“From Australia’s renowned midwife and bestselling author of The Desert Midwife, The Bush Telegraph is a romantic drama about love, friendship, community and the joys and challenges of life in the outback.”
Out now in paperback and eBook
We’ve got an excerpt for you and Fiona answers The 5 Big Questions.
There’s also a paperback giveaway!
*GIVEAWAY has now ended.
Small towns and gossip go together like trees and birds.
It’s been more than ten years since Maddy Locke left Spinifex, the small outback town where she gave birth to her daughter, Bridget. Now she’s back to prove she’s got what it takes to run the medical centre and face the memories of that challenging time in her life. But everything’s changed – the old pub is gone, her new colleagues aren’t pleased to see her, and it’s drier and hotter than ever.
Station owner, Connor Fairhall, thought he’d left the drama behind in Sydney, but moving back to Spinifex with his rebellious son, Jayden, hasn’t been the fresh start he’d envisioned. His brother, Kyle, is drinking too much and the only bright spot on the horizon is meeting Nurse Maddy, who’s breathing new life into the weary town up the road, little by little.
Can Maddy ignore the rumours about Connor and risk her heart again? Or will the bush telegraph spread along the wire fences and stand in the way of trust?
A few words from Fiona
Author Fiona McArthur
Welcome to the Bush Telegraph. It’s with great pleasure I send this book baby out into the world because I loved the setting and the people so much it was hard to let them go.
If you haven’t been out to Longreach, across to Winton, further to Boulia and down the back way to Windorah then there’s some amazing Australia you still need to see. If you possibly can, then I sincerely hope you manage to do so. If you have or can’t, enjoy the visions though my eyes and meet some amazing people in the book and I wish you an experience you will never forget.
Love Fi.
Buy The Bush Telegraph
A romantic drama about love, friendship, community and the joys and challenges of life in the outback.
Buy from the publisher Penguin
Excerpt from The Bush Telegraph by Fiona McArthur
Chapter Two
‘Welcome to Middleton. Population one?’ Bridget’s mother slowed the car as she read the sign out loud. ‘Gotta love outback Queens-land.’
Her mum smiled, but at eleven years old, Bridget felt more horrified than amused. As she stared at the poo-brown emptiness, she couldn’t believe she’d been born out here somewhere.
Soon they drove past the roadhouse/pub, the only remotely house-like building in the sad excuse for a town. The wide gravel drive held two dark cars out front like two black teeth in a yawn of boredom.
‘There’ll be more people at Spinifex, Bee. And it’s only for twelve months. Don’t worry.’
Bridget looked at the tin roof radiating heat and couldn’t help imagining an egg sizzling sunny-side up. It was so hot!
Her mother said, ‘A hundred and fifty years ago, this was a changing station for Cobb & Co horses between Winton and Boulia.’
Bridget sat straighter at the mention of horses. One of the possible upsides of her mother’s nursing contract in western Queensland was the chance that she could have a horse – her mum had said she’d think about it. She couldn’t have her best friend, Millie, or any of the friends she had on the island, but maybe a horse . . .
Bridget pressed her face to the window again and stared at the single-building village. ‘That has to be the smallest town ever.’
Her mum laughed again as she sped up out of the ‘built-up- area’ speed zone. It wasn’t funny, but at least one of them was in a good mood. Bridget couldn’t even begin to compare the last town they’d passed through after driving for hours, Winton, with Lord Howe Island.
She wanted her old world with people she knew. Not this empty world. She’d seen Darling Harbour, the zoo, lots of places really, when she’d spent holidays on the mainland while her mum had been nursing there. Bridget was still in shock that they’d left the island where she’d grown up.
She couldn’t believe she wouldn’t be going back to the Island Central School, where you didn’t have to wear shoes if you didn’t want to. Out here, she’d bet her feet would burn right off if she went barefoot. And they’d be here for twelve months! Year Six had been the year she’d been looking forward to. She puffed out a worried sigh. Finally, she’d be a senior girl, but now she’d be in a new school, with people she didn’t know. What if they’d all learned stuff she hadn’t?
This place out here in the centre of Queensland would be horrid. These huge distances you had to sit in the car for. Long, straight roads that went over the horizon and then over the next and the next. Her gaze tried to stop the shimmery mountains wiggling like mirages in front of her. This just felt all wrong.
‘Look at the baby emus!’
Her mum’s words shifted Bridget’s dark thoughts and her eyes widened. Wow. ‘The mother emu’s so tall.’ The flightless bird’s long neck turned to look at them with suspicion as the car slowed again and her spotty followers quickened their pace.
Bridget laughed out loud at the three speckled emu chicks as they trotted beside their mother parallel to the road.
