Liz Harfull is passionate about telling the stories and unearthing the histories of the extraordinary, everyday people who make up our communities, especially in rural and regional Australia. 

To date Liz has written ten books, including two international prize winners about Australian show and home-cooking traditions, a series capturing the life stories of rural women, and popular local history books featuring her favourite seaside town of Robe, on South Australia’s Limestone Coast.

Her first book (The Blue Ribbon Cookbook) focussed on the traditions of country shows and show cooking in South Australia. The surprise hit even took the author to Paris when it won a Gourmand World Cookbook Award. A much-anticipated follow-up (The Australian Blue Ribbon Cookbook) became a national best-seller, and a third collection of stories and recipes (Tried Tested and True) was named among the ‘Best in the World’ at the 2019 Gourmand Awards.

Liz’s books featuring rural women include the national best-seller Women of the Land, about the extraordinary everyday lives of eight women from around Australia who run their own farms; City Girl Country Girl, which was inspired by her mother’s story; and her most recent book, A Farming Life, with inspiring tales of resilience from women who farm.

In a moment that filled her with great pride, and some trepidation, Liz was commissioned by the CWA of NSW to write the history of this iconic organisation.  The Women who Changed Country Australia was released in 2022 to coincide with the organisation’s centenary.

An experienced journalist and editor, Liz has also worked as a rural communications specialist, receiving a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to explore ways to encourage farmers to take up best practice and the latest technologies.

Liz is a popular guest speaker, regularly hitting the road to present at libraries, community fundraisers and author events across Australia, as well as the odd country show or two!