Cirrus@Austlit

'In the last years of the Viking Era, priestess Astrid takes on the task of recording the True Things. A skáldmær learning to write royal sagas and a member of one of the last remaining temples to the Goddess Nerthus, Astrid knows she must protect her secrets from the bishops of the Roman Church and from Norway’s kings – a task that becomes harder when she falls in love.

'Orphaned Mercy is taken from the Glasgow Poorhouse by a man with ill intentions. When she realises the true horror of his evil plans, she escapes to London. She is fortunate to meet Ann Radcliffe, a successful yet reclusive author of Gothic horror novels. Mercy joins Ann’s household and is taught storytelling. But even though she’s finally found a home, she longs to discover her true identity.

'Miais given the ancient book Systir Saga at the funeral of her cousin. With her best friend, Cait, she travels from the Blue Mountains to the UK on a quest to decipher the runes and learn more about her mysterious heritage. They journey to an ancient rock mound on a windswept island in the Orkneys. There, Mia seeks to unearth the secrets of the Systir Saga.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'In 1472, Jeanne’s father arranges her marriage to a French lieutenant against her wishes. As armed forces threaten her beloved home, Jeanne risks all to rally the city’s women in the fight of their lives.

'In 1797, unbeknownst to their father, feisty and brave Betsy, her brother and their best friend secretly join the rebel army, hoping to liberate Ireland from the tyrannical yoke of English rule.

'In 1960's Australia, country-girl Fiona desperately wants to fit in at university and joins the anti-Vietnam protest movement, despite her family’s objections. When a friend is conscripted, Fiona’s beliefs are challenged even further.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'At 26, Nikki found herself knocking on her best friend’s door with a suitcase, a jar of coins and two little boys – all she had in the world. Madness, Mayhem and Motherhood is her funny, sad and brutally candid account of her life through poverty, homelessness,child-rearing, friendships, lust, love and loss.

'Whether she was cleaning the houses of millionaires to put food on the table, falling hard for The Wiggles, drowning in cask wine, living in a tent or dealing with predatory landlords, Nikki refused to go under and tethered her survival to her love for her children, which pulled her through the darkest days.

'In Madness, Mayhem and Motherhood, the struggles are raw but the laughs are loud and the love is palpable. Being a poor, mad mother has its challenges but Nikki McWatters humanises the face of poverty, while arm-wrestling her mental illness into submission and packing school lunches like a boss. 

'Madness, Mayhem and Motherhood is a powerful, touching and wildly entertaining story of maternal endurance.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'In 1628, Veronica and her brother flee for their lives into the German woods after their father is burned at the stake.

'At the dawn of the eighteenth century, Scottish maid Katherine is lured into political dissent after her parents are butchered for their beliefs.

'In present-day Australia, Paisley navigates her way through the burning torches of small-town gossip after her mother’s new-age shop comes under scrutiny.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Hunter is stuck in a car with his family as they travel up the coast of Queensland. It is a trip that his mother thinks will bring the family closer together, especially now that his stepfather and new little brother are part of the mix. But with tension and secrets sizzling beneath the happy family façade, Hunter sees this road trip as his worst nightmare. Can one trip really help bring this family together?' (Publication summary)

'In 1981, fifteen-year-old Nikki McWatters is living in a Gold Coast suburb, dragging herself through humdrum schooldays and dreaming of losing her virginity to a rock star. With three friends she starts the Vulture Club for aspiring groupies - and so begins a festival of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

'As Nikki gets older, her conquests get bigger and the stakes get higher. From Australian Crawl to INXS, Pseudo Echo to Duran Duran, she is living her teenage dream - but is the groupie life all it's cracked up to be?

'One Way or Another is an irresistible romp through a world of pub rock, big hair, wild nights and mornings after. With irrepressible humour and a bulging little black book, Nikki McWatters recalls an age when everything seemed possible - even if everything wasn't such a good idea.' (From the publisher's website.)