Home again from a most enjoyable road trip to Queensland to promote Salvage. I owe many, many thanks to those who braved a chilly August night to attend the Queensland launch at Avid Reader, as well as staffers Chris, James and Michelle who made it all so easy, and Krissy who set it all up. Kim Wilkins was funny and very kind in launching the book. I never did get to the signing table. I was given a lovely journal and a Karloffian Mummy t-shirt and two bags of (fake) blood. Later, we ate Indian. There were many hugs, and some new faces, too. Friends, they be awesome.

The next day, Kirstyn and I popped into Pulp Fiction Books, as you do when in Brisbane because they are awesome, and relieved them of a copy of Team Human. Then Angela Slatter joined us at the Logan North library to present a panel on Australia’s dark fiction which was well attended; there were lots of questions. We got back to the State Library in time to catch Meg Vann and Trent Jamieson reading from works in progress at a new event, to run every second month, called Whispers. Definitely worth checking it out if you’re able. And do keep an eye out for these two new stories: they both sound amazing.

Kirstyn went home — cat to be coddled, business to be run — while I hit the road. There was family stuff and friend stuff, and in amongst that, what were essentially kaffee klatsches at the Caloundra and Noosa libraries which I enjoyed immensely. Both went over time, and a Noosa Today snapper turned up to take a photo at Noosa which was a pleasant surprise. Add in a visit to ABC Sunshine Coast for a chat with Mary-Lou Stephens (who has her own book coming out soon!) for her books program, and it was a busy bounce around the gloriously warm Sunny Coast.

And on Saturday, Brisbane’s Courier-Mail ran a wonderful review of Salvage. Another thoughtful review that doesn’t give the game away, as it were, while providing an accurate picture of the story and the book’s mood. So a very pleasant journey — 600km all told.

I’m in debt to enthusiastic librarians and generous friends and loving family.

Next up: the Twelfth Planet Press Showcase at the Melbourne Writers Festival on August 26. There will be drinks!