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Launch of Mr Carver’s Whale – you’re invited!
The wait is over—well at least for me—my latest novel, Mr Carver’s Whale, will be available in bookshops this week, thanks to Harper Collins 4th Estate. To celebrate, there will be two launch events—one in Sydney and one in Thirroul—and I take great pleasure in inviting you to join me at either. And if you are overseas,…
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Burrowing
I’ve been away from these pages too long. I have been hibernating—squirrelling myself away from the world. Much occupied with bread-baking and recipe books, with the garden and the dogs—Moji and Bo—Labrador-kelpie rescues; with my partner, Sarah, and gorgeous children and grandchildren. So not entirely absent. But I’ve neglected you, my small, faithful band of…
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The Thick of It: Life in Lovett Bay
It’s over a year since I wrote In the Thick of It, something of a paeon to the lovely Lovett Bay. In the space of it, I’ve gone from a deep-seated fear of boats, to learning to drive one. I got my boating licence last week. I feel rather like Toad of Toad Hall, when he first…
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The Thick Of It
THE THICK OF IT I have made my peace with the giant huntsmen; with the bird that throws itself against the window of the cabin as I write; with the thing that rustles each night in the wood basket; and the resident wallaby, Robert, who, overcome by the smell of a barbecue or perhaps our…
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The Same Boot
Walking down Berghofer’s this morning I experienced something of a ‘moment’, glancing down at my feet, shod in old walking boots, to discover them ably negotiating the badly eroded track. It came to me how clever and determined they were to overcome the many obstacles in their path–rock, sand, branch, cliff edge, gulley–and carry me…
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Wallpaper Magic
For those who ever wondered what the wallpapers cited in Flock actually looked like…with sincere thanks to talented sound and video artist, Marie Innes. Love that music! https://vimeo.com/53964694
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UPCOMING FOGO ISLAND RESIDENCY
Lovely piece in this week’s “Review” magazine in the Blue Mountains Gazette, showcasing the aims of the Shorefast Foundation on Fogo Island, Newfoundland. The Shorefast team, headed up by Zita Cobb, is working had to put Fogo Island on the map, and regenerate what was, before the closure of the cod fishing industry, a small, proud and vibrant fishing community. A success…
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FLOCKBLOG: Different Countries
It’s Mother’s Day tomorrow. Even though my Mum and I lived in different countries, I used to think about her a fair bit. A lot, actually. Now, if not exactly haunted by her, she pops up all the time–when I’m driving, turning the pages of a book, listening to music, stirring something on the stove.…
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A Memorable Arts Experience
The Head of the Australia Council for the Arts, Kathy Keele, recently gave FLOCK the thumbs up, citing it as a memorable arts experience. Can’t say I’m not a little chuffed! http://bit.ly/JpRrpK
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FLOCKBLOG: Novel Takes on Knitting
Reading Victoria Glendinning’s biography of Leonard Woolf the other night (now there’s a man upstaged) I happened upon a reference to knitting. It pulled me up short. You don’t trip over knit-mentions too often in books. Then again, it probably wouldn’t have leapt out at me, if I hadn’t been about to begin on a…