Monday, March 1st, 2010
I have a thing for views. Three nights in a Lighthouse keeper’s cottage with two like-minded souls at Smoky Cape passed in a blur of writing, beams of light, and perhaps a few glasses of wine. But what about the view?
There with my writing friends, from rt. Amy Andrews, HMB Medicals Romance; Kelly Hunter, Harlequin Modern Extra; and me. You can just see Hat Head in the distance but what a beach. Can you see the chair to the left? Think sunset and a glass of bubbles.
The most amazing thing was at night we sat directly under the lighthouse above the sea and the beams swung out over the waves. When you leaned back and looked up, the lighthouse roof looked like a space ship with rotating beams, three beams, 3 seconds, three beams, 3 seconds, you get the picture.
We’re all dressed up here because my husband has dropped in to take us out to dinner at Geppy’s, an Italian restaurant that overlooks the beach and boulders at South West Rocks. A fabulous evening with fabulous food. Then he dropped us home again and left us to it. What a hero!
The B&B is decked out with beautiful four poster beds and authentic furnishings as well as lots of lighthouse memorabillia. And the home cooked breakfast, with tropical fruit and yoghurt is to die for. Sound like an advertisement. I can’t help myself. They have about forty weddings a year here and I can see why. It’s already in one book but I can see more lighthouses to come.
And to finish off I’ve added a piccie from Valentine’s Day at Port Macquarie. This photo taken my my husband, Ian, from the balcony of our room. It was such a romantic place to be on Valentine’s. We made up a lovely platter of cold meat and cheese and lots of fresh fruit and just enjoyed it from our room.
That’s all for this week. It’s turned chilly today, the second day of autumn down-under, and I’ve the first cardigan of the year on. So keep warm, keep dry and if in doubt snuggle up with a book. By the way, MIDWIFE IN A MILLION, is out now. The first of my Kimberleys of Western Australia, books, and I can’t wait to hear what you think. Warmest regards and happy reading
xx Fi
Saturday, February 13th, 2010
Just a quick note to share my news.
I received a lovely early Valentines Day pressy this morning, 
and it’s even red. My first lovely cataromance reviewers Award for The Midwife’s New-Found Family. The award goes to Misty and Ben’s story from my Lyrebird Lake series of books. Thank you so much to Cataromance for the honour.
And tomorrow my handsome Valentine and I are going to stay in a swish hotel, overlooking the river, with bubbles and chocolates to celebrate. Considering its been a hectic week at work with the joy of catching three babies in the last week as well as some classic moments of unusual interest, the late checkout is appreciated. We don’t give gifts for valentine’s but I have written him a love poem. What are you doing for Valentine’s Day? Whatever you do, smile, and the world smiles with you. I wish you much fun and frivolity and a lotta love. Watch this space because my new webpage is coming (excuse the teething but it will be worth it) and there’ll be plenty to celebrate.
Warm and fuzzies and Happy Valentines from me
xx Fiona
Saturday, January 16th, 2010
My Latest book is out now. Jan UK, Feb NA, March Aus and NZ and online.
- This is my first Western Australia Book set in the Kimberley Ranges and holds a special place for me.
I had the best fun exploring the Kimberleys for research. My eldest and middle sons and I hired a four wheel drive vehicle and covered some dusty and spectacular miles. Just like Kate and Rory did when they raced their patient to help in Midwife In A Million. North Western Australia is certainly an inspiring place. I’d love to hear any thoughts you have when you read it.
Happy New Year and Happy New Decade but lets talk about the old for a moment.
What an amazing last ten years it’s been. Full of tragedies and triumphs in the world and we’ve all been impacted like never before by distant events to our own tiny circles thanks to digital technology. The fact that it was a new decade escaped me until the last moment and suddenly I was looking back. What about you? Did you look back at the last ten years and say, ‘WOW! Where did that go?’
On a personal level, ten years ago I had a five year old son and four young teenage boys, we hadn’t even started the learner driver scene. And both my parents were there to hug. My husband and I were consolidating, working hard, juggling the boy’s school and sport on each other’s days off, like millions of people do every day as they bring up their kids. Just goes to show you have to be thankful and enjoy every minute ’cause those memories are digital now, too.
In 2000 I sold my first book after a previous decade of never finishing one, and since then have written twenty medical romance novels for Harlequin Mills and Boon and even had my first Romantic Book Of The Year nomination from RWAus. Juggling harder, my life took off in a whole other world of writing, conferences, and travel that I’d only dreamed was possible, but the most amazing and fabulous thing about this journey is the friendships formed along the way.
Generous advice and support from other writers, wonderful feedback from readers, editorial guidance, unexpected bookstore friendships and support from librarians (Hi Lynne from Wellington, Ohio, 
and the amazing contact with people I’ve met at conferences and on loops and chats. Technology is certainly amazing and while I’m no whizz I do love the ease of contact in this decade and can’t wait to see what’s next.
One of life's precious moments.
With the older boys gone onto their own lives, this decade I get to savour my time with the youngest, revel in my two granddaughters like I was blessed to on Christmas Eve, and enjoy the fact I don’t have to rise at 5am to get my words down. Darn shame I keep waking up early, though.
But somethings haven’t changed. The warmth from holding hands and sharing a sunset with the man you love, the delight as you see your new book for the first time in real life, the deep inhalation of a fragrant rose or the feel of a friend’s incredible quilt she’s fashioned from tiny threads. Or from my other life as a midwife the joy of sharing birth with a woman and her family, we had a ten pound five boy the other night near midnight, did I mention I think women are awesome? In fact LIFE is amazing. And I’m thankful.
So I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all the pleasures and the joy and lots of love in 2010 and the future.
xx Fiona
To save a baby -Their gruelling race against time across the rugged Outback to save a patient’s unborn child challenges Kate and Rory physically and emotionally – 
