Maree was left with three small daughters when her husband and son were killed in a light plane smash. Cheryl lives in such a remote area, she had to winch herself and her three children across the Murray River to get the eldest to school. Alice admits she couldn’t even tell a cow from a bull when she first went to live in the outback. These women are only some of the twelve extraordinary women who have overcome incredible hardships to survive and thrive in some of the most extremely remote parts of Australia. Sue Williams has uncovered some remarkable subjects in this book. From high-profile businesswomen to everyday heroes, these women will inspire and delight.

Sam Bailey wanted a life on the land just like his father. He had it all planned - he’d finish his education, have a few years in the big wide world and then return home to take the reins from his dad, get married and raise a family. His own version of the Australian dream. But when the car Sam was travelling in overturned on a lonely country road one Sunday afternoon, leaving him a quadriplegic, Sam discovered that in a split second your life can change forever, in ways that you had never imagined.

Head Over Heels is more than the story of how Sam conquered his disability through sheer tenacity and the unstinting support of family, friends and doctors. It is a captivating romance. The day Sam met Jenny, an ABC rural journalist, he discovered love can come from the most unexpected places and overcome all boundaries. His marriage proposal to her ‘live’ on ABC Radio moved thousands of listeners. The phones jammed and the fax machine ran out of paper as the congratulations flowed in. Head Over Heels is a reminder to us all that when you love life, nothing is impossible.

Horse-whispering, crocodile-hunting and single-handedly changing an 80-kilo flat tyre on a road train in 40-degree heat…there is nothing these modern-day outback women can’t do.

But when it comes to hardship and heartbreak, they’ve endured far more than their fair share. Living and working in some of the most remote spots in the world, they’ve had to become experts at turning tragedy into triumph.

Our former Miss World finds a new start in the bush; an adventurer crosses one of the world’s harshest deserts on camelback; a single mum becomes a truck driver to make ends meet and a former nurse takes over the famous Birdsville Hotel. This book is a tribute to the great Australian Outback from those who live and work at the heart of it.