tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post6750921413960431447..comments2024-03-29T01:33:22.188+11:00Comments on The Intrepid Reader and Baker: The Rise and Rise of Rural LitMarghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-88786436538272440542012-04-21T16:00:09.388+10:002012-04-21T16:00:09.388+10:00I am really enjoying exploring this genre, though ...I am really enjoying exploring this genre, though technically I live in a rural area and my husband is the son of a blacksmith and grew up on a few acres, my experience of rural life is limited so I find the stories interesting. I also appreciate the sense of realism that the authors keep, rather than over romanticizing the realities of farming. The familiarity of the landscape and the people is another factor that appeals to me and of course I am happy to be able to support Australian authors. <br />I wish all three much success!Shelleyrae @ Book'd outhttp://www.bookdout.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-24206397893474071362012-04-20T06:56:40.857+10:002012-04-20T06:56:40.857+10:00Glad you found it interesting Beth!Glad you found it interesting Beth!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-10647149369504023482012-04-17T00:09:42.082+10:002012-04-17T00:09:42.082+10:00What an interesting post! I'd never heard of ...What an interesting post! I'd never heard of this genre before (granted, I'm not in Australia) and now I really want to read some. Will be checking out these three authors!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-75097603691009984272012-04-16T21:53:33.489+10:002012-04-16T21:53:33.489+10:00Helene, that may be an important factor! My grandp...Helene, that may be an important factor! My grandparents and back a few generations were all farmers. I do remember having a conversation with a few of my family members and we talked about the fact that most of my cousin's children including my own are all very city now!<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and commenting!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-9055318989579256252012-04-16T21:50:36.524+10:002012-04-16T21:50:36.524+10:00Thanks for commenting Cathryn. I am definitely loo...Thanks for commenting Cathryn. I am definitely looking for books that I can finish with a contented sigh!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-48307344955842105742012-04-16T21:48:22.988+10:002012-04-16T21:48:22.988+10:00I think that the fact that most of the authors are...I think that the fact that most of the authors are actually living the life help give a romantic story without overly romanticising the life!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-46388427812434781502012-04-16T16:26:56.665+10:002012-04-16T16:26:56.665+10:00Great discussion about the rising star of Australi...Great discussion about the rising star of Australian publishing, Marg. Rural Lit is the shining light at the moment in an otherwise difficult selling market. Readers are snapping them up and there are more good books due for release this year!<br /><br />I think some of the appeal is the fascination Australians have with the bush. I certainly spent my childhood and teenage years messing around with friend's and relative's horses and cows wishing I was a country girl. Perhaps it's why we all know who Slim Dusty was and can hum along to country and western songs on the radio. Australian city-folk tend to be only a couple of generations removed from the bush and small towns. Many of us have wonderful memories of camping on cattle properties or visiting elderly relatives in remote areas.<br /><br />I think Nicole makes a good point that natural disasters have also focused our attention on the bush and how tough it can be. I love visiting towns like Roma, Emerald and Longreach and it breaks my heart to see them disappearing under a deluge of muddy brown water...<br /><br />And a determined, pro-active heroine is mandatory in a good story and Rural Lit has plenty of those!!Helene Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03642970292885499132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-21628335585256436832012-04-16T10:29:58.912+10:002012-04-16T10:29:58.912+10:00Very interesting post! I'm happy to see so ma...Very interesting post! I'm happy to see so many authors chiming in, too.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-82584793454942785042012-04-16T09:46:11.128+10:002012-04-16T09:46:11.128+10:00Really enjoyable post, ladies. Thanks.
I'm de...Really enjoyable post, ladies. Thanks.<br /><br />I'm delighted this genre has become so big, and not only because I'm a rural author. As a reader I've been frustrated for years at the paucity of Australian, rural-set books in which women are the protagonists and where there’s a satisfying romance to provide that wonderful ‘aaah’ feeling as I turn the last page. Books with strong heroines who triumph over adversity and find love and self-fulfilment in a landscape devoid of designer label shoes and other weird things I can’t relate to. Seeing Rachael Treasure's Jillaroo hit the shelves was such an "about bloody time" moment. Yes, I enjoy reading foreign-set rurals but our home-grown genre is what I really love.<br /><br />Long may its success continue!Cathryn Heinhttp://www.cathrynhein.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-44368238232374615032012-04-15T23:29:45.590+10:002012-04-15T23:29:45.590+10:00Really interesting discussion, thank you Marg! I h...Really interesting discussion, thank you Marg! I haven't read much rural Aussie lit but I've read a fair bit set in rural UK and find a definite contradiction between attempts to make it seem romantic and the reality that I remember from growing up in a small country town.Nose in a bookhttp://www.noseinabook.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-29636872785032269642012-04-15T20:10:05.249+10:002012-04-15T20:10:05.249+10:00That idea of a tree change or sea change is defini...That idea of a tree change or sea change is definitely very attractive to a lot of people!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-66596931172750003112012-04-15T20:07:42.083+10:002012-04-15T20:07:42.083+10:00Julie, I really hope that you enjoy the books!Julie, I really hope that you enjoy the books!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-53642693710719266872012-04-15T20:06:19.096+10:002012-04-15T20:06:19.096+10:00Sam, I think that is a factor for me too!Sam, I think that is a factor for me too!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-48240864496714812042012-04-15T20:05:58.034+10:002012-04-15T20:05:58.034+10:00Thank you Karly for agreeing to answer my question...Thank you Karly for agreeing to answer my questions!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-6822214571656922312012-04-15T20:05:39.320+10:002012-04-15T20:05:39.320+10:00Hi Nicole, thanks so much both for stopping by an...Hi Nicole, thanks so much both for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-44521681403307037172012-04-15T20:04:42.544+10:002012-04-15T20:04:42.544+10:00It is indeed inspiring!
