Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Dorothy Adamek | Introducing Phillip Island, Home to Hemsworth Brothers and …
Author Guest / December 11, 2015

G’day, lovely people. How wonderful to be visiting with you today, all the way from sunny Australia. Yes, sunny, because it’s December already and that means we’re gearing up for long hot summer days. If visiting Australia is on your bucket list, allow me to make an early introduction. CARRY ME HOME is my debut historical romance, set on Australia’s majestic Phillip Island in 1875. Once upon a time, Phillip Island was the real life home of the Hemsworth brothers. Long before then, it was, (in my imagination) the perfect location for a romance, or two. (Ok, now we’re up to three.) Windswept, rugged, and isolated, this part of our country beckons with picture perfect coastline and beaches. It’s where visitors from all over the world come to see penguins waddle in from the sea and seals luxuriate on volcanic outcrops. It’s where my family have holidayed for over 40 years. A place dear to my heart. So naturally, this island was the perfect backdrop for the story of Australian-born Shadrach Jones and Finella Mayfield, the English lass who lands in his life when he least expects her. When he can least afford her. Theirs is a story of displacement….

Coleen Kwan | Ending the year with a new book
Author Guest / December 11, 2015

It’s an overcast day here in Sydney, a welcome relief after a few days of blazing temperatures. El Nino has gripped the southern hemisphere, and we are experiencing a hotter than usual summer. Already I’ve had to cover my poor hydrangea during midday to protect it from the scorching sun. I’m an inconsistent gardener; my interest waxes and wanes depending on how busy I am. As Christmas and the end of 2015 hurtle towards us with uncomfortable speed, I reflect on what I’d hoped to achieve this year and what I actually did. Certainly my gardening deserved only a middling grade. However, health-wise, I’m happy with what I’ve achieved. Since making some changes to our diets, my partner has lost more than twelve kilos, while I’ve shed about four. I wasn’t overweight to begin with, but the flab was beginning to settle too comfortably around my waist. We didn’t actually ‘go on a diet’ but rather changed what we ate, reducing carbohydrates (oh, it was so hard cutting back on rice, bread, and pasta) and eating lots more vegetables. I’ve found that my sugar cravings have also subsided a lot, though I still enjoy the odd chocolate! As for my…