Online Author Talk with Fiona McArthur - The Bush Telegraph

ABOUT FIONA MCARTHUR Drawing from her life as a rural midwife, Fiona McArthur shares her love of working with women, families and health professionals in her books. In her compassionate, pacey fiction, her love of the Australian landscape meshes beautifully with warm, funny, multi-generational characters as she highlights challenges for rural and remote families, and the strength shared between women. Happy endings are a must. Fiona is the author of 8 books published by Penguin, and lives on a farm with her husband in northern New South Wales. ABOUT THE BUSH TELEGRAPH It’s been ten years since Madison Locke left her small country town of Spinifex with nothing but her newborn baby in her arms. The gossip about Madison and the man she ran from, sown like seeds by the bush telegraph, has haunted her since. But when the town is in need of someone to steer their medical centre, Maddy, now a midwife and nurse, returns with her daughter Bridget, determined to prove herself and meet the dark memories of her past head on. Outback nurse Phyllis, ready for retirement, is struggling to keep up with her new boss and the learning curve Maddy’s placed her on. Spinifex is drying up and getting hotter with each year, the drought is driving farmers to the edge and there hasn’t been a baby born in town for years. Why bother trying to teach an old dog new tricks, or revive a town on its last breath? Meanwhile Connor Fairhall, divorced and former city dweller, is trying to begin again on his family’s station and build a better relationship with his rebellious young son Jayden. Yet his efforts are strained as the rumours about his past in Sydney have travelled along the fences from the bush telegraph. Tensions continue to rise as Jayden seeks solace with Connor’s brother Kyle, an alcoholic with a pregnant wife and current mayor of Spinifex. Connor’s only reprieve is the time he spends with Maddy, the fiery nurse who is breathing new life into the remote town. Can Maddy and Connor trust each other and listen to their hearts, or will the bush telegraph stand in their way? Fiona draws from her medical experience to write a vibrant and charming cast of multi-generational characters, celebrate the power of women working together, and address the challenges faced by rural towns from the impact of the drought to the lack of medical resources. Perfect for fans of Call the Midwife, The Bush Telegraph is a warm and romantic drama about facing your past, fighting for your community, and following your heart. 'Reading Fiona McArthur is like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket and sitting under the stars' - Rachael Johns ABOUT THE SESSION This is a free online event hosted by Macquarie Regional Library. Join the conversation from home with your smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer. Bookings required.