First, a little book news. I’m delighted that Bounty has been shortlisted for the Society of Women Writers NSW 2026 Non-Fiction Award. The winner will be announced on 8 November, so fingers crossed!
And now, to a rather different subject…
I’m just back from a month away. The main purpose of our annual trip is to visit my husband’s family in Hamburg, but we usually manage to squeeze in a few side trips along the way.
One of our regular destinations is Föhr, a small North Frisian island in the North Sea and a popular holiday spot for Germans. It’s also a fascinating place for anyone with a passing interest in history and language. Although German is spoken by almost everyone, some islanders still speak Frisian, a minority language that has survived for centuries. (Plattdüütsch is another minority language spoken on Föhr that I’ve previously written about.)
The Frisians settled on Föhr during the Middle Ages, bringing their language with them. In 1362, a storm surge of biblical proportions reshaped the North Sea coastline, sweeping away vast stretches of land and helping to isolate Föhr from the mainland. That isolation helped preserve the language, which is now officially recognised and protected under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
In Alkersum there’s a Frisian language foundation, the Ferring Stiftung, that’s open to the public with a collection of historical books, documents and educational material. And a radio studio onsite that broadcasts in Frisian, fabulously named FriiskFunk.
Nearby is the picture-perfect village of Nieblum, where some thatched-roof houses date back to the 17th century. I’ve posted about it before and photographed it countless times over the years. Well, it turns out my obsession is justified. Nieblum was recently voted Germany’s Most Beautiful Village in the Travelbook Award 2026.
If you want to get a sense of this gorgeous island, check out the recent film Amrum, set at the end of WWII, which has won numerous awards.
Disappearing down rabbit holes of medieval history and obscure languages was a welcome brain reset after the busyness that followed the publication of Bounty in May.
But the holiday is over, my brain has been reset, and I’m ready for a busy November.
Coming up in November
These events are free, but bookings are essential. Details are in the links below.
19 November – Memoir Writing Workshop, Ku-ring-gai Library
Have you ever thought about writing your own life story? I’ll be drawing on my experience of writing two memoirs to explore how we turn memories and experiences into stories worth telling. No previous writing experience necessary.
26 November – Author Talk, Yass Valley Library
I’ll be talking about Bounty, the unexpected community that grew around a strong-willed rescue dog, and the experience of turning real lives into memoir.
An invitation to book clubs
One of my favourite parts of being an author is talking with readers, particularly hearing how differently people respond to the same book. So, if your book club chooses either Bounty or Marzipan and Magnolias, I’d be delighted to join you for a virtual Q&A. This offer is open to book clubs throughout Australia and New Zealand. If you’re interested, just send me a message.
