Margie Warrell

Loving a book for Mother's Day ...

Margareta-Admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 07:28:28 +0000

Loving a book for Mother's Day ...

Margareta-Admin Wed, 29/04/2020 - 5:28 pm

Hi there!

How are we all going with this new crazy, weird world we've found ourselves inhabiting for the last little while? Up here on the hill, the teenagers are home doing their remote learning with all of us biting our nails as to whether the monthly satellite internet allocation is going to last. Our once a week Netflix movie Friday "Takeaway-at-home" night has had to come to a pause, while we figure out how much schooling via the internet is going to eat up the 60GB + 10GB of peak-time data we have for the month. Of course, the swimming has also stopped along with the hill climbs and cattle camps and a myriad of other extracurricular activities. The children are very sad, and I am too, because I love being involved in all their activities and we do have a lot of fun. That said, it's lovely not to be on the road in the wee hours of morning and we are getting so much done here at home. Katie and I have been busy breaking in our BEAUTIFUL Speckle Park heifer calves. I know, to be taken seriously as a cattle breeder, I shouldn't say they're 'cute'. So don't tell anyone, but THEY ARE SO FREAKIN' CUTE, IT'S RIDICULOUS!

"Ruger" - He's like a panda bear!

I love the Speckle Parks. They perform so well, stand up to the tough seasons, and produce fabulous calves with great carcase characteristics. And yep, THEY'RE SO FLAMIN' CUTE! (Shhhhhh ... )They're also very quiet which is a big plus for us. I hold temperament as one of my five top cattle selection attributes. We now have another seven cows left to calve to a top PB Canadian Speckle Park bull, with our one stud Hereford (Katie's Bella) due as well. This calf will be the fifth Hereford for Katie's Karinya Hereford Stud and she is seriously hoping for another heifer. I just want to see all the new arrivals safely on the ground with happy healthy mums!

We've also had a wonderful 36mm of rain up to Thursday morning, which is making me ever so happy as it was starting to get very dry again.

Anyway, enough farming talk! I've also managed to read a couple of books! Which leads me to my topic of choice today. Mother's Day. Did you see the meme doing the round on on social media that Dad's can't rely on schools to come up with a Mother's Day creation this year? So, I'm here to save them. Perhaps they'd like to get really excited and buy you at least three, maybe four books for delivery into your hands on Mother's Day morn. I mean, we mums have all been juggling a lot of hats lately. I don't know about you, but with three older kids at home, and the supermarket shopping restrictions in place, trying to keep the pantry stocked has been a challenge! My oven seems to have been going for at least four hours a day ... or maybe it just seems like that?

Mother's Day! Focus woman!

Okay. So I've done a little research and come up with quite a few options for all you rural fiction lovers, women's fiction readers, plus a few more I have to mention because I'm putting them on my own list to fling around in front of the fam-bam and hope they take notice!

For the rural fiction lovers;

Quite a few of your fav rural authors (also lovely friends of mine), have books out now or in the next few months ...

Karly Lane, known as "Rural Fiction's Favourite Daughter", has another new book out this week called 'Fool Me Once'. Karly's story output has me completely in awe.

Fool Me Once, Karly Lane

Fleur McDonald, our rural crime/mystery author, has released the third book in her Dave Burrows series, 'Red Dirt Country'. Fleur assures me you can still read this one even if you haven't read the previous two.

Red Dirt Country, Fleur McDonald

Rachael Johns, also a prolific writer, has just released 'Something to Talk About', in a return to the rural romance genre which should cause great excitement amongst her fans.

Something to Talk About, Rachael Johns

Nicole Alexander released 'The Cedar Tree' in March. H absolutely loves Nicole's books! They're always merticulously researched and very well written.

The Cedar Tree, Nicole Alexander

Alissa Callen's, 'The Boundary Fence' came out in January. Alissa lives on a farm in Central NSW and is a lovely person and writer, if you haven't come across her books before.

The Boundary Fence, Alissa Callen

Other books that have caught my eye;

'The Beautiful Mother' by Katherine Scholes. If you love books set in Africa, this one's for you. Words like 'powerful', 'beautiful' and 'fulfilling,' are being used to describe this novel set in Tanzania.

The Beautiful Mother, Katherine Scholes

'The Secret Life of Shirley Sullivan' by Lisa Ireland, is getting some very good reviews. It's also a book brought to your bookshelf by my own publisher, the wonderful, Beverly Cousins, so I'm a little biased. I've definitely put this one on my Mother's Day list!

'The Giver of Stars' by JoJo Moyes. I'm LOVING my current read and dragging it out bites at a time like a delicious box of chocolates, savouring this story based on the horse-back librarians of the mountains of Kentucky. LATE NOTE: I finished it this morning and I ADORED IT!!! A FIVE STAR READ.

