To Amy Milne, you’ve always been such a special person within the book sphere for me and now we’ve taken it further. Here’s to continued dealings!
It’s always hard to find the words to let my special crew know how much I love and appreciate them. I’m a lucky girl to have such wonderful loyal friends. You all mean the world to me. To the people who know me best, you are everything I hold dear: Aaron and Cal, Catherine, Emma and Pete, Garry, Heather, Jan and Pete, Robyn, Tiffany.
Last year, I went home for Christmas, which I’ve only done three times in the last twenty-five years. When you’re a farmer, leaving animals during the summer months just isn’t possible, so heading to South Australia to celebrate Christmas was off the list for a long time. But not last year.
Finally, finally, with an L-plater in the car to help me drive, we set off across the Nullarbor, the anticipation of finally ‘heading home’ hanging in the air. Perhaps this is why I felt the need to write about Chelsea ‘going home’. Every one of my senses seemed heightened as I drove the back roads to Mum and Dad’s. I felt every emotion there was to feel—happiness, sadness, numbness.
All the little memories came back: how heavy the blankets were—never had doonas when I was a kid, just the heavy woollen blankets and bedspreads. How the mozzies attacked at dusk and as soon as I went to bed. Locals mixing me up with my sister—we do look very similar!
Where the River Runs is very much inspired by the emotions of me going home. I hope Chelsea’s story adds a bit of spice and adventure among the excitement and sensation of a homecoming.
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