Author Interview: Heather Reyburn

Over the next month, some of our members will be reading the Fantail Ridge series by Heather Reyburn.

Heather took some out to chat to Beauty and Lace. You can get to know her in this interview.

Tell us a little about yourself…

Hello all. I was born and raised in New Zealand, with the advantage of spending many years on the family farm (on which the Fantail Ridge series is set) – which I adored!

While always an animal lover and farm girl, I have had a lifelong love of reading, writing, and travelling and am fortunate to have a large family who encourage me in them all.

At twenty, I set off to see the world and spent three years exploring, working, and including meeting my Australian husband. We returned to Queensland where we soon moved to a Western Darling Downs Sheep and Cattle property, before purchasing our own farm near Warwick, Queensland.

Farm work and raising three children filled many years until, finding myself alone and with some health issues, I decided to sell the property and relocate to Toowoomba – and was lucky enough to meet my second husband soon after. In 2019 I made the decision to retire – and signed up for a Writer’s Retreat for beginners. Drawing on my love and experience of farm life, animal husbandry and understanding the land, I quickly found plenty to fuel my stories.

When not busy writing, I love working in our half acre garden accompanied by our faithful rescue dog and menagerie of chickens. Minding grandchildren, travelling around Australia in our caravan, and bushwalking fills any remaining hours that I can find.

Tell us about the Fantail Ridge series…

Fantail Ridge is the fictitious name I have given the property on which three generations of the Simpson family live. Book One begins with ‘Peninsula Promises’ in 1935 when Alice Simpson accompanies her husband and children to the new, rough farm for a better future. Her loneliness is eased by the exchange of letters with her beloved sister, while they negotiate the trials of WW11 and the numerous highlights and hiccups that occur on a farm.

The second in the series ‘The Lupin Fields’ continues with city hairdresser, Dawn Simpson, falling in love with a farmer—the youngest son in the Simpson clan. The 1960’s and 70’s love story explores the trials and tribulations of farming and living in a rural community – and of course, switching high heels for gumboots. Desperate to become a mother, Dawn has a steep learning curve ahead of her, coupled with disappointment and heartbreak. Will she ever achieve her dream?

‘The Scent of Promise’ is the third (and final) in the series. In 2006, Hannah Simpson is a research scientist in the field of plants and food with high hopes of promotion. She is also one of New Zealand’s promising young show jump riders. Everything is going her way – until it doesn’t! Believing a break at home on Fantail Ridge is all she needs, she is shocked by what greets her.

Forced to fight if the family is to keep the farm, she takes on every possibility to achieve her goal, nurturing the land and all who live on it. When a good-looking shearer turns up, searching for work, his family history and seeking answers to his father’s disappearance, Hannah is forced to recruit his help—and adapt to all that it entails. Could growing lavender really be the answer—or will that too, end in disaster?

You have written 7 books in two years, how did you manage that?

With age against me, I decided there was no point in procrastinating if I wanted to achieve my goal of writing a book. After working in a busy office job for 20 years, while also rising early to tend to animals, and toiling late into the night during summer raking and baling hay, the thought of spending 4-5 hours a day in my home office (spare bedroom), was easy!

I try to be self-disciplined, however, my family does come first so I don’t always achieve my goal. I am probably one of the few who have been aided by the Covid19 pandemic as thoughts of travel flew out the window. One book soon demanded a follow-up – and before I knew it, I had a series of four written and published during 2020 with my head spinning with ideas for more!

I thought I would like to share the beauty of New Zealand with my Australian and international friends and family – hence the idea for Fantail Ridge.

What is your favourite and least favourite part of publishing?

Oh my goodness – this is much more difficult than I imagined. With my first series being published initially by a small press publisher, I had no idea what was involved. However, friends encouraged me to ‘go Indie’ – and so I did, regaining my rights from the first series, republishing them and launching my second.

I find the best part is seeing my manuscript, created in Word, whizzing into the book format with the help of a fabulous software package. It’s like magic – and I love it! The most difficult is definitely loading the various formats onto the appropriate platforms – with all its tricks for wary players!

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have been given about writing?

Before beginning the day’s writing, reread the final scene from the previous chapter for ease of flow and continuity – and then get cracking! I aim for 2000 – 2500 words per day (but don’t always achieve that).

If you could invite any three people for dinner, whom would you invite?

I would love to be sharing dinner and conversation with Beatrix Potter (if she was still with us), Ahn Do, and Dolly Parton.

Who is your favourite author?

Rosamunde Pilcher

What are you currently reading?

Birds of a Feather by Tricia Stringer

Where can our readers follow you?

My website, Instagram, FaceBook, Bookbub and Goodreads

What is next for Heather Reyburn?

I have another book swirling in my head – perhaps a stand-alone this time? Again, set on a Qld farm, my protagonist will be a strong, capable woman, with a second chance romance – and a mysterious, suspenseful twist?
After that – who knows? There is so much to write about, so many places to see and things to do – I hope I live to 100!?