Purple Roads
Purple Roads
January 28, 2012
Purple Roads by Fleur McDonald
I’ve been hanging out to show you the cover for Purple Roads and here it is! Isn’t it beautiful? Lisa White, one of the amazing Allen and Unwin designers, has excelled herself, once again.
There is also a book trailer to whet your which you can take a look at here: 
April 2 is release day but like I said previously, you may see it in shops a week or so before hand.
BLURB: When Anna and Matt finally buy their dream farm, their struggles aren’t quite over. First it’s patchy rain and poor crops, then Matt has an accident … and even when the heavens finally open all might yet be lost. An exciting new novel full of romance and mystery from the author of the bestselling Red Dust and Blue Skies.
Anna and Matt Butler were childhood sweethearts with a dream of owning their own land, a dream they achieved through hard work and determination.
But as the seasons conspire against them and Matt is involved in a terrible accident, the couple face financial ruin and the loss of their farm.
As they fight for everything they hold dear, they suddenly find themselves caught up in events much bigger and more dangerous than they could ever have imagined.
Purple Roads is a story about maintaining faith in yourself, staying true to your ideals and, most of all, the belief that some things are worth fighting for.
You are able to pre-order Purple Roads from Booktopia ( www.booktopia.com.au ) if you would like other online bookstores.
And the sun sets on Purple Roads
January 20, 2012
I feel sick.
I’ve got butterflies and the shakes. And on top of all that, I’m nervous (and a worrier!).
The sun sets on my new book, Purple Roads
Purple Roads is heading to the printers on Monday. That’s it. Done. Finished. There’s nothing more I, nor my editor, can do. The sun has set on this journey.
I get like this any time I release a book – oh except perhaps for Red Dust. I’m not sure I understood what releasing my work into the world of critics, reviewers and readers actually meant then. I sure as hell do now.
I’m probably going to be slightly hard to live with, as April 2 grows closer. Of course I’ll do my best not to be, but every time the email ‘pings’ with a new message, or the phone rings, I’ll jump and open/answer them with fear grinding in my stomach.
It might be a review.
I still haven’t held the book in my hand yet – hopefully sometime over the next three weeks I’ll get to do that. I know when I do, I’ll probably cry. I’ve poured my heart and soul into Purple Roads and as I’ve mentioned before, it was written through a difficult period for our family. (Silver Gums is being written under the same pressure and it’s something I’ve learnt to deal with).
So now it’s all done it’s just up to you guys. I’ll be looking forward (I think) to your thoughts, when it does hit the shelves. And please, do let me know.
The release date is April 2 but often books can be found in shops a few days earlier, so you may see it around the end of March.
We’re just putting together the publicity schedule and as soon as I know where I’m heading, I’ll be letting you all know!
Rochelle and Meita
So for me now, I’m off to enjoy the rest of the school holidays with the kids and help in the feedlot. I’m looking forward to that!
Maybe if I’m really lucky, I’ll get some beach time.
Esperance at it's most beautiful
A week of wonders!
January 8, 2012
Mount Howick
Yesterday we woke to our hill being shrouded in heavy, low cloud and gentle showers pushing up from the coast. It was a beautiful way to start the day, especially after the pounding we had on Thursday evening.
It was the most incredible thunderstorm I have ever seen and we netted a whopping 46mm over a space of about three hours! It has definitely fixed our water problems for this year.
The Boss always says low dams can be fixed within a matter of minutes if you’re under the right thunderstorm. Well he was proved right!
Last week was a pretty amazing week for me. I became an aunty for the second time, a little girl named Lexy Grace, was born to my sister, Susan and her husband, Nathan.
I saw the redesigned website which will be launched in about three weeks and I’m so happy and excited with it. I can’t wait to show you all and see what you think.
The final cover for Purple Roads made it’s way into my in-box – you’ll all see shortly.
I was asked on Facebook what it was like to hold a book I’d written in my hand. It’s a difficult feeling to describe. On one hand all I want to do is run around and scream, shout and cry. On the other side it’s almost a feeling of reverence as I look at the cover and see my work bound inside a beautiful cover ready and waiting to go on the shelves.
I wrote about seeing Red Dust for the first time here and how we country authors have to go a little out of way to get our books!
Loretta Hill wrote a gorgeous blog about seeing someone buying her book, The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots, when it first came out earlier this month ( http://lorettahill.com.au/?page_id=67 ). You can feel her excitement and pleasure at this. I think every author has a dream to see someone buying or reading their book in a public place like an airport – I know I have. Although it’s never happened to me, I still hope I might!
