Wow, that blurb attracts me and makes me want to read the book! How clever of you to set it in Central Queensland in the gold rush era. That must have taken some research. How did you find out about such stuff?
It took me about 8 years to gather together all the research, at the same time as I was writing. and about 16 years in the writing all up. I read a lot of books about the Queensland gold rush, about bush rangers, about transportation, the Australian Police Force etc etc and then it was a matter of getting what I knew into the plot without making it read too much like a history lesson. I also traveled to mining towns in Central Queensland and spent ages in their museums talking to curators. If I have made any historical errors, it won't be for want of trying to be correct.
Also, I grew up in Victoria, where we all just seemed to be steeped in Bushrangers and the Gold Rush all of our lives. Dad and Pop told us stories about the Kelly gang etc, so it was almost second nature to me to want to write my own story.
16 years! That is a long time! I know that to write a book would take a long time. Congratulations! Being published after so long a time and also for the first time is HUGE!!!
I think it took such a long time with that book because of all the historical research. Also, because I was writing while my kids were little and needed a lot of my time and attention. I write a bit quicker than that when I write in a contemporary setting.
It seems so long since we talked about wanting to really write and get published, and now, you are there Magz. I cannot express how much joy I have i n my heart for you and this momentous occasion.
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And the book has got your name on it!
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Also, I grew up in Victoria, where we all just seemed to be steeped in Bushrangers and the Gold Rush all of our lives. Dad and Pop told us stories about the Kelly gang etc, so it was almost second nature to me to want to write my own story.
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*hugs* Congratulations!
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