Location, Location, Location: Dianne Gray and Wolf Pear
In case you haven’t seen where I live, check out Francis Guenette’s latest post. She writes about the books she has read and how the location influences writers. What a fantastic idea!
Today, I am delighted to welcome Dianne Gray to my Location Series. I’m not sure how I came upon her novel, Wolf Pear, but wow, am I ever glad I did. Location leaps off the pages and I defy anyone to read this novel and not want to travel to the places this Australian author so skillfully describes. You can find out more about Dianne’s novels by visiting her website. You can also keep up with her doings by taking a hop over to her blog.
Take it away, Dianne!
Every morning I look out from my house and think, how could anyone not write about this place?
I live in a small country town in Tropical Queensland, Australia. The main produce is sugar cane, the scenery is spectacular, and the townsfolk make incredible characters.
Small sugar cane trains chug along the countryside and the fields are lush and…
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Dianne Gray author 
Dianne, your fame is spreading far and wide. Congratulations on this lovely review.
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Thank you so much, Carol! The review came as a lovely surprise 😀
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Nice feature, Dianne! You know how to weave the unsavory truths of life into rather delectable morsels that leave a satisfying taste behind. Wolf Pear sounds as delicious as the book I just finished ~ Let Sleeping Gods Lie.
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There’s just something about this place that screams ‘write me!’ So much beautiful scenery mixed with weirdness, odd characters and insanity (LOL)! Sometimes I think they may just be all ‘normal’ and I’m the odd one out 😉
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Dianne I am looking forward to reading, can I order your books at my local book store or is it all online? Also I agree about meeting many interesting characters in a small town ever since we moved. I get to meet more people and so many have a quirky story to tell.
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I’m sure you have a few stories and pictures of your lovely farming location to share as well, Kath! 😉 These country characters we have in Australia are so amazing and different 😀
My books are available hard-copy through LULU (and you need to order online through them, unless your local book store can do it for you).
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/graydotdianneatgmaildotcom
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Thanks Dianne appreciate it and yes I do have a few bush stories in my unfinished pile of dreams.
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just tried to order but they won’t ship to po box as we don’t have an address on the farm. I will try my local book store too thanks Dianne.
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Oh dear – I somehow tweaked it so they deliver to my PO Box but I can’t remember how now 😦
Thank you so much for trying. We don’t have mail delivered to the farm wither so it can be a real hassle trying to order things xxx
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I won’t give up and hopefully i will get myself a kindle soon Dianne and then the skies the limit.
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I can download stories on my laptop from Kindle (I love doing this on a rainy day when I’ve got nothing to read). I think when you buy the book it just downloads to the Kindle for PC reader. Try it with a freebie (I think Let Sleeping Gods Lie is still free) and see if it works 😀
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If setting is another character, yours is fascinating. I’m hopping over to read the interview.
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Thanks, Jacqui! I just love my setting and as I said in the Location post – how can I NOT write about this place? It’s stunning 😀
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Great to have so much inspiration on your doorstep. I’m not sure if it would work for me, I’d spend too much time gazing at the view. But speaking of doorstep, the RUC is looking very classy with its coat of paint 🙂
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It’s looking very classy indeed at the moment. I get a lot of comments from neighbours about the ‘doovy curly wood thingys’ on the veranda (LOL) – no one seems to know what they’re called. 😀
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I did the kindle for pc thing, love it. (Though of course you can never beat a ‘real’ book 😉 )
I think part of country characters being more interesting is simply that you can get closer to ‘it’…people in the city rush by, bump shoulders without sharing life…
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It’s a ‘must’ to stop and talk here, which I absolutely love. I can’t go to the local supermarket without spending at least half an hour stopping and talking to people on the street or in the shop. It’s so different. When I drive in or out of the farm, anyone who drives by in a car waves and occasionally stops in the middle of the road, winds down the window and has a good old chat. LOL 😀
I’m so glad you did the kindle for PC thing. It’s not the same as a ‘real book’, but I love it 😉
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That’s what my cousins tell me. The simple act of going to buy milk is a multi chat experience – nice that someone always know you’re ok, or not.
