Last weekend, Mr. Munro and I visited Cape Reinga, a place I'd never gone to before. Cape Reinga is at the northern end of the North Island of New Zealand, and from here it's possible to see where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean collide with currents going in...
I was doing a final read-through for Snow Moon Dragon, my next release, and I realized I had my characters eating toast and vegemite for breakfast. In fact, quite a few of my characters like vegemite. Here is the excerpt: Aware of Nyree’s impatience, he drank his...
Early this morning, our clocks went forward an hour, ready for our summer down here in New Zealand. With the reminders to switch our clocks, I wondered when daylight saving started. Color me surprised to discover a New Zealander had the idea first. George Hudson...
A favorite activity – for hubby, at any rate – is to go fishing. We’re blessed with many choices of fishing spots in Auckland. Usually hubby tags along with his brother and they go fishing somewhere in the Hauraki Gulf. Here are some friends that decided to tag along....
Hubby loves roast chicken, and his favored way of cooking one is with the barbecue. He sticks a beer can (half-full) and herbs inside the chicken, and as it cooks, the chicken absorbs the moisture from the can. Bella loves to know everything that is happening and...
At the very top of the North Island of New Zealand is a point called Cape Reinga. This is a special site in Maori mythology. According to the tales, an old pohutukawa tree grows on the cliff, and it is said that the roots of this tree provide a ladder for spirits to...
The moa is a flightless New Zealand bird that became extinct around the arrival of Europeans. There were several types of moa, the largest of which was taller than a full-grown man. They had long necks, big sturdy clawed feet, an ostrich-like body and soft brown...
The last six weeks have been full of family stuff, which has taken up much of my time, and today, hubby and I are going on holiday for a much needed break. While I’m away I have several releases. The first two books in my Alien Encounter series – Janaya and...
We visited relations during the weekend, and one of them keeps a weta house in their garden. She says it’s so the wetas don’t jump out at her while she’s in the garden. This is a native rimu tree and where the wetas live. The rimu tree is very cool. You can’t tell...