The Giver of Stars, Jojo Moyes

'Gulliver's Wife' by Lauren Chater. The cover of this one is divine. "One woman's journey to the edge of love and loyalty" (Booktopia), this book is getting rave reviews.

Gulliver's Wife, Lauren Chater

Isn't this cover beautiful?!

'The Dictionary of Lost Words' by Pip Williams. Touted by 'Better Reading' as "... one of the most remarkable debuts you'll ever read", I've jumped the gun and already bought this one as I loved the sample on iBooks.

The Dictionary of Lost Words, Pip Williams

'Who We Were' by B.M. Carroll, is also in all good bookstores. Liane Moriaty, author of the international bestseller, 'Little White Lies', says Ber's books are "addictive". I'm really looking forward to reading this mystery/thriller.

Who We Were, B.M. Carroll

'Maggie's Going Nowhere' by Rose Hartley, was also a good read. Different and quirky, the caravan clad cover really caught my eye and I'm glad I gave into the impluse to buy.

'The Paris Secret' by Natasha Lester. A stunning cover on this one as well. They do say around 90% of choices are made on the cover appeal! An excellent author, Natasha's books would appeal to the historical fiction lovers too.

For the Dervla McTiernan book lovers, 'The Good Turn' has been released and I'm told it's a better reading experience if you've read 'The Ruin' and 'The Scholar' first.

Fiona Lowe, a former Mills & Boon author, has jumped into women's fiction with another release, 'Just An Ordinary Family', earlier this year. I haven't read it yet, but a visitor to Gippsland, Fiona has set this book around the Gippsland Lakes.

Some Favourite Authors with releases coming soon;

Mandy Magro's, 'The Stockman's Secret' is out on May 18.

Maya Linnell, (a new voice in rural romance) has released the smaller version of her debut novel 'Wildflower Ridge', in preparation for the release of her second book 'Bottlebrush Creek'; out on June 2

And Fiona Palmer has a new novel, 'Tiny White Lies' arriving on the shelf on August 25. Can't wait for this one!

Tiny White Lies, Fiona Palmer

Fiona's new book out on August 25

... and the delightful MONICA McINERNEY!!! has a newbie coming. I love Monica's books and will be waiting for 'The Godmothers' due out on September 29, 2020, with great anticipation. It's published just in time for my birthday. WINNING!

For those who love biographies;

'Becoming' by Michelle Obama, I'm told, is a wonderful read

Self Help, anyone?

'You've Got This' - The life changing power of trusting yourself by Margie Warrell, is acutally, ... life changing. I love Margie's books, and the fact she grew up on a dairy farm at Nungurner and then went onto conquer the world, is testament to her wonderful and encouraging words.

Any Regenerative Farmers out there?

Nicole Masters' book 'For Love of Soil'. After doing a Zoom Webinar with Nicole recently, I've ordered this book. It sounds like a fabulous, informative read and resource for the agriculturalist. A book reviewer and farming friend, Phillip Boote, who is a great lover of rural fiction, also recommended Nicole's book to me. Seeing I need to know more about our soil, to grow the grass to feed our cattle, I was in!

SO, that's a few ideas for the family of a book lover, like you and me, to ponder over ...

As to actually getting your books, seeing not many of us are leaving home, I'm positive if you ring your local bookstore they will post the book/s out. If you're in Gippsland, give the likes of Collins Booksellers Sale (51446262), Just Books in Bairnsdale (51525181) and Lakes Entrance (51552618) or the Reader's Emporium in Traralgon (51764620) a call. I'll bet they can help deliver to your door, or post box, or even your re-purposed roadside 20 litre drench drum.

Happy 'flinging your list around'!

Love

Margareta xo

Breather Time

Margareta-Admin — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 07:35:38 +0000

Breather Time

Margareta-Admin Wed, 10/10/2018 - 6:35 pm

There are times in your life when you just have to have a breather. Take a step back and contemplate the world around you … where you are going … what you are doing. A sabbatical, I suppose one could call it.

Such a time arrived in my life mid last year, after all the promo, touring, talks and appearances that come with the release of a new book, in this case my latest novel, Lake Hill. And this is why you have barely heard from me since then. It was time for a break. Mentally, physically and emotionally I was wrung out from the rollercoaster ride that comes with writing seven novels, running a farm, raising three kids and endeavouring to be a good wife, daughter, sister and friend.

