 I am absolutely delighted today to welcome the fabulous Helene Young to my chair. Let's give Helene a warm welcome. Helene lives my dream...she lives on the water on her beautiful catamaran with her very own captain! So let's ask her some questions about her life and her wonderful new book Northern Heat. 1. Helene, I love that you live with Captain G on your boat, Roo-Bin-Esque. What is the best thing about living on the water? I love waking up to the sound of water against the hull with the lighting filtering through the portholes. If the wind is strong the boat almost feels like a living breathing thing, whispering and moaning, the rigging thrumming as she tugs on the anchor.I love the freedom the boat gives us. It’s magical to mooroff an island in water so clear I can watch the anchor flash silver as it sinks to the bottom, knowing that we will lay the first footprints for the day on the sandy beach. I love watching the sunset over land – and I may just take a photo or two of that particular moment! 2. Does your choice of home assist or hinder your writing? Do you have a writing corner? I have two places I write on the boat – either in the main cabin or on the back deck. The one and only draw back I’ve found is that the sunlight can make seeing the computer screen difficult some days and I have to draw the curtains on the glorious view. 3. Will you travel the world in your boat...or is it more a home base? Think of the inspiration! We plan to see more of the Australian coastline to start with - and there are so many wonderful waterways – but we will be heading off-shore. New Caledonia is definitely on the agenda. And yes, the inspiration is endless! 4. What is your absolute favourite place in Australia? Land or sea or both! It’s too hard to pick one place. I love the dusty centre of Australia and have enjoyed every moment of flying the length and breadth of our wonderful country. I’ve been very blessed to have such a great view every working day. But I also love the ocean. Currumbin Beach will always have a place in my heart with so many memories from growing up there. North Queensland with its soaring hills, clear water and coral reefs feels like home, but I know I’ll find many more amazing places in our travels.  5. Where do your ideas come from? I think many of them start with the germ of an idea from a news story. Many of the char |