Summer Land's Blog, page 2

Being Mama: Leandra Medine Cohen

Being Mama: Leandra Medine Cohen

Known for her witty words, street style and sharp sense of humor, Leandra Medine has recently added a new job description to her resume – mama of twins.

As someone who describes her childhood as, “pretty freaking great,” Leandra really wanted to be a mother. Her parents never needed her to be anyone for them other than who she was. This sense of acceptance and self-love helped encourage her to write honestly and openly and to go after what she wanted from life.

With a wildly successful blog, Man Repeller, turned media company thriving, Leandra and her husband set out on the path to parenthood. After four years of trying everything in the book to have a successful pregnancy, Leandra finally found the right mix of acupuncture, pre-natal yoga and IVF, which resulted in the viable pregnancy of her twins. Most importantly though, she credits newly found faith and trust in herself that her body had the strength and capacity to do it.

The first trimester was filled with intense nausea. The rest – gratitude. After the loss of her first pregnancy, Leandra, shared her grief online and never gave up on her desire to have children. This pregnancy was a blessing and something she would cherish.

“I did a lot of prenatal Pilates and yoga – particularly to keep my hips and pelvic floor strong to help with labor. It’s very common to need a c-section with twins, but I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to set myself up for a natural delivery. I was very well aware of how beneficial the exposure to bacteria on the way out of the womb is for a newborn, so I really wanted to be able to give birth naturally. However, I did not put pressure on myself if it wasn’t going to be possible. The odds for a vaginal delivery are 50/50 with twin labors. I also ate a TON of salmon. I read somewhere that it helped with fetal brain development and really committed to that. Probably too much.”

Now three-months-old, their twin daughters, Madeline and Laura, are constantly changing….and eating. Right now they’re on a 5-a-day feeding schedule so mostly it’s just: wake up, feed them, feed yourself, back to bed. Rinse and repeat.

“I have not gone back to work yet so I’m not sure I’ve really experienced the transition so much as if I’d had a temporary radical life change (going from working with no kids to not working with two kids.) My mom gave me some pretty good advice, though – After I gave birth, she said that she had a large quantity of time with me and my three brothers but not enough quality time (she stayed at home with us), and that I shouldn’t feel guilt about not being there so long as when I am there, I am truly there.”

When asked about advice she has for herself as a mom, Leandra simply said, “Surrender.” She’d also probably add “Sleep.”

Fast Five with Leandra

Do you have any advice for your children?

They’re just 3 months old! So at this juncture…Be patient. I would never starve you, I feed you before feeding myself, the bottle is almost ready!

Hardest thing about motherhood?

How paradoxical/contradictory it can feel.

What’s your proudest mom moment so far?

I’m still very pleased when they burp.

What’s your favorite weekend family activity?

Taking the kids out in carriers – my husband wears one and I wear one and we just roam around Soho.

Do you have any important family traditions that you want to share with your children once they’re older? 

Our Friday night and Saturday ritual of Shabbat — the Jewish “day of rest”

See more from Leandra at Manrepeller.com

Instagram: @leandramcohen + @manrepeller

This piece was originally published on The Tot.

Want to read more? Get a signed copy of I Now Pronounce You Husband and Expat.

The post Being Mama: Leandra Medine Cohen appeared first on Summer Land.

Author Interview: Emma Brockes

Author Interview: Emma Brockes

Emma Brockes is intelligent, witty and pretty much everything when it comes to Mom Goals. She’s funny, frank and brutally honest about her life as a single mother. As a British born writer living in New York City, Emma has interviewed women like Sheryl Sandberg, written award-winning books and recently chronicled her decision to become a mother in An Excellent Choice: Panic and Joy on My Solo Path To Motherhood. Garnering praise from around the world, Emma’s new book gives us a glimpse into her world as a 37-year-old woman in the early stages of a same sex relationship and her journey into the land of sperm donors, artificial insemination and life with twins.

When Emma was growing up in the UK, her mother taught her that women should be educated and work for a living. However, her mother also fundamentally believed that the thing that made people truly happy is having kids. Her parents had been happily married for 30 years – up until her mother’s death, but Emma never aspired to be the happily married mother. It seemed antiquated in some ways to her and she could see the drawbacks. Mostly – she couldn’t identify with it. As a twenty-something, Emma felt that it was desirable and alternative to not have kids and went through periodic phases of defending her free thinking and avant-garde choices to stay child-free and gallivant around the world. But as a 37-year-old woman living in New York City, suddenly the possibility of not getting to have kids seemed catastrophic and she knew that she would try pretty much anything to make it happen.

Ultimately, Emma’s decision to have kids with or without a partner was dictated by wanting to replicate her wonderful experiences as a child. Following months of exploring nearly every avenue, Emma decided to try IUI (intrauterine insemination) and after numerous rounds with fertility drugs and the unexpected news that having multiples was “highly likely,” Emma was officially pregnant with twins.

“I was absolutely thrilled once I got over the shock of finding out that I was having twins. I felt that being a single parent and having done it this way (through an unconventional pregnancy,) twin siblings would get an enormous amount of consolation from having each other.”

With nine months to prepare for life with twins, Emma first had to overcome two miscarriage scares in the first trimester. The second scare resulted in numerous blood clots and significant blood loss. At one point, she believed her pregnancy was going to end. Even though her doctor prepared her for complications that are associated with twins, it hadn’t really sunk in.

Emma is refreshingly honest when she explains, “The entire getting pregnant and pregnancy enterprise is dominated by magical thinking. You think you’re a rational person and then you go into it and you go slightly bonkers. And you’re suddenly someone who believes in percentages. In every other area of your life you’d never go around saying 12% of people who become accountants are miserable so I shouldn’t be an accountant. But when you’re pregnant percentages are real and the stress can be out of control. I like to think that I didn’t go too far off the deep end. I avoided the banned food list, but kept drinking coffee. I didn’t do any special pregnancy workouts, but since I live in New York City, I walked all the time. Plus there are stairs everywhere. When I was five and a half months, I moved house and moved loads of boxes, which kept me fit.”

When asked about taking birth classes, Emma was actually shocked that her OBGYN never mentioned that she might want to go take a birth class.

“Three months before I was due, I freaked out and signed up for a 10 week course with a calm birth life coach who I absolutely loved. She subscribed to no particular ideology, was skeptical of everything, and she taught us why we shouldn’t panic.”

It’s lucky Emma did take that course because at her 34-week check up, her OBGYN discovered that one of the twin’s placentas was on the fritz and she would need a caesarean in the very near future. Since it was only a semi-emergency, her doctor gave her the option of a scheduled caesarean on either New Years Eve or New Years Day. Since New Years Day seemed like literally the worst day to have surgery, she went for (in her words,) “the pre hangover day.”

When asked what her c-section was like, Emma jovially answers, “It was brilliant and straightforward! The most painful thing was the spinal tap, but it was over extremely quickly. The huge irrational fear I had was the anesthetic not working, but once I realized they’d done the first cut and I hadn’t felt it, I just really enjoyed it and found it all completely fascinating. Just like clock work – twenty minutes and out they came. The nurses showed me the girls and then whisked them off to the NICU because the second one’s heart rate was a bit dodgy in the first few minutes. Thankfully, it was resolved quickly. After I was taken to recovery and I swear I was high as a kite. Perhaps it was that huge hormone surge where you’re fresh on the other side and you just can’t believe that you did it, but it was the happiest moment of my life. But the next day, I had a huge emotional crash. I was like, I don’t know what I’ve done, this is disastrous.”

Emma explains that in a funny way it was a blessing that her girls were in the NICU for two weeks because she doesn’t know how she would have coped with two newborns on her own post surgery. By the time they came home, she was healed and somewhat rested and newborn life became hard in a normal way instead of a traumatic way. Because the girls were so small and not latching well, the littlest being only 3 lbs, 11 oz, Emma pumped a lot of breast milk and bottled fed them.

“I never really mastered feeding them at the same time. In order for me to not have to be constantly breastfeeding, I pumped from day one, which allowed me to sit on the floor and feed them at the same time.” Emma laments, “There was something quite soothing about the white noise of the breast pump running in the background while I was watching Pride and Prejudice.”

