Willa Drew: Hi there. What should I call you? Do you prefer a nickname?
Elizabeth Martin: You can call me Elizabeth, or Beth. I’m not a fan of Lizzy, Lizzie, or Liz.
 
WD: Nice to meet you Elizabeth. Welcome and thanks for agreeing to talk to us today. 
E: Thank you for inviting me. 
 
WD: Can I get you something to drink? Water? Soda? Coffee? Wine? Whiskey?
E: A cuppa tea will do, thanks. 

WD: Tell me a little about yourself?
E: Ah, it’s a little strange to be interviewed when I usually do the interviewing. I’m a reporter for the Maranoa Herald, a rural Australian newspaper in Bandara, out in western Queensland, Australia. 

WD: Oh, I best be on my toes then.
E: Naw, you’re right, mate. It's just us girls chatting here, right?
 
I’m originally from Brisbane, so I was a city girl for a long time until I moved to Bandara for work. I have to admit, the country wasn’t my cuppa tea and I felt like a fish out of water at the start, but I managed to settle and make new friends. My colleagues at work, except for Flo Payne who’s a bloody pain in the arse, are a fun bunch - Savannah Bishop is a ripper of a boss and a good friend. 

I’m straightforward and if I don’t like someone, I don’t hide it. Most people are pretty good, though. I was engaged to my university sweetheart Paul Ricci, but things changed and we don’t have much in common these days. 

WD: Where on earth is Bandara? 
E: It’s out in the sticks past Roma and Mitchell and on the way to Cunnamulla along the Warrego Highway in western Queensland, Australia. It’s cattle country, very different to the coastal city.
 
WD: So a city girl who’s found a home in the country?
E: You got it.
 
WD: Do you have any jobs or hobbies? 
E: I’m a senior journalist - I fought my way in an industry that is male-dominated and still sexist. I won’t go into details, but I’ve got plenty of stories to yarn about, maybe another time. I enjoy photography and hope to do more of it one day, as I don’t plan on being a journalist forever. My goal for now is to become editor of the Maranoa Herald. 

WD: Editor. That sounds fantastic. What are some of your likes and dislikes? 
E: I’ll start with dislikes first. I’m no fan of snakes or big, furry spiders. I’ll be honest, there’s a bunch of small-minded idiots I’ve come across in my career - people who make life difficult for others, but I tend to ignore them. If they bother me, I’ll bite back. 
As for what I like, a handsome fellow by the name of Keith Starling took me to his farm, Starling Homestead. It was an oasis or a piece of paradise in the middle of nowhere. The birds, trees, stables, and rose bushes at the front of his home. Now, I love roses and the ones he has are stunning. I spend time with Winnie, his Australian Kelpie, and I’ll admit, I’m a dog lover. I’m not so fond of cats - I don’t get much interaction from them. 

WD: Ah, we won’t get into the cat vs dog debate. Tell me, what is your greatest fear? 
E: I was afraid of falling in love with Keith Starling. What if he didn’t feel the same way about me? I could see spending the rest of my life with him when we met, but he was hard to read. Even then, he was a friendly guy who cared for his community, so I worried he saw me as nothing more than a friend. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself, but luckily, I reminded myself that life’s short, so I showed him some love…maybe sealed my feelings with a kiss.
 
WD: Ah, so you are in love…
E: Yes, I’m madly and deeply in love with Keith Starling. And was pretty soon after I met him. I just needed to show him.
 
WD: Was Keith the reason you broke off the engagement with Paul?
E: No. Paul and I had issues before I met Keith, and Keith helped me see my relationship with my ex-fiance for what it was. 

WD: Let’s leave the men behind. Do you have siblings? 
E: Not that I know of, but I might. I never met my father. 

WD: Oh my, that must be difficult. Have you ever tried to find him? Sorry, if that is too personal, you don’t have to answer it.
E: It’s all good. Mum fell preggers when she was at uni. My biological father chooked off long before I was born. 

WD: That’s your father’s loss, in opinion. Do you have an archnemesis? 
E: There was a police officer in town, his name is Darren Dodson. I couldn’t stand him - he used his power to harass people. The worst thing the town could ever have. He was a sex offender. 

I hope karma bit him back. 

WD: I hope so too. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
E: I would have come out to Bandara sooner if I’d known there were hot studs like Keith Starling. The first time I saw him coach his football team, the Bandara Bulldogs, and he wore shorts that showed off his bum. Oops, that’s an honest confession. Alright, am I turning red yet?
 
WD: Just a little pink. And it works for you. Are you happy we know your story?
E: I’m happy to share my story, and I hope it will encourage readers to dare to be different, dare to be bold, and face their fears. In my story, I tell readers about my experience of being sexually assaulted and intimidated by Darren who used his power to hurt rather than help people. I stood up and did something about it. I told my friends, my boss, my partner - until something was done to make sure his police badge was stripped. 

WD: Bravo. I can’t imagine how hard that was for you. I think you were very brave. Is there anything you want to say to your fans?
E: I want readers to keep using their voices, and to trust the decisions they make. 

WD: Great advice. Can we look forward to reading more of your story?
E: Spoiler alert - let’s hit the fast-forward button: the author who spent time with Keith and me for our novella always writes stories with happy endings. At least, that’s what she told us. She’s now writing about our daughters, Rose, Jasmine, and Daisy - the Starling Sisters series. 

Rose’s story with Liam is a slow-burn one. She’s a lot more like her father than me. Keith was a protective father and perhaps sheltered Rose a bit. I’m there in my daughter’s story, especially as she struggles with Liam. Now, I’ve known Liam since he was a little boy. He could be a bloody sh*t both as a child and an adult. He mucked up with Rose, but he’s relentless. He won’t give her up so easily and will wait for her to forgive him for what he did, even if it takes years. 

As for Jasmine, my middle child’s story is about the plight of single mothers. I was raised by a single mother and my daughter is a single mum. I would give anything to help remove the prejudices that single mothers today still face. Keith has always supported Jasmine, and she’s a tough cookie like her parents.
 
Daisy is the quieter one. I’d like to see her come out of her shell more, but she will in due time. She can be spontaneous and her taste in men is interesting. She loves rodeo riders, and we have a national circuit of rodeo events in Australia. 

WD: Your daughters sound like amazing women. I hope I get the chance to meet them someday. Unfortunately, our time is up. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I for one am glad I got the chance to know you. :
E: Thank you, again for the interview. We could chat forever, so let’s meet up again another time. You are more than welcome to visit me at Starling Homestead. I’ll make sure you’ll enjoy our scones and cakes, and we’ll have a cuppa tea, or coffee. 

WD: My own Outback experience. Count me in. Wait, does it come with a single stunner like Keith?
 
If you’d like to read Elizabeth’s story and find out more about her romance with Keith, check out cool pics on Estelle's Socials or join the discussion in on her Facebook page.