My name is Susan Horsnell and I would like to thank Judith and Sarah for inviting me to provide input to their blog.
I’m an Australian who lives in the sunny state of Queensland. With a population of 300, the village I live in now is a few hours north west of Brisbane, Queensland’s capital. We are at the top of a mountain range surrounded by forest. It’s Summer all year round in my neck of the woods, but most of the rest of Australia has seasons just like many countries.
When the Northern Hemisphere is descending into Winter, Australia is awakening to Summer. While temperatures plummet below freezing, ours skyrocket to over 100. Then, six months later, the reverse takes place.
Australia does have small pockets where it snows. In the far south of New South Wales and Northern Victoria is the Snowy Mountains area. This is where Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest mountain can be found- peak at 7,310 feet. There are also snowfalls in Tasmania on the high peaks. The season is a short one and can vary from very little snow to none at all. The majority of the continent’s Winter is cold winds, rain and icy sleet.
MOUNT KOSCIUSZKO
Here, where I live, is a different story. In the north of the continent, we have a Wet Season – December to April and a Dry Season – May to November. Our temperature rarely drops below 22 degrees Celcius-71 degrees Fahrenheit. During the wet season we often experience destructive flooding.
Being such a large continent, Australia suffers from large temperature swings and events. Flooding is a common scourge throughout the country as are bushfires and drought. Our food bowl areas really are at the mercy of Mother Nature, and rarely, if ever, experience victory. She is a strong adversary which those on the land are now learning to work with, rather than against. For decades, many have sought to bend Mother Nature to their will. The light is finally dawning that this will never happen.
Being the wife of a senior Naval Officer for 47 years, we have traveled extensively, and lived in all states of Australia as well as overseas. I grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney which have no equal (in my opinion). Since retiring after 37 years of Nursing, we have been pulling our RV around the country and many of the books I now write are based on our experiences of these small country towns.
The Outback Australia Series is based out of Bourke NSW and centers around a team who minister to the outback communities with the aid of the Flying Doctor Service.
DARLING RIVER, BOURKE NSW
Claiming His Charge is the story of a rock star who takes us around the country on tour. I describe the cities, as well as the country towns. This book is Male/Male Romance.
Destined to Shatter is another Male/Male set in and around Sydney.
Healing Jarrod is a man who finds love again and is based around Sydney.
Lost in Love is set in a fictional national park on the outskirts of Sydney.
Eight Letters is a tragic story set in the Darling Harbour area of Sydney.
Scarred is set in Sydney.
SYDNEY AND HARBOUR NSW
Love in the Outback is the story of a city girl relocating to, and falling in love with, the town of Longreach in Outback Queensland.
STOCKMANS HALL OF FAME LONGREACH QUEENSLAND
All books are Male/Female unless otherwise mentioned.
Over the next two years there will be more stories in the Outback Australia Series and others encompassing some of the small town history.
I do hope you will one day get the opportunity to visit my home country where extremes in weather are common, but the beauty is not.
To follow me, check out the links below:
Web: http://www.susanhorsnellromanceauthor.com/
Blog: http://susanhorsnell.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhorsnellromanceauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susan-horsnell
Once again, thank you Judith and Sarah for having me.
Sue
5 comments:
Sue, I had the opportunity to travel to Australia for a conference in Sidney. I added a few extra days and traveled to Cairns. I ended up seeing the Great Barrier Reef (sort of-bit of turbulence had the water murky) from a mini-sub as I got motion sickness trying to snorkel! However I did take a tour to the Rain Forrest and Butterfly Gardens.
Thank you for sharing the pictures of your beautiful country!
Thanks for your post, Susan. I learned more about Australia, and your books sound great! Hope to see your country one day--an RV trip sounds like g great way to get off the beaten path.
Lynn, if I have the chance to return to Australia, I love your idea of getting an RV and taking a road trip. What a great way to see a new-to-me country. I did something like that when I went to Ireland in 1994.
Love all the pictures associated with the areas you write about in and around Sydney. Australia is a beautiful country and, like any large land mass, weather and dry or wet conditions vary.
I've been to Australia twice on business. Two weeks each time. Both times were to Perth in Western Australia. Though my plane stopped in Sydney or ?? to get to Perth, I never had an opportunity to stay and tour at all. Perth has its own beauty, however--though I suspect dryer than Sydney. I did get to see some lovely beaches and get to know the city.
As an American I had no idea how big of a country Australia was. I remember, when I planned my trip, I corresponded with an author I knew who lived in Tasmania (Burnie). I said I thought I'd plan a stop-over on my way home. She responded with lots of laughter explaining the distances, hours of travel, and cost it would add to my ticket (at the time close to $1,000). I had no idea!
Perhaps one day I will get back again and see other parts of Australia.
I enjoyed your blog post. Australia is one place I've always wanted to visit. Maybe some day! And you've given me ideas of some of the places I would like to visit.
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