To Kym Cramps, way back in Broken Hill, for the second use in my writing of her mailbox, a tiny metal homestead complete with miniature working windmill, which Granny Mim creates in this book. It really does stand outside Mount Gipps Station for mail, and if you want to see it there’s a small video of it turning in the wind on the Facebook page for my book The Homestead Girls. Kym, I hope I have captured some of the angst of station owners waiting for rain while the land dries out and your animals suffer. You are all such heroes, those who live on the far-flung stations of the outback and greet each day with hope for the land and livestock you love.

At Penguin Random House, I’d like to thank my publisher, Ali Watts, and my editor, Amanda Martin, for their faith in my writing and for their fab input all through this book journey. Thank you also to the insightful Alex Nahlous for her lovely compliments and work on the manuscript, and Penelope Goodes. And not forgetting the wonderful cover designer and the huge team of wonderful people who launch a book from my computer into the world!

Thank you to my agent, Clare Forster, and Ben Stevenson from Curtis Brown for your support and advice as always.

Thank you to my writing friends – there’s nothing like having your own tribe to feel nurtured – especially my dear writing pal Trish Morey, way over in South Australia but just here beside me via email. You pushed me towards the finish line as we leapfrogged our word counts, a new game we both draw strength and story progression from as life gets busy at inconvenient moments like deadlines. To Annie Seaton and the Wicked Writers of Words in my local writers group, you guys rock. The Desert Midwife is in fact the longest book I’ve ever written, and the first I’ve ever had to cut scenes from. I can hear my writing friends laughing – especially Rachael Johns, who very kindly provided the lovely quote on my cover. You really are a wonderful woman, Rachael. Thank you.

To you, dear readers, who buy and borrow my books, and send me fab messages on my Facebook, and share photos of my book babies when you see them on the shelves, I am so blessed to have you in my life and will always be grateful for your support and kindness. Thank you.

And lastly, and always, to my own dear hero Ian, who has suffered along the sometimes torturous, zigzag trail this book has taken, the book he called the never-ending story, with each new version not quite the last. It’s done. I’m yours. Until the next one, dear Ian. xx

About the Author