Red Dust Running

by Anita Heiss

'No one writes Aussie rom-com like Anita Heiss.' Rachael Johns

Matters of the heart have always made Annabelle run for the hills – literally.

After a disastrous relationship effectively torched her personal and professional life in Sydney, Annabelle is back in Brisbane. She’s about to start her dream job launching and curating a First Nations gallery in the city, and this time, nothing is getting in the way of her important work. Certainly not romance, even if her new neighbour is really cute.

Everything is going to plan until a birthday trip to the rodeo with her tiddas brings Annabelle up close and (very) personal with Dusty Davies, bona fide cowboy. Opposites may attract, but Annabelle’s not built for the rodeo life. Anyway, Dusty doesn’t take art and activism seriously like Annabelle does. It’s just a country fling ...

Can a real-life cowboy convince Annabelle to compromise for love, or will he be just another man left in the dust?

Genres: Romance, Indigenous

256 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2025

About the author

Professor Anita Heiss – bio

Anita is a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales, and is one of Australia’s most prolific and well-known authors, publishing across genres, including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction and children’s novels.

Her adult fiction includes Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right, Manhattan Dreaming, Paris Dreaming and Tiddas. Her most recent books include Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms which was longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Prize and was named the University of Canberra’s 2020 Book of the Year.

The anthology Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia which Anita edited, was named the Small Publisher Adult Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards.

Anita’s children’s literature includes Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic, co-written with Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin. She also wrote two kids’ novels with students from La Perouse Public School - Yirra and her deadly dog Demon and Demon Guards the School Yard, and more recently, Harry’s Secret and Matty’s Comeback.

Anita’s other published works also include the historical novel Who Am I? The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937, non-fiction text Dhuuluu-Yala (To Talk Straight) – Publishing Aboriginal Literature, and The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, which she co-authored with Peter Minter.

In 2004 Anita was listed in The Bulletin magazine’s “Smart 100”. Her memoir Am I Black Enough for You? was a finalist in the 2012 Human Rights Awards and she was a finalist in the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards (Local Hero).

As an advocate for Indigenous literacy, Anita has worked in remote communities as a role model and encouraging young Indigenous Australians to write their own stories. On an international level she has performed her own work and lectured on Aboriginal literature across the globe at universities and conferences, consulates and embassies in the USA, Canada, the UK, Tahiti, Fiji, New Caledonia, Spain, Japan, Austria, Germany and New Zealand.

Anita is proud to be a Lifetime Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and an Ambassador of Worawa Aboriginal College, the GO Foundation and the Sydney Swans.

She is on the Board of the State Library of Queensland, CIRCA and the University of QLD Press. In 2019 Anita was appointed a Professor of Communications at the University of QLD and in 2020 is the Artist in Residence at La Boitte Theatre.

Anita’s website: www.anitaheiss.com
Storytime with Aunty Nita: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/lib...

Reviews

[EmG ReadsDaily]

Loved this Aussie rom-com, by renowned author Anita Heiss.

‘I’m thankful for the amazing women I have in my life. Strong, capable women who don’t think truth-telling in this country is just about wanting to rewrite history. None of us will accept anything less than honesty and accountability.’

Loved the characters, the city and country setting and the wonderful female friendships!



4.5 stars

[Elora Canne]

I thoroughly enjoyed Annabelle’s romp with Dusty, while shouting at her the whole time to look right under her nose! The author wrote with entertaining dialogue while taking us on a deeper journey of self and land, all the while comparing partners in a subtle concurrent timeline, showing readers, through Annabelle, the true value of acceptance. Loved it!

[Kate]

"Are you still unhinged on Hinge or just tipsy on Tinder these days?"

Unless QLD is more different to Perth than I thought, no one talks like this. My main issue with this book was the ridiculous dialogue that felt more like a collection of (trying to be) funny quips than the way people actually converse. 