As a single mom in New York City, Emma admits that most of her friends are somewhere in their 40s, still single and trying to decide if they wanted to have kids or not. She also admits she didn’t go to Mother’s Group because she simply couldn’t figure out how to get out of the house. Luckily, Emma’s partner, who she lovingly refers to as L in her book, was also a mother and able to offer support and advice.

“After the twins were born, I took a month off and then from month two went back to my desk three days a week. I had done a significant amount of writing when I was pregnant and sold a book in advance so I could have extra padding during that first year. When the girls were six months, I got a full time nanny.”

Emma admits that she has to actively focus on conserving enough energy for her girls at the end of each working day. She is adamant about not giving them the worst part of her because it’s so easy to lose your patience and temper when you’re exhausted.

“My mother had a short temper. It was funny actually – she had patience for huge things, but if you were eating an ice cream in the car and it fell – there was an explosion. I see it in myself a tiny bit. I’m stretched very thin with twins. But I will try to gradually lessen the amount of work I do as they get older.”

Self-described as a little forty-year-old when she was seven, Emma also focuses on making sure her children get to be children.

“I see a difference with my girls versus my childhood as an only child. They’re the children, but I was a mini adult. When you’re outnumbered, you become an adult. I was my mother’s confidant. As a pre-teen, I was brilliant at being middle aged.”

When asked about her parenting style, Emma says, “I’m not a Time Out mom, but I’m a shouter. (Like my mother!) I yell at them and then they burst into tears and then I feel terrible and I try and claw back some dignity by saying, ‘the reason mommy got cross was…’ but the minute you lose it, you’ve lost the moral high ground, haven’t you?” “I know this is really common, but I find myself screaming at them to stop screaming! It’s ridiculous, I know.”

Emma adds jokingly, “Before I had the girls I actually thought I was a reasonable, rational person. Obviously, I understand that not to be the case now.”

Emma’s refreshing honesty about the ups and downs of parenting is exactly what the world needs and her girls are incredibly blessed to have her guiding them. It may not be the conventional way, but it’s a story Emma is proud to share. From the get go, Emma has tried to integrate the details of their conception into their daily life. Obviously she has started out quite broadly by talking about different shapes of family. Two dads, two moms, one variety of variants. As they continue to get older, she tries to get technical and talk about their donor, but Emma says her girls couldn’t be less interested at the moment and in a sweet almost four year old voice say, “Let’s talk about it later” and then run off to play.

With so much love and wisdom on offer, we asked Emma what advice her parents gave her that really resonated.

“When I was growing up, my parents used to always say, ‘You can only do your best. And if you’ve done your best you have nothing to be ashamed of.’ Which I think is code for ‘whatever you do I will love.’ I want my own children to grow up feeling that same way. I also want them to know that the worst reason to make a decision is because you are worried about what people will say about you.”

By the time Emma was 38, she confesses that she was incredibly jaded.

“Having my girls rebooted my engagement and interest in everything. It’s not just about teaching them massive life lessons. I’m excited to show them really basic things. Change of the seasons. Going to London. Everything becomes interesting again because it becomes hard again. It was like hitting refresh on one’s life.”

Fast Five With Emma Brockes

1. How to you treat yourself to “me” time?

I love napping and watching tons of TV. I’m currently obsessed with Sharp Objects on HBO and Unreal on Lifetime.

2. What’s the most surprising thing about motherhood?

That the novelty has never worn off. My girls are only three and a half and still everyday I think, “That’s amazing that happened!” Don’t think I will ever get over it. The miracle never lessens.

3. What are your greatest personal and professional achievements?

Personally: Having twins.

Professionally: Getting my latest book, An Excellent Choice: Panic and Joy On My Solo Path To Motherhood written in first two years of twin’s life while holding down a day job.

4. What’s your favorite weekend family activity?

Swimming! Love it! Makes the kiddos tired and hungry. We love to go on Friday and Sunday nights to my gym for family sessions.

5. What is your most important family tradition?

I take Christmas quite seriously. This year we’re doing Christmas in London, which I’m really excited about. I also love a Sunday lunch with friends and family. I will probably start doing this more when they’re a bit older. There’s just something so lovely about a Sunday roast dinner where the adults get to eat and talk and the kids get to play.

This interview was originally published on The TOT.

Get a copy of An Excellent Choice:  Panic and Joy On My Solo Path To Motherhood  HERE.

The post Author Interview: Emma Brockes appeared first on Summer Land.

I Like To Abide By Five Rules

I Like To Abide By Five Rules

This is an excerpt from I Now Pronounce You Husband and Expat.

I like to abide by five rules. 

If you’re a girl, pee before and after sex.
If you own a dog, let it sleep inside (if he or she wants to).
Buy the worst house on the best street. 
Face your fears.
Bloom where you are planted.

Also, don’t be mean, steal or kill. And definitely don’t ever mistake a tube of cortisone or haemorrhoid cream for toothpaste. Obviously, there are heaps of important rules one should follow in life. However, I’ve focused on following these specific five rules for a while now and I am happy to report that it doesn’t burn when I pee, my dog feels loved (and I don’t feel guilty about not walking him as much as I should), my neighbours are the absolute best humans ever, and I’m often described as a generous person. I did kill a spider recently, but it was a poisonous redback and I was trying to prevent the possible death of another creature, I swear.

I’m not saying any of the above things are easy to do. Getting up to pee after experiencing an intense orgasm that leaves you weak at the knees is difficult. Especially when you have to leave the warm nook of your lover’s embrace to go sit on a cold toilet seat to push out a thimbleful of pee. (Also, don’t forget to always wipe front to back, ladies.) As for having dogs in my house – I’ve had to accept the fact that dog hair may be present in the food I serve and in my child’s nappy at daycare. Luckily, most of the people I hang out with are equally obsessed with dogs and don’t judge me. 

It wasn’t until my twenties that I learned just how import¬ant it is to face your fears. I’m not talking about the time I went skydiving in Boulder, Colorado, or the time I ate mushrooms with my older brother, Brett, and his friends on a Florida beach, or the time I shared a cab with a charming young man from the airport in Cambodia who may or may not have been canvassing for sex slaves. I’m talking about being honest with yourself about what you really want from life and making risky or scary decisions to attain it. At twenty-one I had a bachelor’s degree, a nice enough boyfriend, a job and a mother who could brag about her successful and educated daughter at Garden Club. I knew how valuable those things were, but I felt stagnant. I wanted to see the world, have passionate relationships and not be confined to a desk. This meant quitting my day job and allowing myself to fall in love with someone I didn’t plan on falling in love with. It meant packing up my life and moving from Florida to Australia. It meant not necessarily putting my college degree to use right away. Once I was settled in Australia, I had to face my fears all over again. This time, it was deciding to have children, write a brutally honest book about my life thus far (see my first book, Summerlandish: Do As I Say, Not As I Did) and, of course, try Vegemite. Without throwing all of my doubts and anxious thoughts out the window, I wouldn’t be able to sit here and ‘preach’ the Summer Land gospel, which brings me to rule #5 – Bloom where you are planted. These wise words came from a magnet on my mom Donna’s fridge and their meaning changed to me over time. (But we’ll get to that later on.) 

Moving to a new country is hard. Having a baby is hard. Having a second baby is hard. Working for minimum wage is hard. Quitting a job is hard. Painting the nails on your dominant hand is hard. Making new friends is hard. Keeping old friends is hard. Being from a country where Donald Trump is allowed to be president is hard. Trying to be an adult with gainful employment is hard. Being original is hard. Defending your beliefs is hard. Doing something without emotional or financial support is hard. Disappointing your family is hard. Renovating your home is hard. Assembling IKEA furniture is probably the hardest. But you know what? It’s all totally doable. Sure you’ll cry and possibly shart in your pants along the way, but just remember – most of that embarrassing and depressing stuff happens to everyone and it’s totally okay. In fact, most of it is pretty funny when you look back on it. (Except the Trump part.) One of my favourite formulas is Comedy = Tragedy + Time. Take it from me, the sooner you can heal from the tragedy, the sooner you can drink a bottle of wine and pee-laugh with your bestie about the time you thought it was okay to get a tattoo in Bangkok. (But seriously, I really did think it was okay to get a tattoo in Bangkok, which turned into an entire chapter in my first book. For shenanigans involving ink-filled needles, the appropriate uses for Vaseline and a story about how I took my own virginity with a tampon when I was ten, please pick up that piece of non-award-winning literature at your earliest convenience.) 

