Fiction

NEW  Queen Vashti's Dreams, by Alison Buckley. 390 pages, 6" x 9" paperback.

ISBN 978-1-7644052-0-1   AUS$29.95  (non AUS-NZ readers, please email your order to us with your details, we will invoice you in  your curency for printing in your nearest location).

Queen Vashti etched her name into ancient Iranian history when she defied her husband the King’s order to appear before his guests as a beautiful ‘show' wife. Angered by her disrespect for his authority, the King banished her from his presence under the laws of the Medes and Persians. In the Hebrew account, a foreign captive is chosen as her replacement queen but little or nothing more is heard of Vashti, though her stance to refuse to be humiliated in this way has set her as model of women’s true status ever since.

It has been acknowledged that the Medes were ancestors of today’s Kurds. At their greatest extent, the Medes’ territories covered much of the regions of today’s Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey continuously inhabited and claimed by Kurds as their ethnic homeland, which they call Kurdistan.

This work of historical fiction tells part of the Medes’ story according to Queen Vashti. Well researched culturally and historically, informed by the author’s own interest and love for the Kurdish and Iranian peoples, the story vividly captures the essence of life as it was for an young heiress growing up in the midst of dynastic, political and military intrigue, until she becomes a major player herself, a leader and warrior in her own right. If Vashti was a Mede, she stands in the tradition of Kurdish women who still struggle to protect their gender and reclaim their ancient lands. 

Love Lost to The Solomon Sea, by Naso Caleb Kila. 208 pages, paperback.    

ISBN 978-0-6459597-7-2      AU$24.95

The coastal ferry, MV Rabaul Queen, ended 30 years of service in Papua New Guinea when she sank off the Finschhafen Coast in Morobe Province in the early hours of 02 February 2012 after she was hit by three deadly waves. The tragedy claimed more than 172 precious souls. She now rests under sea water up to 3000 meters deep. Though history tells us that more than 237 souls were rescued, sadly, many others were never found.

In this work of historical fiction, the PNG author, in his first published work, follows the romance of a young PNG couple, Avundigi and Michaellyn, from different provinces, who meet at high school. Their relationship blossoms as a true love story as they juggle school rules, cultural expectations, their Christian faith, and separation for tertiary studies, until Michaellyn decides to travel back to Lae from Rabaul on the MV Rabaul Queen.

As the story unfolds, the reader becomes more and more aware of the layers of relationships which entwine people, sometimes bad but usually good. Relationships of trust and love, hope and fulfilment. This could be the story of any one of those on board the MV Rabaul Queen on that journey and is a poignant reminder of the devastation that is caused by tragedies such as this. As such it is a pertinent memorial to the victims of the MV Rabaul Queen and their families and loved ones.

The People of the Bird, Nenge Series Book 1 by Michael Jelliffe. 200 pages, paperback.    

ISBN 9780992562007    AU$25.95     Also available as an ebook through ebook outlets.

See reader reviews of this book under the REVIEWS tab above, and read some chapters under the 'People of the Bird' tab. Further reader reviews are at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23650091-the-people-of-the-bird

Two generations, two cultures, a shared history, an uncertain future, and one bird... nenge.

Set in the jungles of modern Papua New Guinea, an isolated community races against time to meet the challenges of a mining venture being thrust upon it. Guided by stories of their ancestors, the leaders discover how a small Bird of Paradise guides both generations and inspires them to reach some surprising conclusions. A modern PNG adventure bringing together a blend of ancient and modern cultures in a contemporary thriller, with a strong conservation message in a land struggling with environmental destruction from mining. 

The Third Movement by Gerald Buttrose, 380 pages, soft cover               

ISBN 978-0-6488206-4-2,  AU$35.95.  An historical novel. Foreword by Ita Buttrose. 

(Also available as a hardcover version ISBN 978-0-6488206-5-9 -  AU$48.95). 

Between 1939 and 1945 there were four major conflicts fought throughout the world, collectively known simply as World War II. The Australian Imperial Forces were the only ground troops from any Allied nations to play a major role in two of those wars, the Middle East and New Guinea.Gerald Buttrose was one of those who fought in New Guinea and now at 99 years old has produced his first novel to keep the remembrance of that time alive.

Patrick Sheridan is a musical prodigy. With poignant empathy the author describes his upbringing on a rural NSW property, learning piano from his mother and sheep farming from his father. At the Conservatorium he discovers not only his musical prowess and yearning to compose, but also the young violinist who steals his heart. He longs to compose a concerto in three movements for her. Then in 1939 his life comes to a crisis point - should he follow a career in music or join the fight for his country?

This could be the story of any one of those ANZAC soldiers, reflecting not only the experience of one person, but the whole network of family, friends and associates whose lives were entwined with them. In doing so, the story graphically and emotionally captures the tremendous capacity of war to disrupt our lives and create a grief at both personal, community and national levels. Lest we forget. The author has done his mates proud with this story. 

Click here to read The Third Movement - Historical introduction and Prologue. (use L/R arrow keys to scroll pages). 

Crossing  the Bar - A Professional Fisherman's Tale by  Joyce Lange Cowen. 42 pages, colour photographs, 14 x 21.7cm, paperback. ISBN 978-0-6459597-3-4   AU$17.95

Now in her nineties, the author, in a fictional story, recounts the true events experienced by her family during decades of commercial trawler fishing on the mid north coast of NSW. Based out of Yamba, trawlers would have to negotiate the treacherous bar, the narrow channel through which the Clarence River entered the Pacific Ocean. With photos throughout, including of their trawler nearly capsizing when struck by a rogue wave in the bar, the story details many aspects of the life of a commercial fisherman. Suitable for readers from late primary upwards, it is a good introduction to the fishing industry and a fisherman's life.

Achievement by Joyce Lange Cowen. 50 pages, 13.5 x 21.6cm, paperback. 

ISBN 978-0-6456758-9-4   AU$15.95  Also available as an ebook through normal outlets.

Of the many girls who worked on dairy farms throughout 1930-1950 and who could not fulfill their aspirations, some left the farms, but many had to stay. The Second World War was taking so many of their brothers far away to keep the enemy at bay. Those who escaped the daily grind of the dairy worked in the local towns as waitresses, sales-girls, or in the telephone exchange. Some studied music, dress and pattern making. Some though continued their education at the local high school - they were the lucky ones. They were able to work as bank assistants, clerks, book-keepers and receptionists.

In this short story, set in the mid 20th Century in rural north-eastern NSW, Janine longed to leave the 'farm girl' image, and its expectations of marriage and employment, behind her. It means some tough choices for her but love has a strange way of bouncing back. Illustrations by the author.