Cooktown Charm

Ever heard of a ‘wet jocks’ competition? No? Neither had I until yesterday, but apparently they’re as much fun, only different, as a ‘wet t-shirt competition.’ When I made the long trek north to Cooktown to run a one day writing workshop for Queensland Writers Centre I was expecting to meet some interesting people and Continue reading


Word Play

Wow! What a fabulous day 🙂 This morning I took part in a Writers Festival at Trinity Bay High School in Cairns. It’s an annual event that draws students from around the region and allows writers to share their experiences and ideas. The computer lab in the library blew me away! School was never like this Continue reading


Cairns Launch for Burning Lies

Ok, I may be biased, but what a fabulous evening! Thank you so much to everyone who turned out on such a windy night in Cairns to celebrate the launch of Burning Lies. It was always going to be an auspicious day for a launch. My 90 year old mum was with us this year Continue reading


Polocross has come to town!

There’s something compelling about a field full of horses charging around in pursuit of a ball. Add in a beautiful North Queensland winter’s day and the Polocross at Trinity Beach was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon. Not sure who won – can’t even pretend to know the rules – but there was Continue reading


Kaitlyn’s country

My new book, Burning Lies, is set largely on the Atherton Tablelands, to the west of Cairns. The landscape is different to the coast – the light’s softer, the greens are more olive, the earth a richer red and the sky is a paler blue. GW and I wandered around up there a couple of Continue reading


National Year of Reading – 2012

It’s almost here! The launch we’ve all been waiting for. Tuesday 14th February is the start of National Year of Reading 2012. This wonderful initiative has been embraced by libraries and all levels of government right around Australia. Last Tuesday I went to a ‘meet and greet’ for the reading champions in Cairns  – there Continue reading


Heading home for Christmas

The best feeling in the world is waiting at an airport knowing I’m heading home. True, I am an aviation tragic so being around aircraft makes me happy, but knowing the destination is hovering just out of reach is what lifts my heart. In three hours I’ll touch down in the velvety heat of North Continue reading