Cirrus@Austlit

'Once again, the author proves her skills as an incredible storyteller that draws you into a hidden world of parental childhood trauma.

'As a young child, her one thought was to escape the abuse from the ones she should trust. Her mum with her deep angry emotional trauma and her sibling, who would quite happily dispose of her existence. No one can help her, why? Because it's secreted away inside the family home. Married off at seventeen to a narcissistic alcoholic to appease the demands of the cult her family belong to. Cassie soon discovers no one cares, not the cult leaders, her family or the police. In the late 1900s it's termed as a domestic dispute. Poverty of mind and body is a everyday occurrence in this naive child's life. Knowing to escape this life there are two ways, the first to imitate the maternal women folk in her family before her by suicide, or by running as far away as possible. But where?

'Jigsaw is not only an escape story, a love story, and a story of modern-day sadistic insurgency of the patriarchal system. It's an awakening for Cassie as she fights for her rights as a woman. Jigsaw is a story of a woman rebirthing in all ways to be who she is today. It's also a paranormal story that cannot be explained nor be navigated.' (Publication summary)

An outback road trip with a difference, where Tara discovers the difference between our world and the supernatural world is only a blink away. Book three of the wandering Nomad Tara, her adventures once again take her on the road adventure, this time as a script writer, suddenly the lime light of success is on her, her moment of fame has arrived, little does she know that the path she now walks will take her into a paranormal realm of the past. Her life is now in turmoil as she treads that tight rope in the realm of shades, to understand she is lead her back to the place called the Town that time forgot, her journey with Wynn a known Witch that resides here. Tara learns about herbs and pigments and aromatic oils that can heal or crucify ones body. Tara also learns of her past from a very very long time ago' (author's website).

'Tara has wanted to follow her dreams, to be back on the road in the outback once more. Once her family are cared for, Tara drives off into the fine red dust of the Northern Territory, adventure takes over her life, along the way collecting stories of other Grey Nomads she also collects a young Joey, A Kiwi Bloke who wont take no for an answer, Her beloved grandson Jess joins her at last on the road, enjoying each others company, Tara spends a night in jail, her vehicle catches fire leaving her stranded in the desert, meets up with a wandering Ghost, sets up camp with a Quaker family, experiences an underground in Coober Pedy, experiences the beauty of the painted desert, the adventures roll in fast, until one day she knows its time to go home, the billabongs and deserts, the green bush and blackened dead forests of fires long gone, all Vie for her attention, But its home in Perth where her heart belongs' [sic] (publication blurb).

'Your only thought is to run away and hide, so that you can never be found. If you are found out you will be violently abused, tortured, if not killed. No one can help you, because it’s all happening inside the home, its being called a domestic dispute, so there’s no one to come and assist you. The hurt is living inside you, for the sake of your children you hang in there, hoping that with the passing of each day, you can take one more step, one more action, that will eventually be the well thought out plan that others believe you have had in the back of your mind all along.

White Wahine is not only a story of escape, a love story and a modern day insurgency, against the misogynistic or patriarchal system women in all cultures are being asked to fight against, if they are to bring a sense of balance to the world… finally. It is also a story of the paranormal, of events that cannot be explained and that can not be ignored as we navigate our way through this physical plane' (author's website).

Metal Mermaid is the first of what the author proposed would be a trilogy of books featuring Tara. The sequel, The Cuppa Tree (2014) was followed by The Talking Stick (2015). Sorcha, a fourth novel featuring Tara is due for publication in late 2016. It will become the first of St George's Scribe Chronicles.

Tara's nomadic lifestyle begins shortly after the death of her husband. Her travels take her around Australia and New Zealand and bring her into contact with a wide array of characters who all, in some way or another, shape her life.

'Tara had an easy life she knows it, loves it and is grateful for it, till Russ her husband came home from working up North in the Mines, after a spot of being unwell, he decides that being a Grey Nomad is his dream. Tara is not so sure, to leave all her friends, family, home and community but agrees to join him for a little while, the little while becomes months. Tara learns to love being on the road, meeting and greeting so many people. Suddenly the spot of bad health for Russ, becomes fatal. Tara is devastated, now re learning to do it all for herself on and off the road, but she has been given a small taste of freedom that lingers after Russ’s funeral' (publication blurb).