Alissa Callen's Blog, page 4
May 23, 2013
Colours of a Rural Autumn
Winter is almost here. Even though amber leaves float to the ground and wood smoke tinges the night air, the sun stays resolute. It isn’t June yet.
May 19, 2013
Show Time
The annual local country show has just been on. Filled with all things rural, from sleek show ponies, to feral utes, to dusty Akubras and kid-filled carnival rides the show always provides
a spectacle of colour and sound.
May 11, 2013
A big rural welcome to ... small town and heart warming country author Jennie Jones
Welcome Jennie! Thanks so much for dropping by and answering my ten teaser
questionsJ
Night-owl or early-bird?
Early-bird (then I can go to bed at 9 pm with a book and a cup of tea and not feel
guilty - because, after all, I’m up at 5 am writing madly!)
Death by chocolate or diet coke?
Neither. Death by French Champagne.
One food you would never eat?
I could never knowingly eat kangaroo. I ate a snail once, when I was much
younger and my dashing new boyfriend took me to a fancy French restaurant in London. I ate one snail - maybe I should have eaten all six because we didn’t get to date number two.
What you wish your mother had told you?
“You’re eighteen. Try writing a book. By the time you turn thirty, you’ll be a
bestselling author.”
One book everyone should read?
A dictionary (me included). However, I’ll choose the book that spoke to me of adventure
and courage around the time I was eighteen: My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin. The struggles faced and the strengths required in the 1890s are, surprisingly, the same struggles we
have and strengths we have need of today (I can say this with some positivity as I’ve been a Family Historian/Genealogist for many years too). There is no conclusion at the end of this novel that
Sybylla will have the brilliant career of a writer she so yearns for - but the bravery and fortitude of her decisions, are, I think, a triumph.
Your ultimate hero (fictional or not)?
Cannot, simply cannot keep it to one. They are all actors because I love the way they
portray the beta male hero in their movies (apart from my husband, who’s not an actor but he said he wouldn’t cook dinner on the BBQ if I didn’t mention him).
So here are four:
Paul Newman; Kiefer Sutherland; Keanu Reeves; Channing Tatum (too young for me, but he’s
on the list); my husband.
Your ultimate heroine (fictional or not)?
Annette Benning. I’d love to be like Annette Benning: in looks, in style, in
verve, in career (although obviously, I would still have married my husband).
A hobby/bad habit that you spend way too much time on?
French Champagne. (A dry but sparklingly pleasant bad habit!)
Favourite line of dialogue from your recent release or WIP?
‘It’s your eyes,’ he said, his voice hushed. ‘I love them and this is not the time to tell you that. Blink
or something, would you?’
Three lines from page 13, 113 or page 133 of your recent release or WIP?
From page 13 (I have to choose this because it’s my favourite number - at the
moment).
‘Samantha Walker,’ she said. ‘Sometimes I’m called Sammy.’
Ethan nodded. He had no
idea what he’d call her except one hell of a shock.
The pig oinked.
Thanks so much Jennie! It was an absolute pleasure to have you visit. And if the above The House on Burra Burra Lane
teaser wasn’t enough here is the whole fabulous book blurb:
A dilapidated house, a city girl looking for a tree change, and a rugged vet with a
past. Just another day in rural Australia…
Just ten days after her fresh start in the isolated Snowy Mountains, Samantha Walker trips over a three hundred pound pig and lands in the arms of Dr. Ethan Granger — and the firing line for
gossip. It was hardly a ‘date’ but sparks of the sensual kind are difficult to smother in a community of only 87 people. Now there’s a bet running on how long she’ll stay and what she’ll get up
to while she’s in town.
Ethan has his own issues — Sammy’s presence in his childhood home brings with it painful recollections of family scandals and a bad boy youth. When the gossip around them heightens, his life is
suddenly a deck of cards spread on the table for all to see. Then Sammy's past catches up with her... and it looks like all bets are off.
