Narelle Fernance, a retired admin manager, as well as a land owner for nigh on eight decades feels she enjoys a fortunate life.  Narelle lives with her husband, Bob on a mixed farm, known as ‘Trenayr Panorama’ with unobstructed views across the Clarence Valley of northern NSW, Australia.

  

   Their long-since grown-up kids have their own families to keep them busy, while Narelle and Bob are devoting their time to caring for doe-eyed cows with long eyelashes.  All cows saunter over when the buggy is driven into their paddock.  Perhaps anticipating a hand-out, but with grass to their knees, more often than not just a hand is extended, on which they dab their wet noses.  Bob has his Jersey cow to keep the house in milk and butter, while a couple of pigs, sundry chooks and Bob’s well tended veggie patch keep larders stocked.  The arrival of each white Speckle calf is celebrated and noted down in the journal, and two kelpies do their best to run the farm.  A cream furry cat, known as Thelma, knows she runs the house!

  

   Narelle’s past life was filled with mainly outside pursuits, but these days she will mostly be found with her keyboard and an untidy pile of books and files strewn across her side-table.  The office has a comforting northerly aspect, allowing the mellow winter sunlight to stream in through the bay windows, reaching almost to the back wall from early morning to mid-afternoon.  The printing paper resting on the machine, risks having the corners roll up from the warmth, even before it has the chance to meet the ink pad.

  

   Narelle’s newest love is taking a weekend break from the farm every month to attend the Glen Inness High Country Book Club meeting, and the Writer’s Group gathering.  Fellow Book Club members are a great bunch, with a wide variety of life experiences.  With good humour, they all contribute valuable opinion on the pros and cons of the book being studied for the month.  Similarly, the Writer’s Group are from varied backgrounds.  The collective knowledge and wordsmith skilfulness is amazing.  So much talent in one group!

  

   Narelle has penned three novels – the first, ‘On Roads Most Travelled’, brought to life the story of her great grandparents and their families as they travelled from Ireland and settled in the Upper Clarence Valley in the late 19th Century.  The second publication, ‘The Outback as Never Before or Since’ depicts a joyous romp across Australian deserts by three friends, during which they meet all sorts of interesting souls.

  

   The latest novel, ‘To Those that Wait’, brings to life one version of the Captain Thunderbolt, Gentleman Bushranger of the Northern NSW Tablelands narrative, as it might have been told by Fred Ward himself.  After a lifetime of intermittent travel in ‘Thunderbolt country’, as well as studying everything ‘Thunderbolt’ that she has been able to get her hands on, Narelle is bold enough to think that Fred has given his permission for her to speak on his behalf.  Narelle feels that she has to believe the in-depth research which states that it was an impostor, Uncle Harry Ward, that was shot at Kentucky Creek on Wednesday 25 May, 1870.  This event then gave Fred, his son Freddie and his mother, Sarah the opportunity to escape to California, then move on to Canada.