Episode: A Conversation with Fiona McArthur — Midwife, Author, Rural Advocate

In today’s powerful episode, Katja sits down with the extraordinary Fiona McArthur (formerly Fiona Simpson) — a midwife of 35 years, bestselling Australian author of more than 60 books, mother of five boys, cattlewoman, and passionate advocate for women living, working and raising families on the land.

This is a warm, wise, and deeply relatable conversation full of stories rural women will instantly connect with.

🌾 Episode Highlights

• Fiona’s early years as a midwife at Kempsey Hospital, and juggling shift work, a paramedic husband, and five sons under seven
• How she claimed her own time with daily 4am–6am writing sessions — and how this changed the trajectory of her life
• The journey from writing for pleasure at the Kempsey Library to becoming a published author with Penguin and Harlequin
• Why her books champion strong women, young mothers, rural resilience, and birth outside the hospital system
• The inspiration and real-life stories behind her new novel Lightning Ridge Ladies
• The power of rural communities, especially following the devastating Macleay Valley floods
• Fiona’s belief that rural women are “not impostors in their own dreams”
• Practical advice for carving out time when life, kids, farming and chaos feel overwhelming
• The importance of friendships, feminine energy, and finding one supportive creative companion
• What Fiona will bring to the 2026 Harvest Her Power Conference — confidence, rediscovery, creativity and self-belief

🎤 Fiona at the 2026 Harvest Her Power Conference

Fiona will guide rural women through:

• finding your inner voice
• turning rural life into opportunity
• carving out guilt-free personal time
• overcoming self-doubt
• building confidence and creative habits
• embracing your story, passion and purpose

Her message: “Your aspirations are as important as your farm commitments.”

🌿 Perfect For

• Farm wives
• Daughters returning to the family farm
• Women integrating into family farming businesses
• Women in ag seeking identity, community and support
• Anyone wanting to rediscover passion, creativity or self-belief

Harvest Her Power; Empowerment and Skills Conference for women in family farming.

https://farmwivesconference.com.au/

Tickets on sale NOW.

Discount Codes:

Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout!

Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/

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