Mary Macarthur’s Hunter Valley Home
The home of one of Elizabeth Macarthur's daughters looks set to be relocated - to make way for coal mining. According to this online article, The 1820s Ravensworth Homestead in the Hunter Valley, among the [...]
Come to my seminar!
Sometimes the most compelling non-fiction stories are about other people. Whether you’re writing biography, interested in ghost writing, drawing together your family or local history, or even thinking about feature interviews – if you want [...]
Book Clubs
Book clubs really are the best, aren’t they? People with a common interest—reading—coming together to talk about books, ideas, and issues. Also, possibly to drink some wine, eat some cheese and catch up with some [...]
All About Author Talks
I won’t lie – I LOVE doing author talks. Since my book was published in April 2018 I’ve delivered many talks and interviews. Clearly I’m not a proper writer though, because apparently real writers are [...]
Summer Fiction – my top three so far
In the approach to Christmas I was in something of a reading slump but these three novels picked me up and had me reading late into the night. Yes, of course I read more than [...]
Writing Residencies
Eight lucky Australian writers have recently been awarded overseas residencies by the Australia Council. But are writing residencies all they’re cracked up to be? According to industry magazine Books+Publishing, Lisa Gorton, Robert Lukins, Fiona McGregor [...]
Tax – more interesting than you think
When it comes to Australian literary prizes – did you know that the prize money is taxable? Yes, you read that right. Next time you win the Miles Franklin, after you’ve sobered up from the [...]
Kate Grenville’s new book
So some of you might know that Kate Grenville has a new book coming out this year. A novel. About Elizabeth Macarthur... Kate Grenville is, like me, one of Text Publishing's stable of authors and [...]
Speaking at SLNSW
I've been promoted! Apparently I'm now a member of the B-list which, according the blurb at the State Library of NSW is "an exciting, new style of book club hosted by the award-winning author and [...]
And now shortlisted – OMG!
In my last post I was thrilled to announce that Elizabeth Macarthur had been longlisted for the 2019 CHASS Australia Book Prize. Now I'm even more delighted to announce that Elizabeth Macarthur is now one [...]