WOMEN WRITERS

Bestselling Australian women’s fiction author Fiona McCallum is living proof that dreams do come true. This year she celebrates a huge milestone with the release of her 10th novel,

Fiona McCallum has enjoyed a life of contrasts. She was raised on a cereal and wool farm on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. An avid reader and writer, she decided at the age of nine that she wanted to be the next Enid Blyton. After completing her schooling at a boarding school in Adelaide, Fiona returned home and, while working for the local council, maintained her literary interests by writing poetry and short stories, and studying at TAFE via correspondence. With her skilful depictions of country life, she soon had a number of feature articles published in a local paper. When her marriage ended, Fiona moved to Melbourne and returned to full-time study at the age of 26, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing) from Deakin University. While studying, she was particularly drawn to writing fiction, as her keen observation of the human condition and everyday situations combined well with her love of storytelling. Fiona continued to develop her creative writing skills by reading widely and voraciously, and completed her first manuscript in 2002. However, she had to endure almost 10 years of rejections from agents and publishers before her first book, Paycheque, was published, becoming an instant bestseller. Achieving her dream of being a full-time novelist, Fiona celebrates the release of her 10th novel this year. Fiona’s stories are always heartwarming journeys of self-discovery that draw on her life experiences, love of animals and fascination with the power and support that comes from strong friendships.

Making Peace by Fiona McCallum, $29.99 RRP is available wherever good books are sold, or at fionamccallum.com

It’s been a year since Hannah Ainsley lost her husband and parents – her whole family - in a car crash on Christmas morning. Despite her overwhelming loss, she’s worked hard to put the pieces of her life back together with the help of a group of dear, loyal friends. But while Hannah is beginning to get excited about the future again, she's concerned about her best friend Sam who is facing a crisis of her own. It's Hannah's turn to be Sam's rock – but can she save Sam’s dreams from unravelling? “Fiona McCallum is a master storyteller…” – Good Reading magazine Cover design by Emily O'Neill