I’m not here just to tell you about a bunch of rules or that I’ve left skidmarks in my undies from all of those down¬right scary, anxiety-inducing times in my life. I also don’t want you to think I’m actually preaching how you should live your life. I’m simply here to tell you about my life in a sunburnt country in the hope that you will feel inspired in some capacity. Inspired to live, inspired to love, inspired to let your friends be your family, inspired to be yourself and inspired to travel the world. We’re going to talk about lifelong friendships, relationships and love, careers and travel, double standards, childbirth and babies, moving countries and Britney Spears. I really hope you can relate to some of my stories, because – let’s be honest – I know I’m not the only one who’s had to pee in a kitty-litter tray. I’m pretty sure that we all just want to love and be loved, learn, see, teach, feel and enjoy some fish tacos by the ocean, right? No matter who you are, where you’re currently sitting, or what your credit-card bill is, YOU absolutely have the capacity to take control of your life and write your own story that may or may not be turned into a movie and star Amy Schumer one day. 

First, I want to tell you why I left the United States and how I became lucky enough to call Natalie Imbruglia’s homeland my home. For the most part, my life in Australia has been red-dust-covered rainbows and Tim Tams, but being on the other side of the Pacific has brought a lot of new challenges. It’s been difficult to leave familiar faces, best-friend life talks over an overpriced pre-cut fruit tray from Whole Foods, warm family hugs, and ridiculously affordable gas. I’ve had to learn to live without free refills of freshly brewed iced tea and complimentary chips and salsa. I’ve also had to learn how to drive (in an economical car) on the left side of the road while in the right side of the car without talking on my cell phone. (Which I’ve also had to start calling my ‘mobile’ and awkwardly pronounce mo-BILE in my painfully American accent.) Luckily, the pros heavily outweigh the cons. I’ve discovered a country full of people who are masters at working to live instead of living to work. As someone who grew up thinking that my adult-life forecast involved university, backpacking Europe for six weeks and then a 9 to 5 job for all eternity, Australia was a refreshing and enlightening place for me. I’ve learned that you don’t always have to do what your society tells you to do. You can rearrange the ‘order’, follow your own rules, and still turn out okay. And sometimes ‘okay’ means pregnant in country New South Wales with a 1989 gold Toyota Corolla named Operation Desert Storm and a husband named Paul.

Want to keep reading?

Get your signed copy of I Now Pronounce You Husband and Expat here here. 

OR download for Kindle (which you can read on any device with the free Kindle app!)

Download here: https://amzn.to/2Wv6vMN

The post I Like To Abide By Five Rules appeared first on Summer Land.

Must Read Books For Writers and Authors

Must Read Books For Writers and Authors

As a freelance writer and author of two books, I often experience Writer’s Block, brain fatigue, loss of self-confidence and the urge to give up on my writing dreams and go back to the 9-5 grind.

But then I remember that I love writing. I’m obsessed with it. It feeds my soul better than anything else. When I picture my ideal life – it’s me writing the day away and then getting to share my work with like-minded people and form meaningful connections around the world.

But let’s be honest – making your dream career a reality is hard.

Do you remember being 8 and straight up FEELING your look? Maybe you just cut your own bangs with Crayola scissors, maybe you convinced your mom to get you some sleek PUMA sneakers. OR maybe you knew how to pair denim and black in a way that would one day be the go-to uniform of the man that literally changed the world of computers, music, phones and movies.

I remember wearing looks like this well. These glasses – they were a party favor from a Bar Mitzvah and I looked through the blue lenses with a sense of awe, wonderment and the confidence that one day I’d enter adulthood and SLAY.

But then I got embarrassed. I got vulnerable. I got deterred. I got tired. I got scared. Suddenly I cared what I wrote, what I said, how I said it and whom I said it to. While I did my best to block out the negativity and keep charging forward, I surrendered to numerous hurdles and nearly threw in the towel last year.

BUT THEN I discovered Grant Cardone and he gave me permission to be obsessed.

He showed me how to not feed fear. He showed me how to collect haters and taught me to never waste a good recession. Both The 10x Rule and Be Obsessed or Be Average gave me a million things to think about/ implement, BUT I particularly loved the part about him not wanting to quiet his kids down and encouraging them to always be obsessed, energetic and determined.

I’m the mother of a four and six year old and I hope they don’t lose their spark like I did. It took so many years to find it and I hope I can lead by example to show them that if they want something badly enough (a job, degree, sense of self, spiritual connection, money, friends, health. WHATEVER IT MAY BE) that they simply need to be obsessed to get it. Massive thank you, Grant. You were the kick in the ass I needed

Summer’s Book Club: The Mummy Bloggers by Holly Wainwright

I recently finished The Mummy Bloggers by Holly Wainwright, which is the laugh out loud funny, and often frighteningly true tale about what it’s like to be a mummy blogger. If you’re looking for a fast paced read that will have you awkwardly smiling in public, GET THIS BOOK. Holly is seriously the master of translating #mumlife and #bloglife to novel form on top of being the Head of Entertainment at Mamamia and Co-Host of the This Glorious Mess podcast!

 

When she’s not busy writing, podasting, parenting and instagramming her adorable life, Holly magically finds time to answer questions for me because she’s a legend, obviously.

 

Where did the inspiration for The Mummy Bloggers come from?

I work with lots of women who write online, so bloggers are not a mystery to me. But last year I began to notice that there were a few “mummy bloggers” who were suddenly popping up in more mainstream media. Their private lives were beginning to be covered as if they were celebrities and it got me thinking – what would it be like to have to keep your life so very interesting, all the time? What if everything wasn’t really as it seemed?

 

Did you always know you wanted to write a book?

Yes, since I was about 7 years old. It’s only taken me three or four decades… I’m clearly a late bloomer!

 

Which character were you particularly drawn to? (If any…)

Well, there are three main characters. Elle is a perfect Instagram mum, with abs for days. She’s pretty focussed, some would say ruthless, and seems to inspire the strongest emotions in readers. It’s fair to say that Elle and I don’t have much in common (certainly not abs!). There’s Leisel, who’s a frazzled working mum with a rather scary stalker. She’s certainly closer to who I am (minus the stalker). But the character who was most fun to write for me was Abi. Since she found out that Elle was having an affair with her husband, Abi has had a huge awakening – ripping up all traces of her old life, moving to the country and reinventing herself as a crunchy, anti-vaxxing, sugar-free goddess. She’s nothing like me at all but was enormously freeing to write. I loved her energy.

 

Will there be a sequel?

I would love that, because I miss these women! Fingers crossed.

 

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading my seven-year-old daughter Goodnight Stories For Rebel Girls. It’s a book full of beautiful-illustrated profiles of incredible women from all over the world and I love it because it’s so enjoyable to read together and it makes me feel smug to be sneaking in a bit of feminist indoctrination!

 

ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!

 

If you haven’t had a chance to join my online book club (that doesn’t hold you responsible to read a designated book at any time!) you should definitely pop over to Summer’s Book Club on Facebook and hit REQUEST. There you will find other people who love reading, discussing and recommending their favorite books.

 

The post Summer’s Book Club: The Mummy Bloggers by Holly Wainwright appeared first on Summer Land.

Tyrolin Puxty Talks Writing, Vampire Cats and Life in Mudgee

Tyrolin Puxty does it all. No, seriously. She is a published author, owns a performing arts school, teaches creative writing and co-hosts a podcast called HooPod, which is part of Felicia Day’s Hooman community. Tyrolin has also been in the Top 25 of the Australian Songwriters Association and Top 5 of the Australian Independent Music Awards, was awarded an Australia Day Award for Music in 2014 and 2017, and for Arts in 2015. Despite this, chocolate, cats and copious amounts of TV marathons take up the majority of Tyrolin’s time.

In an effort to tell you all about one of my favourite authors, I asked Tyrolin to answer a few questions for me below:

 

Summer: When did you first start writing?