‘The landscape’s changed a lot since yesterday, hasn’t it, Bee?’ Mum offered the obvious statement.
Bridget’s brief excitement died. Der.
They’d flown into Brisbane, a city like Sydney, where they picked up her mum’s almost-new car and their sent-ahead belongings. That had been exciting.
Last night they’d stayed in a long, skinny cabin at a place called Longreach. She knew why they called it that – it had taken ages to get there. But they’d had pizza delivered to their little house at the end of a row of tiny overnight houses, and that had been fun.
But that was last night. Now they were approaching their destination from an angle Mum said even she hadn’t seen. Bridget hoped they were on the right road. Granny usually gave the direc- tions if they drove anywhere.
A pang of too-recent loss tightened her throat. How odd it felt, to have just Mum and her on the road, and it would be even stranger to be in a house on their own.
Their home on the island with Granny had always been full of friends. Bee loved impromptu parties, and when Mum flew out to work for the week Bridget had always had Granny and company.
Bridget remembered the funeral, the day they’d poured Granny’s ashes and special tree oil into the hole under the fig. What had they called it? A Living Legacy Planting Day. Something about converting ashes into living molecules that would help the tree grow, like the circle of life. Weird. But it was what Granny wanted.
There was something comforting about how Granny could be a part of the magnificent tree she’d always loved outside her beach house on the island. Bridget could see in her mind the little plaque staked in next to it with Alma Toms written on it.
Granny was still on Lord Howe.
Bridget wasn’t.
Bridget sucked air through her teeth and turned to face her mother, trying to get the message across. ‘It’s different from the island.’
There’d be no dashing off to follow a lizard into the bush. No sitting on a high rock watching the waves. She spread her hands. ‘It’s so empty. So far between places. We can’t tramp around the place, like we’d normally do on the island.’ Tramp. She sighed – that was what Granny used to say.
The words made her remember everything she’d be missing all over again. There would be no Granny. No beach. No ocean. This was the never-never, like in the books she’d read at school. With the heat and dry, where Mum said people died in the desert.
‘There are other things to do.’ Her mum waved at the window. ‘Though exploring out here in the hot sun isn’t safe. Promise me you’ll remember that. And if you ever decide to take off without telling me’—she gave her a stern look—‘you have to also remember that without water or shade, your life will be in danger.’
‘I’ve got it, I promise, Mum.’ Like she hadn’t said that before. ‘Don’t go anywhere without telling you. Shade. Water. But what will we do when you’re not working?’ Bridget’s worry made her voice crack.
The silence stretched. Even her mum couldn’t think of anything at the moment. ‘We’ll have an adventure,’ she finally said.
Fiona McArthur
Multi-Published International Bestselling Author
Good Medicine…rural/remote Australia…heartwarming romantic drama
Read more about Fiona and her books and discover where to follow her on social media
Fiona answers The 5 Big Questions
- How long did it take you to write the book?
This book flowed, I loved the people so much the characters carried it, so it took less than six months to write. You get books like that. Unexpected signposts along the way that illuminated pauses. Every time I slowed, I seemed to find a newspaper article, or photo, or conversation that carried the theme like a fast-flowing river and the people in the story did the rest.
- What was the most difficult or complex aspect of writing your book?
‘Re-checking medical facts, distances, time it took to get places are the usual slowers. I had help from actual remote health workers, and from a friend who is a local GP Obstetrician who does outreach locums, and that’s apart from the core midwifery that I love so much. But I like to check.
- What gave you the most pleasure when writing your book?
Describing the landscape was fun. I kept looking at the photos and remembering how much I loved that spot and thinking which scenes would show it off. And also Bridget’s point of view. I loved being an eleven-year old. Hence the excerpt from her POV.
- Are you nervous when a new release comes out?
Not nervous. There isn’t time, really, at book launch. It’s such a busy time, and now, with blogs and facetimes and library zooms, my nerves are more focussed on that because I want peole to find the book and enjoy it. The book is written to the best of my ability. It’s printed, on-line and out there. I’m nervous about the book when I first-hand it to the editor and now it’s up to the reader to enjoy it. I’m hopeful that my book will give the reading experience I want to give to the reader. I want them to put it down with a smile and a sigh at the end and feel like they have lived a time in Spinifex.
- What’s the best thing a reader could do if they enjoyed your book?
Tell their friends. Please. Share the enjoyment and if they have a circle of friends on Facebook share it there. Reviews on-line are great, too, but they take time for people to do. But if someone asks me what makes me pick up a new author, it’s always because of a recommendation, usually from a friend.
GIVEAWAY
Leave a comment for Fiona and you’re in the draw to win a paperback copy of
THE BUSH TELEGRAPH
Good luck!
*GIVEAWAY has now ended.
