August was certainly a most enjoyable but very busy month. The RWA conference in Sydney was simply awesome - exhausting for sure, but so wonderful I thought you would be interested in the report on the right.

The week after conference we spent with family and friends north of Sydney in our old stamping grounds in Newcastle and Maitland. The Hunter Valley, and especially Newcastle, were still recovering from the floods several weeks before. The day we left to fly home the rains had commenced once more. A shame they haven't extended right out west to the areas so very badly affected by the drought.

When we arrived home spring was commencing here in Tasmania. I always enjoy the huge displays of daffodils, tulips and numerous other bulbs as well as the beautiful spring blossoms everywhere. As well as planting out new flowers and vegetables in our garden, September has been busy trying to get rid of the weeds in the garden that seemed to enjoy our absence to grow profusely.  Hopefully the new plants will hinder them but afraid they will still be there to attack daily. We've celebrated our grandson's second birthday and been kept on tenterhooks waiting for the arrival of the new baby.

Serena Pearlie Hawkins arrived on September 28th - just in time for this update! And being very proud grandparents there just has to be inevitable photos.  Don't forget to check them out!

We always enjoy having visitors and sharing some of the beauty of the Tamar Valley with them. David and Dawn Balcombe from Maitland spent a few days with us and it was also great to catch up on what God has been doing in their lives.

With all the above, there has been no time to start the new manuscript, the third in the Baragula series. With a new baby to add to those we baby-sit from time to time, I'm afraid writing is going to require even more self-discipline - not my strong point! As we start the month of October, I am happy to be able to say Ark House Press are still scheduling the release my first longer inspirational romance, Return to Baragula, early next year.

Stay tuned!

Here at last: The Neurotic Rooster!  See Ray Writes for details of this excellent booklet of daily devotions. He shares some of our experiences from the three mission and study trips to Africa.

Besides all the usual "busyness" around this time of the year, I have been in regular contact with the Title Manager at Ark House Press for Return to Baragula. We have been working on things like dedication page, blurbs, cover art, etc. I was hoping to be able to show you that front cover but that will have to wait until next time. It is still scheduled for release in early February. See a brief summary of Return to Baragula on my Books page. I do not have a price yet, but anticipate about AUD$20 (plus postage). Despite that, I can take any pre-orders for a signed copy right now!   As soon as Return to Baragula is available I will be looking to make speaking and book-signing appointments wherever I can. Do remember this as you plan for speakers at any of your organisations, church groups, etc. There are also plans to return to Queensland for the second Alpha 2 Omega Christian Writers weekend in early June and another RWA conference in August - this time in Melbourne.  

On the family front, I have a family reunion in Toowoomba, Queensland, at the end of January. My mother who lives there will be 92 years old next May and my brother, Stan, will be down from Thursday Island for his annual visit.

Also, our eldest son, Lance, was recently awarded the prestigious CONDA award in Newcastle for Best Professional Actor. Naturally, his Mum and Dad are VERY proud of him!   This news, as well as a brief summary of our year, is available for anyone interested in a copy of our Christmas newsletter - just email me. We would also love to hear what is happening in your life.

We do wish each and every one of you God's richest blessings at Christmas and throughout this coming year. Above all, do remember, "nothing really matters except JESUS."

Return to Baragula is out at last!

No matter whether it's that first book or the 17th title, I've discovered my hands still tremble and I am very, very excited when I hold that new, published book in my hands at long last.

My first release by an Australian publisher has been a whole new learning curve - a wonderful and exciting one. This is my first attempt at a single title, inspirational (Christian) romance novel. I actually started writing Return to Baragula way back in 1999. There was no interest from the publisher of the line of books I was targeting, so I went on to other manuscripts but every now and again dragged the manuscript out once more.

Over the years the themes, the characters' stories simply grew, changed, were sweated over by their creator until one day I realised, "Hey, there are other people in my small fictitious town in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, that have stories to be told." Return to Baragula is now Book One in my Baragula series, with Outback From Baragula awaiting final edits and Book Three, Justice at Baragula, still waiting on its creator.

Ray and  I are planning a three week trip to the mainland from our beautiful Tasmania this coming April. At the moment our schedule seems to include seeing our daughter in Melbourne, travelling up the Pacific Highway to Sydney and Newcastle to see family and friends before heading off to the 40th anniversary celebrations of a church we planted all those years ago in Orange in the Central Tablelands. I was also very involved in the commencement of the Orange Christian Book Centre and the manager there is keen for me to promote Return to Baragula in that area. From Orange we will be travelling back to Melbourne to put our car back on the Spirit of Tasmania to take us across that Bass Strait and home. I already am receiving speaking engagement requests, but my diary is by no means full, so do pass the word to anyone you think may be interested in having a speaker talk about her new book, her writing career to date, etc, etc.

March seems to have disappeared in only a few days - a very hectic time with April fast disappearing! Easter is always a busy period as we specifically remember Christ of Calvary and the empty tomb. This year was even busier as our son Craig had a special 40th birthday party with family from the mainland to share with us. Then, of course, as you can see by the couple of new photos on the family page, I can't help sneaking precious time with those beautiful grandchildren.

In early March Return to Baragula hit the book shelves and has kept me very busy getting the word out. Our local Koorong Christian bookshop in Launceston has gone to considerable trouble with a special display and I have been there a few times to be available to talk to customers and sign books for them. As well, I have been very busy on the computer being a guest author interviewed on two blogs and have just sent off another interview to Author's Choice Review - see link page.

It was an exciting day the Mayoress of Launceston officially launched the book. We took advantage of the Society of Women Writers Tasmania having a book and promotion stall at a local National Trust Heritage Fair. Mrs Lyndle van Zetten had rung me the week before and told me how much she enjoyed the book and any author would have been thrilled at the way she spoke about Return to Baragula at the book launch. My sincere thanks to SWWT and all who came and supported me that day.

A few reviews have started to come in and I am so thrilled readers are enjoying the book. There are a few excerpts on the book page. Do click on the website addresses for the full reviews. Our PayPal is now also operating.

The rest of April looks as though it will be even busier as we take our car on the ferry across Bass Strait to the mainland. As well as promoting our books at various meetings and places as opportunity affords from Melbourne to north of Sydney and the Hunter Valley, Ray and I are visiting friends, family and Ray has the tremendous privilege of being asked to baptise two young people back in the church in Maitland, New South Wales, which we planted and ministered with for over 20 years. We are also looking forward to a Rotary reunion dinner that has been also organised while we are there. Then we have been invited to share on the weekend of 26th April the anniversary celebrations and dedication of building extensions with the first church we planted at Orange in Central NSW over 40 years ago. Back in those early days I was a member and volunteer on the original committee that commenced the Orange Christian Book Centre. The manager there is organising a speaking appointment and other promotion activities.

Ray has also been very busy.  The NEUROTIC ROOSTER has been selling steadily and he is continuing to write more devotions for his series of monthly themed Devotional books. Do click on the Ray Writes! logo and read all about it - and some more samples of his writings. And don't forget that PayPal is now installed and operating!