Australian Romance Author Showcase with…Fiona Palmer

by |July 7, 2013

As part of Australian Romance Month, Romance Specialist Haylee Nash will be interviewing one Australian Romance author per day. Much like a beauty pageant, each author will be using their charm, wit and grace (and the power of social media) to take home the Booktopia Romance Bestseller crown. Booktopia invites bestselling author of rural romance Fiona Palmer to the stage.

1. Describe the perfect date.
Oh this may sound really boring but for me any date is perfect without the following three things: kids, cleaning, cooking.

2. Which of your books are you most proud of?
The Sunburnt Country. Rural depression and suicide is still a problem in our rural areas and to be able to spread the message through my stories makes this one all the more special.

3. What is the hardest thing about being a romance author?
Having to research photos or watch movies of gorgeous men for inspiration for my heroes. It’s back breaking work, but someone has to do it.

4. What is the best thing about being a romance author?
Creating happy ever afters. I’m a glass half full girl so I love things to work out and for people to finish feeling satisfied and pleased.

5. Who (aside from a significant other) do you swoon over?
I would say maybe Josh Duhamel. And how could you not go past Stephen Amell in Arrow doing all those shirtless manly things. I will stop now before I get started with my long list.

6. Tell us something very few people know about you.
I raced speedway cars for seven years, which means I can change a tyre, bang out dents, check oil and water but I still know nothing about fixing a motor. I actually had a sticker in my Torana racing car which said ‘the only thing dad doesn’t do is drive it’.  Sadly, it was very close to the truth.

7. Describe your writing style in three words.
Easy, exciting, fun (at least that’s what I’m aiming for!)

Click here to buy The Sunburnt Country from Booktopia,
Australia’s local bookstore

8. What is your definition of a good book?
One that has me hooked from the first page and doesn’t let me go until the last while giving me a good laugh and a cry.

9. Which author would you invite to a dinner party and why?
Bryce Courtenay. Such a great writer who I could learn so much from. I wish I could have made it to one of his master classes.

10. Finish this sentence: I would do anything for love, but I won’t do_____
(Trying hard not to think of Meatloaf here.)  Um…you know I’m not sure. In a relationship you have to compromise so if it meant moving or trying something new, I’d give it a go. Struggling to think of what I won’t do. I will have to ponder this.


Fiona Palmer lives in the tiny rural town of Pingaring in Western Australia, three and a half hours south-east of Perth. She discovered Danielle Steel at the age of eleven, and has now written her own brand of rural romance. She has attended romance writers’ groups and received an Australian Society of Authors mentorship for her first novel, The Family Farm. She has extensive farming experience, does the local mail run, and was a speedway-racing driver for seven years. She currently works two days a week at the local shop in between writing and looking after her two children.

 

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  • July 7, 2013 at 10:36 am

    Good to know you can change a tyre. If we do any long drives together again, I won’t have to worry 🙂

  • July 7, 2013 at 6:25 pm

    lol Rach. We should do some more events together. They are fun. 🙂

  • July 8, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    The sunburnt Country is on my TBR list, Fiona. I really enjoyed The Road Home.

  • July 12, 2013 at 2:27 pm

    Oh, yeah, Fiona, some of the research can be really hard work!

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