Category: A Novel Adventure

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My Weird and Wonderful Book Launch 2019

It’s here!

Rather than the clink of champagne glasses and the chirp of book-loving friends and family all talking at once, there is a country hush today, with bird chatter and the odd crow cawing  the only sounds as I celebrate the release of my sixth novel – House of Wishes.

There are a few reasons why it will be a quiet one for me this year. This image from the Fires Near Me App might say more than words. (I’m at the big red arrow)

As I sit, staring out the window at the thickening smoke and ever-diminishing mountain range, I’m silently wishing for rain, or a reprieve of some kind for those closer to the bushfires.

Right now I’m looking after a house in northern NSW (caring for a couple of pregnant cows, a deaf cat and several chooks). I arrived three days ago, and with all the fire activity and handover information about evacuation plans, only to day (release day) did I make myself sit down at the computer.

And as I looked around the place, I realised something amazing…

Ever since 2013 (after releasing House for all Seasons) I’ve looked everywhere for a house that I could photograph that might resemble (in some small way) Dandelion House, which features in the novel. I was never going to find a house built on an island in the middle of the Calingarry Crossing river, but…

As I sat down today, and began some promotional posts on Facebook, I saw the house I’m looking after for the first time. And what did I see?

I saw my fictional Dandelion House with its homestead facade and French windows opening up onto a wrap around veranda. Not only that, this house I’ve found myself caring for has a history. In fact, it was build in the late 1800’s – the same as my Dandelion House.

 

Built my the Mackerell Family

 

This gets even crazier…

Look at the decorator cushion!!! Ladybugs are a motif that runs through House of Wishes.

Yes, the fire situation in NSW has made my new release one to remember, but I’m going to find the joy in how life sometimes imitates art (or is it the other way around?)

There’s a new noise outside now… In the sky… Helicopters are circling.

I’ll go for now, but I will find a moment to enjoy this country celebration – just Jeannette and I. Yes, there will be champagne later today.

Calingarry Crossing Novels are standalone reads. Special two-book price on my web shop for the first two.

Whether you’ve read House for all Seasons and Simmering Season, or you choose to come home to Calingarry Crossing for the first time by reading my new, standalone Calingarry Crossing novel – House of Wishes – you want this good news!!

The good news…

I am extending my ‘new release free postage offer’ on print copies until Nov 30. (Details on my web shop –  www.jennjmcleod,com). Ebooks are also a special price.

The giveaway…

I am also giving away a Kindle version to one lucky person. 

All you have to do to go into the draw is add add House of Wishes as a Want To Read before December 24.  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48269663-house-of-wishes  (Winner drawn Dec 25!)

Come back to the small town with big secrets where Dandelion House has one more secret to reveal. (And you may catch up with a few cameo characters.)

I’m off now to check the RFS Fires Near Me App and make a few wishes.

Cheers!

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Look who’s reading my novel!

It’s Sally from McLeod’s daughters.

I know I should be acting professional and super cool as if having your novel turned into an audiobook is as natural as breathing. But it’s not. It’s just not. It’s an amazing feeling to hear your work read back with such passion and emotion. Hearing a narrator of Kathryn’s calibre, and the amazing job she does bringing each character to life makes me the happiest writer on the planet.

Boxed CDS of Mp3
Kathryn Hartman

As I listen to Ava and John’s story, I’m not sure which is stronger: my joy, my immense pride, or the childish buzz making me giggle and hit replay at all my favourite bits. (And there are a lot of them!)

I thought writing multiple points of view in a story over 140,000 words was a tough gig. I never thought about the narrator’s task.

As a character, Ava is complex and even though her story spans thirty years, Kathryn portrays her brilliantly and with heart. Nina is sassy and smart and makes me laugh, while John…? Oh John, John, I love him so. But bring in Blair…! What a gem! I laughed and laughed and loved every scene with Nina.

With all those characters, plus Ava’s Italian dad, Marco, was not difficult enough for the narrator, I had to throw in a wise, old Italian woman. Dear Sonya comes across so perfectly; I may have to write more books featuring Italian mamas.

Kathryn told me, when it comes to narrating, she always feels equal parts privilege and fear, just hoping she tells the story as the author intended.

Having recorded the work of many talented writers, including Nicole Alexander, Karly Lane and Sandie Docker, Kathryn said she also feels very fortunate. “What an amazing, gifted group of friends you are!”