So Gaby Cumming I hope this answers your question!
What was wonderous about your week?
Purple Roads
December 27, 2011
Blurb for Purple Roads (cover to follow soon!)
Purple Roads will be available in April 2012.
When Anna and Matt finally buy their dream farm, their struggles aren’t quite over. First it’s patchy rain and poor crops, then Matt has an accident … and even when the heavens finally open all might yet be lost. An exciting new novel full of romance and mystery from the author of the bestselling Red Dust and Blue Skies.
Anna and Matt Butler were childhood sweethearts with a dream of owning their own land, a dream they achieved through hard work and determination.
But as the seasons conspire against them and Matt is involved in a terrible accident, the couple face financial ruin and the loss of their farm.
As they fight for everything they hold dear, they suddenly find themselves caught up in events much bigger and more dangerous than they could ever have imagined.
Purple Roads is a story about maintaining faith in yourself, staying true to your ideals and, most of all, the belief that some things are worth fighting for.
Purple Roads edits make it to the mailbox in Perth
December 5, 2011
I’ve had a trip to Perth recently and I took advantage of not having any ‘distractions’ such as kids, husband or farm, to finish the edits for Purple Roads. I worked until late on Tuesday night and although I will never say I’m ‘happy’ with it – that’s just not in my nature; I am more relaxed about the book now. It was lovely to have many hours just thinking about the story line, Matt, Anna and all the other characters without interruptions.
On Wednesday morning, about 7:30, in desperate need of a coffee, after my midnight bedtime (I’m usually in bed by 8:30pm most nights on the farm and I still wake at 4:30am no matter what time I go to bed!) I wandered off in search of caffeine and a mailbox. (I took the express post bag containing the manuscript and edits with me.)
After calling into The Dome, I knew the next job had to be done. I quickly stuffed the parcel through the mailbox before I could change my mind, took another sip of coffee. Refusing to think about it any more, I took off down the street before someone reported a mad woman trying to break into a mailbox in the centre of Perth.
Wednesday was busy and once my appointments started, I hardly had time to remember I had posted Purple Roads off, let alone think about it.
As I had stood in front of the mailbox, the previous day, working out when it had to be in the box by to make it to my editors desk by the 1st of December, I had read that collection times were 3:30pm, everyday.
Purple Roads by Fleur McDonald is mailed in Perth
After a full on day, that afternoon, I needed to escape the confines of the hotel room and took off for a walk down Adelaide Terrace, only to see the mail man and his van parked next to the box that contained the Purple Roads package… Unaware that he was being watched, the mailman emptied the mailbox and drove off in his van. I stood there and followed his path, wondering what the future was for that little manuscript that he was carrying.
The end is nigh…
November 22, 2011
There is a lady in Esperance who, every time she sees me, asks me if I’m writing my next book. When I say yes, she’s always surprised, but even more so when I say I have a deadline.
‘Oh, you have to write to a deadline?’
‘Yes, yes I do,’ I nod.
‘Really? I thought you’d just write and when it was ready you would send it in.’
‘No, I can’t do that, I’m afraid.’
You see, publishers are businesses. They need to have books signed up long in advance. Their publishing list needs editing, selling, marketing and many other things that start long before the book actually physically is on the shelf in a bookstore.
The booksellers and the bookshops need to know too. So yes, I and every other author work to a deadline. Sometimes this can stifle the creativity and make me want to bang my head against a brick wall. Other times it spurs me on. A little pressure never hurt anyone!
Edits of Purple Roads, due out April 2012
My editing deadline for Purple Roads is Thursday. I still have about ten chapters to go. Normally this would be easy – three or four hours at the most, but as I’ve said in my last few posts, I’ve been pretty busy and don’t seem to have found any more time in the day. (If anyone has can you tell me where to purchase it please?).
Edits can be really confronting. As you can see in this photo, there are lots of squiggly lines, words crossed out, words put in and suggestions made in the margins. When I saw my first edit on Red Dust, I just about had a heart attack! Editors use symbols and it was like learning to read another language.
So as I try and get out of harvest for a day, to finish these edits, I’m looking forward to Thursday with a mixture of anticipation and horror! Horror, knowing that I have to do in a few short days and anticipation realising the journey of Purple Roads is just about complete.
