Heidi Jennings - Author

29/04/2026

MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT FLASH FICTION

Recently I was introduced to flash fiction. Flash fiction is a genre of extremely brief fiction that tells a complete, self-contained story.

I decided to have a go. Writing fiction is not my strength, however I had a lot of fun writing this! Mine is on the shorter side for this first attempt - flash fiction can be anywhere from about 300 - 1500 words.

This piece is pure fiction, but the sentiment behind it is very Dutch. I draw on my experience of having a Dutch father and grandfather.

Here it is - tell me your thoughts!

GOUDA

Opa never bought cheese casually.

He approached the cabinet at the Dutch Deli with the suspicion of a customs officer. He would lift a shrink-wrapped block, inspect its edges, press a thumb into it, knowing full well that excess firmness was a deal breaker, then note the price with visible offence.

“Twelve dollars?” he said, holding up a perfect wedge of Gouda. “For this?”

No-one answered. It was merely an opening statement, after all.

Oma busied herself looking at the goods on display on the shelves nearby.

We learned early that grocery shopping with Opa involved a lot of waiting, while he pondered packaging, produce or inflation. Bread was too soft. Tomatoes had no smell. Coffee was overpriced. Chocomel – thick Dutch chocolate milk in a yellow carton – was too chocolatey. Cheese, most of all, had become an international scandal.

“In Holland”, he said, which is how many of his sentences began, “you could buy proper cheese from a man who knew what he was talking about.”

This mythical Dutch cheese man improved each time the story was told. He tended his cart in a cobbled market square from Opa’s childhood, apron tied, knife sharp, offering samples with utmost seriousness. He understood texture, and he respected ageing. He would never, under any circumstances, slice and vacuum-seal Gouda.

Opa placed the block back in the cabinet.
“We’re not buying this”, he announced.

He bought it anyway.

Later, as Opa began speaking more often about brutal winters and his father cycling to work in the rain, I understood that cheese was never only cheese.

It was standards. It was memory. It was the country that made him.

Still, twelve dollars was outrageous.

😎

16/04/2026

Still sleepwalking? Read this!

Click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FVH89JXK?ref_=saga_dp_ss_dsk_dp

07/04/2026

Helping authors succeed? Don’t threaten me with a good time 🤪😆

I’m two months in to my part-time role with the Ultimate 48 Hour Author and I’m in my element.
It feels like the most natural fit for me, where I can bring all my skills together into the role.

The CEO, Natasa, says we are ‘building the plane as we fly it’ because this is a role that didn’t exist before. Her goal is to gradually step back from the day-to-day running of the business and that’s where I can start to step in.

At the moment, here’s some of the stuff I get to do:

💥 Getting right into the backend of the business - understanding how the whole machine runs.

💥 Being an ‘onboarding buddy’ - helping our new authors settle in, stay excited and not second-guess themselves.

💥 Planning & running workshops around all things relevant to authors - everything from overcoming procrastination to finding speaking gigs.

💥 Learning how to run a ‘prep session’ where I assist authors with structure, unpacking chapters, guidance around audience etc.

💥 Coaching authors on things like mindset, overcoming fear, imposter syndrome, all those 15000 excuses that pop up about why they definitely absolutely shouldn’t write their book (been there, done that!)

💥 Supporting fellow team members in their role and wellbeing.

💥 And how about this - in June I get to co-run the half-day online seminar where aspiring authors come to listen all about how to make their book a reality.

I work with an incredible team of people who are all very good at what they do which makes it all the more enjoyable.

Plus, once I switch off from this role each day I get to come back to my health coaching clients. Best of both worlds!

Oh, and Book # 4 is still in the works and hopefully will see the light of day later this year!

Here’s a pic taken at the recent conference on the Gold Coast. We threw a big party for local authors where we sang and danced the night away.

31/03/2026

Hey, you perfectionists out there. Get over yourself!

Your readers don’t care about perfection or the odd typo. They care about your message and how you can help them.

At the Ultimate 48 Hour Author conference on the Gold Coast recently we made a series of fun reels. This quote helped me immensely when I was writing my books.

And yes there’s a typo (thanks Instagram subtitles) - draw should be drawer 😁

14/03/2026

Highlights so far …almond croissants on Burleigh Beach, pool time, twisted chips at Coolangatta beach, Teppinyaki for a team dinner, a visit to the fish market, delicious food at every turn, conferencing at home, sunrise at Burleigh, crashing Nat’s PT sessions, Topgolf, lunch at Elephant Rock, an awesome party for local authors, jumping in the pool fully clothed, fish n chips near Tweed Heads, shopping at Pacific Fair, sunset dinner at Rainbow Bay, visits to Miami Marketta street food, Carrara and Surfers Paradise markets.

Tomorrow we say goodbye to teams Brisbane and Melbourne while team NZ and Philippines stay a few more days to crew at seminars in Brisbane and Gold Coast!

