Happy Birthday, Dear Blog

Happy Birthday, Dear Blog

The blog turned one-year-old this week, on March 25th to be exact. Just before its first birthday, the blog hit 20,000 views. Considering that it doesn’t have a theme, I don’t blog on a particular subject of expertise, and I don’t have a product...
The Novel: An Update

The Novel: An Update

I haven’t been writing as much for the blog, nor stalking reading and commenting on other blogs. I’ve spent less time on Facebook (a good thing), replying to emails (not so good), and my poor family haven’t seen much of me (definitely bad). I’ve...
The Light Between Oceans, by M L Stedman

The Light Between Oceans, by M L Stedman

This is M L Stedman’s debut novel, released in 2012. The story is set in the 1920’s, on Janus Rock, a tiny island off the Western Australian coast. Tom and Isabel Sherbourne are the sole inhabitants of Janus, where Tom is the lighthouse-keeper. They are meant to...
Why I Walk

Why I Walk

Every day I walk—it’s become something I have to do. It keeps me sane, as well as fit. The dog enjoys it, too. I need to exercise outdoors—I’ve never been a fan of gyms. One year, I bought a gym membership for $440 and used it eight times. At only $55 per visit,...
Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett

Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett

Wow! I can’t write a review of this novel in my usual way so this is more of a ‘reflection’. That’s because of the emotions this story stirred. As a reader, I was completely captivated. And heartbroken. I forgot I was a writer. I only wish...
‘Sea Dog Hotel’, by Marlish Glorie

‘Sea Dog Hotel’, by Marlish Glorie

Sea Dog Hotel was self-published late last year by Western Australian author Marlish Glorie. Don’t let the fact it was self-published put you off — this work has been professionally and thoroughly edited so it presents as if from a publishing house. Anyone...
Back in the Attic

Back in the Attic

Well, it was nice to get out of the attic and roam around Tassie for a while: we hauled backpacks through Cradle Mountain National Park, then visited the sights in and around Hobart. My family then left and I spent six days alone in the northeast of Tassie,...
Tribute to a Sister

Tribute to a Sister

This piece was first published as a series on my blog in September, 2013, which I’ve edited and pulled together to make this essay.  After my sister died in 1987, I wanted to write about her and her death, but it has taken me over 25 years. There were many...
AWW 2013 CHALLENGE WRAP-UP

AWW 2013 CHALLENGE WRAP-UP

I was late joining the Australian Women Writers Challenge 2013, not starting until May, but I signed on for the Franklin level anyway — to read ten books written by female Australian authors and review at least six of them — and managed to complete...
Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain

I’ve been off-line lately whilst we’ve been on holiday. Not that I would call what we’ve done ‘relaxing’. Far from it. But we completed something that we’ve always wanted to do: the Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair Overland...