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Fresh From the Mind
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A MAN CALLED OVE: FREDRIK BACKMAN
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY FICTION EXPLORING THEMES OF MEMORY, GRIEF LOVE AND LOYALTY This book, originally written in Swedish, could be set in any town where people live in housing estates. It’s about a 59-year-old curmudgeon (I’ve always wanted to use that word) who lives in a housing estate and hates deviation from routine and people who…
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THE CRIMSON THREAD: KATE FORSYTH
GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION About a quarter to midnight on New Year’s Eve, I finished reading this tapestry of myth, mystery, fantasy and historical events by Kate Forsyth. Other books of Forsyth’s, such as Bitter Greens, are also based on fairytales Her superpowers include meticulous research (adds authenticity), attention to detail and what editors call ‘head-hopping’. I…
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THE BURNT COUNTRY: JOY RHOADES
GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION My friend, Margie, gave me this fabulous book when I was leaving Ivanhoe. It is the story of Kate, a grazier somewhere in the New England, after World War II. The poor bitch has to deal with every bloody prejudice you can imagine: Her husband wants a divorce so he can marry…
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BLOOMIN’ MARVELLOUS: Joining the Wildflower Watchers in Western New South Wales 2026
There has been a lot of rain (for the western plains). Outback New South…
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Bribie Island: A Day Trip to a forgotten gem or a prequel to retirement?
If you’re planning a trip around South East Queensland, or wondering about spots to…
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The Joy of Writing For Yourself (and no-one else)
In a world filled with publishing schedules, social media posts, newsletters, blogs, and endless…
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Human Writers in a Synthetic World: The persistence of the heart to write in the age of AI
What it’s like being an ageing emerging writer and writing in spite of AI…
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Navigating Trauma in Literary Narratives
[Image: vecteezy.com] I have struggled for many years to fit my ‘novel’ to the…
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Escape to Nature: Six Highlight Parts of The Scenic Rim
Living in Ipswich, on the threshold between Brisbane and the Magnificent Scenic Rim, we…
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Living the Delusion as a Writer
I have just submitted three short stories to yet another competition. This one required…
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Crafting a Story Round the Lived Experience of Trauma
*BEFORE my INFORMATIONAL POST, an UPDATE on PROGRESS I ask potential readers to excuse…
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Weekend Away: Maryborough, Queensland
Photo queens Park, Maryborough. (L Kelly) There’s so much to explore, enjoy and absorb…
