Mountain Tails : The Lives and Loves of My Animal Neighbours

Living alone on a remote mountain in the harsh Australian bush would not be every woman's choice. In fact, Sharyn Munro has so often been asked, ‘Why do you live there?'that she decided to write a book as her answer. THE WOMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN is the resulting lyrically written account of her journey towards a sustainable and truly rewarding lifestyle in her beloved mountain forests, where she has ‘only'the abundant wildlife for company. That decades-long journey was no smooth, planned passage, but a stumble over setbacks, propelled by almost accidental decisions. After the ups and downs of relationships, single parenting, and an unlikely variety of jobs, at 55 she found herself alone — in the bush. Unsure whether she could manage the hard work and mechanical demands of a self-sufficient lifestyle, she nevertheless gave it a go — and mostly succeeded. She has also learnt to live in tune with nature on her wildlife refuge, despite the occasional discordant note, helping to repair past damage and trying to do no more. ‘Civilised conservation'she calls it, ‘having your cake and eating it too — before the wallabies do.'With increasing numbers of people longing for a simpler life, THE WOMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN reveals what can be achieved when vision and passion are combined with a little hard work, a lot of adaptability — and a dash of humour. Often humorous, always candid, sometimes heart-wrenching, THE WOMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN will charm and inform, and inspire all those who have unfulfilled dreams. Sharyn's is also a passionate cry to us to tread more lightly on our planet so that we can leave a better world for future generations. Visit Sharyn's website www.sharynmunro.com Sharyn Munro is a freelance writer as well as an award-winning short-story writer, and regularly contributes non-fiction pieces to ABC Radio National's'Bush Telegraph'program. She lives in a solar-powered mudbrick cabin on her mountain wildlife refuge in the New South Wales Hunter valley. Here she is regenerating her property's vegetation, at a pace dictated by ageing knees. Mother of two, grandmother of two, she is also a late-blooming environmental activist, at a pace dictated by concern for their futures. This is her first book. By the acclaimed author of'The Woman on the Mountain'and'Rich Land, Wasteland', this collection of true tales about Sharyn Munro's wild neighbours will delight her scores of fans as well as earn her many new ones. For 30 years Sharyn has shared her mountain forest wildlife refuge with the native animals, from quolls to kookaburras, snakes to kangaroos, frogs to koalas. As her sole companions for the past six years, they have provided a wealth of material that Sharyn has captured here in both words and drawings. From short cherished glimpses to long endured invasions, Sharyn shares her experiences - intimate, humorous and incidentally informative - as well as her hopes and fears for these unique creatures'futures. So come and take a walk in Sharyn's gumboots and experience life on the wild side! Sharyn Munro writes to make sense of the world. From award-winning short stories to non-fiction, her work explores her fellow creatures, human and non-human, their connection to each other and to place. She lives alone in a solar-powered mud-brick cabin on her mountain wildlife refuge in the New South Wales'Upper Hunter - except when she's out campaigning to save the planet for her grandchildren. Visit Sharyn at her website: www.sharynmunro.com. Sharyn Munro, author of the acclaimed The Woman on the Mountain, lives alone on her mountaintop refuge, surrounded by nothing but the Australian bush. As the only human resident, she has developed a keen interest in the lives and loves of her animal neighbours and it is their stories that she shares with us now. From quolls to kookaburras, snakes to kangaroos, frogs to koalas, Sharyn has encountered them all and has been both amused and infuriated by their behaviour. After all, how would you feel if your neighbours ate your roses, solicited for sex on your front lawn or took over your shed? So come and talk a walk in Sharyn's gumboots, and discover the humorous, intriguing and sometimes poignant world of life on the wild side. This book tells of one woman's journey through life to a place of contentment and satisfaction. A writer with insufficient income, a grandma with unwelcome arthritis, at 55 and now alone and in the bush, Sharyn was unsure if she could manage the hard work and mechanical demands of a totally self-sufficient lifestyle. She nevertheless gives it a go - and mostly succeeds From quolls to kookaburras, snakes to kangaroos, frogs to koalas, the author has encountered them all and has been both amused and infuriated by their behaviour. After all, how would you feel if your neighbours ate your roses, solicited for sex on your front lawn or took over your shed?