 

Tyrolin: My earliest memory was three! I toddled up to Mum and asked her to teach me how to read so I could write stories. Precocious little kid, really. For years, Mum would buy exercise books and I’d write picture stories, usually revolving around a red bird and mermaids. Looking back, I think I may have plagiarized Shirley Barber and Enid Blyton. Please don’t send me to jail.

 

Summer: That’s an adorable picture you just painted! So today – where do you like to write and why? 

 

Tyrolin: I wish I could say it’s somewhere posh, or creative, like a cabin in the woods. The reality is, I curl up on the lounge in my PJs with chocolate biscuits and procrastinate on Facebook for an hour before I start my work. Sometimes I share these photos on Instagram to make me look cool…but…yeah, check out this pic. The computer wasn’t even turned on. The shame.

Summer: I’m the same! I always look homeless or horribly depressed when I write. No bra – no dignity. Just my laptop (and social media!) Okay moving on – What is it like to be an artist/ creative in a small town like Mudgee? Do you find you have the support and resources you need?

 

Tyrolin: Oooph…I really wish I could sing praises for my hometown. Don’t get me wrong, I love Mudgee and I have a lot of support from my family, friends and students, but in general, the arts do not get the backing they need. There have been local events who have not been very helpful or professional, so I’ve found my place hosting panels at Oz Comic Con and Supanova in Sydney/Melbourne. I’m hoping this will change in the future, because I genuinely adore Mudgee, but I am not impressed with several unnamed officials. You’d think people would be careful not to irritate an author, haha! *taunts with pen in hand* 

 

Summer: Ugh the struggle is real! We’ll have to combine forces to get some more funding! Next question- Who are some of your favourite authors? Did any one author in particular inspire you to start?

 

Tyrolin: I just realised you’re spelling “Australian”, Summer! All the extra “u”‘s and “s” in place of “z”! You and I are completely mixed up! I find myself spelling “American” for my publisher! Little things like changing “slippery dip” to “slide” and “torch” to “flashlight” have been tricky — like I’m betraying my written accent. It’s one way to give a girl an eye twitch. 

 

Anyway. 

 

This is book blasphemy, because I don’t read much! Every time I start reading, I feel I should be writing instead! I always loved Lemony Snicket’s twisted, humorous style and Rebecca James’ fast paced novels. Nobody in particular inspired me to write — it was just something I had to do. If I don’t write, I feel like the stories inside will eat me alive!

 

Summer: I feel the same way about wanting to write when I’m reading! However, some books like Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine just get me HOOKED. Sooo what are you currently reading?

 

Tyrolin: *awkward silence*.

 

WELL. I don’t know if this counts, but I’ve just bought the Charmed comics and I’m obsessed with them! I finished reading the Hunger Games last month, but I’ve been so busy with my degree and work that I’ve neglected reading. That’s a *really* boring answer. 

 

Also, Peta is not so hopeless in the books. He’s actually really cluey. Didn’t get that vibe from the film. #thebookwasbetter 

 

Summer: Where did the idea or inspiration for Colt Harper: Esteemed Vampire Cat come from?

 

Tyrolin: I had NO intention of getting it published because I thought it was so ridiculous! I was teaching my creative writing class, and I jokingly said to the kids; “write a story about monsters putting on a play”. They didn’t go for it. I thought it was a fun idea, so I played around with the concept of a possessed man killing anybody who didn’t treat a cat well. It just developed from there. I let loose all my sarcasm, hidden thoughts and crazy ideas, and my editor said it was the best thing I’d ever written. I finished it off within ten weeks, not anticipating a good reaction, but people seem to really dig Colt!

 

Colt’s mannerism are also inspired by the delectable Jensen Ackles. I had the pleasure of meeting him in May and gave him a copy of the book. It was a really great experience. Having said that, it is infuriating that not only is Jensen Ackles aesthetically pleasing, but he’s also a real sweetheart. Part of me wanted him to be a jerk so I could stop crushing on him!

 

Summer: Will there be a sequel?

 
Tyrolin: There totally is! I’ve only written a few pages, but it’s set for release in 2018/2019 (depending on how fast I write it)! I can usually write a book within 6 weeks but I’ve been notoriously slow this year! So let’s aim for 2019! I have concepts and ideas, but I don’t really know where I’m going with it. I even poke fun at that fact at the end of book one.
 

Summer: Can you tell us about the book launch on Friday night for Colt Harper: Esteemed Vampire Cat?

 

Tyrolin: YES. Okay! See, I’m already excited and I haven’t even said anything yet. 7pm Friday night (30/6) at the Mudgee Town Hall will be the unleashing of the monsters who reside within Colt’s world. We have singers, dancers and actors from Stepping Out in Mudgee and special guests from America! There will be a live reading and book signing. If you enjoy the Mudgee pantomimes, laughter and talented singers, then this is right up your alley! You can get tickets here or on the night for only $10!  https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=272372

You can follow Tyrolin on Instagram HERE.

The post Tyrolin Puxty Talks Writing, Vampire Cats and Life in Mudgee appeared first on Summer Land.

Books That Give You All The Feels: Read the first chapter of Angel’s Share by Kayte Nunn

This month, I’m reading Angel’s Share by Kayte Nunn for Summer’s Book Club and you should too! Kayte’s storytelling style is so effortless, you’ll think a best friend is writing you a letter. If you’ve read Rose’s Vintage, you’ll enjoy revisiting some of the beloved characters, however, this novel totally stands on its own and will make you want to run away on an adventure to Shingle Valley. Ready to dive in? I have the first chapter for you below!

Chapter One

Matilda Cameron peered through her car windscreen as the wipers sluiced away the water that was bucketing from the heavens. In the gloomy pre-dawn light she could just about make out a long Regency terrace to her right. With its ornate white stucco facade, rectangular windows and black wrought-iron balconies, it reminded her of a soggy wedding cake. To her left lay a pebbled seafront and a grey expanse of what passed for ocean in this part of the world.

She was there, at such a godforsaken hour, an hour when she would normally be in a nice warm bed, because today was the day that they were photographing the stills for a new campaign for DeVere & Soames, one of Britain’s most celebrated jewellers. A jeweller with four Royal Warrants, no less, as Jamie Soames, great-great-great-grandson of one of the original founders, had impressed upon her when she’d met with him in his Albemarle Street offices a few weeks earlier.

‘I’m sure you realise how important it is that we get this absolutely right,’ Soames had said, a tight smile on his patrician features.

‘Yes, absolutely right,’ she had assured him, trying not to subconsciously mimic his accent. ‘You’re in the best hands in the country; I know you’ll be delighted with our work.’ His business was dependent on it. Her job was riding on it.

The weather, however, wasn’t cooperating.

She could see Cara, the stylist, parked a few metres away, the back of her station wagon piled high with suit bags, shoe boxes and hats, and there was Paul, Mattie’s favourite hair and makeup wizard – ‘Honestly, the guy could make a rusty brillo pad look good,’ Bianca, her boss at Three Bees, had said when she’d first recommended him – parked next to Cara. There was no sign of the two young models, Cassandra and Jemima, who Mattie had cast last week, nor was the honeywagon anywhere to be seen.

She glanced at Orazio, who was in the passenger’s seat beside her, drumming his fingers on the dashboard and looking every bit the temperamental hot young Italian photographer. He was being hailed as the new Demarchelier and was in such high demand in London and New York that she’d been wildly lucky to book him for the dates they needed. She’d only succeeded due to a combination of dogged persistence and major sucking up to his agent. He didn’t drive, so she’d picked him up from his Peckham terrace at the excruciatingly early time of 5.30am, loading his camera gear into the back of her car, and they had been sitting, watching the rain on the Brighton seafront, for the past half-hour. She fumbled in her bag for an antacid – her stomach was in knots. She hadn’t had time for more than coffee before they’d left and there was nowhere open. Not that she was getting out of the car in this downpour in any case. She ground the chalky tablet between her teeth and then, for something to do besides worry about the weather, consulted the call sheet yet again. She reviewed the plans for the day’s shoot, the brief for the photographer, the head shots of the models, the permits that allowed them to shoot, and the contacts for everyone involved, including the absent honeywagon company. They were also still waiting on DeVere & Soames’ security guard with a gazillion quids’ worth of diamonds, rubies and emeralds. The reason they were all there in the first place. The success of today’s shoot, the whole campaign actually, was in her hands. The buck – as Bianca hadn’t failed to remind her – stopped with her. It had been her creative concept, her strategy, and she couldn’t afford to bugger it up, not if she wanted to hold onto her job, not to mention get away to her long-awaited holiday on time.

