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Archive for the Category »Red Dust «
Feb
08
Today there is a catastrophic fire danger for the South coast of WA. It’s gonna be a stinker of a day and we’re just about to have another meeting to see if the Bushfire Brigade are going to issue a Movement of Vehicles in paddocks ban.
There’s a smoke haze from a fire to the north of us and the wind is a strong northerly that’s sending shivers up my spine. Today is not a day for a fire.
But first up, we had a mob of 1,700 sheep that we had to shift. We had bought them from our neighbours and it was time for them to see their new home!
We started at about 5am with two dogs, Anthony, the two kids, a mate and his daughter and me.
We had to push them across a main road and then down a side road to where we had laid down a fence to let them into our paddock.
The kids did an amazing job of being sheep shepard’s and we brought the sheep down the road without any problems! They’re now in their new home, awaiting some animal husbandry work that we’ll be doing on Monday.
On a Red Dust note, I found out yesterday from my publisher that it was the highest selling novel, across all of the Australian publishers, for 2009, from a debut author. I’d just really like to thank all of you who bought copies. You’re the only reason this happened.
Also, the winner of Sharyn Munro’s book, Woman on the Mountain, was Alison, who has been notified, although I’m just waiting for her to get back to me with an address so we can send it off.
Our guest blog next month is Helene Young, who will be giving away a copy of her new book, Border Watch.
**PS! It’s now nearly the end of the day and I think we had about seven fires across the Esperance shire. Some close to home. Right now I’m listening to the wonderful sound of rain on a tin roof, knowing that all the fires should be under control. Some spots have had terrential down pours and other areas have had a steady rain, that is just enough to dampen the fires and our worry. We are so thankful for rain on days like today.
Category: Country Life, Farm animals, Photos, Red Dust, The Farmer's Life, The Writer's Life
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Dec
06
I hope that the five copies that I’ve given away will make lovely Christmas presents for all who get them!
As you can see from the photo we resorted to the old fashioned method of ‘draw the name out of a hat’! Hayden stood on the chair and held the hat up and Rochelle drew five names out of it!
The people who won are: Regina, Mandykate, Anita, Chantelle Smith & Laura. I’ve been in contact with these ladies and will be posting their books on Monday.
Thanks to all who entered – and please do come back, I’ll be giving a way copies of Blue Skies, very soon!
Category: Books, Red Dust
One Comment
Sep
29
I think it’s fair to say that we’ve had our fair share of dust storms over the last week!
This photo could have been the start of the storms that hit Sydney. Taken in the north of SA (thanks Helen Williams) it shows not only the destructiveness of high winds and dry land, but how people can get caught in these events and not make it out.
The storm can be upon you in no time and the choking, enveloping dust, let alone the wind, makes life sometime unbearable for these station owners. The storms leave layers of dust, inches thick and clean up can take ages. You can bet your boots that the tiny grains will infiltrate every crevice of the house, sheds and vehicles.
Dust storms aren’t that uncommon in the north and they were the thought process behind the title of my book Red Dust – although I hate them.
Category: Red Dust, Red dust country, Weather
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Sep
01
‘Fleur dusts up a storm’ – according to RRR Network News!
A while ago I was asked to write a piece, for the RRR Network News, about how Red Dust came into being.
RRR stands for Rural, Remote and Regional Women. It’s a wonderful magazine that connects rural women together, finds women who are doing amazing things and tells the rest of WA about them
If you follow this link, you’ll be able to read the piece and find out a little more about Red Dust!
Click here for the RRR web site.
Category: Red Dust
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Jun
24
Dad was up pre-dawn to fly north for a couple of days, which meant he had to drag Mum out of bed. (There are no lights on the bush airstrip, so mum sits down the end of the strip with the car lights on, so Dad could see the end of the runway and be airborne in time).
This particular morning, Mum, who isn’t an early riser, snapped some beautiful photos of the sunrise, including the silhouetted house dam windmill.
This is a spectacular Red Dust sunrise – just imagine, though, how amazing it would have been flying towards it!
Category: Country Life, Red Dust
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Jun
02
When I started up the computer this morning, I had a lovely email from my German publishers!
There was an attachment with the cover for Red Dust which is due out in Germany, in April 2010.
Only there they have changed the title to Wilder Eukalyptus.
It blows me away to think that it will be on the shelves in another country this time next year!
Category: Books, Red Dust, The Writer's Life
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May
04
Red Dust is available at all good bookshops today! Hope you all enjoy it and please make sure you let me know in the comments!
Category: Books, Red Dust
23 Comments
Apr
27
A taste of what is to come … here’s the Prologue from Red Dust:
Tears rolled down her cheeks as Gemma stood looking into the grave, a lonely figure in the hot January sun. All the other mourners had since left for the coolness of the church hall seeking welcome cups of tea or cold drinks.
With her arms wrapped around herself she couldn’t decide what hurt most: the fact that he was gone, or what he’d said before he died.
In her mind’s eye, 29-year-old Gemma saw herself driving over the hill in the ute. There was dust everywhere; more than was usual for shifting a mob that size. The red dust was swirling, the wind was blowing so hard she could only hear the roar in her ears, not the bellows of the cows nor the noise coming from the plane.
Category: Books, Red Dust
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Apr
20
I’m waiting for the phone to ring. My stomach’s churning, my finger nails bitten to the quick and still it’s silent. Taunting me! Then the shrill tone cut through the air and even though I’m expecting the call I jump like a startled rabbit and my stomach plunges to the floor!
It’s my first interview!
The happy, English voice of a lady echoes down the phone and introduces herself, then fires questions at me. I stumble and stutter my way through, breathe a sigh of relief once the questions stop coming and thank God that it’s a magazine interview not radio and no one will hear my ‘Um’ or ‘ah’s’ that drive my mother to distraction!
Category: Red Dust, The Writer's Life
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