Friday, December 27, 2013

From the Outback: A Visit with Ann B. Harrison


LIVING IN AUSTRALIA

Hi Dana, thank you so much for having me. I love sharing my beautiful country with anyone who will listen.
I moved to Australia over twenty years ago with my family after my DH sung its praises repeatedly and wore me down. It was the country he had hitch hiked around in his surfing days and the place he wanted to bring up his family. Yes, I wanted to see the sun every day, the constant drizzle in New Zealand was getting me down. Yes I wanted to dig my toes in the sand of the beautiful white beaches I drooled over on travel shows.

The chance to cuddle up to a koala was too good to miss, to have a snake crawl around my neck filled me with excitement. Yes, I'm sad, I know that but I can't help it. I love animals and here was my chance to get wild with them.

We landed with a suitcase each and not much else. Of course I fell in love with the wide open spaces, the contrast between desert and striking coastline. Who wouldn't? And it's all fodder for this authors over active brain! I don't like to write about somewhere I haven't been, so I get to travel to small outback towns for research. That's what I tell myself anyway. It also gives me the chance to view the landscape as my characters would. Here is an example in From the Outback when Sami finds a quiet moment to herself.

From high up on the horse’s back she could appreciate the farm in a way that melted her heart, pushing away the stilted boundaries she held close in case of hurt and disappointment. The freshness of the green valley was a balm on her soul and she breathed deeply, letting go of even more stress. This farm was hers, it was time she realised it and relaxed enough to enjoy it.

I'm definitely a country girl at heart. I've always lived on a decent block of dirt and had animals because that is who I am. When I wrote From the Outback I discovered another part of Australia. The beautiful wine region of The Hunter Valley. There was no way I could say no to DH when he suggested we leave the desert and make our home in the rolling green hills liberally covered with wineries. To me, it seemed like the perfect place to call home.

But seriously, what isn't to love about the country I now call home? We are a prosperous nation in more ways than one. We believe in having a fair go, giving a mate a hand and not backing down without a fight. Everyone has the chance to excel and the only thing stopping them is themselves. I think I made the right move all those years ago. If you had your choice to move to any country in the world, where would you go?


Follow to the tour to win a $25 gift card to Amazon! 

About FROM THE OUTBACK:

Although desperate to get out of her dead end job, Sami is cynical when she hears of an inheritance from the grandfather she never knew. But once she and her young brother arrive in the beautiful valley, she discovers they are not wanted...especially by the sexy vineyard owner next door.

Will she persevere and make a home for them, or give in and take the easy money when the going gets tough?

Available now on
Amazon! And to check out other books available by Ann visit: http://www.annbharrisonromance.com/books.html




About Ann B. Harrison:

Ann swears she was born with a book in her hands and has never put it down. A lifelong love of reading has finally culminated in achieving her dream of writing...and publication.

She lives in the beautiful Hunter Valley with her own handsome hero of many years. Ann has always loved the ups and downs of life in small communities and she shares this with readers in her rural romances.

Strong sexy heroines with a good dash of sass thrown in feature in her stories. Of course these women need an equally strong hero. Bring on the outback hero and watch the passion ignite.

When not writing Ann enjoys reading, gardening, walking her very large dog Hugo and fighting with her computer.

Connect with Ann on her
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


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1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for having me and sharing my love for Australia.