Paula J. Beavan

Paula J. Beavan grew up on the banks of the Hunter River where her love of a reading and a good yarn inspired a desire to write.

On discovering a family connection to one of the Hunter Valley first settlers she turned her hand to historical fiction.

An avid reader from childhood, Paula grew up on a small property in the Hunter Valley, riding horses, mustering cattle and listening to the tales of local farriers, cattlemen and farmers.
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Her love of history together with a curiosity about the challenges faced by the pioneering women of the region led her to seek out stories of the area’s founding settlers. Serendipitously she discovered a family connection to William Harpur, local landowner and one of Australia’s early surveyors. Inspired by this connection she delved deeper–Harpur lost his sight, and his wife Catherine was one of the women who managed their property–a perfect illustration of the women she writes about.