The Lawson Sisters
I’m absolutely thrilled to announce my new book – The Lawson Sisters.
This is my thirteenth book – but despite superstition – I don’t think it’s at all unlucky.
The whole idea for this story developed in my head while I was staying with a friend in the Scone region of New South Wales. I am so often inspired by locations and this was no exception.
I loved looking at the brood mares grazing, with their huge round bodies as they waited for their foals to come. As for the foals – how much time is it possible to waste just watching them play? The answer – a great deal.
The Upper Hunter is also a place of wonderful, historic properties, each with stories to tell about the families that built them.
While reaching The Lawson Sisters, I also spent a day in a wonderful historic homestead that has been turned into a wedding venue, in Queensland. The staff there were so helpful in telling me about the work it took to convert the property and sharing stories of some of the weddings held there. Continue reading
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2020 Writing Retreats
I’m pleased to announce three new residential writing retreats for 2020. The weekend retreats will be led by RNA Chair Alison May and myself.
The dates are…..
- Early Spring Retreat – 31st January-2nd February 2020
- Summer Retreat – 12th-14th June 2020
- Autumn Retreat – 30th October-1st November 2020
The all-inclusive retreats are designed for new writers just starting out and for more experienced writers, who are looking for some time to focus entirely in their writing. And where better to do it that just outside Stratford Upon Avon.
There’s more information here.
It’s not too early to start dropping hints about Christmas presents.
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A new venture
If you’ve never done online learning – don’t worry. It’s easy and fun
I’m about to start on a new venture.
I teach writing, and run workshops and retreats. In my day job, I do online training for a technology firm. So I now get to combine the two and launch my first Online Writing Lab
This course is being carried out under the banner of the Romance Writers of Australia – and I thank them for inviting me to teach this .
It’s about self editing. We all do it – but do we do it right? Continue reading
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Nick and Lauren’s story continues
Last year, Royal romances were in the air so I wrote a fun flirty romance. It was a lot of fun to do and readers have said some lovely things about it.
I’ve just been told that Marrying The Rebel Prince is a finalist in the Write Touch Readers’ Award, sponsored by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Romance Writers of America.
Thank you wise readers. I love you all.
Winners will be announced soon – keep your fingers crossed for me.
Lovely!
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Jane, Elizabeth and Me.
Peggy Ann Garner as Jane and Elizabeth Taylor as Helen.
My relationship with Jane Eyre goes back to 1943. No – I’m not that old. That’s when the black and white film of the book, starring Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine was released. I saw it many years later – and the part that really moved me was the time young Jane spent at the Lowood Institution – and the tragic death of Helen, played by a very young and angelic Elizabeth Taylor.
When my collaborator Alison May and I set out to write our second Bronte-inspired book as Juliet Bell – it had to be Jane Eyre. And I had to write that section of the story.
We moved the book in time and place and The Other Wife is set in Australia in the late 1900s. Continue reading
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The Other Wife
A beautiful cover – but there are dark secrets within.
Somehow I’ve managed to release three books this year. One has been as Janet Gover and two as Juliet Bell, which is the pen name for my collaborations with my friend Alison May.
Juliet Bell has an interest in misunderstood classic literature, and classic heroes who are maybe not so heroic… especially by today’s standards.
That being the case, you can probably guess the inspiration behind our second book – The Other Wife. I’m not going to put any spoilers here, but the cover and blurb will tell you that we have set our story in Australia from the 1960s to the 1980s.
This was a time of great change in my homeland, just as it was all over the world. Continue reading
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A second award nomination.
So very proud of this book
I’m absolutely over the moon .. because Wedding Bells by the Creek has just received its second award nomination. It’s a finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year Award. Wow.
The first book in the Coorah Creek series was also a finalist in this award and it’s so lovely now to see this 5th book recognised in my home country.
Wedding Bells tells the story of two people who are no longer young, and who have been somewhat beaten up by life. Continue reading
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My Number #1 Royal Wedding Fantasy
My very own royal wedding invitation.
Are you sure you are ready for this?
This is the first time I’ve been in this country for a big royal wedding. I was in New York when William and Kate married, and watching a royal wedding in the US is a whole experience in itself. They love a royal wedding over there almost as much as we do.
I guess my invitation to this royal wedding must have been lost by the Royal Mail. But that’s all right. I made my own invitation to my very own royal wedding.
The funny thing – when writing the book, which was before Harry and Meghan were even officially dating, I had my bride invite a lot of everyday people to fill the courtyard around the palace chapel to join in the fun. And of course, that’s exactly what Meghan did. Now I am curious to see if THE dress in any way resembles mine. Or the flowers. Or…
So – do you want to know my number one royal wedding smile… Continue reading
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Royal Wedding Countdown #2
Hats. It’s all about the hats.
We have hats in Australia of course and I’ve worn a few. But mostly the hats I’ve worn have looked like this…
This is an Akubra hat, as worn by anyone and everyone in the Australian bush, including me.
Here in the UK – my hat wearing has mostly been at music festivals… and might not have been done in a ‘proper’ fashion. Continue reading
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Royal Wedding Countdown #3
Vegemite on toast. YUM! But not exactly right for a royal wedding breakfast
The strangest royal wedding souvenir ever almost topped my royal wedding chart… almost
I was born in Australia remember, and Australia is a Vegemite nation. You either love or hate Vegemite. Personally, it’s my go-to food when I need a bit of cheering up or if I can’t be bothered making a ‘proper’ meal.
It takes a lot to beat Vegemite on toast – with lashings of melting butter. It’s very important to put the butter on while the toast is still hot so it can melt, but you don’t want it all melting. You need some of it to mix in with the Vegemite too.
The amount of Vegemite has to be carefully considered. If you’re a Vegemite newcomer, the merest scraping is enough. For hardened Vegemite addicts like myself, about a teaspoon is right, if applied with the right amount of butter.
And, I can hear you asking, what has this got to do with the royal wedding? I’m so glad you asked. Continue reading
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