Author website: http://www.jenniejonesromance.com
Book title: The House on Burra Burra Lane (release date 1 June 2013) http://www.escapepublishing.com.au
Available now via following pre-order links:
Amazon Kindle
Amazon.co.uk
iBookstore
May 8, 2013
A big rural welcome to ... debut author Whitney Keevers-Eastman
Welcome Whitney! Thanks so much for dropping by and answering my ten teaser
questionsJ
Night-owl or early-bird?
Lately, I’ve been a Night-owl.
Death by chocolate or diet coke?
Chocolate!
One food you would never eat?
I used to say haggis… But I ate that hehe (It’s delicious if you can get over what it is). Now…
Rabbit.
What you wish your mother had told you?
That she will embarrass me no matter how old I get haha.
One book everyone should read?
Only one? Um… Jessica by Bryce Courtney.
Your ultimate hero (fictional or not)?
My one and only, Mr. Fictional, Jack O’Reilly from my novel. I really do love him hehe.
Your ultimate heroine (fictional or not)?
I love the heroine out of the animation, Brave. She’s awesome! Favourite Disney production haha.
A hobby/bad habit that you spend way too much time on?
Writing hehe.
Favourite line of dialogue from your recent release or WIP?
“I swear the devil himself wouldn’t take you in for all the deviousness you possess, Jack
O’Reilly.”
Three lines from page 13, 113 or page 133 of your recent release or WIP?
From page 133 of What Happens in Ireland J
His grin grew wicked. “But I live to tempt. And ye like it just as much as I do.”
“Is this Jack or his arrogance speaking?” Kate retorted, hoping to God that she was
successful in keeping her desire buried six-feet under an iron façade.
“Who do ye want me to be?” Jack rumbled, his voice low and
seductive.
Thanks so much Whitney! It was a treat to have you visit. And if the above What Happens in Ireland teaser wasn’t
enough here is the whole fabulous book blurb:
Have you ever wondered what happens in Ireland?
When Australian, Kate Barrow, meets a handsome Irishman in a Dublin bar, she has no idea that he is about to turn her world upside-down and inside-out.
In Ireland to take on a position on a thoroughbred stud, Kate is shocked when her manager-in-co reveals himself to be the same man she’d met in Dublin.
Jack is drawn to Kate. The problem is, she won't have him. But Jack has always loved a challenge and the intriguing woman from Oz is one he cannot resist.
Harbouring the sting of another man’s betrayal, Kate is certain she wants nothing to do with love and nothing to do with Jack O’Reilly. But when naked torsos,
Mother Nature and dysfunctional umbrellas start plotting against her resolve, she realizes the charms of an Irishman are going to be hard to resist.
What Happens in Ireland publisher link:
To go into the draw to win one of two prize packs, including an eBook copy of What Happens in
Ireland, please leave a comment on this blog post or any other blog post included in the What Happens in Ireland blog tour. Tour dates available here on Whitney’s website.
May 2, 2013
A big rural welcome to ... heartwarming and country author Cathryn Hein
Welcome Cathryn! Thanks so much for dropping by and answering my ten teaser questionsJ
Night-owl or early-bird?
An absolute early bird! Although I was the exact opposite when I was at uni. Throwing and all-nighter to
get an assignment done was the norm. Not now. Tis the sunrise that stimulates my brain!
Death by chocolate or diet coke?
Chocolate, preferably Belgian. In fact, if it could be chocolate from Jeff de Bruge I’d be even happier.
I discovered his chocolates when we were living in France and become completely addicted, and was so excited when he opened a chocolaterie in Sydney. It’s closed now, sadly, though lack of
patronage from me certainly wasn’t to blame! As for Diet Coke... *shudder*
One food you would never eat?
Hmm. I’d probably eat most things as long as I didn’t know what it was. Although I would NEVER do that
thing where you down a snake’s still-pumping heart. I watched Luke Nguyen do it on his cooking show and it gave me a severe attack of the wobbles.
