ISABELLA HARGREAVES
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Writing Serendipity?

28/2/2016

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Above: Mail by camel transport - Charleville & district. Source: NAA, Item: 3296500. Below: Early mail coach PMG possibly Charleville. Source: NAA Item: 1650785. Bottom: Earliest known motor mail in Queensland, Isisford to Ilfracombe, 1910. Source: NAA Item: 3025042.
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Ever written something which later you found out was absolutely spot on, but you didn't know it at the time?
I've had this happen a couple of times when writing my historical stories.
The first occurrence happened when I wrote All Quiet on the Western Plains - about a place I had never visited - although I had read extensively about western Queensland and poured over historical photographs.
A month after the novella was published, I travelled to western Queensland for the first time, visiting Blackall, Barcaldine, Aramac, Isisford, Longreach and places in between.
The country was as amazing as I thought it would be and my description of it had been accurate. What a fluke, I thought.
When I came to write the sequel, Journey's End on the Western Plains, also set in 1924, I started the story with the hero,hitching a ride in the mailman's truck.
At the end of the story he applies for the mail run contract and gets the job.
As a writer, I thought it was the perfect solution for my characters and story. Mail contractor was the perfect job for the hero as it allowed him to live in the mythical town of  "Idavale" and regularly visit his family's property at the other end of the mail run.
At the time I thought, oh yeah, he'll have the same chance as anyone else. He's a good bush mechanic, he'll be able to fix any breakdowns.
Recently I attended a talk about early mail services in Queensland in the 19th and 20th centuries, held by the National Archives of Australia in Brisbane.
The NAA have over 1000 photographs relating to Cobb & Co mail coaches, mail men, their horses and trucks and post offices in the collection, plus numerous written records.
What astonished me was the discovery that, after World War I, the Australian Government awarded mail contracts on a preferential basis to returned servicemen - like my hero.
I was gobsmacked by this discovery.
I had got his ideal job so right.
Here was proof that my character would have been awarded that contract - as long as no other returned serviceman had applied at the same time!
As far as I'm concerned, serendipity* in research and writing is a real phenomenon.
Have you had similar experiences?

To search the National Archives of Australia site for records see: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/search/
*Serendipity:  a happy chance, a happy accident.

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Suffragette - the movie

20/2/2016

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Suffragette is the movie every woman in the world should see and that every school should include in its curriculum.
Suffragette shines a light on not only women's struggle for the vote, but also their working and social conditions; and the oppression women endured not just in the early twentieth century, but in every century before that.
For me, the most confronting frames, in a film with many disturbing scenes, were the last roll-through list showing the years in which women gained the vote in countries around the world. Read the list and weep - for all those women who waited, and those who still wait - to be considered as human beings deserving the right to vote and help determine their future.
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Happy Valentine’s Day in 1888

15/2/2016

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Today, Valentine’s Day is a popular and highly commercialised celebration.

However, in 1888, Valentine’s Day in Australia was regarded by one colonial journalist as declining in popularity, although he provided no explanation as to why. 
 
“This day is by no means so generally observed as it used to be. Even the custom of sending those highly sentimental missives called valentines appears in a great measure to be falling into disuse.

A few years ago the 14th of February occupied a much more prominent position in the calendar than it does as present.

The manufacturers of this description of stationery began their preparation for the next festival soon after the last was past. Hundreds of women and girls found occupation in the construction of these dainty trifles, their fingers being found specially skilful in putting together the different parts of which they are composed. A heart from this box, a cupid from that, a wreath, some lace-edge paper and a scrap of tulle – this last to soften the effect and perhaps suggest wedding veils – a few paper springs to make the
figures or flowers stand out, and then a daub of gum here and there, and with a few deft touches the valentine is competed, lightness of touch and rapidity of construction being essential to produce a fresh appearance.

For weeks before the day itself the shop windows are crowded with them, valentines of every sort, size or description, pretty ones, ugly ones, expensive ones, cheap ones, valentines for the upper ten, valentines for the million, valentines for everyone to choose from as they will.

And choose they did; the shop counters  were besieged with eager buyers some wanting one kind, some another….

And when the eventful day arrived what an important man the postman became, how he was watched for …”*

The death knell was rung too soon and I'm not sorry he was wrong. I love to receive Valentine’s cards and gifts. I hope your day is happy and brings you all the tokens love that you desire!

