Susan Duncan Knihy

In this memoir, Susan Duncan reaches an age where there's no point in sweating long-term ramifications. There aren't any. This new understanding delivers an unexpected bonus - the emotional freedom and moral clarity to admit to hidden and often fiendish facts of ageing and, ultimately, to find ways to embrace them. It also unleashes an overwhelming desire to confront her intractable 94-year-old mother with the dreadful secrets of the past before it is too late, no matter the consequences. It is the not-knowing, she says, that does untold damage. Interwoven with stories from the land - building a fully sustainable eco-house in the mid-coast of NSW with her engineer husband Bob, and grappling with white-eyed roans, dogs, bawling cattle markets, droughts and flooding rains, not to mention blunt-speaking locals - this is a book about a mother and daughter coming to terms, however uneasy, with the awful forces that shaped their relationship. As the inconstancies of age slow her down, Susan Duncan writes with honesty about discovery and forgiveness and what it takes to rework shrinking boundaries into a new and rich life.

Heartbreaking, funny and searingly honest, Salvation Creek is the story of a woman who found the courage not only to begin again but to beat the odds in her own battle for survival and find a new life - and love - in a tiny waterside idyll cut off from the outside world.

The narrative follows Susan Duncan, who seemingly had it all until the sudden loss of her husband and brother shattered her life. After enduring 18 months of grief while maintaining a facade, she reaches a breaking point that leads her to reassess her life choices. With humor and honesty, she embarks on a transformative journey, leaving her successful career behind to seek love and healing in a secluded paradise. This poignant story captures her struggle for survival and the courage to embrace new beginnings amidst heartbreak.

Ettie Brookbank longs for excitement beyond her tranquil life in Cook's Basin, a picturesque but stagnant coastal town. While her friend Sam cherishes their peaceful existence, Ettie feels the weight of unfulfilled dreams. Her chance for change arrives with the opportunity to revitalize a cherished local cafe, offering her a potential escape and a new purpose. As she navigates this venture, Ettie confronts her desires and the possibility of embracing a more adventurous life.

Continuing the story of Susan Duncan's best-selling and much-loved memoir, Salvation Creek, The House picks up after Bob and Susan marry and, two years later, move from her Tin Shed into his "pale yellow house on the high, rough hill," Tarrangaua, built for the iconic Australian poet, Dorothea Mackellar. Set against the backdrop of the small, close-knit Pittwater community with its colorful characters and quirky history, The House is about what happens when you open the door to life, adventure, and love. But it's also about mothers and daughters, as Susan confronts her mother's new frailty and her own role in what has always been a difficult relationship. Where Salvation Creek was about mortality--living life in the face of death--The House is about stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing challenges, at any age. In turn funny and moving, Susan Duncan's beautifully written sequel reminds us to honor what matters in life, and to disregard what really doesn't.

The book explores the journey of discovering inner strength amidst life's challenges. It offers guidance and insights for those feeling lost or overwhelmed, emphasizing that resilience and empowerment are attainable. Through practical advice and inspirational messages, readers are encouraged to tap into their potential and navigate life's difficulties with confidence.