Acknowledgements

This novel began life as a screenplay in 2000. Thanks are due to Screen Tasmania, my screenwriting teacher, Ranald Allan, my fellow Cut & Polish course participants and screenplay editor, Megan Simpson Huberman.

The transition from screenplay to novel was made easier thanks to Joe Bugden and the Tasmanian Writers’ Centre, which hosted the ‘Write a Novel in a Year’ course, led by Rosie Waitt. Thanks especially to Rosie and the people in my group, who helped guide me.

Thanks always to my writing inspirations: Liz Honey, Danielle Wood, Heather Rose, and Kathryn Lomer. And to all my girlfriends – sorry I buried myself in the office so much – hope to go for a gallop or a share a road trip with you soon. A special thanks to the girls in the Saddle Bag Club for dropping in with Bundy at low points during the writing process. (Thanks to Damien for helping select the bottom for the cover design.) Thanks to Fenton, Darren and Lucy for inspiring me in the shearing shed. Thanks to the Woodsdale/Levendale community for being the best place on earth to be.

Thanks to the wonderful people at Penguin, who truly believed in this book, and special thanks to my friends and colleagues Ali Watts and Belinda Byrne.

For my agent, Margaret Connolly, I simply couldn’t have done this without you. Your wisdom and comfort came on lonely days when my writing was fighting a losing battle against the pressures of motherhood, farming and drought. Thanks for getting me moving!

This book wouldn’t be here without the help of Maureen Williams. Thanks for loving and caring for our kids as much as your own. Thanks also to Tony, Grant, Jake and Brodie – we think the world of you. For the Rowlands family – thank you for making this farming life a joy. You are the best farm partners we could wish for. For Pete, Sally and Sam, thanks for being such wonderful neighbours. Thanks to my legendary webmaster, Allan Moult, for seeing the extra potential in me and creating my amazing website.

To Val, Jenny and the family – thanks for the food, veggie garden, child minding, firewood and love … and thanks for all the things that help give me more time to write.

To my in-laws (on the mainland) thanks for your ongoing love and support – we couldn’t lead the rich and varied life we do without you.

To my animals – the dogs, ducks, chooks, horses and sheep – thanks for teaching me to listen and learn.

Most importantly – thanks to my children, Rosie and Charlie, who have graciously learned to share their mother with the demon who drives her to write. To the love of my life, John, these books exist because of you – they should have your name on the cover too. You are my inspiration in all that I do.

And lastly, thanks to God for giving me the gift of writing and for making it rain on Christmas Day! And thank God for farmers! We feed the world.