*Giveaway open to Australian postal addressees only.
*Giveaway ends midnight AEST Saturday 5th September 2020. Winner notified by email.
pa.ausficauthors@bigpond.com 
Can not wait to get my hands on a copy. Always look forward to starting one of your books, but get sad when i finish them. Luckily I love to re read them every so often congratulations on what I’m sure will be another fantastic book.
Thank so much for your wonderful comment, Renee. It is so motivating for me to hear that you enjoy my books and even re-read – woohoo xx Fi
I LOVE READING ALL THE AUSSIE AUTHORS BOOKS ,I AM A HUGE FAN OF YOU ALL .& NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET TO A NEAREST BOOK SHOP TO BUY BOOKS BECAUSE OF THIS COVID LOCKDOWN. I MISS GETTING MY USUAL SUPPLY OF MY BOOKS TO READ. SO TO WIN THIS BOOK WOULD BE A BONUS TO ME .THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO WIN !!
Waving to Dorothy, I do hope you can get to your books soon, thanks so much for your support for us all, and stay safe. Good luck in the draw. xx Fiona
Love rural romance novels.Love hearing all about the different states,towns and people.Just read the excerpt…what happens I want to know.Aussie authors all the way.Love to escape especially with whats going on around the world.
It’s an uplifting book,Celina, though still has some drama and breath holding moments but the whole idea of this book is that you will finish with a smile and a sigh and the feeling you were there and there are amazing people in the world. I do believe that. xx
Yay another Aussie author to explore. This year of difference has seen me explore new authors that I wouldn’t have found if it had been for some great on-line book clubs. Your books come highly recommended and I can’t wait to read this new one and your back catalogue. Congrats on the new book 🧡📚❤📚💚📚
Thanks so much, Karen. I’m thrilled to hear you’re ready to read new authors and one of my books. It’s so wonderful to showcase our amazing country and share the work of outback health professionals. Guarantee you a wild ride and a happy ending 🙂 xx Fi
Would love to read this book. Have always enjoyed your books. This looks to just as good
Thanks so much, Chris. I love what I write and love hearing others enjoy my books too. Good luck in the draw xx Fi
My daughter introduced me to your book “The Homestead Girls Book” for mother’s day last year and was amazed at the Australiana content .I support Australian authors and found that I could relate to the theme of the story as well as visually appealing in the Australiana setting.You are a highly talented author who appeals to her readers both male and female in Australian lifestyles and Australiana settings. I would love to read your new book !!!
Thank you so much for your lovely comments, Elizabeth. I do want to appeal to all readers, and love the settings so much that I always feel they are almost another character in the book. I hope you love the Bush Telegraph. Good luck in the draw. xx Fiona
I am really looking forward to this awesome book.
I lose myself in the characters.
Keep up the wonderful writing.
Awww. Thank you, Norma. You’re beautiful. I love writing books you enjoy, warmest wishes and good luck in the draw xx Fi
Would love to win a copy – I’ve really enjoyed Fiona’s other books.
So glad you enjoy my books, Rebekah, I love writing them and this one was a real joy. Good luck in the draw xx Fi
Congratulations Fiona on the publication of your new book. I always find it exciting when I see new rural novels as they are relatable to a large number of Australians. I’m originally a country girl so understand the way the community works and how they band together to help with common goals.
Absolutely, Janet. Communities are amazing and there’s so much community in this book. I loved it. Good luck in the draw, warmest wishes, Fiona
I was passing through Winton and Longreach around this time 11 years ago, the photos keep popping up on my fb memories, it was such a beautiful drive through those areas. This will be a great read, congratulations Fiona.
Ah, how fabulous, then you will recognise the scenery, Claire. A most spectacular part of the world. Good luck in the draw xx Fi
Keep up the wonderful writing. Enjoy reading your books and always exciting to hear of a new release.
Thank you, Marg, that’s lovely of you to say. So glad you enjoy my books and hope you will find this one as much fun as I did. warmest wishes to you and good luck in the draw. xxFi
Can wait to read this one!
Thanks so much, Jody, it was delight to live with this book as I wrote it. Hope you have fun too. warmest wishes xx Fi
I love reading books about Australia. Always somewhere new to explore. Congratulations on your new release 🎉 Look forward to reading it.
Thanks Amy, and great surname by the way 🙂 Hope you enjoy your virtual visit to far west Queensland, loved this area. Good luck in the draw warmest regards xx Fi
I love Fiona’s books.
Thanks so much, Michelle, I love that you find pleasure in my books. All of the characters are real to me so its pretty crowded at my house 🙂 Hope you enjoy your time spent with these people xx Fi Good luck in the draw.