Roll on until now, and I cannot even BEGIN to tell you what a journey it’s been over the last eighteen months. I thought I was going to have some quiet time, lots of down time to … I guess … contemplate my homestead here on the hill, my farm, family and …. well, navel. (I actually DID do that and ended up cutting sugar and carbs from my diet and OMG, did that nearly kill me and then revive me, if that makes any kind of sense :) )

To try and encapsulate it all in a nutshell, together my daughter and I have been to cattle camps (yes, there is such a thing), show camps, each started a Hereford (her) and Speckle Park (me) stud. I’ve taught myself new things like how to crochet (and made a single bed blanket!), and with the assistance of others, learnt how to bake new stuff such as sour-dough bread.

Sourdough Bread

I’ve also skilled up on how to be the best poolside mum, learning a new language in swimming events (State titles, Country titles, Sprint titles, Open titles, qualifying times, qualifying events, qualifying meets … who the hell knew?)

North Alaska

Add in the boys of the family and we’ve all been on an epic family adventure to Canada and Alaska driving across British Columbia, The Yukon, Alberta and Saskatchewan in an RV (Chevy Chase, eat your heart out!), swagged it across National Parks along the Great Dividing Range (Okay, the kids swagged it, H & I, had a comfy camper trailer bed) and last but not in the least, we’ve been tackling the dry conditions (Don’t be fooled by the calf-high green grass in the south, we in the north and eastern parts of Gippsland are in drought too).

In the big scheme of things, our farm is small and we don’t rely on it for our sole income, and for that, particularly this year, I am grateful. But it doesn’t make the decisions any easier on what cattle to keep, to sell, to join, if we join them at all. We’ve worked hard with our ‘girls’ to ensure we have a quiet herd. Each and every one of them has a place in our hearts. But we want to do the right thing by our stock and our business. Thus, the decisions are tough ones. Most of you reading this would know how this feels. And I mention it at all, just so you know we are all in this together and I’m thinking of all who have to make these decisions and more.

But back to the sabbatical.

Make Your Mark, Margie Warrell

I read a book. (Famous last words, those ones … ;) )

It came to me by way of serendipity, as do most of the weird and wonderful things in life. Written by a woman with vivid blue eyes, bright red lipstick and wearing an eye catching multi-couloured blouse I admired which made me look further and find out who she was.

Margie Warrell, is the inspirational author of ‘Make your Mark – A Guide book for the Brave Hearted.’ A woman with a passion for empowering people to live and lead with courage, Margie is an international authority on leading a brave life. With experience working with organisations from NASA to the United Nations featuring in her CV, whilst remaining a down-to-earth Aussie with rural roots, she seemed to speak my language. And then I found out Margie originated from Gippsland … and my husband’s family knows her family (we’re all country people so of course they do …;) ). And then there was that lovely blouse. She was ticking lots of boxes.

Sitting poolside while my daughter swam her way through her (very) early morning training sessions, I read and worked my way through Margie’s book, first with a degree of cynicism and then with a growing realisation my work – family - life balance was wayyyyyy out of whack. There was so much more I wanted out of life than just writing books.

It was time for change.

Canada was a big one. This epic ‘once in a lifetime’ FAMILY holiday was incredible fun (particularly the family dive into a glacial lake while the eldest filmed our ‘five up’ running jump, just so the kids have the evidence mum can NEVER again say it’s too cold to go for a swim.) A cattle stud x TWO (how the heck she talked me into that one I DON’T know), plus more land to run our stock (although I am currently running at a kangaroo:cow ratio of 50:1), and a breeding program that’s incredibly exciting. But the biggest winner of all was time to spend with my beloved husband, and kids. To have as much fun and laughter together that we could squeeze in, before these younger teenage kids of ours wander off on their own lives of discovery.

Eighteen months on and it was time to go back and revisit Margie’s book. Develop a new list of priorities and ideas. And this is where I come back to this blog. For the first time in what seemed like ages, I actually felt like I wanted to write.

Thank you for allowing me the time to be silent, to contemplate, wander and gather my thoughts, my family, my life.

I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you for your love and support. The messages I have received via email and FaceBook, the conversations at Farm walks, over drench drums at the Ag store, on the pool deck and beside the milk fridge in the local IGA; “How’s it doing, Margareta? Got any new books on the go?’

The answer is still no, but I am tinkering, which is always a good sign.

2019 is looming and whilst we desperately need rain, I have taken to finding one beautiful thing in every day.

Today’s is the fact I felt like writing to you.

Margareta xo

Margie Warrell

Loving a book for Mother's Day ...

For the rural fiction lovers;

Other books that have caught my eye;

Some Favourite Authors with releases coming soon;

For those who love biographies;

Self Help, anyone?

Any Regenerative Farmers out there?

SO, that's a few ideas for the family of a book lover, like you and me, to ponder over ...

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Breather Time

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