Christmas definitely feels special when you get a chance to spend time with some wonderful authors such as these: 

Described by the Canberra Times as 'One of our best and most consistent thriller writers', Tony Parks' latest release is THE PREY, his tenth fiction novel. He has also co-authored a number of non-fiction autobiographies.

Not only is Christmas coming, but it's my birthday and we all know that means presents (I love presents) - but this time the gifts are for you lovely readers out there.

Caroline Overington's latest book release is NO PLACE LIKE HOME and I'm absolutely delighted to have her join me in the Christmas is Coming series today. Caroline is currently the associate editor of the iconic Australian Women's Weekly. She is also a two-time winner of the Walkley award winner for investigative journalism; a winner of the Sir Ketih Murdoch prize for excellence in journalism and the Blake Dawson Prize.

My post this week isn’t a recipe as such, it’s more about the ingredients that go into my life. The people who gather around my kitchen table, at the  bench (a bar with stools where mates prop and talk while I continue to cook), the pool, the outdoor tables and even the front fence if I happen to be there.

July is Romance month at Booktopia and  readers have a chance to win up big!

We're still waiting to find out the results of the People's Choice Award (voting finishes on the 16th July) but the night itself was a huge success even though my sister didn't win!

It was my beloved husband's birthday this week. My present to him was my most favourite thing in the whole world besides him, my kids, the dog, my family & friends, the farm ... I got him boots. Motorbike boots though rather than the other kind I like (Ariats forever). He loves them, which ultimately equates to brownie points for me. My birthday’s still to come. You have to think ahead with these things.

Summer was hellish, with a raging bushfire, savage heat, no rain and days of wind, which just burnt off anything left on the dry-country paddocks (that the fires hadn’t got to first).