Barbara McCarthy

With seven decades of living behind her, Barbara came to writing about her experiences late in her life and her inspirational memoir, 'My Windows, My Views ...' opened the flood gates and she hasn't stopped sharing her stories yet. 'Just a Hint of Autumn' is a treasure house (meaning a place where many things of value can be found, and not a treasure trove merely containing a collection of valuable things), has imaginary tales and reflective stories from her open life and her open mind. There is truth and sadness in some of her stories, humour and insight in others. There is something for everyone.

With seven decades of living behind her, Barbara came to writing about her experiences late in her life and her inspirational memoir, 'My Windows, My Views ...' opened the flood gates and she hasn't stopped sharing her stories yet. 'Just a Hint of Autumn' is a treasure house (meaning a place where many things of value can be found, and not a treasure trove merely containing a collection of valuable things), has imaginary tales and reflective stories from her open life and her open mind. There is truth and sadness in some of her stories, humour and insight in others. There is something for everyone.

As a child of a British air force family, Barbara was troubled by the absence of a stable home-life, a difficult relationship with her father, and too many school changes to have a traditional education or make connections and friends. Her fragmented early life became so entrenched in her being that even as an independent adult in Australia, moving and travelling became her life-style, continually leaving relationships, homes and life behind her. With the realisation that she had a story to tell of her survival, of her achievements and successes over a long life, with more than a few missteps along the way, as well as some amazing travels, Barbara began to write her story. In the telling she uncovered layers of herself and her life that had once left her wondering 'who am I, really' She discovered who she is - and that there was a happier side to her story too.

As a child of a British air force family, Barbara was troubled by the absence of a stable home-life, a difficult relationship with her father, and too many school changes to have a traditional education or make connections and friends. Her fragmented early life became so entrenched in her being that even as an independent adult in Australia, moving and travelling became her life-style, continually leaving relationships, homes and life behind her. With the realisation that she had a story to tell of her survival, of her achievements and successes over a long life, with more than a few missteps along the way, as well as some amazing travels, Barbara began to write her story. In the telling she uncovered layers of herself and her life that had once left her wondering 'who am I, really' She discovered who she is - and that there was a happier side to her story too.