Source: *South Australian Register, 14 Feb 1888, p. 6.

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99c - All Quiet on the Western Plains

5/2/2016

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Part 1 of my Western Plains series is now 99c US.

All Quiet on the Western Plains tells the story of Jack Edgarson overcoming his wartime trauma and finding love with heart-sore British nurse Fleur Armitage, after his return to western Queensland from World War I.

The story continues in its sequel, Journey's End on the Western Plains , which is also set in outback Idavale.
In All Quiet, you met Jack's army mate, Bill Carter, who hasn't been able to settle down to any job or return to his family home since he came home from the war. Then he meets Matron Marion Henderson and his life starts to change.


All Quiet on the Western Plains buy links: 
Amazon Oz:
http://bit.ly/1OkElha 
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1kgyb5b 
iBooks:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1061997574
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/all-quiet-on-the-western-plains-1

Journey's End on the Western Plains buy links: 
Amazon, Oz:
http://bit.ly/1OkDYDx
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1HjJvrm
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1061997251

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/journey-s-end-on-the-western-plains
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Wooing the Wealthy Regency Widow

18/1/2016

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In the short story, Wooing the Wealthy Widow,  [Wanton Widows] Sir Hercules Standfast captures Viscountess Helena Tremoyne's attention with his unusual idea about what makes a marriage work.

Of course, Sir Hercules is just another ruthless fortune-hunter, but there is something intriguing about the man and Lady Helena decides to implement her fool-proof system for weeding out unsuitable suitors....

This is what happens when they meet...

 
“Lady Helena, I have come with a proposal.”
“For a business venture?” She acted intentionally obtuse.
“No – of marriage, your ladyship.”
“But we have just established we are barely acquainted. How can you propose marriage?”
“It’s for that very reason that I believe we should marry.”
What?
She must have looked askance at him because he explained, “Marriage is a great journey through life, during which two people come to know each other intimately. The difficulty, I believe, is that when people marry knowing each other well already, they ruin the journey. Whereas, if we were to marry knowing nothing about each other, then we would have our whole lives to discover the other person.”
He seemed perfectly serious in his belief.
“I take the opposite view, I’m afraid, Sir Hercules. I believe that people marry before knowing the right things about each other.”
However, his was an intriguing argument. One she had not heard before from any of the army of fortune-hunters who had pursued her wealth and proclaimed a great love for her.
She made a spur-of-the-moment decision – not something she did often – and decided to assess his suitability, although she knew nothing about him.
He looked about to argue their differing viewpoints so she forestalled him. “You haven’t yet proposed to me,” she reminded him.
“Would you consider me if I did? If not, I won’t take that honour upon myself.” He gave a cheeky smile.

Intriguing though he was, she kept her manner sombre. “Should you propose, I will take your offer seriously and give you a considered answer after we have gotten to know each other better.”
“In that case…” He dropped to one knee in front of her and taking her hand in his said, “Lady Helena Tremoyne, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” He smiled in his beguiling way.
This time, she couldn’t help but return his smile. “As soon as I have made my decision, I will inform you, but it may take a week or two. Now we must get to know each other and to achieve that there are some social events to which I would like you to accompany me.”
“I am at your disposal, Lady Helena.” He flashed another charming smile.
“Good. Do you have a carriage?”
“No.”
“Never mind, I have two. This afternoon you will accompany me in my landau for the circuit around Hyde Park, at the fashionable hour.”
“I will?” He looked bemused.
“You shall. Please arrive promptly.”

Australia. Amazon.com.au buy link: http://bit.ly/1OeVvZG
UK. Amazon.org.uk buy link: http://amzn.to/1OEcgOI
USA. Amazon.com buy link: http://amzn.to/1M5AHpX
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1D0LzlV
Also available at your favourite ebook retailer.
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Inspiration for Western Plains stories

8/1/2016

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What do a World War I hero, a bush larrikin, a British nurse and a bush hospital matron have in common?

Well, they all exist in two new ebook romances set in Western Queensland in 1924.

Ever had a character or story stick in your head and reverberate around and around?

I read about one World War I Victoria Cross recipient and couldn't stop thinking about his life and experiences in the war. That started me reading lots of biographies of Australian soldiers and nurses who served in WWI. Western Queensland was the home of one of these men and my hero's story suddenly had to be set there.