But my favourite feedback was this: “Jenn, you should be so proud of ‘A Place to Remember’. You have written a beautifully unique story of love, with wonderfully developed characters and heart touching emotional insight. There were many places that both myself and the engineer had to stop recording just to catch our breath.”

That is music to any author’s ears.

Now… Are you ready to relax and listen? Enjoy 14 hours and 9 minutes of fabulous storytelling? Narrated by Kathryn Hartman (words by yours truly).
Listen On iTunes
Listen On Google Play 
Listen On Audible (Amazon) – Hear an extract for free!

Buy the CDs at Booktopia and NookAudio

Library lovers – you’d be doing me a great favour by requesting your local library make either the CD of the Mp3 version available to borrowers. (Available through Wavesound Audio)

Do you remember Sally Clements, in McLeod’s Daughters? Wife to Nick (Myles Pollard).

NOW do you understand my excitement?  I’m slowly ticking McLeod characters off my bucketlist, too.

I am, after all, The Lost McLeod’s Daughter. But you all know that already, right? Here I am sharing Christmas with the gang, and yes, look closely and you’ll see I am legless – literally! *wink*

BTW –  I announced this in my newsletter, but if you’re not signed up you will have missed out on lots more news, including the first big book giveaway — a giant 100 book raffle to be drawn in March. 

It’s not too late. Sign up at the top of this page (on the right) and I’ll add you to the list.

I’m going back to listen to my book!

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Be-Cause I Can

Because I can, I’m lending my voice to a number of good causes and I thought you might be interested to know about them. (If you’re an aspiring writer you might be REALLY interested to know about one in particular!)

Myrtle the Turtle and I have been meandering around the eastern states over the last few years, so I thought it was time we headed west. When an opportunity arose to attend the inaugural West Coast Fiction Festival in November, knowing my involvement would be supporting a good cause (Share The Dignity) it was decided to drive Myrtle the Turtle the 4,452 kilometres to Perth from the NSW east coast.

It’s a big drive, but along the way, while passing all those beautiful WA trucks carting hay bales to drought-stricken farmers in the east, I decided I wanted to do something more to help. So, I joined forces with author mate, Josephine Moon, as well as some publishing industry heavyweights, like Allen & Unwin’s Annette Barlow, to do our bit. We’ll be raising money to buy bales for farmers by auctioning ourselves off! That’s right! Writers with manuscripts will be able to bid for our services, raising money for a good cause in the process. This is an incredible opportunity to have YOUR work get the attention it deserves!

Taking part (and there are even more, I’m told) is: Annette Barlow (Allen & Unwin), Ali Watts (Penguin Random House) and Sophie Green/Sophie Hamley (Hachette), Lousie Allan, Lisa Ireland, Annie Seaton, Jenn J McLeod, Michael Trant, Melinda Tognini, Katie Rowney.

The manuscript assessment/mentoring opportunities will be auctioned off via eBay, starting on 15 October, auctioned in three rounds: Round 1: 15 October; Round 2: 17 October; Round 3: 19 October.

Okay… There’s another mission, of course. I’ve been doing it for a while now.

 You all know how much I enjoy visiting small country towns to talk to local book lovers. Well, my Paddock to Print campaign, which is about encouraging Australian readers to support home-grown storytellers by choosing Australian-made stories, is going gangbusters. Check out all the places I’ve been, so far.

What is the campaign about?

For years we’ve been hearing the manufacturing sector – clothing and food – tell us to buy Australian-made. I thought, why not encourage people to buy or borrow home-grown stories over the imported, big-name author books? It really is as simple as asking your library or books shop for suggestions.  If you enjoy big-name overseas authors, your local librarian or bookseller will be able to recommend a local/Aussie writer whose novels are just as compelling and well-written. So, please help spread the word and buy Australian made fiction. Here I am spreading the book love at Donnybrook, WA.

And here I am on the west coast – finally – in the lovely Margaret River region (for research purposes, of course).

If you’d like to know more about the #BuyABale Fundraiser, check out Josephine Moon’s website.

If you are in Perth, I’d love to see you. Prior to the Perth event in November, readers and aspiring writers will catch me at events in Busselton (Busselton Library, 2pm October 12) and in Kwinana at the Kooliny Arts Centre’s Stories on Stage (7pm, October 31) with the lovely, Monique Mulligan.

 

And somewhere in the middle I’m Writer-in-Residence at the Serenity Press Writers’ Retreat in Capel.

So, it’s all happening in the west. Then, come December, Myrtle and I will be making the trek back home to Coffs Harbour.