I love it! (If you’re really lucky then you may have a piece or two of your own!) Tanya Sarianti is an award winning artist who also happens to Continue reading