MAYA LINNELL: 'I'M INSPIRED BY COUNTRY LIFE!'

The rural romance author talks her love of libraries and how she'd be a cosy crime writer in another life

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Give us an elevator pitch for Cockatoo Cove...

Stud cattle farmer Maggie West and Scottish wine-maker Fergus Abernathy are thrown together by a school fundraiser and a blast from the past neither of them expected. Set on South Australia's stunning Limestone Coast, with rugged beaches, border collies and small-town charm, Cockatoo Cove is the perfect escape to the country this winter.

Was there a real-life event that inspired you to write this book?

Absolutely! So many real-life events, including the news coverage of a whopping 5kg crayfish caught in Beachport, SA, in 2024, the traditional Blessing of the Fleet ceremony that's held at the start of every crayfishing season, a stint of newspaper articles about problematic tractors, and a friend introducing me to the Outlander novels, which are one of Scotland's biggest tourism drawcards.

For someone who's never read one of your novels, what can they always expect from a Maya Linnell read?