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Hello! I find it really hard to actually write about myself, but I'll give it a whirl. I’m a wife to the love of my life, Hugh, he’s the best man I know, and mum to three great kids. (I know that sounds really biased but hey, it’s absolutely true!) As I'm not overly keen to see them permanently disappear over the cattle grid anytime soon, I cook loads of country goodies (maybe a hover over those words to link to cooking, Karen?) to keep them coming home.
As a full-time, fifth-generation Aussie farmer, home is a working cattle property overlooking Lake Glenmaggie in the beautiful Gippsland ranges of south-eastern Victoria. Here we run two cattle studs, Speckle Park and Herefords, to support a commercial cattle breeding (maybe a hover over those two words to link to cattle, Karen?) operation to grow the best beef we can.
I was born and bred in Gippsland, at a tiny dot on the map called Tinamba, and grew up with my two siblings on my family's dairy farm just a few kilometres away from my home now. Our family farm was settled by my great, great grandparents back in 1862, so our connection to the land is long, strong and deep. Family has always been the most important thing to me and I’m just so lucky to have my wonderful father and amazing uncle, both in their 80's, still farming with us.
Just to make life even more busy and interesting, I'm also an author with seven books currently out in the world, six published by Penguin Random House, and another by US publishers, Tule. Maybe you've found one, three or all seven! I love to write what I live, and as I'm a country girl who has lived and worked on properties and stations across Australia, from the north to the south and east to west, my passion is to write and share with readers, stories about life in rural Australia.
Bella's Run, my debut novel, was a #1 Australian bestseller, and the other books (maybe a hover over this word to link to books, Karen?), Hope's Road, A Bush Christmas, Mountain Ash, Rose River and Lake Hill, have all been in the Australian top #5 on release, so obviously, all you wonderful people love reading about rural Australia too!
I've always wanted to be both a farmer and an author, and I'm incredibly fortunate to be able to combine both to do what I love everyday. Here, on our family properties, we are passionate about ensuring the beef that finally makes it to your plate is the best, most delicious eating experience for your family. To also have the opportunity to tell creative, authentic stories drawn from my imagination, my own and many others life experiences in the bush - now that truly makes my heart sing.
So, if you ever see me out and about checking cattle, working cattle, feeding cattle, watering cattle, carting cattle - yep, it's a 'beefy' kind of life - know, whilst most of my brain is on the job, there's a tiny bit off dreaming up the next story to share with you.
I can honestly say life has, and continues to be, a wild ride. I'd love it if you stick around here with us and see where it all goes next. (Link to sign up for newsletter, Karen?)