Mother’s Day, which is celebrated around the world in May, conjures up images of happy motherhood and femininity – lots of pink; carnations and roses; bathrobes and bath bombs; scented candles and slippers.
It’s a time to remember and honour the woman who brought us into the world.

For those of you who have read my books Wild Lavender, Golden Earrings and The Invitation, you will know that I have a love for Paris and its artists, writers, dancers and entertainers. Fellow Australian author, Natasha Lester, has a similar love for Paris as the home of couture fashion.

Dear Pebbles,

My cat, Jello, has a penchant for boxes and other containers – washing baskets, shopping bags and suitcases. As soon as one appears, Jello can be found sitting in it. Why is that?

Puzzled

Just as with humans, stress and trauma can have lasting impacts on the well-being of our animal companions. If you love your cat but are concerned by it displaying a negative behaviour, such as aggression towards you or other members of your household; or your cat seems to be in a constant state of anxiety or depression, a professional cat psychologist might just have the answer.

This is a question I’m often asked when I give book talks. And I ask it of other writers too! Who can blame us - when we love a book, we are intrigued to know what was it that inspired the writer to create that particular story?

The end of 2020 was something of a whirlwind for me with the publication of The Mystery Woman and The Divine Feline: a chic cat lady’s guide to woman’s best friend, within months of each other.

For those of us who live in Sydney, we are scratching our heads over the arrival of autumn. Did we even have a summer? The hottest time of the year has been more like an in-between season with cooler temperatures and a lot of rain.

With so many more of us working from home due to Covid 19, there has never been a better time to help out your local animal shelter by fostering cats and kittens in order to get them ready for their ‘forever homes’.

Alli Sinclair’s new book, The Codebreakers, is based on real events and tells the little known story of the young Australian women who worked with Central Bureau in Brisbane, in intelligence services, during the Second World War. It was an exciting read and I had some questions for Alli about what inspired her to write the book and also about her writing habits.

Dear Pebbles,

I am having a problem with my cat, Chompers. He has a foot fetish. When I am pottering around the house, he will launch at me from under the couch and nip at my feet. He sometimes attacks my toes when I’m lying in bed.

The stores listed now have signed copies of both The Mystery Woman and The Divine Feline.

Many stores now offer online and postal orders, so you can inquire about ordering signed copies over the telephone and having the book sent to you.

For writers, getting feedback on their work is a vital part of improving the quality of their writing. It’s valuable to get an objective opinion on your structure, plot, pacing and characters.

The feline form is beautiful, elegant and feminine. There is nothing like the sight of a ‘little tiger’ to put a smile on any cat lover’s face. It can be a joy to incorporate cat-inspired clothing into your personal style.

Dear Pebbles,

Christmas is my favourite time of the year! I decorate my house with tinsel, drape fairy-lights over the trees in the garden, send out glittery cards, and count the days down on the advent calendar until the whole family arrives for feasting and movie marathons until late into the evening. But what should I do about my cat, Frisbee?

With so many more of us working from home due to Covid 19, there has never been a better time to help out your local animal shelter by fostering cats and kittens in order to get them ready for their ‘forever homes’.

Strong, self-determined female characters are the lifeblood of good commercial fiction. Modern readers quickly tire of a female protagonist who doesn’t have an intelligent thought in her head or who keeps fainting every time a challenge arises.

Quite often I’m asked about my detailed descriptions of my characters’ living spaces. To me, where my character lives says as much about them as their words and actions.

Ever wondered how cats really feel about their own hairballs? Pebbles the agony-uncle-cat of The Divine Feline has the answers.

Thinking about adopting a cat companion into your life? Halina Thompson, president of the WLPA, shares why an adult cat might be better suited to your household than a kitten.

One of the most gratifying compliments I receive about my novels is that I bring the settings to life for readers in such a way that they feel they themselves are there along with the characters