Need something new to read? Get your hands on a copy of Magpie's Bend, Bottlebrush Creek and Wildflower Ridge today.

It's launch week for Magpie's Bend!

There's media interviews, podcasts to record, videos to shoot, events to plan and rearrange, and best of all the knowledge that my book is in readers' hands. Did you know there's a donkey in Lara's story? Here's our neighbour's donkey, Quincy, having a good old grin at the thought of inspiring that particular plot line.

Here's what some of the early readers are saying about Lara's story:

'Beautifully written from the opening pages... close your eyes and you feel like you are in Bridgefield.' Tanya @read.by.the.librarian

'I loved Magpie's Bend because it's real, relatable and Maya writes from the heart.' Craig @HappyValleyBooks

'Such a great read, it was so heartwarming. Absolutely adored this story.' Megan @memereadsabook

'If you're looking for a book with a big heart, Magpie's Bend is for you. This is a wonderful story about a community banding in a time of crisis.' @Kate_the BookLover

'A charming rural fiction story about family and community.' Naomi @aplace_inthesun

Book tour changes!

Ah Covid, what a challenge! We've pushed the local events back to August, but crossing fingers and toes the Queensland events can all go ahead.  If you're within coo-ee of any of these events, I'd love to see you in person! There will be books for sale at all events, or bring along your copy to be signed. Space will be limited, so please contact the venues to reserve your free seat, full details here.

Better Reading Top 100

Hooley dooley! You could have blown me over with a feather when I heard that your votes had rocketed Bottlebrush Creek to #13 in the Better Reading Top 100. Thank you SO much! This news was very exciting, and it means Big W will stock my novels for the next 12 months, which is brilliant for me as an author and helpful for readers who haven't yet found the McIntyre sisters.

Magpie's Bend #shelfie contest

Last year's #luckydipdahlias giveaway was so popular I've extended it to include seven of my favourite and most reliable seeds from my garden - cornflowers, dahlias, coriander, poppies, hollyhocks, sunflowers and sweet peas. 

I have three packs to give away, simply take a photo of Magpie's Bend out in the wild, with your dog, in your home, on holidays, or in your hands as you read it, then post the photo on social media with the hashtags #magpiesbend and #mayascountrygarden 

Make sure you also tag me in the picture @maya.linnell.writes so I can see it, and you'll go into the draw. Winners will be chosen at random, Aussie addresses only please.

June author spotlight

I've teamed up with the Words & Nerds blog this month to bring you an interview with one of my favourite British authors - Beth O'Leary. Her new novel - The Road Trip - is a rom com about ex-lovers squeezed into a Mini for a long, awkward drive to a mutual friend's wedding in Scotland. It's laugh out loud funny. There are also darker issues lurking just below the surface. Overall, delightful! Read the full interview with Beth and then head across to my website for your chance to win a copy.

From my writing desk...

I've started reworking the second draft of my 2022 novel, which is tentatively titled Rosella Hill, thanks to the fab suggestion from a reader whose name I have misplaced (pretty please get back in touch and tell me if it was you!). The title may well change between now and publication, but I think it's such a lovely name for Diana's story. I'm working on this second draft in between promotions and book tour frivolities for Magpie's Bend.

There were more road trips in May, kicking off with the Clunes Book Festival, where I presented at the beautiful town hall with Fiona Lowe and Alli Sinclair. The artwork inside the building is absolutely stunning (see photo below), and I recommend you keep it in mind for next May, for the amazing paintings as much as the book talks.

It is always great to catch up with fellow authors and readers, including the lovely Robyn who came all the way from Townsville to see our 'Stories from the Heart' session. She's pictured below with her daughter Desley, who loves books too.

Jase and I had a fantastic mini-getaway in mid-May, our first kid-free jaunt since before Covid. We very much enjoyed the sights and delights of Bendigo and Castlemaine. Those inland autumn colours were such a treat, as was the joy of exploring new towns and their beautiful botanical gardens, libraries and bookshops. We detoured to Melbourne on the way home, to see my little sister (who has just last week delivered a healthy and very adorable baby boy), and finished off the week with a birthday party for my youngest with 15 of her little friends and a huge 'sheep' themed cake. Never dull around here!

Thankfully we were home well before the pandemic threw us a curve ball.

Once again we were so grateful to live in rural Victoria, with paddocks to roam, sheep and calves to pat, trees to climb and a mostly-deserted beach on our doorstep. As mentioned earlier, I made the tricky decision to push local events to August, so everyone can feel comfortable gathering to celebrate Magpie's Bend. 

If you'd like to catch me in the meantime, I was recently a guest on The Write Way Podcast talking about Magpie's Bend, romance, Jaws and editing with host Samuel Elliot. I'll also be making a guest appearance on Bookworm_TV on June 17, so you're very welcome to join us on Facebook Live then or watch a replay later.

Fresh from the mailbag...

Emails from readers always make my day, and it is lovely to be reminded of how books can whisk people away to another world.

Wendy from Canberra was in touch last month with a lovely message. Here’s what she had to say (shared with her permission): ‘I've been reading both your books while I recover from surgery and they have both taken my mind off waiting for results etc. I enjoyed them so much and wanted you to know how you books helped me to recover, so thank you for the great stories.’

Also popping in a picture of Rosemarie (in the middle), a lucky winner from the May newsletter, with her new book by Sasha Wasley. Happy reading, Rosemarie! Plus a picture of the lovely Denise from Wagga Wagga (right) with her very handsome kelpie, in her photo contest entry.

Please keep your photos and messages coming through, and sing out if you happen to see any media mentions or book store displays of Magpie's Bend. It's so lovely to have your eyes and ears on the ground!

Thanks for your company, friends. Have a great June and I'll pop back in your inbox again next month.

xx Maya

Until next month...