| The latest update from Amanda Giorgis, best-selling author of the Applecross Saga. |
| Coming soon Book 6 of the Applecross Saga |
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| An explanation ….. The 6th book of the Applecross Saga is due for publication early in 2023. It has the title of COCKSFOOT AND CLOVER. Why? I hear you ask. Well, the 6th book is set against a background of big changes in agriculture. Wool from New Zealand was widely used around the world and had made our farmers rich, but changes in the way wool was woven, and the over-grazing of much of our land, meant that things had to change. In the mid 1870s, we started growing wheat, and we moved over to farming sheep for their meat as well as their wool. It meant breeding a different kind of sheep because merino meat can be tough and fatty, and that created a need for good pasture. Tussock lands were ploughed up and re-seeded with a mix of plants that improved the soil for crops and fed the sheep. Seeds from England were used mainly, and the most common mixture was Cocksfoot and Clover, Timothy and Rye. In fact, it is a mixture still used to this day. Only a few years ago our own little field was re-seeded in that way, and the 6 sheep who graze there at the moment are looking mighty fine on it too! |
| A little taste of Book 6 In the sheep country of Canterbury and Otago the native tussock lands had reached the end of their useful life by the 1870s and were sown with European grasses – mainly ryegrass, timothy, cocksfoot and clover. Rural New Zealand in 1876. A time of prosperity for Applecross sheep station. However, dark clouds are gathering over the settlers of Mackenzie’s Basin.James Mackenzie is good at his job. Quality wool from his flock is valued around the world. But his son, John James, sees the future differently, embracing new ideas and opening up new markets. Will father and son reach a compromise that will allow Applecross to survive through the threat of pestilence and fire? Will Captain Shepherd’s legacy offer the opportunity for his beloved family to spread their wings? Join James, Sophia and all the folk of Applecross as, once more, they celebrate triumph and success while joining together to face adversity and tragedy against a backdrop of an ever-changing world. |
| Bird of the |
| It’s that time of year again. The couple of weeks where we all choose our favourite New Zealand birds. Last year (in something of a travesty) a bat won! That’s not going to happen again this time. The theme for this year is ‘Underbirds are Go!’ – showcasing the many critically endangered birds who don’t get as much attention as our rockstars – kiwi, kakapo and takahe. Did you know there are only 40 Fairy Terns on our shores? They deserve a vote, as do our other ‘in serious trouble’ underbirds – Southern NZ dotterel, Wrybill, Grey duck, Australian crested grebe, Black fronted tern, Shore plover, Black stilt, Reef heron, Red knot and (the current leader), the teeny, tiny Rock wren. Oh, how I wish I could vote for them all. It took a long time to whittle all 72 birds down to my favourite 5 (see below). It’s not too late to cast your vote – https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz |
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| Another chance to win! If yours is among the first 10 emails I receive with a subject line of ‘Audiobook’, I’ll send you a voucher to download the audiobook version of The Wideawake Hat, read by Su Melville, for FREE!Email amanda.giorgis@icloud.com Subject Line ‘Audiobook’ (Please note – the voucher can only be redeemed via the link you receive in the email and can only be played on the Authors Direct IOS or Android app. The app is available in UK, EU, Australia, Canada and USA. Author’s decision is final.) |
| An Applecross Companion Here you will find a list of Applecross folk and their dogs, updated with the new characters for Book 5, plus a map of Mackenzie’s Basin.Dive on in there and take a look. Go to https://amandagiorgis.com/the-applecross-companion/ – use the password ‘Applecross’ to get access. Buy the Applecross Saga |
Amanda Giorgis
Author of the Applecross Saga
News from Applecross – October 2022
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