I live in Melbourne, Australia, with my retired, jack-of-all-trades husband, a bonkers (but adorable) Jack Russell terrier named Sparky, and Meesha, a fluffy black cat who will run you down for sardines. Our three wonderful children have all grown up and flown the nest but we get together for regular family lunches.
When I'm not writing I love to travel, do yoga, walk Sparky, bake bread, grow herbs and vegetables, swim in the ocean, drink wine, eat chocolate, and read. Not necessarily in that order.
Before I became a writer I was a marine biologist. My scuba diving days are over but I still love to potter around the intertidal zone. I’m a long time member of Toastmasters. I joined to overcome my fear of public speaking and stayed for fifteen years because ordinary people tell the most fascinating stories about their lives.
I’ve written some books and won the odd award. You can check them out here.
UPDATE: Sadly, Meesha died a couple of weeks ago, aged nearly 16 years. We rescued her as a kitten and she was a much loved member of the family. She's now buried in our yard and we planted an apple tree on her grave to remember her by.
When I'm not writing I love to travel, do yoga, walk Sparky, bake bread, grow herbs and vegetables, swim in the ocean, drink wine, eat chocolate, and read. Not necessarily in that order.
Before I became a writer I was a marine biologist. My scuba diving days are over but I still love to potter around the intertidal zone. I’m a long time member of Toastmasters. I joined to overcome my fear of public speaking and stayed for fifteen years because ordinary people tell the most fascinating stories about their lives.
I’ve written some books and won the odd award. You can check them out here.
UPDATE: Sadly, Meesha died a couple of weeks ago, aged nearly 16 years. We rescued her as a kitten and she was a much loved member of the family. She's now buried in our yard and we planted an apple tree on her grave to remember her by.
What I'm reading
Black Tide by Peter Temple. A Jack Irish crime thriller set in Melbourne, Australia. I love Peter Temple's writing and his characters. So much so that I'm re-reading the entire series.
Nevertheless by Alec Baldwin. His autobiography. He's definitely a flawed human being but his account of his life is thoughtful, well-written and interesting. Worth a read.
The Magician of Lhasa by David Michie. The first book in his new spiritual thriller (!) series. Flipping between the past and the present, from ancient scrolls to nano-technology, the story forges an intriguing connection between buddhist monks fleeing Chinese soldiers in 1949 and a modern day scientist in California. This series is a big leap from Michie's Dalai Llama cat series but just as engaging. You don't have to believe in buddhism to enjoy this story but it helps to keep an open mind.
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. I LOVED this book! Based on the true story of the creation of the Oxford English dictionary but really about the Esme, who sits beneath the table where the men are working on the dictionary and salvages the lost slips of paper with words on them. It's a story about the dictionary, the suffrage movement and how Esme salvages the words of women who are otherwise invisible.
Nevertheless by Alec Baldwin. His autobiography. He's definitely a flawed human being but his account of his life is thoughtful, well-written and interesting. Worth a read.
The Magician of Lhasa by David Michie. The first book in his new spiritual thriller (!) series. Flipping between the past and the present, from ancient scrolls to nano-technology, the story forges an intriguing connection between buddhist monks fleeing Chinese soldiers in 1949 and a modern day scientist in California. This series is a big leap from Michie's Dalai Llama cat series but just as engaging. You don't have to believe in buddhism to enjoy this story but it helps to keep an open mind.
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. I LOVED this book! Based on the true story of the creation of the Oxford English dictionary but really about the Esme, who sits beneath the table where the men are working on the dictionary and salvages the lost slips of paper with words on them. It's a story about the dictionary, the suffrage movement and how Esme salvages the words of women who are otherwise invisible.
What I'm watchingLodge 49 Strange but sweet with likable lead characters. Still trying to figure out if there's a point to this show.
Twin Norwegian dramedy/mystery about identical twin men, one easy-going but irresponsible, the other responsible but uptight who love the same woman. It gets really interesting when one of them dies and the others cover it up! Great secondary characters, and the scenery above the arctic circle is spectacular. |
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What I'm CookingThe weather has turned cold here in the southern hemisphere so lots of soups and hearty one pot dinners. With the last of the cherry tomatoes from my garden I made a tomato and blue cheese tart with a cornmeal crust.
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What I'm Writing
Book 3 in my Sweetheart, Montana series, about Sarah, Brianna's friend from SAY I DO, and Daniel, the brother of her late husband. It's a sweet story about a second chance at love.
What I'm Grateful For
We're going on a road trip to South Australia to visit Adelaide and the wine regions of the Clare and Barossa Valleys. This will be our first journey of more than an hour or two from home in over a year. Looking forward to a change of scenery.