Ten days. Switzerland. With Johnny. Snow-capped mountains, postcard-perfect chalets and romantic log fires. She could almost taste the whipped cream on top of the hot chocolate. Sighing, she got out her phone and punched in a number from the sheet. It was going to be a long day.

As Mattie was dialling, an enormous trailer bearing the fifties-style curling logo ‘Sweet As’ rumbled around the corner. ‘Well, that’s one less thing to worry about: the honeywagon’s here – at least the girls will have somewhere to change. Now how are we going to get around this weather?’ she asked Orazio, keeping her voice upbeat. The shoot had been organised with no time for a proper recce, nor was there an alternative date on which to do it, given Orazio’s heavily booked schedule. Not waiting for his answer, she texted Cara. Any idea what’s happened to Cassandra and Jemima?

Cara’s reply pinged back instantly. Mimi’s mum’s car died. They’re on the 8.30 train.

Mattie frowned. There wasn’t much daylight to work with in winter and this would mean that they were behind before they’d even begun. Hair and makeup alone would take at least an hour. For each girl.

Too impatient to text again, she dialled. Cara answered before the phone even had a chance to ring. ‘I’ll go and pick them up later,’ Mattie said. ‘Do you want to get everything out of the car and into the wagon? I’ll get Paul to set up and then Orazio and I’ll scout a few locations, see if there’s anywhere in this godforsaken place that’s under cover and out of the rain.’

‘No worries, Mats. I’m on it.’ Cara was, like Mattie, one of the Aussie advertising mafia, blow-ins from downunder who held the London media world to ransom with their never-say-die attitude and ability to work hard and play even harder. Needless to say, their more laidback, self-deprecating British colleagues couldn’t make them out at all.

Mattie had been dazzled and intimidated in equal measure by Cara from the moment she met her. The fashion stylist’s petite rear, as round as a peach and clad in shiny copper-coloured jeans, had been sticking out of a cupboard in the Three Bees offices. ‘Where the fuck are the new Manolo samples?’ she cursed. ‘I’ll be ropable if anyone’s taken them without checking with me first.’

As Cara stood up, Mattie saw that she had long poker-straight platinum-blonde hair and the features of a porcelain doll. With her slim figure and the delicate bones of a prima ballerina, Cara looked like she’d be knocked over in the first gust of wind, but in reality she was a tough operator with a vocabulary saltier than a pirate’s. That, combined with the fact that most of the time she dressed as if she were on her way to the Stella McCartney front row, meant that the rest of the office – and their clients – were in equal awe and terror of her. She looked exactly like the kind of precious, high-fashion princess that Mattie had little in common with and even less time for, but she had heard the familiar accent and softened her judgement. ‘I think I saw Jasmine with them this morning,’ she offered.

‘Oh, right,’ Cara replied, backing out of the cupboard. ‘Thanks, mate. Was about to go off on one there for a minute. Proper dummy spit.’

On the surface the two girls couldn’t have appeared more different – Mattie was a spiky-haired tomboy whose preferred mode of dress was jeans and a t-shirt – but after a night out when they discovered an unlikely but shared passion for Les Mis and a mutual infatuation with Eddie Redmayne – ‘Oh, his cheekbones . . .’ ‘No, those sleepy, sexy eyes . . . God he could totally do me . . .’ – and a fondness for Slippery Nipple cocktails, the friendship was cemented. Never mind that Cara was a city girl who claimed to get dizzy if she saw too much open space and only ever slept under the five stars, and that Mattie was secretly happiest outside under a million of them, the two became firm friends at work and almost inseparable outside of it.

Cara had a cool, left-of-centre aesthetic that was going to be perfect for what Mattie had in mind for the DeVere shoot, and she knew she could rely on her completely, especially if things got tricky. Which it looked like they were going to be. They’d already run through the clothes that Cara had selected to complement the jewels – ‘pieces’, Jamie Soames had reverently called them when he briefed her – and now all Mattie had to do was scout half a dozen locations in and around Brighton. Not too much of a tall order on any normal day in any normal country, but this was England and today’s downpour was making her job almost impossible. She refused to be beaten by anything – let alone the weather – and began to brainstorm alternative locations that would offer some protection from the rain.

‘Fierce. But fresh. That’s what we’re looking for.’ Orazio was coaching the two gawky, impossibly skinny, deathly pale teenagers as they sat, hair wound around enormous rollers, having their makeup done. They’d arrived, thank Christ, and Mattie had bundled them down to the seafront and straight into the honeywagon, where Paul was on standby, brushes and tongs at the ready. She’d been alarmed to see that Cassandra had cut a full six inches off her hair since the previous week’s casting.

‘How many hair extensions did you bring, mate?’ she quizzed Paul as her stomach churned with anxiety. ‘Cause we’re gonna need them all, I reckon.’

Somewhat miraculously, the rain had begun to peter out and Mattie saw a faint hint of brightness on the horizon as a watery sun struggled to break through. The security guard from DeVere had also arrived. Mattie saw Cara’s eyes flick over him, taking in his broad chest and solid, rugby-player thighs. She also noticed Cara clocking the handcuffs that bound the bulky briefcase to his wrist and suppressed a smile. She knew exactly what her friend would be thinking and flashed a warning at her with her eyes.

‘As if!’ Cara protested, getting her meaning. As Mattie laughed, she noticed that the rain had now completely stopped. Thank heavens for small mercies.

Cara gasped when the first of the necklaces was revealed. ‘Fucking hell, they are incredible!’ she said as she bent over it to get a closer look. Mattie had seen them in the DeVere showroom when she was planning the shoot. They were gorgeous but she could never imagine wearing anything as precious herself. Her budget had never run to jewellery. Even her watch was selected less for its looks than for its ability to withstand careless treatment. In fact, her most prized possessions, should anyone ever ask, would probably be her two pairs of RM Williams boots.

‘Great, super, fantastic, si, do that . . . that thing with your eyes, Jemima.’ Orazio snapped away furiously as the girls wobbled on spindly heels on the pebbly beach. ‘Don’t think about the cold; imagine it’s a spring morning, and you’ve got the sun on your face, you’re a spring flower, yes, tip your head up like that . . . bellissimo.’

Mattie studied the two girls, their silk dresses fluttering in the breeze, thin arms blue with cold, jewels flashing like ice in the fading light. An idea came to her.

‘How about we pop you up there?’ She looked at Orazio, who shrugged.

‘Up there’ was two metres off the ground on a stone parapet. Both girls looked horrified. ‘Really, it’ll make a great shot,’ she reassured them. ‘Look, let me show you what I’m thinking. Orazio, give us a leg-up, will you?’ With the photographer’s assistance, Mattie sprang up the wall, scrambling with the toes of her boots to get a foothold, and hauled herself onto the ledge. It was narrower than she’d thought, and slippery from the earlier rain, but she stood poised, flinging out her arms and pointing one foot in front of her. ‘See, like this.’ She had loved gymnastics as a child, and had lost none of the agility that sport demanded.

Up high, she felt as if she could flap her arms and soar right off the narrow stone ledge, floating above the rooftops, over the sea, the pier stretching out like an index finger into the water, pointing the way to France. As she balanced on one leg, looking straight ahead rather than down at the ground, she smiled at the memory of a long-forgotten nickname . . . Fearless. That was what Charlie Drummond had called her once, a long time ago. Funny, she hadn’t thought about him in years. She could clearly picture his freckled face grinning at her and sending her teenage heart flip-flopping like one of those mood-divining fish that came in Christmas crackers. She shook her head at the memory. Another lifetime. Not one she planned to ever return to.

‘You make it seem easy,’ said Cassandra, hugging her arms around herself and looking petrified.

‘You’ll be fine,’ said Mattie, reluctantly jumping down and landing in front of her. ‘Come on, let me give you a leg-up.’

