In the former Indi MP's new book Cathy Goes to Canberra, she has revealed how she felt about Coalition figures like Mr Abbott and Bridget McKenzie - both personally and professionally.

She described Mr Abbott as having "too little humanity, too little humility and far too much politics".

"I didn't like his attitude to politics, which I found personally aggressive, and I did not like his lack of respect for Julia Gillard," Ms McGowan said in the book.

"He seemed to have a problem with promoting women to his front bench.

"I did not personally dislike Tony Abbott either before or after I entered Parliament - there was no room for that in my way of approaching politics - but I can't say that I liked him either."

IN OTHER NEWS:

She spoke far more favourably of another former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

There was also a defence of Senator McKenzie's actions as sports minister during the sports roots scandal.

Ms McGowan said she "grew tired" of Senator McKenzie texting her 10 minutes after making a funding announcement, or minutes before if it was in a distant town, meaning she could not attend as the local MP.

But she described the senator as "a victim" during the most recent controversy.

"Despite what I've written about my annoyance with Bridget McKenzie, I have a great deal of personal respect for her as a woman surviving in the National Party," Ms McGowan said. "I think she was done over like a dinner by the Coalition system, losing her ministry over the sports rorts affair when she was not the one who was ultimately in charge of it."

The book also reflects on her life leading up to, and how she got elected to Parliament; addresses the controversial false "push" allegation made against Sophie Mirabella, and pitches a new way Australia could do democracy.

Ms McGowan will appear at Booktique in Wangaratta on Saturday at 10am and Benalla Rose Gardens on Sunday from 3pm for book signing events.