Hailing from the tiny rural town of Pingaring, three and half hours south-east of Perth, Fiona Palmer was one of the first modern rural authors to hit the shelves. With no less than five best selling fiction novels to her name, two of which have been released this year, she writes her own brand of rural romance.

She has attended romance writers' groups and received an Australian Society of Authors mentorship for her first novel, The Family Farm. She has extensive farming experience, does the local mail run on occasion, and was a speedway-racing driver for seven years. She currently writes fulltime while helping out in her community and looking after her two children.

She joins me now in the Christmas is Coming Series to answer some questions.

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My Latest Release

The Outback Heart is a tender story with a big message. It’s about a small community and how Indi tries to rally the towns spirit by improving the local footy team. She has the help of Troy, a great footy coach who also gets her heart racing. Except he is hiding a big secret.

What was the idea/the revelation/the ‘kicking off point’/the impetus for writing this particular novel?

I read the eulogy of a local young man and it touched me deeply. Instantly a story grew from it. I contacted his parents and they helped me with information so I could weave it through this story. I don’t want to give too much away and spoil the book but it is one filled with a lot of heart, spirit and for me it has such an important message. And I also wanted to write a book about our Aussie Rules Football and show how important sport is in rural communities.

What is your funniest ‘real life’ Christmas story?

I don’t remember anything really funny happening at Christmas but we did have awesome ones growing up. We would have the typical Aussie Christmas bbq by the pool. All my aunties, uncles and cousins together so the pile of presents by the real pine tree would be huge. The smell of the pine, the trays of lollies on the table, lots of laughs, fun and games. It’s how it should be.

Best Christmas present you’ve ever received?

Hmm, now that’s stripping my memory cogs trying to remember. No doubt it was something my husband gave me. One year he got me a ride in a Tiger Moth with acrobatics over the city of Perth. Fantastic!!

Worst Christmas present you’ve ever received?

Haha I can probably guarantee it came from my brother. There was also a bread maker I got one year. I put anything to do with cooking in the chore basket so it wasn’t a ‘fantastic’ gift haha.

Best Christmas present you’ve ever bought for someone else?

A huge Star Wars Lego set.

This Christmas, who would be the best person to buy your novel for?

Going off current readership it would be Mums, Dads, Daughters, Grandparents. Just about anyone over the age of 14!

When readers ask me, 'What other author writes like you do?' I invariably respond with Fiona Palmer. And as I can't read rural fiction while I'm writing, it's always a book by Fiona (or Karly Lane) which is sitting on my bedside table waiting for the minute I press send on my own manuscript. She is not afraid to mix country life, farming, issues facing rural communities and their people,  along with a hefty slug of romance  into the one non-put-downable read.

Fee and I attend writers conferences together and as you can imagine, we have an absolute ball. She is one lovely and beautiful (I so want her gorgeous long, curly hair ) country girl with so much talent and I can highly recommend her books to one and all. 

We have a signed copy of The Outback Heart to giveaway (thanks to Fiona) along with a personally inscribed Christmas card, so make a comment below and go in the draw to win.