Archive for the 'Rouseabout' Category

Bonus!

We found a bonus calf in the paddock this morning. Of the cows we bought only four were meant to be preg-tested in calf … but a fifth cow was looking suspicious and springing yesterday.

This morning, our suspicions were confirmed and we now have another little heifer on the ground! Bonus! All our Poll Jordon Herefords (some maidens) calved without a hitch. 100 per cent success!

They are a joy to have on our paddocks and just as exciting as having my new book The Rouseabout out in the world.

Food for thought

In The Rouseabout I touched on the issue of the importance of seed and food production in a very subtle way. Now it’s time to get louder.

John and I went to a field day at Pindari Herb Farm to find out about Power Generation. We looked at steam, solar, wind and water power systems. We also looked at water and soil management, food and herbal medicine production.

Our hosts, Pindari founders, Ken and Giovi, highlighted how vulnerable we all are relying on ‘systems’ for our survival. Because of technology and the easy way we live and eat, people in this country have lost the skills needed to survive.

As farmers, we know how much it takes to generate tucker. Alongside our livestock production, we also grow much of our own food and rely on the wood heater for warmth and sometimes cooking and the sun for our hot water.

But what about the city person … How vulnerable are they?

We know how one hurricane can influence our entire countries’ banana supply. And now because of rugged seasons Ken said, compared to last year, Australia’s rice production is down by 10%, wheat production down by 40%, Tasmania’s fruit production down by 70% and Victoria’s fruit production down by 50%.

So my tip is, instead of planting trendy plants from the lifestyle gardening TV show, plant a few lettuces and a few spuds instead. You’ll be out in front and healthier for it.

A bottle of vodka and a book deal!

News is in from our German literary sub-agent that Random House in Germany want to do a deal to buy all my novels!

Already they have translated The Stockman. Now it’s Jillaroo and The Rouseabout’s turn.

Our sub-agent Sebastian said the deal happened over a bottle of vodka in a Russian restaurant in the middle of London and was written out on the paper tablecloth!

It sounds so romantic and exotic. A whole world away from our ordinary lives here on the farm. Sehr gut!

Rouseabout roundup

Here’s the Burnie bunch of Angus & Robertson booksellers today at my very first book signing event for The Rouseabout!

It was great to hang out in sunny Burnie before we sail tomorrow for the mainland to release The Rouseabout to the world.

Thanks to Kevin, Leigh and the rest of the gang at A&R for a great day and for the folk who travelled into Burnie to see me!

Part 1

April 1 is the release date of my new novel … here’s a special sneak peak of part 1 of the first chapter. There’ll be more tomorrow. I hope you like my character of Kate as much as I do!

Kate Webster hung upside down on the spindly Hills hoist in the backyard of her rented house in Orange. She felt her temples pulse with blood and the bite of the clothesline’s metal bars behind her knees. Her long dark hair draped downwards and brushed against a brittle blonde lawn.

Over the fenceline, the smell of suburban dinners drifted from houses and mingled in the leafy gardens. They found their way to her own barren yard as she swung above the pockmarked excuse for a lawn. Kate raised a tacky plastic sheep trophy to the dusky pink sky. Its frozen folds of gold glinted in the evening light. Its blank plastic eyes, melted and molded, looked rediculous.

‘Whoo-hoo! Victory is sweet!’ Kate hollered. With her other hand, she lifted a chunky brown stubby from the ground and clanked it against the bottle of the bloke hanging beside her.

He looked cute, Kate thought. Even upside down and even with the first-place blue ribbon tied about his head in a large kewpie-doll bow. Christ, she thought as drunkenness rushed to her head. Did I win him too? What was his name again?

Read more…

Part 2

God, she thought now, as she looked at his black hat lying on the lawn beneath the Hills Hoist. What was his name again? The only name she could think of was that American singer, Tim McGraw. But it wasn’t Tim. Was it Andrew? Mark? She shut her eyes.

Blood pumped behind her eyes now. She’d been upside down too long. When she opened her eyes she was met with the vision of the stockie’s flat, smooth stomach which revealed itself as his shirttails drooped towards the crackling dry lawn. Hair on his stomach trailed invitingly towards the silver buckle of his leather belt. He’ll do, Kate thought, ramming her own shirt into her jeans so she didn’t expose her soft, milky white tummy to him. She swigged on her beer again.

‘I am Count Kate and I love to Count! Ye-ah-ah-ah!’ she sung out. ‘Sesame Street,’ she explained. ‘One of my regular shows. Love it.’ She put on her Count voice again, ‘Ye-ah-ah-ah!’ Read more…

Part 3

Kate resisted waking. She could feel the pain of her hangover grapple through her. It sliced knives over her scalp and dragged gravel across her throat. Her guts rumbled and knotted like twisted sheets. She rolled over to blink at the dawn light invading the room through a crack in the blind. As she stuffed her head beneath the pillow, she knew there was no escaping it. She could still hear Nellie in the next room calling out.

‘Mummy! Mummy! Muuuum!’ Nell’s voice quavered as her calls melded into cries. Kate rolled onto her back, looked at the fly-spotted ceiling and groaned. She was about to put one foot out on the gritty carpet when she realised the stockie from the field day was still in her bed.

‘Shit,’ she said, prodding him in the gut so that he grunted. Through clenched teeth she said, ‘You have to go.’ Read more…