Sunday, March 25, 2012

a wonderful life...

I had every intention of blogging this past week, but I’m afraid travel and a deadline leave little room for extras. I have to confess I’ve had THE BEST week – on a writing retreat with six friends at Coolangatta.



I know I’m truly blessed to have wonderful friends who are fun and generous and wise – and totally switched on when it comes to writing. In these weeks away, we spend a lot of time alone in our own one bedroom apartments (above is the gorgeous view from mine). But we're still writing madly because we all have deadlines. However, we do meet for lunch...
 and a writing related discussion (this was the flashest lunch I had and those chips were the best I've eaten in years).
In the evenings we gather to let our hair down, but the conversation is invariably about writing. The brainstorming sessions are invaluable. I always take away gems that sustain me during the writing of the next book.
This week, we also caught up with wonderful Gold Coast writers, Meredith Webber (on left)...

and Helen Bianchin, (we secretly consider helen to be The Queen of Romance.) Helen shared amazing stories of her life as a young wife in Mareeba when her husband was a share cropping tobacco farmer long before she became a bestselling author for Harlequin Presents.

Now... it’s home again, home again and a week to my deadline, but I’m refreshed and re-inspired and aware of how very lucky I am to have such wonderful friends.

And here's a lovely pic of Trish Morey and Fiona McArthur.

6 comments:

2paw said...

Oh, Helen Bianchin!! I have all her books, like yours!! And Trish, Fiona and Meredith?? I am slightly weak at the knees in the presence of all your writing talent!! So glad you had a wonderful time what a fabulous meal!!

Barbara Hannay said...

They'd all be very humbled to hear you say that, 2paw. Happy reading!

Miss Bougie said...

What a lovely view out of your window....sigh. I'd love to be able to live permanently in such an area!

I'm sure you have been more than inspired on your trip with the girls.

Barbara Hannay said...

Brigitte, Coolangatta was wonderful. Not brash and noisy like Surfer's Paradise, but beautiful and friendly with inspiring beaches and headland, great restaurants and shops, including a bookshop and clothes shops that weren't all designed for young girls. Showing my age, I know.

Funny thing is -- the rest of us dream of living in Paris (where you live) -- at least for a few months. I'm currently reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, about Ernest Hemingway's first wife. Fascinating.

Miss Bougie said...

Goes to show that you're never happy with what you've got! :)

Paris is an amazing city and I love living here. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. That said I am a wanderer, as you already know, and I'd love to spend a couple of months living right on a (quiet) beach.
As I would like to spend some time on a working farm, or living 3 months in New York City or Sydney. Hubby shares my views exactly.
We'll be able to do just that in a couple of years.

Soooo, when are you coming over here to visit???

Barbara Hannay said...

Oh, your dream matches my dream, Brigitte. I hope it comes true for you.
Me? I have this tiny matter of deadlines. This year is crazy, but after that?? I'm hoping...
I hope we're on your list of places to visit. :)