A few minutes later, Mattie hunched over a tented laptop, where the images appeared as Orazio clicked away. She let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. She loved this part; everything coming together as she’d seen it in her mind’s eye, imagining the shots blown up beyond life-size on billboards, or appearing in the pages of glossy magazines. ‘I reckon we’ve got it,’ she said to herself. The light was perfect: watery and pale. In contrast, the jewels glowed with barely contained fire. She felt a thrill of achievement. It was something she could feel in her gut; she simply, instinctively knew when she’d pulled off something special. She had been right to insist on Orazio shooting the campaign. In that moment, all of the worry over the weather and the models, all of the late nights of brainstorming and planning leading up to the shoot day were forgotten for this feeling of perfect rightness. She turned to Orazio and gave him a thumbs-up. ‘We’ve nailed it, mate.’

He shrugged. ‘Prego.’

‘Can you believe tomorrow’s nearly here?’ Mattie asked her friend as they packed everything away. Cara, together with Johnny’s mate Nick, was joining them on the ski trip.

Cara winked. ‘One more sleep, mate.’ She stopped and rifled through her enormous handbag. ‘Bullet?’

‘Raspberry? No kidding! You know they’re my favourites – bloody hell, where did you get them?’

‘Special delivery from Mum. She knows what I’m missing. Thinks it might tempt me home,’ she laughed.

‘Never!’ said Mattie.

She chewed on the white chocolate–coated raspberry sweet and was instantly transported. Cicadas droning. Endless blue skies. Flies driving everyone crazy. Sitting on the back verandah, looking out at the rows of lush vines that stretched as far as the eye could see, the Shingle Hills shadowy in the distance. Her brother, Mark, beside her, doling out the lollies, holding the white paper bag up over her head so she couldn’t tell how many were left. He was at least a metre taller than her and ten years older, and she had cursed her lack of height growing up, not least at times like those. She remembered baking-hot days spent chasing the shadows of tall river gums, struggling to stay astride a saddle slick with sweat. Diving into the river – which was always ice cold and ink dark, no matter how hot it was outside – to wash off the dust after a long ride. If she tried hard enough she could almost smell the ripe, equine scent of her beloved Shakira – named after an enduring but ill-advised girl crush on the Colombian-born singer – and feel the comforting solidity of the horse’s withers beneath her. Her heart still gave an unexpected pang when she thought of the old mare. Shakira was probably the thing she missed most about home.

Despite her assertion to Cara, she felt a sudden longing for the unrelenting heat and wide horizons, for light so bright you had to screw up your eyes against its glare. It had been more than a decade since she’d got on a plane at Sydney Airport, with nothing but a flimsy portfolio, a place at Central Saint Martins and a burning desire to escape her rural roots. She had deliberately made herself into a different person. The woman who directed million-pound advertising shoots with ease was a far cry from Tilly Cameron, the angry teenager who’d practically scorched the earth in her haste to get away from the Shingle Valley.

Dying for more?! Get your copy from Amazon.

 

Follow Kayte on Twitter: @KayteNunn
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The post Books That Give You All The Feels: Read the first chapter of Angel’s Share by Kayte Nunn appeared first on Summer Land.

Your Mother’s Day Long Read: Inside Amy Žikić

Whenever Mother’s Day rolls around, I can’t help but think about the numerous women in my life who have mothered me in someway. Of course there is Donna (the biological mother, baby whisperer, and best friend) but then there are my friends’ mothers, camp counselors, doctors, nurses, teachers and strangers who’ve unintentionally guided me through life in some capacity. Then there is Amy Žikić.

When I first moved to Australia in 2010, she enthusiastically greeted me with her Steven Tyler smile, infectious laughter and welcomed me to my new life in Australia. She took me under her naturally maternal wing, introduced me to friends, showed me where to get the best deals on red wine and made sure we always had enough life talks to get me through the work week. She also happened to be pregnant. In May 2011, she had her first baby girl, Zara. This had been quite the surprise to both Amy and her boyfriend, Danko, at the time. They had met while working on cruise ships in the Mediterranean and had to put that adventure on hold and decide what to do. Amy had opted to go back to Australia, move in with her parents and get on her feet, while Danko worked on moving from Serbia to Wollongong, which he did. The rest of their story could be the basis for an Oscar-worthy dramady. They’ve experienced love, loss, sacrifice, success and then some.

Some six years later, I’m a mother of two, homeowner, published author and self-confessed stress case. Most days are good, but some days are really hard. It’s during those days that I often think of Amy who has managed to overcome and devour her dreams in less than a decade. In honour of this Hallmark holiday, my Wonder Woman of a best friend agreed to answer some questions for me.

 

Summer: Amy, you’ve experienced an unplanned pregnancy, C-section, marriage, miscarriages, and astronomical success as a hair dresser/ salon owner, with Hair & Harlow. To say you are one of my favourite mothers on earth is an understatement. You are a goddess and a huge inspiration to me. With that being said, there are still a few questions I have for you.

When you first found out you were pregnant with Zara, how did you feel about ending your cruise ship world adventures and staying put to raise a baby?

Amy: I still remember the feeling like it was only yesterday. Meeting Danko on that ship took me by surprise, but what was more shocking was the fact that when his contract at sea ended, he had to go back to Serbia. After months of a whirlwind romance, I was  left on a huge ship, one that I was brave enough to come on all by myself, strong, ambitious. Evidently, I never felt more alone and weak without him and that’s when I knew it was love and my real crazy kicked in. There are 1 million love boat stories, but how the hell was I (this full of life 23-year-old from Wollongong, Australia) ever going to make a relationship with a carefree Serbian traveller work? This is how: First, I spent all my tips from hairdressing on calling him whenever I could. I wasn’t the fun one on the ship anymore because I lost my soul mate the minute he left. One day while docked in London, I decided life was too short not to start my happily ever after, so I quit. It was our last cruise on that side of the world before that big boat took little Amy trans Atlantic all the way to Canada. (That wasn’t happening.) As the cruise ship set back out to sea, I bought a one-way ticket to Serbia to be with my man and to be honest – didn’t think about it much, like most major decisions in my life.

If you think you have been to Europe, try going with a Serbian guy, DJ Danchez, as some would call him! WE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES! I got my period 5 days after being there, oh and I’ll just add that it was my last – 5 weeks later in the midst of this amazing adventure, it was late. Shit. F@%k, OMG! So like any good boyfriend would – Danko took me to the doctor who only spoke Serbian. He said I wasn’t pregnant, but we should do bloods to make sure. Danko didn’t translate that last bit so off we went for 3 more weeks into our world. My requests were mashed potato on bread, whisky (never drank it in my life) and Serbian salad) You know me, Summer, and I know how to drink (with you.) Weirdly, I would spew after 1 alcoholic drink. “Doctor Danko” decided to diagnose me himself. “Amy you are allergic to alcohol, you vomit all the time these days!” A bit baffled by my new intolerance to fermented beverages, I believed him, until 1 autumn morning whenI couldn’t catch wifi, I went down into the park outside our home, and had this terrible vomit feeling take over my body, I just knew something was going on …. I raced upstairs – and said – “Danko – write down “pregnancy test” in Serbian. I’m going to the pharmacy.”

I walked over the lake playing positive and negative in my head, there were only two options, right? My mind reeled, “What if this? What if that? How do I tell my parents I’m pregnant to this guy they have never met?” also “What on earth are wrong with me if I’m not?!”

The moment of truth – I peed the strongest positive line ever. My stomach immediately dropped and I walked up and down our apartment shouting to no one in particular, “what the hell are we going to do!?” Danko’s kind heart that has never changed – said – I’ll support you no matter what….. so the chain of events start here. I went back to the doctor and heard the heart beat and learned that I was 9 weeks pregnant Next I made the dreaded call to my parents & asked my mum to go as far away from my father as she could when I told her the news. Her answer was, “Oh honey. You will be ok, and I will support you, but I have to tell your dad.” I hung up. Four minutes later, Dad rings back, and said, “Amy, you’re smart. I know the decision you make will be the right one. I’m Putting two thousand dollars in your account and sending you money for a ticket home for the right medical care and we can go from there.” To be honest, it was not the answer I expected. In the next moment I had an overwhelming feeling that I knew I wanted to be just like them of and when I decided to become a mother. What was so hard for them: they made so easy for me and I’ll always love them for that.

