MOUNTAIN ASH is officially launched! Ya HOO! Over 100 people joined me last night at Duart Homestead, Maffra to celebrate the release of my third print novel. And what an evening it was too!

Thank you so much for all your enthusiasm for the launch of MA. We had a fabulous night. There's a blog post to follow with pics so if you're interested keep an eye out for that or come back to my site later today (it takes a while to load the pictures!)

Because there are so many of you lovely people who can't make it to Gippsland tonight for the launch of Mountain Ash, it's only fair that I share the joy around a little bit - so I'm giving away a signed copy of the book to anybody who would care to claim it.

Recently, after I returned from the Nunniong High Plains, I was delighted to find a letter sitting in my mailbox. It was from one of my favourite authors, a delightful girl who I met for the first time last year (it still sounds odd calling 2013 'last year'!) when I was in Fremantle, W.A.

It is with absolute delight that we announce the winner of the #bushchristmas Booktopia Voucher.

Christmas is here!!!!

There’s no denying home baking is on the rise and my last guest on the 'Christmas is Coming series' is a much loved MasterChef guest and Country Women’s Association Champion. She is none other than Merle Parrish.

My second-last guest on the Christmas is Coming blog series has been an all-time favourite author of mine for years and I am just about beside myself that she is here visiting 'my place' on the world wide web.

Christmas definitely feels special when you get a chance to spend time with some wonderful authors such as these:

Love, Sweat and Tears was my best 'find' for 2013. A beautifully written novel about one woman’s incredible journey through grief, fear and love to a lifelong dream of working with animals.

Christmas is Coming and you can win the presents.

'Regardless of gender, anyone looking for a heart warming, funny rural novel, you are going to LOVE, I repeat LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these books.'

Christmas definitely feels special when you get a chance to spend time with some wonderful authors such as these:

Before chasing her dream to become an author, Jaye worked in newspapers, radio and television as a news and sports journalist. In 1988 she became Australia's first female presenter of a live national sports show, and later fronted evening news on regional television and ran her own public relations business.

Pamela is a writer, teacher and mother of three gorgeous daughters. She also manages a menagerie of dogs, rabbits, birds, fish and horses and her favourite pastime (after writing) is riding her handsome quarter horse, Morocco.

Katherine was born in Tanzania, East Africa, the daughter of a missionary doctor and an artist. (What a scintillating love story that envokes in the mind!)

Today I host an extremely talented and amazing woman, someone whom I am immensely proud and priviledged to have on my blog. She is none other than the creator of the books which the ABC TV's Phryne Fisher series is based upon (and thus I am almost gabbling ...). Kerry Greenwood

Christmas definitely feels special when you get a chance to spend time with some wonderful authors such as these: