Down that red dirt road, Back of Bourke

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I have just been on another trip into the Australian outback, and this time I took a trip down ‘that red dirt road’ which Rhiannon drives on as she heads to work at the Back O’ Bourke. I haven’t spent a lot of time in this part of the world, and it’s a coincidence that after writing my 7th book, life seems to be landing me right in the middle of the places I have been writing about!

I’ve never been down this particular road, but the Brooks and Dunn song lyrics played out in my head:
We’d turn out the headlightsAnd drive by the moonlightTalk about what the future might holdDown that red dirt road
It’s where I drank my first beerIt’s where I found JesusWhere I wrecked my first carI tore it all to pieces

This is when we came across a roadside memorial. When you are on an isolated road and see large buckets of bright flowers and a rock with a plaque, you have to stop.

And what a tragic story it revealed. What could possibly have happened that all these people, aged from 11 to 22, died on such an isolated road in the vast Australian outback on the same date – August 26, 1979?

My writer’s mind went to so many different places. The real story is always worse than any fictional story I could create. I can’t even imagine the ripple effect of this accident on this red dirt road.

Road trauma is something I have experience with. The shock, followed by the long, tangled journey towards acceptance can be debilitating.

1979 seems like a lifetime ago. I was seven years old. I wondered, in such an isolated, lonely place, how would they have called for help? We drove for 100km and did not pass one single vehicle. There are farm properties out here, but they are few and far between. How long before someone discovered what happened? And what about the survivors, and the emergency services? How have they coped? What have their lives been like? Are they okay?

After some Googling, I discovered an Australian Story episode ‘Out of the Dust’, which I was unable to watch but could read the transcript. This gives an incredible insight into how road trauma changes the lives of those left behind forever – it doesn’t just affect families and friends, but whole communities.

In my last Book News, I wrote “At some point I believe we make a conscious choice not to let our trauma define us completely.” And as this Australian Story episode reveals, the sister of one of the young boys who died, Dani Haski, made a very brave and conscious choice to face her trauma. Twenty-five years on, she returned to the accident site and brought together many people who were there on that day, and the families they left behind, to create this memorial which I stood beside.

The way people, in the wake of such tragedy, can walk into the void and change the narrative they’ve lived with for so long is nothing short of miraculous.

We do this not only for ourselves, but to honour the memories of those we have lost and the joy they brought to our lives.

Melissa x

Rhiannon’s Last Look Print Pre-orders Open!

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I have news, coming to you from the Back O’ Bourke where Rhiannon’s Last Look is set!!! So many people have asked about the print book for Rhiannon’s Last Look and I’m thrilled to be able to open the pre-orders of signed copies on my website!
I will keep people updated on the date my print and signed books are expected to land on your doorstep. This will depend on how long the printing process takes. I don’t want to promise a specific date in case there are printing or postage delays, but I’m hoping it will be sometime in November!!

I’ll keep you updated via my Facebook and Instagram accounts and when those precious boxes of books arrive they will be coming straight to you!

KINDLE ebook

The Kindle version will be going live on Amazon worldwide as planned on the official release date of November 2, 2024. The pre-order is still running so if you want to make sure you get it when it’s hot off the press, hit pre-order today.

Pre-order links

  • Pre-order the Kindle version of Rhiannon’s Last Look on Amazon Canada. If you search for Rhiannon’s Last Look on your country’s Amazon page it will be easy to get direct to the pre-order.
  • Pre-order signed copies of the print book of Rhiannon’s Last Look on this website. If you are still catching up on earlier books in the series they are also available in my online bookshop.

Happy days!

Rhiannon’s Last Look, getting closer!

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I don’t have much more to tell you regarding the progress of Rhiannon’s Last Look but it will be ready on 2 November as promised! You can pre-order the Kindle version now, and I am hoping the print pre-orders will be available in the next couple of weeks.

This is Book 5 in the Rhiannon Series is described as ‘a real page turner up until the last page’.

‘It is great, really loved it.’

‘I can’t wait to get it off a shelf somewhere and say, I know this author!’

How many times a day does the thought ‘if only’ run through our minds?

When Detective Rhiannon McVee’s young prodigy Constable Zoe Chesney disappears in the remote Australian outback, she is faced with the biggest ‘if only’ of her career.

If only she could untangle the web of murder, lies and deceit her missing people have weaved before it’s too late.

If only. If only.

What happens when a family member goes missing?

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When someone goes missing, your life is forever changed

I received an email the other day from a German exchange student from my old high school, Antje. She sent me photos of the fun and good times we had, aged 17 going on 18, some of which are too much 80s classic to share!!

This is a photo at Antje’s deb ball, with me on one side and my best friend in the whole world, Rellie, on the other. The camera man behind us? The crime writer in me goes straight to stalker vibes!

Keeping in mind we would only ever get one shot at the photo, nobody could ever check if our eyes were open, or if it was our best angle – in every photo I’m smiling, happy, joyous and having the time of my life.

Yet, how could I be so happy, when just a couple of years earlier my beautiful cousin Ursula had gone missing and still hadn’t come home?

I know the answer, and it’s largely through writing so extensively about missing people in my seven novels I have discovered an even deeper understanding of this.

We all face trauma in our lives, in one form or another. Sometimes our trauma is so traumatic, we wonder how we can go on. For family and friends of a missing person, the continual loop of not knowing, referred to as ‘ambiguous loss’ is one of the worst traumas imaginable.

I still remember the awful, debilitating feeling of when it dawned upon our family that Ursula was ‘missing’. I also remember the awful, heartbreaking day when Ursula’s Mum, my Aunty Cheree, arrived in hysterics to tell us she knew in her heart that Ursula was dead. This was when I was 20, and Ursula had been missing for five years.

But Aunty Cheree also set the tone for the whole family, insisting we always put our best foot forward. She had a wicked sense of humour and told side-splitting stories. I’m not even halfway as entertaining or funny as she was but she did teach me to seek laughter above sadness.

When Ursula went missing I surrounded myself with my friends and did what all teenagers do – kept incredibly busy, laughed until my belly and cheeks hurt, made new friendships like the one with Antje, and held on tight to my closest friends like Rellie.

At some point I believe we make a conscious choice not to let our trauma define us completely.

This is why, when you read one of my crime fiction novels, I won’t let you linger too long on the trauma or devastation of my characters who are affected so terribly, in many different ways, by not knowing what has happened to their missing person.

We all need put our big girl pants on, walk into the void, follow our dreams and seek out happiness wherever we can find it. Not only for ourselves, but to honour the memories of our missing loved ones and the joy they brought to our lives.

Melissa x

BTS of Rhiannon’s Last Look

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Behind the scenes of Rhiannon’s Last Look

Okay, this image is really just to get your attention! However, it does have some context for this behind the scenes look at the inspiration behind my Rhiannon Series and my new book available for Kindle pre-order, Rhiannon’s Last Look.

Yes, I am a crime writer. However, my books also stray into rural romance, steamy romance with a cowboy/cowgirl vibe.

In more recent years a lot of us have become enthralled in the fictional romance of Rip and Beth in the Yellowstone TV series, but my obsession with cowboys goes back a lot longer than that. I grew up in a rural area and went to my first rodeo when I was around five years old.

When I graduated from high school I spent a year in the remote Queensland outback, which was a shock for me because it was the most remote I’d lived! But it left a big impression, and since then I have continued to circle back to those remote areas.

I spend my time living in three of my favourite worlds – beside the ocean surrounded by water, in the outback where I sit behind the wheel of a truck or tractor working with my husband and in the fictional world of my outback characters!

It’s a busy but adventurous life and involves a lot of time on the road. This year I’ve embraced the idea of writing by dictating my stories and yesterday I dictated 15 chapters for my next book while on the long drive home.

Kindle Pre-orders Open

However, before I start on my new book, I’m doing the final edits on Rhiannon’s Last Look to make sure it’s ready on 2 November as promised! You can pre-order the Kindle version now, and I’ll let you know as soon as the print pre-orders are available.

Rhiannon’s Last Look Kindle pre-order is available worldwide and below are some direct links for where I know a lot of my readers are from. But if your country is not on this list get in touch and I’ll send you a direct link.

This is Book 5 in the Rhiannon Series is described as ‘a real page turner up until the last page’.

‘I love a good series and this one does not disappoint.’

‘I feel like I’m back with old friends. Bloody amazing. I didn’t want it to end.’

Here’s the back cover blurb…

How many times a day does the thought ‘if only’ run through our minds?

When Detective Rhiannon McVee’s young prodigy Constable Zoe Chesney disappears in the remote Australian outback, she is faced with the biggest ‘if only’ of her career.

If only she could untangle the web of murder, lies and deceit her missing people have weaved before it’s too late.

If only. If only.

‘I love Rhiannon and her dedication to her profession.’

That’s all for now, I hope this week is a great one for you!

Melissa x

Rhiannon’s Last Look available for Kindle pre-order

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I’m so thrilled to let you know if you pre-order Rhiannon’s Last Look today it will deliver to your Kindle on November 2!!

Australian outback crime and spicy rural romance combined.

The Amazon Kindle pre-order is available worldwide and below are some direct links for where I know a lot of my readers are from. But if your country is not on this list get in touch and I’ll send you a direct link.

This is Book 5 in the Rhiannon Series is described as ‘a real page turner up until the last page’.

‘A riveting story with a few surprises thrown in.’

True blue cowboy Mac is in a long-term relationship with Detective Rhiannon McVee, who has swapped her cowboy boots for police issue oxfords to dedicate herself to finding missing people.

Theirs has been an up and down long-distance relationship and Mac is ready to settle down, but Rhiannon is far from settled.

She is never in one place for long and has teamed up with Pat, an adventurous investigate journalist, to track down the people who can’t, and don’t want to be, found.

Rhiannon and Pat’s attraction is impossible to ignore but could Rhiannon betray Mac and put the future he’s planned for them at risk?

Will she cross the line or stay true to her first love?

‘I’m up to page 19 and gasped out loud!’

I’ll let you know when the print version is available for pre-order. In the meantime, have a lovely weekend and I hope you are spending it with a good book!

Melissa x

Rhiannon’s Last Look is in the hands of my beta readers…

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I’ve been a busy beaver and I’m thrilled to have sent out my first draft of my 7th crime novel to my early readers! I’ve already had some feedback and it goes something like this:

OMG !!! Just finished your book. Bloody amazing. Loved it. Do I see a sequel????

For those of you who have just joined my mailing list, this is my 7th crime novel and the 5th in my Rhiannon Series. It is set in the Australian outback, and also takes readers to Sydney, the rugged coastline of Western Australia and to a surprise overseas location you won’t see coming!

How many times a day does the thought ‘if only’ run through our minds?

Detective Rhiannon McVee is buried in ‘if onlys’ as she sacrifices her relationship with her cowboy Mac to make it her life’s work to solve Australia’s growing number of missing cold cases. When her young prodigy Constable Zoe Chesney disappears in the remote outback, Rhiannon is faced with the biggest ‘if only’ of her career.

If only she could untangle the web of lies, deceit and murder her missing people have weaved before it’s too late.

If only. If only.

My early readers are such an important part of the editing process and I’m so grateful for those who have offered to do this. I also have a small group of family members and close friends who have read all six previous early drafts (many of which were rougher than where I’m currently at) and are now working their way through Rhiannon’s Last Look.

I’ve looked and listened to this book so many times! I’ve pushed words around the page, spotted typos, filled in plot holes, tried to take out repeated words and phrases and checked the timing and pace. One day I absolutely love it, the next day I’m a bundle of nerves thinking it’s the worst thing I’ve ever written.

I am hoping that my major plot twist and an ending that I initially felt will blow your mind, actually does blow your mind! I’m also hoping that my spicy romance is just the right amount, and that the scenes which made me cry will make you cry.

For those who don’t have this early draft, if you are still working through my six other novels before this new one comes out, keep an eye out on Amazon for Kindle deals between now and when Rhiannon’s Last Look hits the shelves.

Upcoming Kindle book deals for Melissa Pouliot crime writer

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Write About Me

With Ursula on my mind, Write About Me is going to be 99c (US) on Amazon Kindle worlwide, starting November 26 for 5 days. This link is to the US store, but just navigate to your country’s page and you will be able to access the deal from there.

Rhiannon Crime Series

During the Christmas season, there will be a series of deals on my Detective Rhiannon McVee series, including Kindle Free and 99c deals. If you follow me on my Melissa Pouliot author Facebook and Instagram, I’ll post reminders of when each deal goes live!

Music and podcast recommendations from mp

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Music and podcasts – Melissa Pouliot’s recommendations!

Music

When I was a young newspaper journalist in the 1990s I was the video and CD reviewer (showing my age!). I pretty much gave everything five stars because I couldn’t bear to criticise anyone for all the hard work they’d put into their creative project. The Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces got a solid five stars! I still have that CD but until recently, I’ve never had the opportunity to see them live. I went with my Mum and one of my best friends to a Sydney concert and they were brilliant! As was Elle King.

If you go onto Spotify, search for The Chicks World Tour Setlist 2023, I highly recommend it! And have a listen to Elle King while you’re at it.

Podcasts

As far as podcasts go, I have been binge listening to series podcasts lately so here they are in the order I listened:
  • The Frankston Murders – Vikki Petraitis is absolutely brilliant and one of my favourites who I have followed for a long time, she has an impressive backlist so once you recover from this, go back through as she is one of the world’s best true crime podcasters in my view.
  • Scamanda – this gave me so many mixed emotions, I was in complete turmoil over what she did!
  • Believe in Magic – this broke my heart, and I listened in the same way I’d stay up all night reading a page turning book that I couldn’t put down.
  • The Missing Cryptoqueen – this is the same host as Believe in Magic and he did such an amazing job trying to unpick this complicated story!
  • Bad Blood: The Final Chapter – similar feelings to Scamanda, oh my goodness!
  • Murder in Apartment 12 – this was similar to Believe in Magic and I couldn’t stop listening until I’d binged the whole series.

A break from Rhiannon McVee

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I have been off the air for a while, and a lot of you have been wondering about the long break between updates. I have been avoiding putting words down after a family tragedy which is taking me a long time to process.

From the day I published Write About Me in 2013 and embarked on a very public search for Ursula, I used writing as a coping mechanism for all the trauma happening behind the scenes. Escaping into the worlds of my fictional characters in the Rhiannon McVee crime series kept my real emotions on the surface and I could easily pretend that what was going on in the real world wasn’t real! But after losing my precious Dad, who was my biggest fan of my books and everything else I did, I have done everything I can to avoid dealing with my emotions. Initially when I was caught up in the love bubble of his beautiful memorial celebration I had a mad weekend of writing as I felt like I couldn’t waste another minute of my life, but then nothing. Every time I’ve sat down to write the Rhiannon McVee crime series or the new crime novel I’ve started, the words won’t come.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the remote outback, also reading, listening to podcasts, doing Sudoko puzzles, listening to music, walking, catching up with friends and being with my family. I’ve also taken a gazilliion photos of big skies. I can’t take the credit for this one though, my husband took it and it’s gone into the book cover contenders folder!

This week I seemed to turn a corner and some of the fog has lifted. Rhiannon McVee and Mac have returned into my head to hang out with me, and my new character who started off as Bunny, then changed to Bridie, has also returned. She has returned as Bunny so I’m going to go with it for now and who knows! I have two partly written books and after I finish this update, I’m going to open one and see what is in store for me, and ultimately for all of you!!