“They [the elephants] taught me that all life forms are important to each other in our common quest for happiness and survival. That there is more to life than just yourself, your own family, or your own kind.” This is one of the most remarkable stories I’ve read in my life, and has been [...]
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Book Love: The Light Between Oceans By M.L. Stedman
This is a story of right and wrong, and how sometimes they look the same … 1926. Tom Sherbourne is a young lighthouse keeper on a remote island off Western Australia. The only inhabitants of Janus Rock, he and his wife Isabel live a quiet life, cocooned from the rest of the world. One April [...]
D-day for Western Australian marine life – have you had your say?
On Tuesday night I drove down to Freo and listened to compelling speakers from Sea Shepherd and Save Our Marine Life talking about the fight to get unique biodiversity hotspots protected in Western Australian waters. This was a promise made by the current government, but the draft proposal shows only two areas out of ten [...]
Interview with Kylie Ladd, author of Last Summer and After the Fall
I’ve been a big fan of Kylie’s ever since reading After the Fall, her first novel. Her latest release, Last Summer, begins with the death of Rory, the heart and soul of Yarra Yarra cricket club, and explores the fallout among his extended group of friends. Told from an impressive nine points of view, Kylie addresses themes of [...]
For the Kimberley
It’s not about rights (though it seems some rights mean more than others?) It’s not about need (who can say about greed) It’s not about whales (or this rare, safe place they calve) It’s not about flora, fauna, or natural heritage (or dinosaur footprints left 130 million years ago) It’s not about a wilderness few will visit (out [...]
Only 90,000 words to go…
Signatures have been exchanged, and the deal is done. Most significantly for me at this stage, the deadline has been set. In January 2012, all being well, I will hand over my third novel. I began work in earnest this week, and welcomed back a familiar feeling of giddiness and discomfort – the usual combination [...]
Where oh where has my reading time gone?
Not since April, when I found two brilliant books in the same month – Jasper Jones (Craig Silvey) and After the Fall (Kylie Ladd) – have I read a novel from start to finish. It’s incredibly frustrating, because I love curling up on the sofa for a regular dose of escapism, but my problem is [...]
Child marrage, fracking, dolphins, and some big questions
I usually have to brace myself to read the latest news and events of the world, so much of it shocking and senseless. Yesterday I learned about child marriage in northern India, girls who are wedded by their early teens, and have their pregnancies explained to them at the onset of labour. I also came [...]
Helplessness and people power
Last night, one of the last images I saw before I went to bed was of a terrified Chinese toddler being held at knifepoint in the street by her father. The horror of that situation was not distilled by the frozen photo, the detached computer screen, or the fact I could flick away when I [...]
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I also write articles for one of the most popular female-friendly travel websites: Holiday Goddess
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