As the youngest of four girls, calling my three sisters was harder because they’re all very different.

Sister 1: “Amy you’re 23, have an abortion. You and Danko have only been together for 6 months. Don’t do it.”

Sister 2: “I had a baby so young. Was it hard? You bet it was. Would I change it? Not a chance.

Sister 3: (She is totally in tune, because she couldn’t sleep one night, and rang me herself saying. Is everything ok? I can’t stop thinking about you?) She was shocked, but totally supportive of whatever decision I made.

I don’t know why, but I made them all think they were the only one who knew my dilemma. A few very long days passed spent googling images and seeing the size of the baby at 9 weeks, abortions, due dates, and all the rest. Although I had all of the love in the world to give, I had no job, no money and was terrified about being able to provide for a child.

However, there is one thing I couldn’t argue. I had quit my cruise ship hair dressing job for true love, and I had this heart beat in my stomach that played over and over in my head, and honestly – it felt like it was enough. The next morning Danko and I went to see his late mother where she was laid to rest, eight years prior to meeting me. Danko was only 16 when she died. I went in this grave yard, and it’s the first bit of peace I felt since finding out I was pregnant. As I stood next to Danko, I kept reading gravestones and all of the life dates just kept popping out at me. 1941 – 2001 – so many lives – that got to live. I had a baby growing inside me, our baby, with a heart beat. From that moment standing at Danko’s mum’s gravestone – I promised myself, him and our baby that no matter how hard life was about to be; that it is was OUR life. This was our family. And I knew deep in my heart from that moment that Danko’s mum sent me an angel. It’s a feeling I’ll never be able to explain properly. From that moment it was the new me – no regrets. My decision to give up cruise ships/ world travel and have our baby girl, Zara, was simply a sequence of unforeseen events that led me right here today. And that was just the beginning- what a life we made after that. Just because two people fell in love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer: After flying back to Australia, how did you and Danko approach making all of your wildest dreams come true? Were you diligent with budgets, goal writing, timelines and routines or were you more of a one day at a time person?

Amy: I took every day as it came. I knew how to work hard – so I went home, worked 6 days a week as a hair dresser to save and buy Danko a ticket to come to Australia. Next was to work really hard for a bond for a little home for our new life. (You helped there by getting Danko is first job, unpacking boxes!) We lived with my parents and got second hand everything. Each week was hard and I was worked to the bone, under appreciated by my boss, even after doing 12 hour days. I got so swollen and over worked that I went into labour 6 weeks early! This was slightly confronting because we still couldn’t even afford to pay our phone bills. Funnily enough, all that worry seemed to vanish because we ended up with a healthy baby girl – 4.7 pounds and named Zara. Tiny, perfect and the best decision I ever made.

Life started even though we didn’t have much! I was just riding the wave, with a very positive outlook on my future.

 

Summer: After having Zara you experienced multiple miscarriages while also reworking your professional life and opening a hair salon. How did you not let the extraordinary loss effect your professional life, or did it?

Amy: After I gave birth to Zara, I started working really hard again. 1 week after our wedding when Zara was 8 months old, my goal was to have $1,000 dollars in my savings. Those 2 years were save – Europe trips to keep Danko’s family involved, working Damn hard both of us – Danko giving up weekend nights to work on the front desk of Quest apartments. And me 12 hour days to save for a home in the future. By the time Zara was 2, our hard work had paid off and  a lot had changed. I had reached a point in my career where I was known for the highest standard of hairdressing and having a clientele through the roof. While I was still working at my old salon where I had been for 10 years of my career, I fell pregnant. Again, the timing wasn’t perfect as we were living in a small 2 bedroom place in North Beach Wollongong and didn’t yet have a house. However, we were thrilled about our family growing.

Sadly – that wasn’t our baby. I suffered a miscarriage while six weeks along. I can’t explain the sadness. I was devastated, defeated & just didn’t think things like that happened to me. I kept pushing like I did, found my love for red wine in this time, and this was the in between years I call them that I would never wish on anyone. Looking for a distraction from the pain, I took a stand for my life at that point, and I opened my salon with my best friend who was my support through all of this. We opened the hair phenomenon called Hair&Harlow (started small and the rest is history – I could talk for hours about that, but that’s another story.) With the salon thriving, I fell pregnant again. Obviously, I was thrilled, but also a bit more scared this time now that I knew a miscarriage could happen to me.

And then one morning – along came miscarriage number 2 – three months after we had opened Hair&Harlow. Again, I was 6 weeks along – no reason why – it just wasn’t my baby again (exactly 9 months after the first one.) Because we had been trying for this baby every moneth since the first miscarriage, the heart break was even more intense. Another baby – gone.  I was defeated, but very busy with my career, so here is when decision 2 happened….. We built a new Hair&Harlow in Fairy Meadow, and my pain transformed into passion. I became more compassionate to my clients, and understanding that everyone has a story and I was in the middle of mine. To be completely honest – I shut myself off from friends because I didn’t want to be that girl who cried every time she tried to speak about her loss.  I stuck with my sisters, Danko and Zara and we built our story. I was hurting so bad inside (that bad it makes me tear up while writing,) but I achieved my Fair Meadow salon goal, because I am not one to give up on a dream.

In the midst of my personal grief, our Hair&Harlow salon fame in the industry grew and I fell pregnant again. Boom – miscarriage number 3 (Fuck you world.) At only five months after the second one, this was particularly horrific. Ectopic, in my tube, no place to grow and it left me very very sick. Doctors saved my tube, but I was left with no vision at its peak in hospital, and really unwell. My hormone level was going down so slow that it took me over 2 months to lose that baby, having bloods at our local hospital every second day until my hormone level was zero.

On the day I finally hit 0, I took myself to the races, got blind drunk and said fuck you world to the last two years of my life. The only thing that kept be going was my gratitude for my baby and my husband. Determined to expand our family, I found the best medical care I could and was simply advised to take aspirin the next time I fell, along with injections of blood thinner into my stomach. When I finally got the courage to try for a baby again, we had booked a family trip to Bali. As they say it only takes 1 time. Whoops – you know the rest! I was pregnant – I jabbed my tummy every single day – without a fear in this world – and there is the story of Indi, my second baby girl, my gift, I was complete. On the day she was born, that’s when the pain disappeared. Even though my journey thus far had been mostly devastating, I wouldn’t change any of it, because that made me exactly the person I am today! Pain – fueled into passion, serviced by love.

 

Summer: As a fellow working mom of two, I constantly feel like I have FOMO in every aspect of my life. Am I missing out on family time? Work time? Friend time? Event time? Do you feel like you can’t do everything all the time? When do you know when it’s time to sit down and rest?

Amy: With two outstanding salons, a team of over 15 amazing girls, two beautiful little girls, our family home in Wollongong, a gorgeous little apartment right in the heart of Surry hills, amazing opportunities in the hair industry, I constantly feel respected, honoured and loved for my hard work, which makes the juggling act completely worth it. When I’m at work – I’m there – wholehearted, because after all I love it and I’m not changing it anytime soon! When I’m at home, I’m really at home doing exactly what I love, being with my family. Yes it gets hard, but I just try to be efficient with my time and have less guilt, because I know that I’m doing all of this hard work for my family. It warms my heart every time Zara tells me that she wants to be just like me. Sure I’m still finding the balance. Especially since opening my second location in Sydney. Seeing as though I’m writing this on a 24 hour flight to Serbia, some will say I’m doing ok. This year I’m throwing away the guilt, embracing all that life throws at me, juggling the crazy cool, thing I call me life….. learn to love yourself a little more, gym, eat well , feed your passion, never stop learning, and just be a bloody good person.

 

 

Summer: Every time I see you, it seems like you’re radiating positivity and kindness – do you have any inspirational people in your life you’ve learned from? Do you meditate? Tell me how you’ve managed to manifest such a loving and successful life!