Who would I choose as the love interests for my returned soldiers come home to the bush?

Up until the mid-20th century small private hospitals existed in  towns across Queensland, as I found out when I researched the history of the Isisford District Hospital in Western Queensland and the Australian Inland Mission Hospital at Birdsville.

The Chairman of the Isisford District Hospital Committee in the 1920s said, half joking, that his real role in hiring nurses for the hospital seemed to be finding wives for the women-starved men of the district, as the nurses he hired often married the locals and stopped working!

So, two nurses became the heroines.

In late 2013 I wrote ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN PLAINS about my tortured war hero, Jack, who meets a British nurse come to Western Queensland to forget the war and all her losses.

As I wrote their story, Jack's war-time friend, Bill Carter kept trying to take over, but I kept him in his place and finished Jack and Fleur's romance.

However, when a reader asked 'What about writing Bill and Marion's romance?', I thought, why not? JOURNEY'S END ON THE WESTERN PLAINS was the result - published on 30 November 2015.

Both are available from Amazon or your favourite ebook publisher.

I hope you enjoy these outback historical  romances. If you do, please write a review or send me a comment. I'd love to hear from you.
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Western Queensland Drought Appeal donation

7/1/2016

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Thanks to readers' generous support through purchasing copies of All Quiet on the Western Plains and Journey's End on the Western Plains while they were on sale for 99c during November, I was able to bank $40 into the Western Queensland Drought Appeal.

It's been heartening to see that rain has been falling in drought-effected areas of Queensland. See: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-04/qch-drought-affected-queensland-graziers-welcome-weekend-rain/7065816
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Royalties to go to the Western Queensland Drought Appeal

4/11/2015

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Royalties from my forthcoming novella, Journey's End on the Western Plains and its prequel, All Quiet on the Western Plains - both set in Western Queensland in 1924 - will be donated to the Western Queensland Drought Appeal until the pre-order period concludes on 30 November 2015.
I'm hoping that this usually popular selling period will yield a good donation for the Western Queensland Drought Appeal. There's been some rain in the last week around Ilfracombe in central western Queensland, but nowhere near enough to break the drought. Western Queensland still needs a lot of support. I hope you'll help out by buying these two novellas and thereby donating to a worthy cause.
I'll check the sales to 30 November, print and publish the Amazon report showing the royalties earnt, and pay them to the appeal fund soon afterwards. Thanks for your support.
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Cover reveal for Journey's End on the Western Plains

3/11/2015

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Available 30 November, JOURNEY'S END ON THE WESTERN PLAINS, the sequel to ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN PLAINS (http://amzn.to/1WmMu3L).

'Coming home can be harder than leaving.'

Western Queensland, 1924: Matron Marion Henderson of the Idavale Private Hospital wants romance in her life and promises she’ll go out with the first man who asks. That man is Bill Carter, ex-pastoralist, ex-soldier, wanderer, whose guilt about leaving home for war has kept him from returning ever since. Marion wants someone reliable with whom to share her life, but Bill’s behaviour rekindles Marion’s memories of her war-damaged first husband.
Can they face their ghosts and create a future together?
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The Widow's Dilemma in History

7/9/2015

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Hi, I'm visiting Annie Whitehead's Casting Light upon the Shadow blog today to talk about the problems that widows experienced in the past.
If you're interested go here: http://anniewhitehead2.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/the-widows-dilemma-in-history-isabella.html?showComment=1441617571633#c4381856268644726071
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  • Books
    • Regency Romance Books >
      • Snowed in for Christmas
      • Runaway Christmas Bride
      • Married by Christmas
      • The Wallflower's Christmas Surprise
      • The Kidnapped Christmas Bride
      • The Regent's Secret Matchmakers
      • The Persuasion of Miss Jane Brody
      • The Temptation of Reverend Francis Brody
      • Gentleman Wanted
      • Forbidden Valentines
      • Regency Rescues
    • Australian Historical Romance Books >
      • Lord Muck and Lady Alice
      • Love and other Addictions
      • Love at Lost Lagoons
      • Homecomings
      • All Quiet on the Western Plains
      • Journey's End on the Western Plains
    • The Divided Isles Saga >
      • Beginnings
      • The Celtic King's Daughter
      • Sons of Rebellion
  • ABOUT ME
  • Contact me
  • HOME