Editing and Harvest don’t mix
November 18, 2011
As the time for the unedited proof copies of Purple Roads to go to the printers, nears, my editing time seems to be shrinking – gasp!
Late last week I got the third round of edits back and although there’s still a reasonable amount to do, there is a backlog of farm and housework that wants my attention too. Harvest has started and for a couple of days last week, I was on the chaser bin.
Thursday, thinking I had a day at home, I quickly loaded the washing machine to the brim, threw on a loaf of bread and a cake and sat down at my office desk to start. Unfortunately all of these activities were still in play when the phone call to go and help in the sheep yards came. Nothing that any other farmer’s wife wouldn’t understand.
Rocket is Fleur McDonald's new Editor
Today, I’m thinking about taking the phone off the hook and turning the two-way down. Anna and Matt (the two main characters in Purple Roads) need my attention and to be honest, I need them. I have a few ideas racing around my head that I need to somehow work into this edit.
And obviously my new editor thinks it’s time that I worked on Purple Roads again. He seems to have that look on his face. Or maybe he just wants the opportunity to curl up at my feet and sleep.
I wonder if the boss would come looking for me if I didn’t answer his calls?
Posted in Country Life, Farm animals, Harvest, Purple Roads, The Farmer's Life | 
Tags: edits, grain, Harvest | 
2 Comments »
The scent of hay
October 14, 2011
The Esperance Show is next Friday and Saturday and without fail we are usually making hay.
Many years ago, we would be showing lambs or involved with the carcass competition (both cattle and sheep), but good quality hay is now more important that anything else. Especially when the season cuts in early like it has the last few years.
So the good ole green and gold John Deere tractors and mowers are now in the paddock cutting both oaten and pasture hay. We put our first bale out yesterday and things are looking good for many more to come. The cows are always very excited to see a full haystack at the beginning of summer!
I love the evening at this time of the year too; the warm days usually cool down at night and the colours of the crops ripening against the evening sky always fill me with wonder. It doesn’t matter how many times I see this sight, I just love it, especially when the scent of freshly mown grass wafts up to the house. I have to admit, I don’t like what I know is coming — hot weather! I’m not a summer girl.
So once the hay is made, we’ll be starting to swathe the canola, and then harvest the barley. Enough to keep us out of mischief, without the edits for Purple Roads, which I’ll have back next week, or planning for Silver Gums, which I’ve already started and am very excited about.
So if I’m quiet for a while, you’ll know why.
Spring has sprung
September 6, 2011
I thought I’d share some photos I’ve taken this week. It’s been a strange mix of weather: warm and humid, inky black skies and heavy drizzle. Normal spring weather.
The sounds of spring are about. There is a constant buzzing – flies. There’s the bellow of sheep as we get them into the yards to weigh the lambs, and when we’re not listening to sheep, there is a still silence that pervades when there’s no wind. Being so close to the coast, Esperance is known for wind of the outside variety! It’s quite weird how it seems there isn’t any noise until the wind stops, and then the silence can be deafening.
This time of year the country looks like a huge patchwork quilt from the air. Rich, green crops mingle with the bright yellow canola and then less green pastures. It’s so obvious where the crops start and stop, especially when you look at this photo of the canola against a fence.
Spring is a busy time outside, but finally last night I started the edits on Purple Roads. Hopefully I’ll meet the deadline!
Name and win!
July 27, 2011
Here’s a Purple Road. This was taken somewhere between Ceduna and Port Augusta.
Would you like to name two characters in my newly finished book, Purple Roads? Well here’s your chance:
At the moment, their names are Cam and Belinda. Cam is a truck driver, while Belinda is a stay-at-home mum with four boys. I don’t really know why I put poor Belinda through torture, but there you are.
This couple are quite integral to the book, so while you’re not naming the main characters, Cam is mates with one of them.
So to do this, you must answer two questions by emailing me at competitions@fleurmcdonald.com
- What is your favourite thing about bookshops?
- If you could have dinner with your favourite character in a book, who would it be?
Entries must be in by August 22nd and the winner will be announced on the 29th. As well as naming these characters, you will win a book pack worth $60, a personally autographed copy of Purple Roads and a mention in the acknowledgements.
I thought it would only be fair if I answered the questions too, so my favourite thing about a bookshop is the mysteries it holds. Just walking through the door often gives me goose bumps, or just makes me smile.
The character I would most like to have dinner with is Harry Bosch from Michael Connelly’s books. I swear I’m just a little in love with him!