This book sounds great Fiona can’t wait to read
Thanks so much, Kerrie, it was a fabulous part of the world to set it in, love the isolation and just so admire outback medical staff that it was nice to sing their praises in a book. Really hope you enjoy. Good luck in the draw warmest regards Fi
Hello Fiona, I love all your books, I can’t wait to read your latest book baby. I loved Heart of the sky I love ed reading your descriptions of the homesteads, the peace and tranquility, they sound so homely, the perfect place to snuggle up and devour your new book.
Thank you, Kathy, I. missed your comment but answering now. Thank you.
CONGRATULATIONS Kathy! Your name was drawn in the giveaway and you have won a copy of THE BUSH TELEGRAPH by Fiona McArthur. Fiona will be in touch soon. Huge thanks to everyone who enjoyed reading this blog post and for leaving a comment for Fiona. Your support for Australian authors continues to be awesome!
Can’t wait to to read your new book, have loved the others
Thanks so much, Tammy, lovely to hear. Hope you enjoy this one as well. Good luck in the draw xx Fi
I am always so grateful that we have so many wonderful Aussie authors to pick our next read from. Thanks Fiona for putting your “baby” out into the world for all of us to enjoy . 😁
Thank you, Fiona. You’re right, so many amazing authors with wonderful books, lovely you think I’m one of them. Warmest wishes and good luck in the draw xx Fi
Love reading your books and really enjoy the country battler encounters that many of them overcome. Well done on another book and looking forward to reading this one.
Thanks so much, Jasmine. I really appreciate your warm wishes. Good luck in the draw xx Fi
Congratulations, i look forward to reading this.
Thanks so much, Lynn. I hope you enjoy your virtual trip outback. 🙂 Good luck in the draw. xx Fi
This book baby sounds wonderful Fiona. What a gorgeous setting. It’s been Quite a while since I have visited Winton and surrounding areas but this book will inspire me to go back I’m sure. Good luck.
Ah, how lovely you’ve been there, Deb, happy reading and thank you xx Fi
Have read all of Fiona’s books. Not only do I really enjoy reading them but they encourage me to get out and see more of our beautiful countryside that she describes in her books.
Thanks so much for the fantastic reading and travel ideas.
Ahh, so cool, and exactly a side bonus I love to hear. Thanks so much for that wonderful thought, Janet, xx Fi
I’ve read all your books. I can’t wait to read this one
Thanks so much, Amelia, mwah. Hope you enjoy your trip back to Spinifex 🙂 xx Fi
Fiona The Bush Telegraph sounds like another winner. Great scenery, great Aussie characters and a story that takes you to another time and place. Can’t wait to read it.
Thank you, Natalie, those were the concepts I was aiming for, and I hope you really enjoy the trip. Good luck in the draw xx FI
A Melbourne resident still in lockdown and having been in self isolation for a total of five months, reading is what is keeping me sane!
I especially enjoyed “Aussie Midwives” and I am currently reading “Tiny white lies”
I am so thankful for talented writers such as yourself. Keep up the good work!
I would love to read “Bush telegraph”!
Fabulous and stay safe, Julie. Huge love to all in Melbourne, one of my favourite cities. Good luck in the draw to you xx Fi
It’s been a while since I read a Fiona McArthur book and this sounds like the one to pull me back into reading them. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
Awesome, Tracey, I do hope you enjoy the trip to Spinifex. warmest regards Fi and good luck in the draw.
Yes please!!
I have heard a lot of things about this awesome book.
Love to read it for myself.
Thanks for the chance.
Thanks for entering the draw, Rachel, good luck, warm regards Fi
What a great excerpt – I’m excited to read more about Maddy and Bridget, and learning more about far north Queensland
Thanks Christine, it’s such a spectacular part of the world and these outback health workers are marvels. Hope you enjoy it. Good luck in the draw. Warm regards Fi
The good old Bush Telegraph is a life line and a curse but we could not survive without it! Good luck with the book. I look forward to reading it
Thanks so much, I appreciate the good wishes 🙂
The book sounds wonderful I’m looking forward to reading it.
Thanks Veronica, I love this one too 🙂 Hope you enjoy it xx
Yay! Another Fiona McArthur book to dive into! Just love your stories – so full of Australian lore and landscape. I love being able to identify the places you write about, and then the adventures your characters have. After reading the excerpt I want to find out what happens and how different life in the outback will be compared to tropical Lord Howe Island. Another winner, Fiona (and congratulations on the Ruby award, loved The Outback Midwife 🥰
Thanks so much, Jann, it certainly has been an exciting few weeks. warmest regards Fi
Is there an announcement of the winner somewhere I have missed?
Snap Karen – just announced. Thanks so much for your support of our website and we authors. It’s truly appreciated.
Huge congrats to Kathy Radford from WA. xx Fi