Amy: I simply just look around! I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I feel like I’m good at life. I use the tools we are all given and I actually make shit happen! People are too busy, feeling sorry for the bad lives they live in, rather then taking control & realising we all have to much power to create, make or break our destiny! My story is clear- love, passion, commitment, and never giving up on what you love! I love my family, I love my friends I love my work, and I’m passionate about making people better! Sure I have down days: but that’s just bloody life; and hormones, there’s no story to dealing with that as we are all different. Oh and did I mention I love red wine….. I don’t read often, but I love inspirational speakers, business summits, and I learn daily from all of my clients! Don’t ever shut yourself off from the world- people make us grow, we all do life our own way, this is just my spin on it.

Follow Amy on Instagram to continue being inspired by her positivity and exuberance for life.

The post Your Mother’s Day Long Read: Inside Amy Žikić appeared first on Summer Land.

Catch up with Summer In Mudgee

If you’re not in Mudgee it might be hard for you to pick up a hard copy of the Mudgee Guardian and inhale its amazing ink soaked paper smell while reading my new column, Summer in Mudgee. Don’t worry – the genius digital department has put all of my pieces online so you can read them wherever you may be! Catch up below and please share with friends who might like it. #summerinmudgee

From Caffeine Intolerance to Wonder Mom

I used to be extremely hypersensitive to caffeine, so much so that I wrote about it extensively in my first book.

“If I even look at a piece of chocolate, a can of Coke, or touch a coffee bean, the caffeine instantly implants itself into the base of my spine and attacks my body like a bacterial infection spreading through a hooker in Peru. Then I magically transform into the girl at the Junior League luncheon, sucking on her strand of pearls in the corner of the room, and rocking back and forth while talking to herself.”  – Summerlandish…  READ MORE

 

 

In The Land Of Flavoured Tuna and Meat Pies

Adjusting to life in Mudgee without readily available burritos has been tough, however, it’s forced me to discover two new incredible food items: Flavoured Tuna and Meat Pies….READ MORE

 

 

 

 

 

The Castle

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions people make in their lives. There are so many questions to ask. Is it in a good school district? Are the rates affordable? Is there asbestos? Can we afford it? Is this the town I really want to live in? I asked many of these questions when I purchased my home in Mudgee in 2014. However, there was one question I didn’t think to ask: Is the home in the path of an airport?… READ MORE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rest In Pieces Dear Trampoline

Two weeks ago a delivery truck pulled up in front of my house to unload a stack of roof sheets for our extension. It felt like Christmas morning. Excitement was quickly replaced with frustration when we learned they had only delivered four sheets instead of forty… READ MORE

 

 

 

 

 

My Children Need Bedrooms

My husband, Paul, and I have been renovating/ adding onto our house for over two years. Our life is like The Block, but without hair and makeup or clever use of dash cams. Instead, we hammer away while raising our three-year-old daughter, Daisy, who sleeps in a cot roughly a metre from our bed and our 18-month-old son, Axel, who sleeps in our closet… READ MORE

 

 

 

 

 

The Hardest Question On The Citizenship Test

After six years of eating my body weight in Vegemite and figuring out how to use a clothes’ line, I finally sat the Australian Citizenship test. Since Donald Trump really is going to be the next President of the United States, I think it’s safe to say this could not have come at a better time…. READ MORE

 

 

The post Catch up with Summer In Mudgee appeared first on Summer Land.

10 Books You Need To Read Right Now

Since people often ask me for book recommendations I’ve compiled a mini list that has something for everyone. Whether you want to get lost in the Yarra Valley wine world, empathize with a murderous stalker, cry at the complexity and beauty of female friendship or laugh at the mundane (by mundane I mean awkward childhood memories we can all relate to) – the following books will take you there.

Listed in no particular order:

 

1. The Family Law by Benjamin Law

 

 Meet the Law family – eccentric, endearing and hard to resist. Your guide: Benjamin, the third of five children and a born humorist. Join him as he tries to answer some puzzling questions: Why won’t his Chinese dad wear made-in-China underpants? Why was most of his extended family deported in the 1980s? Will his childhood dreams of Home and Away stardom come to nothing? What are his chances of finding love? Get Your Copy HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. YOU by Caroline Kepnes

 

A terrifying exploration of how vulnerable we all are to stalking and manipulation, debut author Caroline Kepnes delivers a razor-sharp novel for our hyper-connected digital age. You is a compulsively readable page-turner that’s being compared to Gone Girl, American Psycho, and Stephen King’s Misery. Get Your Copy HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes 

 

 Joe came to Los Angeles to start over, to forget about what happened in New York. But in a darkened room in Soho House everything suddenly changed. She is like no one he’s ever met before. She doesn’t know about his past and never can. The problem is, hidden bodies don’t always stay that way. Get Your Copy HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

 

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick. What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane. Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that. What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time. Get Your Copy HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

5. The Sky So Heavy by Claire Zorn

 

 For Fin it’s just like any other day—racing for the school bus, bluffing his way through class, and trying to remain cool in front of the most sophisticated girl in his universe. Only it’s not like any other day because, on the other side of the world, nuclear missiles are being detonated. When Fin wakes up the next morning, it’s dark, bitterly cold, and snow is falling. There’s no internet, no phone, no TV, no power, and no parents. Nothing Fin’s learned in school could have prepared him for this. With his parents missing and dwindling food and water supplies, Fin and his younger brother Max must find a way to survive all on their own. When things are at their most desperate, where can you go for help? Get Your Copy HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

6. The Regulars by Georgia Clark

 

GIRLS meets BRIDGET JONES’ DIARY (with a magical twist) in this fierce and hilarious women’s fiction debut, as three average girls become extraordinarily beautiful and have all their fantasies come true … or do they? Get Your Copy HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. The Dangers of Truffle Hunting by Sunni Overend

 

True desires will be unearthed … For readers of Zoe Foster-Blake, Candace Bushnell and Gourmet Traveller, a delightful sexy story that spans the Australian wine country, the French provinces and hip bars of Melbourne.

Is life too short to play it safe?

Get Your Copy HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. She’s Having Her Baby by Lauren Sams

 

Georgie Henderson doesn’t want to have kids, but her best friend, Nina Doherty, has wanted to have a baby for as long as she can remember. Sadly, Nina’s uterus refuses to cooperate. One drunken evening, Nina asks Georgie for the ultimate favour: would she carry a baby for her? Georgie says yes – and spends the next nine months wondering why!

With intense bacon-and-egg roll cravings and distant memories of what her feet look like, Georgie tries to keep it all together in her dream job as the editor of Jolie magazine. Her love life’s a mess – and sauvignon blanc’s off the menu – leaving Georgie to deal with twists in her life she never expected. Get Your Copy HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Crazy Busy Guilty by Lauren Sams

 

 There’s life Before Baby and life After Baby. Any idiot knows that. I knew that. Except I didn’t know what life After Baby would really be like . . . Georgie Henderson is having a bad year. As a new – working – mum, she strives to be Sheryl Sandberg at work and Martha Stewart at home. But she’s discovering that in the twenty-first century being a Good Working Mum means answering emails at midnight while you purée vegetables and line up play dates and French lessons for your four-month-old daughter.

Georgie’s ex, Jase, gets 100 per cent of the credit for 5 per cent of the work, and her best friend, Nina, is on a ‘self-discovery’ journey that involves a 25-year-old bartender and a plan to become an artisanal florist. And all Georgie’s mum wants is for Georgie to find a man. Preferably the one who is the father of her child . . . Get Your Copy HERE.

 

 

10. Summerlandish: Do As I Say, Not As I Did by Summer Land (ME!)

 

A hilarious and not-so-serious memoir about how funny girl, Summer Land, raised her ovaries in middle class America before falling in love and moving to Australia with her coal-mining husband. Summerlandish is all the hard-won, scar-leaving, tattoo-regretting, butthole-tearing lessons Summer has learned over the years – “summer-ised” here in all their glamorously gory detail, so you don’t have to bother with learning them yourselves. And, surprisingly, she seems to know quite a bit about love, life and awkward moments involving too much caffeine and/or lack of restraint. Get Your Copy HERE.

 

 

 

 

Want to discover even more great books? Join my book club on Facebook.
Summer’s Book Club

The post 10 Books You Need To Read Right Now appeared first on Summer Land.