Cirrus@Austlit

''You are her mother in this moment. The future is another time.'

'In a remote part of Tanzania known as the Cradle of Humankind,Essie Lawrence lives with her husband in an archaeologist's camp. One morning a chance encounter with two strangers out in the field sees her making a rash promise - one she has no idea how she can keep. When she returns home, she has a black baby in her arms, a motherless infant, too young even to have a name. From now until the coming of the rains, Essie is to care for the little girl. And then hand her back.

'Bringing a baby to the research base is just the first of many taboos Essie is about to break. As she becomes immersed in a life-changing experience, she finds that her marriage, her career - everything she's worked for - is put at risk. And as her heart opens up to new life and new love, she is led back into her past, to memories of her own mother and her first home on the island of Tasmania, at the far end of the world.

'In the shadow of the Maasai Holy Mountain of God, on the shores of the flamingo lake, personal stories are played out alongside the Lawrences' quest to find the origins of the human species. Nightmares and dreams go hand in hand. What is real and what will turn to dust? Whose wisdom will stand the test of time? And after a season of being a mother, will Essie be able to survive the hardest challenge of all? To love, and then let go...

'An exquisite and heart-piercing story of one woman's bond with a baby, The Beautiful Mother will resonate with every parent, crossing time, place and culture. It is an unforgettable exploration of what it really means to be a family, revealing the deep need we all have to find our own tribe.' (Publication summary)

'Anna Emerson's life is turned upside down when a stranger hands her a plane ticket to the Congo. The newly independent country is in turmoil, Simba rebels are on the move, but the invitation holds a precious clue to the whereabouts of her estranged father.

'Dan Miller signs up as a mercenary commando to fight the communist uprising. He supports the cause, but that's not really why he's there. A devastating tragedy has taken all meaning from his life, and he's got nothing left to lose.

'In the Congo, Dan's belief in the war begins to crumble. Anna heads deeper into danger as she travels from a grand colonial mansion to an abandoned hotel on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, to a leprosy mission in the jungle and beyond. Their two paths collide through circumstances more extraordinary than fate. On a journey into the heart of darkness, humans are pushed to become demons or heroes, and lives are lost or reclaimed.

'From internationally celebrated author, and inspired by real events, this is a landmark novel about good and evil, and the inexhaustible power of love.' (Publication summary)

'From the internationally bestselling author – over two million books sold worldwide

'Kitty Hamilton arrives in Tanganyika with high hopes for her new life. An exciting adventure halfway across the world could be just what she and Theo need to recover from the scandal that almost tore them apart.

'She is determined to play the role of the perfect wife, but her dreams soon begin to unravel. Theo is distracted with his important British government role, and while Kitty had imagined doing valuable work of her own, she finds that choosing the right frock to wear to the club is the biggest challenge of her day.

'In this wild and foreign land, where very different powers prevail, the head can't always rule the heart. As old wounds resurface and new passions ignite, Kitty and Theo confront emotions that push them beyond the boundaries of all that they know and believe in.

'The Perfect Wife is a heart-wrenching story about the struggle between duty and desire, jealousy and love, commitment and freedom. And the need to follow the call of your heart, wherever it may lead you…' (Publisher's blurb)

'Young Angel Kelly and her mother are travelling by camel across the dusty plains of northern Tanzania when disaster strikes and they face a struggle between life and death.

'Australian medical researcher Emma Lindberg arrives at a nearby field station, hoping to lay to rest a grief she's carried since childhood.

'Their worlds collide when human footprints are found in the desert, among those of a lioness and her cubs.

'Caught up in a desperate search for a missing person, Emma makes an extraordinary journey deep into the African wilderness. When she finds there is more at stake than she first thought, she has to look inside herself for strength, courage and faith. Only then can she discover the fierce love of the lioness.' (From the publisher's website.)

'Mara, a young Australian, falls deeply in love with John, a big-game hunter who lives on the spectacular grasslands of East Africa. He promises everything Mara is looking for, and she joins him there, full of hopes and dreams. But three short years later, their safari lodge is in trouble - and so, too, is their marriage.

'When a Hollywood movie crew descends to film on location, Mara knows this could be the lodge's salvation. The success of the shoot depends on her, and she thrives on her sudden responsibility and independence. But she also finds herself dangerously attracted to the film's leading man.

'A poignant love story set against the breathtaking backdrop of Tanzania, The Hunter's Wife explores a young woman's heartfelt struggle to reconcile duty and desire. Amid the gritty reality of the hunter's world and the make-believe realm of the film-maker, Mara finds that passion must be measured against courage, and that fate will reward the brave.'

'Two women, bound by a shocking event, drawn to a vast and beautiful country they cannot forget.

'Kate Carrington has cut all ties with Africa, the land of her birth. Her past is buried alongside her missionary parents, the last reminders locked safely away in the attic. But when a mysterious woman moves in next door, Kate's carefully constructed world is torn apart.

'Annah Mason has led an extraordinary life – one that has taken her from a hospital in Langali to the company of rainmakers deep in the Tanzanian bush. Her connection with the Waganga people has brought her the great love of her life, and freedom beyond her dreams. Yet she carries with her a painful secret. Now, the time has come for her to tell her story – to finally set Kate free.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Go in search of your mother by all means, but don't count on what you'll find . . . Zelda Madison grew up knowing very little about her mother - only that she had been a dancer, an American, and that she had died. But Zelda learns that her mother was so much more than that. She was an international superstar, an idol - and she is still alive. Leaving behind her quiet life in a remote fishing village on Flinders Island, Zelda sets off on the journey of a lifetime. Piecing together the few clues left to her, she digs deep into a painful past in the hope she can uncover a new future. Moving from the rugged Tasmanian coast to the ashrams of India and the Himalayan foothills,' (Publication summary)

"Story of famine in the deep Sahara, the ozone hole over Antarctica, the dangerous legacy of a dead biologist - and Beui Ish-Mahel, the survivor of an ancient desert clan. The B̀lue chameleon' is currently being adapted as a screenplay." (Source: Trove)

Sam walked along the top of the sand-hill, looking out over the rocks and sea. Then he paused, suddenly still, and stared down at the beach below.

A dark mound marked the white sand at the water's edge. He squinted. A heap of net... some ship's cargo washed in... an upturned boat?

This is the story of a boy and a whale. (Source: back cover)