My Books

I've spent years listening to people tell their stories, always fascinated by what they've lived through, what they've learned and what they've overcome.

My first two books, Campfire for the Heart and Campfire for a Woman's Heart, published by Big Sky Publishing, brought together the true stories of people who had faced some of life's toughest challenges.

I also created Phoenix: The Rise of a Resilient Community, preserving the experiences of people affected by the Black Summer bushfires on the NSW South Coast.

I'm currently working on another community book for Hughenden in northwest Queensland, recording the memories and experiences of local people so they're preserved for future generations.

Over the years, I've become increasingly passionate about helping people write their own life stories. That's why I developed The Memoir Compass™ and wrote my next book. Write It Down: A Memoir-Writing Guide for Rural and Regional Australians will be published by Boolarong Press in April 2027. It's the book I wish more families had access to years ago, before so many precious stories were lost.

Campfire for a Woman’s Heart

“Campfire for the Heart provides a gut-wrenching compilation of stories where those who have encountered their worst nightmare are able to not only recount how they survived, but often how they thrived in the face of seemingly unbearable tragedy.”

- Alexandra Wake, Assoc Prof, Journalism @ RMIT University

“With Campfire for the Heart, Natalie Stockdale has assembled a broad and thought-provoking collection that shares the often-traumatic experiences of a range of remarkable Australians, including her own. Delivered with humanity, intelligence, compassion and empathy, these stories become more than a record. They form a humbling and inspiring pathway towards a way of being that is elementally uplifting, despite – and in many ways because of – being born of suffering. “

- Mark Muller, Editor-in-Chief, R.M.Williams OUTBACK magazine

Write It Down

A Memoir-Writing Guide for Rural and Regional Australians

Too many life stories of rural and regional Australians are disappearing.

Write It Down is a warm, practical guide for people who want to preserve the stories that shaped their lives but don’t know where to begin.

At the heart of the book is The Memoir Compass™, a simple six-stage process:

Through real Australian stories, practical guidance and gentle encouragement, the book helps readers gather their memories, discover the deeper story running through their lives, bring important moments to life on the page, revise with confidence and preserve the finished memoir for future generations.

Foreword by Ros Abercrombie, Executive Director, Regional Arts Australia.

Forthcoming | Boolarong Press | April 2027

“Write It Down is an important and timely guide to preserving the voices, courage and character of rural Australia.”

— Lloyd Mills, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame

“Everyone experiences grief or trauma in some way. It’s hard, but you never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have left. By reading these incredible stories, you can learn how these gutsy women got back on their feet. They found a way. You can too.”

- Lisa Curry AO

“In a world beset by trouble and concern, Natalie Stockdale has curated a truly inspiring series of stories that show how the human spirit is capable of overcoming great odds. With humour, compassion and uncommon sense, Natalie skilfully navigates the tricky balance of both staying true to the stories of courageous and unique acts of bravery while showing the potential for resilience and overcoming that lies within us all.”

- Hadleigh Fischer, Founder of Resilience Agenda & Co-founder of Mental Fitness Hub

Phoenix: The Rise of a Resilient Community

Following the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019–20, I worked with people across the Eurobodalla region of NSW to help preserve their stories.

Phoenix: The Rise of a Resilient Community brings together firsthand accounts of loss, courage, kindness and recovery. It was a privilege to hear these experiences and help create a lasting record of what the community went through.

These are stories that deserve to be remembered.