09/03/2026

We are having an incredible time on the Gold Coast. Markets, beach time, dinners out, pool time, chill time, bonding time and now we move into 4 days of conference time.

By the way, if you have a book lurking inside, this book is a great place to start. Natasa has written about 14 books now and this was one of her first. It covers everything you need to know about becoming a first time author and what to expect.

It’s such a privilege to be part of this amazing team.

05/03/2026

Off on a wee adventure today! I am flying to the Gold Coast to spend some time with the Ultimate 48 Hour Author team. We will spend 4 days doing fun stuff, 4 days at conference followed by a party for authors local to the Gold Coast, then I hang around for a bit longer to help run a seminar in Brisbane. I am away for 12 days - the longest I have ever left my kids but at 15 and 13 I’m sure they’ll be grateful for a reprieve from their bossy mother! The temps look Heidi-friendly (high 20s) although there is a bit of rain forecast in the first few days. I am looking forward to exploring the Burleigh area as it’s somewhere I haven’t spent much time. ☀️🌞😎

21/02/2026

My big brother Mark turned 60 this week. Our birthdays are exactly a week apart and I’m 12 years behind so I guess that makes me about 34 ! 🤪🎉💃

02/02/2026

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS!

Today was my first day in my new part-time role with the Ultimate 48 Hour Author.

Five years ago, with the help of this incredible team, I embarked on my own journey to fulfil my dream of becoming an author. Gone are the days where you have to write a manuscript that knocks the socks off a big-wig publishing company in order to get published. You can simply get writing your book, your way, and, with the help of experts who know the ins and outs of chapter formation, editing, layout, printing and numerous other essential details, you can experience the amazing feeling of holding your own book in your hands.

Not only is the business run like a well-oiled machine, helping hundreds of authors fulfil their own dreams, but its founder and CEO, Natasa, has become a friend and mentor to me. A few years ago, after learning so much just from witnessing how she operated in her professional life, I asked her to mentor Steve and I in our business, to which she agreed!

So now it feels quite surreal to be part of the team. My role covers everything from learning the backend of how the business runs, to supporting and mentoring authors, running workshops and coaching calls, and as right-hand support to the CEO.

Because it’s part time and remote, it will fit seamlessly around our health coaching business, which continues to operate as normal.

So many people want to write a book but few will actually do it. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but the rewards are priceless. So if you’ve got a book in you or a story to be told, I might just be able to hook you up with the best team ever to help turn a dream into a reality!

Who out there has written a book, or who would like to? And what’s holding you back?

Heidi
📕📒📔📘

11/01/2026

BOOK UPDATE!

Book 4 is officially underway. Yep, the second in the Midlife Rebellion: 100 Ways Series, and writing it is its usual chaotic and fun process. I’ve taken my own advice and thrown all rules out the window.

Writing a book can be a messy business. Imposter syndrome shows up and sometimes you wonder why you even signed up for this madness. I’ve found a trick to keep me motivated though: getting the cover designed early. Nothing like seeing your future bestseller in all its glory 🤪

This year, with extra commitments piling up, I’ve had to get serious. Winging it and squeezing in writing between life’s other nonsense is not a recipe for success. I’ve had to carve out weekly, non-negotiable diary slots.

This book is punchy, no BS and straight to the point. If you enjoyed the first book in the series - Wake the Hell Up - this one delivers even more rebellious goodness, rogue advice and borderline illegal productivity hacks.

I plan to publish in the next 6 months-ish. I’ll keep you posted on that. In the meantime, if you need a friendly yet firm nudge to get your 2026 started on rhe right foot, grab yourself a copy of Wake the Hell Up here:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Wake-Hell-Up-Sleepwalking-Through/dp/B0FV3SQ8NT/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=1URWPKK39Z6KJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YFKVWHKTnT3bdxNynmW9KcEuDR6ERcVBhL1JgEo__o0Kgx3BXJnOYymDKysr-NHrwj7jujHJrTdcTg4QttlIYLVMN9Lp5p_UC5aKFsrtiGB0f53Ya6EVkL6W2-Qt3gOOAQroSlWClIteL-csc46g5uyX0eW0vNDa7O6rP1lOFdzb9yKmuFGWSma28spZVYtJyN1dSlCy1DAlP2q6tRtwBw.Noxj822GrhUE5um3yUVlbYD8XS35ahEzE8TbSLoA2kQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=heidi+jennings&qid=1768172428&sprefix=heidi+jennings%2Caps%2C316&sr=8-3

05/01/2026

It was a pleasure to be interviewed by Charmaine Marinkovich for The Art of Self podcast! We covered everything health, values, confidence and building our best lives. Thanks for a great discussion Char!

Here’s the link to Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1GXlbLYIzj9x8oI1Y8p9hX?si=UMAd5he1QpeIw50ulEDj2g&t=1

The Art of Self Podcast · Episode

28/12/2025