Three utterly wonderful new releases for your enjoyment this month

We asked Nicole Hurley-Moore, Cheryl Adnams and Fiona Lowe for the lowdown on the writing of these books

Out in paperback and eBook 4 February

For a long time Lawson’s Bend had held little for Henny. Almost ten years ago she’d got out and vowed never to come back. But sometimes things change…

In the hot summer of 2008, Henny Bolton loses her best friend on a night they should have been celebrating their futures. It’s a loss about which she remains grief-stricken.

Right after the accident, Henny flees the small country town and true to her word, she’s not been back.

Stephen Drake never left Lawson’s Bend. He once had ambitions for a different life but staying close to family became more important after that tragic night.

But when Henny’s mother dies suddenly in a fall near the old quarry, and Henny is forced to return to Lawson’s Bend, it’s apparent that questions need to be asked. Was it really an accident?

Her plan was to get out of town again as quickly as possible. But then there is Stephen…

The 5 Big Questions

How long did it take you to write the book?

From the initial idea to writing The End probably took about eight months.

What was the most difficult or complex aspect of writing your book?

This time it was trying to keep my characters in place and not to muck up the timeline. Along with the contemporary story you get to follow several characters as they experienced their day in the lead up to a tragic drowning in 2008.

What gave you the most pleasure when writing your book?

I really loved writing the dual time lines. Part of the story is told in flashbacks from different character points of view about a tragedy that happened at Killop Reservoir, 2008.

Are you nervous when a new release comes out? 

Always! There’s a wonderful buzz you get when publishing a book but you know that reader’s tastes are subjective and what you love, they may not.

What’s the best thing a reader could do if they enjoyed your book?

Write a review, tell a friend or drop me a line – I’d love to hear from you. 🙂

If you want to you can sign up to my infrequent newsletter, The Fanfare on my website – http://www.nicolehurley-moore.com/ 

Nicole Hurley-Moore

Historical, Fantasy and Contemporary Romance Author
I’m a hopeless romantic who is enchanted by romance no matter the time period or realm

Read more about Nicole Hurley-Moore, her books, where to buy and where to find her on social media

 

Out in eBook only 12 February

On the sun-drenched goldfields of Eureka, a wild colonial girl and an honour-bound soldier will break all the rules to claim a love worth more than gold …

Ballarat, Australia 1854

Gold miner Indy Wallace wants nothing more than to dig up enough gold to give her mother an easier life. Wild and reckless, and in trouble more often than not, Indy finds herself falling for handsome, chivalrous, British Army Lieutenant Will Marsh. But in the eyes of immigrant miners, soldiers are the enemy.

Will has been posted to Ballarat with a large contingent of Her Majesty’s Army to protect the Crown gold and keep the peace. But once he meets rebellious Indy, he doubts he’ll ever be at peace again. As Will and Indy’s attraction grows, their loyalties are tested when the unrest between miners and the military reaches breaking point.

On opposite sides of the escalating conflict, can their love survive their battle of ideals? And will any of them survive the battle of the Eureka Stockade?

The 5 Big Questions

How long did it take you to write the book?

This was probably one of my fastest first drafts, about 6 months, but the polish and edit took much longer. It’s been three years from start to publishing. A labour of love for sure.

What was the most difficult or complex aspect of writing your book?

Because the story follows the 6 months leading up to the Eureka stockade, I had to fit the story around that factual timeline. It was also my first step into historical fiction so the research was an eye opener.

What gave you the most pleasure when writing your book?

I loved researching this story. I learned so much and I really hope that readers will also learn something new about such a defining moment in Australia’s history, while enjoying a great love story at the same time of course.

Are you nervous when a new release comes out?

This release in particular has me quite nervous as it is my first historical. Realistically I know it won’t be everyone’s nobbler of whiskey and that’s okay.

What’s the best thing a reader could do if they enjoyed your book?

Please go back to the site you bought it from (itunes, kobo, Amazon etc) and leave a short review. It would mean the world to me. So, thank you in advance.

Cheryl Adnams

Australian Author
Author of The Mullers of McLaren Vale rural romance series and the soon to be released historical fiction The Girl from Eureka

Read more about Cheryl Adnams, her books, where to buy and where to find her on social media

 

Out in paperback and eBook 18 February

From the bestselling Australian author of Daughter of Mine and Birthright.

‘Absorbing‘ – The Townsville Eye

When a lethal bushfire tore through Myrtle, nestled in Victoria’s breathtaking Otway Ranges, the town’s buildings – and the lives of its residents – were left as smouldering ash. For three women in particular, the fire fractured their lives and their relationships.

Eighteen months later, with the flurry of national attention long past, Myrtle stands restored, shiny and new. But is the outside polish just a veneer? Community stalwart Julie thinks tourism could bring back some financial stability to their little corner of the world and soon prods Claire, Bec and Sophie into joining her group. But the scar tissue of trauma runs deep, and as each woman exposes her secrets and faces the damage that day wrought, a shocking truth will emerge that will shake the town to its newly rebuilt foundations…

With her sharp eye for human foibles, bestselling author Fiona Lowe writes an evocative tale of everyday people fighting for themselves, their families and their town – as only this distinctively Australian storyteller can.

The 5 Big Questions

How long did it take you to write the book?

It takes me about seven months to write the book and then there are about 2-3 months of editing so that’s a year for a 500 page novel.

What was the most difficult or complex aspect of writing your book?

HOME FIRES is about a community recovering from a devastating bush fire so it was the most traumatic book I have ever written. There were times I wanted to step away from the characters’ grief and regroup myself. That said, there is also quite a bit of humour in the novel!

What gave you the most pleasure when writing your book?

Research! Some of it was gruelling but much of it was fun and included attending CWA meetings, touring a CFA station and taking a ride in a tanker as well as visiting a men’s shed.

Are you nervous when a new release comes out? 

Always! It’s a combination of excitement and nerves as you wonder and hope readers will embrace the book. My nerves are slightly mollified this time round as prior to HOME FIRES hitting the shelf on February 18th, there are already some 5* advanced reviews on Goodreads.

What’s the best thing a reader could do if they enjoyed your book?

Tell their friends to grab a copy and read it too. If readers want to be notified about new releases I have an infrequent newsletter. Sign up at http://www.fionalowe.com 

Read more about Fiona Lowe, her books, where to buy and where to find her on social media

Fiona Lowe

Multi-Published, International Award-Winning Australian Bestselling Author
Small country towns featuring real people facing tough choices and how family ties impact on their decisions

 

 

Watch this space because we’ll be bringing you exclusive excerpts from each of these books on release day

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