Fiona McArthur Answers the 5 Big Questions

The Desert Midwife

What if the love of your life forgot who you were?

Fiona’s next release is out next week and up for pre-order now

We wanted to know more about this book so we asked Fiona the 5 Big Questions!

What if the love of your life forgot who you were?

When outback midwife Ava May meets Zac on a flight to Alice Springs, they tumble into a whirlwind affair. But an exciting adventure leads to a terrible accident, with shattering consequences. The couple who had so much going for them now find themselves with everything to lose.

Devastated, Ava retreats to her family cattle station to help salvage what she can of the critical situation. But at home on the drought-ridden farm, her brother is being pushed to his limits, and as his depression intensifies, Ava must step in to prevent another family tragedy.

Against the majestic backdrop of Australia’s Red Centre, old dreams are shattered, new babies are born and true love takes flight.

By Australia’s renowned midwife and bestselling author of Mothers’ Day, The Desert Midwife is a romantic drama about strong families, medical miracles and new beginnings.

The 5 Big Questions

1. How long did it take you to write the book?

Some books are faster or slower but The Desert Midwife took a little longer to write as it evolved differently to what I’d imagined. It’s my longest book yet – at around 90,000 words. At 500 words a day (though some days are a hundred and other rare ones 2000) it took me just under six months. Then another couple of months for it to go back and forward to the editor until the final product was finished to both our satisfactions.  I imagine it’s like making a complicated garment and finally having the finished product. I can’t sew or knit but I love writing about the intricate journey of my characters and their history forms as I go right there beneath my fingers.

2. What was the most difficult or complex aspect of writing your book?

One of the most interesting developments was safeguarding my interpretation of Aboriginal communities with sensitivity and respect and gaining access to two wonderful women who helped me ensure the elders were happy with my storytelling. After discussions I needed to move a scene where a child was injured in an Indigenous community setting to being injured away from the settlement so that the concern of bad luck wasn’t drawn to a child in similar circumstances. I found that fascinating and a very reasonable request which I complied with.

3. What gave you the most pleasure when writing your book?

I loved Ava and Zac’s love affair – the spontaneity of what happened between them and I’m normally a sweet writer – so we have a morning after – and I loved the amnesia aspect and how I really delved into how Ava would have felt. 😊 But I did get so much pleasure describing my love of Uluru and the landscape. I wanted people to feel like they had to see this magical place and feel the magic for themselves.

4. Are you nervous when a new release comes out?

I’m more excited than nervous though a lot of that has to do with very wise words I heard on a podcast from the gorgeous Rachael Johns once. She said, “Not everyone is my reader – and that’s fine.” That is so true. People love different author voices. I put myself out there and into those books – that’s my choice – and I just love when my readers connect with my voice but am philosophical if they don’t feel the connection. Most times they do.  A gorgeous woman at Fictionally Yours said to me yesterday, ‘My mum has all of your books. That’s what she wants for birthday and Christmas. I know she hasn’t got your new one yet.’ And she bought it.  I feel very blessed as an author to hear of that loyalty from a reader.

5. What’s the best thing a reader could do if they enjoyed your book?

To tell her friends about the book. Word of mouth is still the best way to introduce an author you love to new readers. I know if my friends talk about a book they enjoyed I’ll download it straight away – mainly in case I forget which book they mentioned 😊

Thanks so much for having me, and I hope my readers LOVE “The Desert Midwife” as much as I do.
xx Fi

Pre-order The Desert Midwife now

Fiona McArthur

Multi-Published International Bestselling Author
Good Medicine…rural/remote Australia…heartwarming romantic drama

Read more about Fiona, her books, and where to find her on social media

We’ll be bringing you an excerpt from The Desert Midwife on release day – 16 July.

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