Happy New Year

Well 2010 has left its mark on all of us, some amazing, some tragic, and always those glimpses of incredible human spirit. I love new year, the excitement of a fresh beginning, the challenge of goals and the joy of awaited events. I wish to you and your loved ones a safe, wonderful and fulfilling journey through 2011.

I’m so looking forward to a new year of writing, a bit of travel, and lots of learning and new frontiers I can’t wait to try.

Best of all Ian and I have a new grandchild due in April, so exciting, and of course I’ve given Rohan and Jodez a copy of my birth book. Now I’ll have to be patient like I tell everyone else to be when they’re waiting for a baby.

Right now I’m off to the beach with my youngest son to CAMP!!!! But with the amount of stuff I just have to take  my friend Trish Morey wondered if I was camping or moving house? Wish me warm and wonderful weather and a muse that loves the tent.

Love to all

Fi

Have left you with my granddaughters trimming my tree.

Read More

THE DON’T PANIC GUIDE TO BIRTH

 

From Kate Cuthbert
Editor
Booktopia Romance Buzz

Gentle Readers,
It’s a buyer’s market out there this month – especially if you like paranormals and historicals . Both sub-genres have bumper crops of top picks out this month for your reading pleasure. 

This month, I’ve been focusing on a more specific area of reading for my own research – all the pregnancy books I can get my hands on. Our first child is due at the beginning of November. So what does a romance reader read when planning for her own epilogue? My favourite book – and the one both my husband and I have found the most useful and the least scary (and that’s a big deal!) – is this one from Australian midwife and Harlequin Medical Author Fiona McArthur. The Don’t Panic Guide to Birth is fantastic – written in short, 5-minute chapters with all the information and none of the judgement. It’s been a great asset in my house, and I’d recommend it for anyone looking at their own epilogue, or as a useful gift for showers.

Until next month, happy reading!
Kate Cuthbert,  (new mum)

Congratulations on your new baby, Kate!!!!!!!!! Fionaxxxxx

It’s here. From Penguin Australia,  to help those last minute nerves and questions.

Don’t you love the cover!

I’m very excited about my  DON’T PANIC GUIDE TO BIRTH, because I think it will help.

A midwife for twenty five years, I’ve always been passionate about sharing the insights I’ve gained about birth with women and their families.

When a mother-to-be walks into an antenatal class she has some questions she wants to ask first. One of them is “How will I know if I’m in labour?”and there’s heaps of answers after that. This book starts there. If you want an easy to read, last minute guide to those burning questions, I can’t wait to share.

wishing you a wonderful birth

Fiona

comments from readers – From Fran

“Thank you so much fro publishing this book. I help migrants learn English and this book is ideal for pregnant migrants. The indormation is clear and precise. Thank You.”

From

Read More

October-rest

It’s raining. I mean it’s really raining! But I’m not complaining. It’s pelted down for the last week and all the days of the long weekend. The paddocks have started to carry water and as I snuggle under the covers for a rare long leisurely morning and watch the trickles down the window I keep thinking of all that lovely water in the rainwater tanks at the side of the house, which helps me forget the bedraggled washing that’ll need rewashing after a week.

Then I think how great it is not to be on the highway in the poor visibilityand how much I feel for those who are. Especially with kids in the car. How my kids had all grown and aren’t sad or crotchety at not being allowed outside to play.

When it rains like this and a chill is in the air I love it. My husband runs me a big hot bath in the old clawfoot (’cause baths are a bit extravagent in the summer when the water is more scarce) and I read a (sometimes damp) medical romance in the bath. Maybe sip a glass of red if it’s the afternoon. Blissful sigh.

Which reminds me of the last book I read in the bath, written by Alison Roberts, a fab friend and awesome writer, who is still being shaken by after shocks in Christchurch, New Zealand. It’s a month today and I was astounded when Alison said that Christchurch has had more than a thousand aftershocks since their major earthquake 4th September. That was a 7.0 shock.  I imagine it could be pretty daunting in the dark, with your dog, waiting for the next aftershock.  A new shock everytime you dosed off. No power for days, boiling water, the city closed down. One of Alison’s funniest comments was, ‘At least I won’t be worried about flying anymore.’ 

So I won’t be complaining about a little rain. Wouldn’t dream of it. And the leisurely pace has helped with the next two books on the burner which is a lovely bonus.

My Don’t Panic Guide To Your New Baby- about the early times after the birth because I truly empathise with exhausted new mums, stressed babies and dads and nanas who feel helpless. It doesn’t have to be that way. There’s lots of quick, yet gentle advise from other mums in there, too.

And then there’s my new romance between Tilly and Marcus, set in gorgeous Coogee, with a placard carrying midwife and a man who is determined not to be swayed. I had a big smile on  my face during their unexpected water birth today.  