The book also shoehorned in every single social justice issue it could. I get it, I agree with these things but I don't need you listing them all like the best leftist competition. 

Also she walked barefoot and then he licked her toes. 

[Sarah]

3.5 stars rounded up.

I enjoyed this, but the main issue I had and the reason for the 3.5 stars was that the romantic plot line just didn’t feel fully developed and I didn’t feel the romantic connection between the characters.
But, I loved the friendship between the MC and her closest friends, and I was really interested in the MC’s new job and her first exhibition. I really enjoyed the references to Indigenous artists and musicians, and different locations around Queensland - I went down several google rabbit holes!
I will absolutely pick up more books by this author.

[Michael]

A bit of a change from what i usually read. If this were a film, it would be labeled Rom-Com. It was a fun read. Annabelle, has departed Sydney, leaving a job she loved due to a disastrous relationship breakup that also ended her job. She has landed another job she knows she'll love if she just focuses on the grand opening. Returning to the Brisbane area, she is reunited with her 3 'tiddas', one cousin and 2 close friends- her posse. Her cousin has an upcoming birthday and she wishes to go to a rodeo in a nearby country town. The others roll their eyes, but it is their friend's wish, so they acquiesce. Menwhile Annabelle continues working on the grand opening exhibition of the new Art Gallery, and comes to realize that one of the prime artists she wants to feature at the gallery lives nearby to the location of the rodeo and arranges a face to face meeting. The rodeo has all the humorous interactions of city folks mingling with cattle folks, except that Annabelle falls for a died in the wool cowboy, a champion rider at that, named Dusty, which is the bulk of the rom-com. Her friends keep trying to dissuade her, saying your like chalk and cheese, oil and water - it won't work. At one point Annabelle says: "I'm not high maintenance, I'm top-shelf." Back in the city Annabelle dives back into work and has almost morning runs with her upstairs neighbour, Michael, becoming good friends. Of course, her posse keep telling her go for the neighbour. The story runs its usual course but all good fun, and a nice distraction from the stresses of moving. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if that was an option.

[jade]

the most frustrated i’ve ever been reading a “romance” book. I loved how much I was thinking during this book but it let me down because I went into thinking I was getting a romance story, however this book is far from that and I felt it was more of a character study.
It was relatable as we can all relate to trying to force things that don’t want to work into our lives but I never felt there was true character growth by the end, if this book was 50-100 pages longer we could’ve explored Annabelle’s growth and relationships more thoroughly and have the book feel more satisfying.

[Ngarie]

A Wiradyuri woman living in Queensland, learning about herself, living her life with integrity and passion.

[Aries Reading]

I don't usually go for romance but I loved this book by Anita Heiss! Such a fun read!!!
I loved that she was just too hard headed to see what was standing in front of her
relatable lol

[Emma Mugglestone]

Gorgeous! I loved this story.

[Megan]

Would make a fun girls night out movie.

[Sally Mitchell]

This was fun, and light - loved it.

[Grace]

This book was sweet but not very critically written. I love the setting and the characters but it sometimes felt like Anita’s research is showing.

[Mary Polzella]

After a disastrous relationship torched her personal & professional life in Sydney, Annabelle is back in Brisbane. She’s about to start her dream job launching and curating a First Nations gallery in the city. Nothing is getting in the way of her work, even if her new neighbour is really cute. Everything is going to plan until a trip to the rodeo brings her close & personal with Dusty, bona fide cowboy. Opposites may attract, but Annabelle’s not built for the rodeo.

A fun, light-hearted contemporary romance set in beautiful Queensland. Annabelle & her fabulous friends put a smile on my face as I read their story and I kept wanting her to see what was right in front of her. I read this book as part of #ReadAustralianChallenge2026 and loved it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Andrea Barnett]

light but relatable. I had a Dusty in my 20s.

[Olivia Francis]

I loved the character developments within the story. So many issues discussed in a subtle way that educated and brought light to certain topics, while blending seamlessly into the story line. A great read.