I am so glad that your co...It is indeed inspiring!<br /><br />I am so glad that your commenting issues seem to be resolved Lisa!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-87415971828616043412012-04-15T20:03:58.130+10:002012-04-15T20:03:58.130+10:00Thanks for stopping by FleurThanks for stopping by FleurMarghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-7693375170110643462012-04-15T20:03:44.406+10:002012-04-15T20:03:44.406+10:00I was wondering about if this same focus is presen...I was wondering about if this same focus is present in other markets or not. I was thinking about contemporary cowboy romances from authors like Linda Lael Miller but I don't think it is exactly the same so maybe prairie romances are more the equal!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-66415718011836990022012-04-15T16:49:38.072+10:002012-04-15T16:49:38.072+10:00I love this post Marg. As a reader i am drawn to r...I love this post Marg. As a reader i am drawn to rural lit and have read the new releases of each of these authors; Fiona, Karly and Fleur and enjoyed them all :-) I like that these stories represent strong women, working hard and that the men don't have to come along and save the day. Living in Sydney's suburbs, i've always dreamt of having a property and living in the countryside because I love nature and the peacefulness that comes with being in the country. So, i suppose rural lit is my little outlet to experience rural living through the eyes of another.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-42260166064852118152012-04-15T16:01:08.644+10:002012-04-15T16:01:08.644+10:00Marg, a very interesting Sunday Salon post, with t...Marg, a very interesting Sunday Salon post, with three new authors to add to the list. In fact I'm going to forget the list & head to Amazon!Julie Goucherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11368170005503879489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-43021920280538702022012-04-15T13:30:44.424+10:002012-04-15T13:30:44.424+10:00My mum is really into this as a genre at present. ...My mum is really into this as a genre at present. What she likes about these books is that they're all factually correct (she's a country girl herself).<br />I think rural lit is important - so much of Australia is country, and a lot of us haven't experienced rural life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-89680418728028192962012-04-15T11:13:43.755+10:002012-04-15T11:13:43.755+10:00Hi everyone, thank you for the opportunity to talk...Hi everyone, thank you for the opportunity to talk a bit about our genre Marg, and I feel very honoured to be up there with two fantastic authors such as Fleur and Fiona. So excited about the future of rural lit and can't wait to share the other books lined up waiting to come out! <br />Karly.Karlene Blakemore-Mowlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12095381736372634994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-60658048426938857582012-04-15T10:04:55.632+10:002012-04-15T10:04:55.632+10:00Hello Intrepid Reader, as a Rural Lit author I was...Hello Intrepid Reader, as a Rural Lit author I was interested to see this post. If storytelling reflects the distinctiveness of the time in which a work is published, then rural fiction’s current revival is particularly important. Genre explosions are obviously reader driven and the concensus at the moment is that the increased interest in the genre has much to do with a) the natural disasters that have plagued the bush over the last decade therefore throwing the 'outback' into prominence and b) the desire for strong female protagonists in challenging environments. c) Finally authenticity in terms of author background is a strong marketing force.Many of the more popular authors literally live and breath what they write and are passionate about the Australian bush. This has touched a chord with many readers in both major urban areas and the bush.Nicole Alexanderhttp://www.nicolealexander.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-48651395773072991862012-04-15T09:40:44.731+10:002012-04-15T09:40:44.731+10:00Hi Marg, thanks for a most interesting blog post. ...Hi Marg, thanks for a most interesting blog post. Last year when there was all that fuss about the Miles Franklin one of the comments I read was something about how the award was *too* focussed on rural Australian life and ignored urban Australia, but what your post reveals is that stories of the rural heart of Australia are popular with everyone. I think it might be because everyone knows (even if they haven't experienced it personally) how hard rural life can be, and yet every day rural Aussies deal with it. That's inspiring.Lisa Hillhttp://anzlitlovers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18884029.post-32246227519369323332012-04-15T09:25:46.777+10:002012-04-15T09:25:46.777+10:00Hi Dani, so great to hear you're interested in...Hi Dani, so great to hear you're interested in rural lit books! Both Red Dust and Blue Skies (my first two books) are available in the US, in case you are interested. They were released there last year.Fleur McDonaldhttp://www.fleurmcdonald.comnoreply@blogger.com