What you wish your mother had told you?
I really can’t think of anything. Certainly nothing profound. I do wish she’d ordered me to wear more
sunscreen though. Not that such a thing really existed when I was kid, it was either zinc cream or tanning oil, but all that sunburn hurt.
One book everyone should read?
My new release, Heartland! Only kidding... sort of. People should read what gives them
pleasure.
Your ultimate hero (fictional or not)?
Indiana Jones. Sigh. He’s rugged, smart, practical, brave, strong, sexy and always wins the day.
Your ultimate heroine (fictional or not)?
Right now I would love to be the heroine of my work-in-progress. But that’s only because she’s getting to
snog the hero, something I wouldn’t mine doing myself!
A hobby/bad habit that you spend way too much time on?
Buying ebooks, although that’s hardly bad. Except for my credit card. I just adore browsing for books,
seeing what’s new and coming, picking and choosing what to buy.
Favourite line of dialogue from your recent release or WIP?
I can’ t give my absolute favourite because it’d be a spoiler but I’m rather partial to this, from my new
release Heartland:
“There are some things that matter, Callie. Really matter. And love’s one of them. Not sex,
love. And when there’s a chance of it, you just have to go for it because tomorrow it could all turn to shit. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the horizon.”
Three lines from page 13, 113 or page 133 of your recent release or WIP?
From my new release Heartland.
In the two days since his lesson on Thursday, Matt had been over each morning to check on her. He didn’t
stay long, just enough to give the machinery a quick once-over and ask how she was faring. They’d exchange a few minutes’ banter and then he’d leave. Callie watched his ute as he drove away,
flustered by the warmth he left behind.
Thanks so much Cathryn! It was an absolute pleasure to have you visit. And if the above Heartland
teaser wasn’t enough here is the whole fabulous book blurb:
When Callie Reynolds arrives at Glenmore, the property she's recently inherited, the last thing she
wants is to be saddled with a warty horse, an injured neighbour and a mad goose. Haunted by her sister's death and her fractured family, all she wants is freedom.
But Callie hasn't counted on falling for Matt Hawkins, an ex-soldier determined to fulfil his own
dream of land and family. Nor could she predict the way the land, animals and people of Glenmore will capture her heart.
Callie is faced with impossible choices. But she must find the courage to decide where her future
lies, even if it costs her everything she holds dear.
I'm so looking forward to meeting Honk!
You can buy Heartland in paperback from Booktopia, Bookworld, and all good
book retailers. Or purchase the ebook from Amazon Kindle,
iTunes or KoboBooks.
Cathryn can be found on the web here.
April 19, 2013
Flower Day Friday
The sun is at half-strength, the snakes long gone and my country garden in full Autumn bloom.
Pierre de ronsard climbing rose
Double delight and pink climber
Pink standard rose and dry stone wall
Having fun being creative
April 10, 2013
Autumn in My Country Garden
After a lengthy and hot summer can almost hear my garden sighing with relief that the cooler weather has arrived.
Just love all the shades that Autumn brings.
March 30, 2013
Happy Easter
Little Farmer won first prize in the school Easter raffle! Four very happy children.
Real Easter chickens.
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Wishing everyone a very special Easter wherever you may live:)
March 22, 2013
Farm Day Friday
A fun family day out at the Millamolong Polo. Once an historic property and now a polo ground there was plenty of action, spills and excitement.
http://www.millamolong.com.au/
Anyone missing a horse?
Spot the ball.
What the teams were playing for.
Hand printed pony.
March 7, 2013
Farm Day Friday
Thanks to a summer characterized by extreme heat waves, almost non-existent rain and a bush fire it became necessary to hand feed our stock. I’m not sure who had the most fun – the kids or the
cows.
boys with their toys
pasture regeneration post-fire
Farmer Boy and Miss Mini Farmer
First in first served
A mouthful of food
