Mountain Ash (37 page)

From the
Narree Times

Mountain Ash
is the story of a single mother – her vulnerabilities, her need for security and a place to belong, her internal and external battle to live the life she deserves and provide for her daughter. Having once been a single parent, I would like to pay tribute to this resilient and inspiring band of women (and men) who, for whatever reason, find themselves parenting and living life alone. In doing just what has to be done, you are amazing. Inspirational. Never forget that.

Another important facet of this novel concerns bushfire. In the past few years we have been hit by catastrophic wildfire here in Gippsland (and indeed in many parts of Australia). While this story focuses on a very personal account, I would like to take this opportunity to honour and praise the efforts of both our paid and unpaid firemen and women. As a volunteer firefighter myself, I know that in Australia we have some of the best firies in the world. I'm sure our communities, rural or
urban, join me in thanking them for their continuing efforts to keep us safe.

For the purposes of this fictional story my characters made choices that put themselves in great danger. I hope and pray my readers wouldn't do the same. I should also make the point that once a wildfire has passed and the news services have stopped reporting on a particular catastrophic event, it takes many years, sometimes even a lifetime, for people who have been affected to rebuild their lives. Please know that my (and I am sure many other fellow Australians') empathy and thoughts are with you.

Thank you once again to the fantastic team at Random House, Australia: my beautiful and ever-supportive publisher, Beverley Cousins, along with the rest of the team, especially Catherine Hill, Jess Malpass, Tobie Mann and the hardworking and much-appreciated sales reps. To Kate O'Donnell, your pertinent suggestions once again were fabulous. Much gratitude also goes to my very wise and lovely agent, Sheila Drummond.

To my wonderful readers who read drafts and again gave excellent feedback - Glenda Anderson, Pamela Beveridge and Kerry Barritt – thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the many, many people who answered a plethora of questions, especially Sidney Smith, Pam and Mal Beveridge, Kaylene Runciman, Jan Heaslip, Sandra Scumski, Rob Dean, Dick Waldron, Karen and Mark Whitehurst, Greg Powell, Angie Browning, Marion Kelly, Kenielle and Matt Bechaz, the lovely ladies from the Gippsland Campdrafting Association and my anonymous paramedic, to name just a few, thank you all for your time and efforts in helping me ‘get things just right'.

Much appreciation goes to Roo and Sue Arcus (
www.rooarcus.com
) for allowing me to use the lyrics of their very special song ‘Church on the Hill'.

To all my fabulous friends, a loud and heartfelt cheer, for without your love and support I couldn't do this. Extra-special gratitude to Andrea Killeen (for all the miles and laughs along the way), Sandra and Doug Dekkers, Emma and Buck Williamson, Jenny Green, Michelle Sellings, Kenielle Bechaz, Sue Wilson, Liz and Trevor Watt (along with Tanya and Jayne) at Collins Sale and the amazing ‘Lardner Park team' (Ev and Bruiser Bermingham - Glenevelyn is for you).

To Helen White, we couldn't manage without you, and Karen Chisholm, you are indeed a website maestro. To the
Gippsland Country Life
team, here's cheers for another year; the Little Lonsdale Group (especially Kate Belle, Kathryn Ledson and Jennifer Scoullar), your support means the world; and to all the other authors I connect with (especially the rural ones), appreciation for your friendship.

To my dearest mate and critique partner Kate Belle - your kindness, empathy, love and support got me through this book. I am so grateful. Alex will haunt us both forever, I am sure.

To the readers of my books – I am delighted to be able to share with you my passion for rural Australia. Thank you for your continued encouragement, particularly via my website, Facebook, Twitter and when we meet out on the road.

To my entire family - the whole she-bang lot (including Uncle Bob) - I couldn't write without you all offering your time, love and support. I am so lucky to have such a fantastic bunch of caring relatives backing me the whole way.

And now to the most important people in my world - a massive thank you goes to my gorgeous husband, Hugh, and beautiful children, Brent, Callan and Katie. You are the sun, moon and stars in my sky. Gratitude once again for allowing your wife and mother time off to ‘go write another book'. I love you.

Margareta Osborn is a fifth-generation farmer who has lived and worked on the land all her life. She also writes about it in the Gippsland
Country Life
magazine. Home is the beautiful Macalister Valley of East Gippsland where, with her husband and three children, she spends many hours in the mountains in which her novels are set.

She is also the author of three bestselling novels,
Bella's Run
– a No. 1 bestseller –
Hope's Road
, and
Rose River
, an adaptation of her No. 1 bestselling ebook
A Bush Christmas
.

 

Visit
www.margaretaosborn.com.au

Margareta Osborn

@margaretaosborn

Bella Vermaelon and her best friend Patty are two fun-loving country girls bonded in a sisterhood no blood tie could ever beat.

Now they are coming to the end of a road trip which has taken them from their family farms in the rugged Victorian high country to the red dust of the Queensland outback. For almost a year they have mustered on cattle stations, cooked for weary stockmen, played hard at rodeos and outback parties, and danced through life like a pair of wild tumbleweeds.

And with the arrival of Patty's brother Will and Bella's cousin Macca, it seems love is on the horizon too …

Then a devastating tragedy strikes, and Bella's world is changed forever.

So she runs – from the only life she has ever known. But can she really turn her back on the man she loves? Or on the land that runs deep in her blood?

Margareta Osborn's No. 1 bestselling rural romance – set in Victoria and Queensland – is brimming with the energy and vitality of country life and the Australia bush.

Available now

Hope's Road connects three very different properties, and three very different lives …

Sixty years ago, heartbroken and betrayed, old Joe McCauley turned his back on his family and their fifth-generation farm, Montmorency Downs. He now spends his days as a recluse, spying upon the land – and the granddaughter – that should by rights have been his.

For Tammy McCauley, Montmorency Downs is the last remaining tie to her family. But land can make or break you – and, with her husband's latest treachery, how long can she hold on to it?

Wild-dog trapper Travis Hunter is struggling as a single dad, unable to give his son, Billy, the thing he craves most. A complete family.

Then, out of the blue, a terrible event forces the three neighbours to confront each other – and the mistakes of their past …

From the author of the bestselling
Bella's Run
comes another captivating rural romance set in the rugged Australian bush.

Available now