My MIDWIFE IN THE FAMILY WAY is out now in North America and out next month in Australia. Love the NA cover – what a gorgeous baby. (A bit like the young man I met last night at work. His lovely entry into the world still makes me smile.) My husband and middle son both picked up the Aus cover – gorgeous woman in black bra-top – and smiled a different smile. It must be tricky choosing covers that appeal to everyone. What appeals to you?

Anyway, life is pretty darn good here in the rain, watching the birds shaking the water off their wings and in fact - the grass is getting greener on this side of the fence with every raindrop.

I hope you have  a lovely October, I’m on holidays after tonight, and shall christen this month October-rest.

warmest wishes

xxFi

Read More

Midwife In The Family Way

M

And he's gorgeous.

Due out in October in the UK and NA and November in Aus and NZ.

I've been listening to Italian tapes in my car, trying to learn a new language by distance because I wanted to be able to understand the nuances of an Italian hero's seduction. My man's an Aussie through and through, but I wanted to be able to understand Emma's love. Driving to work for me really is  not far, a mere twenty five kilometres each way, and just enough for one Italian lesson per shift. The rolling 'R's' are delightful, and the language so romantic.

In 'Midwife In The Family Way' we return to Lyrebird Lake, one of my favourite places in the world, and Emma's story. Gianni, our Italian hero is blown away by the strength in this country midwife who is more self sufficient than any woman he has ever known.  This book was inspired by my friend Michelle, who, as the dedication says, is 'one of the coolest, bravest, most amazing people I know, and whose journey has been my inspiration for this book. '

Michelle, (and Emma's) mum has Huntingtons Disease and it's a debilitating, tragic disease we'd all like to see wiped out. Like all people wth and without the gene who've been affected by or known those affected by Huntingtons, I pray for a cure.

One of the most amazing side bonuses of writing  and reading is the knowledge we accidentally gain and grow by. Exposure to Huntington's was like that. The human spirit is incredible and I can only admire and in some way try to emulate the way people rise above the obstacles life puts in front of them. My deepest admiration goes out to those touched by this unfair disease. I hope you too, can be inspired by Emma and Gianni's story as I was.

warmest wishes

Fiona

Read More

On The Circle

Check out the clip from The Circle on Tuesday 31st August 2010.

What an amazing morning when I appeared briefly on the popular women’s chat show, The Circle (Channel Ten 31st August 2010). So many of my friends were watching and cheering for me I felt very supported. Picked up in a cab by my publicist from Penguin Books, Australia, Liesel Maddock, who helped me find my way around Melbourne. (That’s apart from Anne Gracie who ferried me everywhere else and Carol Marinelli who came with Anne and hugged me when needed.) Just keeps reminding  me my friends are awesome.

We arrived in the television station about an hour and a quarter before I went on, and this wasn’t the time for nerves. I knew that. There was this delightful young guy who kept popping in and giving me updates when I was feeling a tad lost and this fabulous lady in makeup who had no issue with the fact I don’t wear makeup normally and suggested staying  natural – by the way- my husband loved the lipstick colour -then proceeded to paint my face for television – with a spray gun, and hey, it did look natural. Thank you. I’m so sorry I don’t know your name but you were so lovely.

Eventually we were directed to the green room for the final few minutes while the previous segment finished. Then  standing at the edge of the set, a bit like standing on the edge of a cliff, and then ussured onto set to sit on ‘The Couch” with Chrissy and Gorgi. Thanks guys. You were so friendly and interested, and the audience were full of smiles too. Couldn’t help myself directing a lot of my answers to the audience as well.

The interview started with a birth scene from ‘Knocked Up’ the movie, which was amusing, and then it was time to share why I think my book can help women about to go into labour. All great fun and something I’m so glad I had the opportunity to experience. Thanks so much to the all on the Circle for having me. You made it incredibly easy.

I’ve done eleven radio interviews since then, all fun in their own way, even one live with Steve Vizard, and all an opportunity to get the message out that women are amazing and with their support people and some knowledge of choices, they can improve their birth experience enormously.

I did come home to my long suffering husband, and Friday saw me officially launch my book in Kempsey. The library was the place I started writing almost twenty years ago after doing a short course there, so it was fitting that my latest baby was born there. Thanks so much to Angie for all her help at organising the launch and all my friends, family and readers who came out in the rain to share the moment. I really appreciate it.

But now its back to the real world, back to writing and to work. Did I mention I was witness to a truly magical birth last night, a baby caught by her father and surrounded by such a warmth of welcome and reminded me that as midwives, we are there to watch over a woman doing what she’s designed to do.  And she can do it so well.

Wishing you love and laughter and the joy of birth

xx Fi

Read More