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An outstanding review! Well deserved also I might add. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Jackie! It’s absolutely thrilling when someone enjoys reading your work. YAY! 😀
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Great review by Francis. Have added ‘Wolf Pear’ to my ‘want to read’ shelf on Goodreads and will be diving into my list after a uni exam on Wednesday 🙂
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Awesome, Dianne! Congrats on another well-deserved review. Can’t wait to read this one too, you rock star. : )
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Thanks so much, Britt! And thank you so much as well for the ‘Manslaughter’ review (happy dancing over that one!) 😉
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Well deserved you, one day I shall read your books, I don’t find the time to read anything other than posts or the newspaper and that is not often. A brilliant review for you and I do love tomatoes ~ smiles. Enjoy your breathtakingly beautiful environment for ever and a day. xxx
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Thank you, Jen. It’s so nice when I get a lovely review like this. I wish you had more time to read (but a busy life just gets in the way sometimes). I hope you have a wonderful week 😀
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A great review. 🙂
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Thank you! 😀
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I might be a bit worried about eating one of your home grown tomatoes though. 😉 Do you grow tomatoes?
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I do – but they’re certainly not as big as the ones in the story! (LOL) 😉
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Phew!
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A really great review, Dianne. I’ve just bought your “Wolf Pear” and am so looking forward to reading it. I do love a bit of the macabre. I think your house is in the most beautiful setting. I would never want to go away on holiday. 🙂
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I actually feel like I’m permanently on holidays here, Sylvia! It’s such a beautiful place.
Thank you so much for getting a copy of Wolf Pear, I really hope it lives up to expectations for you 😀
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Superior writing! Superior Digs!
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Thanks so much, Billy Ray – it certainly is a magnificent place! 😉
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Wolf Pear is the next book by you I plan to read. I find the notion of a psychic detective really exciting.
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It was really interesting researching this one, Janna! I think a real psychic detective would be very cool indeed 😀
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Great review by Fran! I can’t wait to read Wolf Pear. You are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place, Dianne.
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Thank you, Jill. I’m just sitting here listening to the birds this morning. It’s SO peaceful.
On a bad note, I didn’t have a great weekend because my german shepherd passed away on Saturday night. I’ve been sitting here wondering if I should do a post about it, but not sure if I will because it’s a little too raw at the moment 😦
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Oh, I’m so sorry, Dianne. The words will come, if they’re meant to…until then, remember the good times with your dear friend. I have a feeling he had a very good life with you and your family. xo
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He did have a wonderful and long long life with us, Jill. I think it’ll just take me a while to process it. Thank you for the condolences xxx
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Having spent a bit of time on and near cane fields in my wild backpacking days, I can definitely see how that landscape would make for some great storytelling. Your titles are also very evocative!
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Very sorry about your German Shepherd, by the way. They leave such an emptiness when they leave us 😦
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Awww – thank you so much. He was a great friend and companion. Even though I’m incredibly sad, the thing I really appreciate is that he died peacefully in his sleep and was really happy through his life until the end. I think this is what we wish for all our animal (and human) friends xxx
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Thank you, Alarna! The place is filled with great characters and I’m sure you have some great (and unusual) stories to tell from those days 😀
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How exciting to get such a fabulous review! I’m glad you shared it here 🙂
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Superb! I love everything about this post, Dianne. And I do mean everything! 🙂
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I’m so glad, Jo! I thought ‘location’ would be something you would really appreciate! 😀
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Great endorsement! Congrats!!!
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Thank you so much, Allen! 😀
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What a beautiful picture of the RUC at the end there. I love your location, I think you already know that. I’m so jealous! Beautiful post.
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Thank you, Piper! 😀
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Why is it that places with so much beauty also have so much weirdness. The other thing I hate about beautiful places is people that trash them. Your place looks pristine, but so often people who live in the country think that no one sees the extra washing machines lying in the front yard next to a couple of old clunkers with grass growing up out of their hoods.
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Yes – so true, Marsha! We’re a very proud lot around here. When John and I were living in the city and his parents became ill, one of the other farmers in the area called us and said he couldn’t wait for us to get back so we could give the place a good clean up! LOL 😉
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And you have done amazing things to it! 🙂 It’s beautiful. 🙂
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You have me hooked on your stories, Dianne. I really enjoyed MANSLAUGHTER AND OTHER TEARS, and tonight I bought WOLF PEAR and LET SLEEPING GODS LIE. You have a wonderful story-telling talent!
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Thank you so much, Marylin. I’m very flattered and you’ve really made my day! 😀
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