Today I'm introducing another Soul Mate Publishing author from across the ocean---this time, it is the Pacific Ocean. Warm welcome to my Aussie friend, Elizabeth Preston!
The Outcasts is a novella set in the Australian Rainforests of the late 1800s. This setting was completely new to me and I became hooked in the first few pages.
Check it out on amazon.com by clicking the cover or The Outcasts button below.
Check it out on amazon.com by clicking the cover or The Outcasts button below.
Here's a blurb on The Outcasts:
In 1889, the Northern Australian Rainforests are cruel and prejudiced places to live.
Hunter, born from an English mother and a native Australian father, does not fit well with either group. He is an outcast. The new English settlers fear and demonise him because he is dark skinned, unpredictable, and frighteningly strong.
Long ago, Hunter survived his mother’s murder. An Aboriginal witch doctor found the dying boy and used tribal magic to save his life. Hunter grew fearfully strong, but this gift of ferocity and strength came at a cost.
Now, as an adult, he wanders the rainforest at night venting his anger and frustrations. He is not safe to be around.
But wayward Alice thinks otherwise.
The Outcasts is a quick, fun read with character that will stick with you for many days to come! Alice, an English settler who is deserted by her husband, meets Hunter, a man of mixed race who is rejected by both the English settlers and the native Australians.
The story shows the strength of both characters as the settlers mark them as outcasts.
Check out this brief history on Australia:
Prior to the first white settlers arriving in Australia, the native Aboriginal people had no contact with the outside world. Around the 1800’s, they were suddenly confronted with a hostile and alien force – the white settler. The settlers wanted land. In order to justify their invasion, they claimed that the land in Australia was vacant and unused.
All over Australia, native Aboriginal folk were being forced off their land. The Kuranda railway line was built smack bang in the middle of a rainforest. The rainforest was a traditional hunting ground, a food bowl for the native people. The white setters wanted the rainforest, so they hunted the Aboriginals like wild animals. They gave native women poison-laced flour to cook with. According to rogue settler-rules, interbreeding was a punishable offence. The white authorities never stepped in. The effect of British settlement upon these people led to near extinction within 120 years.
In 1889, the Northern Australian Rainforests are cruel and prejudiced places to live.
Hunter, born from an English mother and a native Australian father, does not fit well with either group. He is an outcast. The new English settlers fear and demonise him because he is dark skinned, unpredictable, and frighteningly strong.
Long ago, Hunter survived his mother’s murder. An Aboriginal witch doctor found the dying boy and used tribal magic to save his life. Hunter grew fearfully strong, but this gift of ferocity and strength came at a cost.
Now, as an adult, he wanders the rainforest at night venting his anger and frustrations. He is not safe to be around.
But wayward Alice thinks otherwise.
The Outcasts is a quick, fun read with character that will stick with you for many days to come! Alice, an English settler who is deserted by her husband, meets Hunter, a man of mixed race who is rejected by both the English settlers and the native Australians.
The story shows the strength of both characters as the settlers mark them as outcasts.
Check out this brief history on Australia:
Prior to the first white settlers arriving in Australia, the native Aboriginal people had no contact with the outside world. Around the 1800’s, they were suddenly confronted with a hostile and alien force – the white settler. The settlers wanted land. In order to justify their invasion, they claimed that the land in Australia was vacant and unused.
All over Australia, native Aboriginal folk were being forced off their land. The Kuranda railway line was built smack bang in the middle of a rainforest. The rainforest was a traditional hunting ground, a food bowl for the native people. The white setters wanted the rainforest, so they hunted the Aboriginals like wild animals. They gave native women poison-laced flour to cook with. According to rogue settler-rules, interbreeding was a punishable offence. The white authorities never stepped in. The effect of British settlement upon these people led to near extinction within 120 years.
Here's a little bit about
Elizabeth Preston.
Elizabeth spent her first life in New Zealand but now calls sunny Sydney home. She lives with one patient husband, one grown son and one very naughty little dog.
She always wanted to be a writer but tried everything else first. She’s been a teacher, a ship’s cook, a ticket seller and an advertising person paid to spend other people’s money. She likes being a writer best.
Elizabeth dreams of moving to the postcard-perfect Southern Highlands of New South Wales. There, she will unleash her dark heroes and dastardly plots and generally cause mayhem. The dream also involves flapping ducks, wandering alpacas and an assortment of other animals for her dog to bark at.
Elizabeth won an award from The Society of Women Writers, WA and slogged away at a writing degree from Southern Cross University.
The Outcasts, published by Soul Mate Publishing, is her first novella. You can click on her picture to get to her blog site or go to http://elizabethpreston.wordpress.com
Elizabeth Preston.
Elizabeth spent her first life in New Zealand but now calls sunny Sydney home. She lives with one patient husband, one grown son and one very naughty little dog.
She always wanted to be a writer but tried everything else first. She’s been a teacher, a ship’s cook, a ticket seller and an advertising person paid to spend other people’s money. She likes being a writer best.
Elizabeth dreams of moving to the postcard-perfect Southern Highlands of New South Wales. There, she will unleash her dark heroes and dastardly plots and generally cause mayhem. The dream also involves flapping ducks, wandering alpacas and an assortment of other animals for her dog to bark at.
Elizabeth won an award from The Society of Women Writers, WA and slogged away at a writing degree from Southern Cross University.
The Outcasts, published by Soul Mate Publishing, is her first novella. You can click on her picture to get to her blog site or go to http://elizabethpreston.wordpress.com
And now...an excerpt from The Outcasts. This is taken from Chapter 5...Enjoy!
He nodded, but then snatched her arm, startling the breath from her throat.
“Now listen carefully, Alice, this is important. When you go back to your room, I want you to bolt your bedroom door. Do you hear me? Lock your door and wedge a chair under your door handle and do not let me in—no matter what.”
“What?
“Keep yourself safe. Promise me you will do this, promise me!”
“I don’t understand?”
He stared at the floor. “This is awkward.”
“Just say it.” Little worry lines patterned her brow.
“You’ll wish I hadn’t, when you hear.”
“Tell me.”
He turned, giving her his back.
What could possibly be so bad, so hard to admit?
He cleared his throat. “Things change when night falls.”
What on earth does that mean? Her stomach churned, as if a live fish was in there, swimming around.
“When I fall asleep, I wander, walk about the house, and outside, too.”
She rolled her eyes. “Is that it? You had me worried.”
He turned suddenly, obviously irritated. “You don’t understand. “When I’m asleep, I’m not myself.
He nodded, but then snatched her arm, startling the breath from her throat.
“Now listen carefully, Alice, this is important. When you go back to your room, I want you to bolt your bedroom door. Do you hear me? Lock your door and wedge a chair under your door handle and do not let me in—no matter what.”
“What?
“Keep yourself safe. Promise me you will do this, promise me!”
“I don’t understand?”
He stared at the floor. “This is awkward.”
“Just say it.” Little worry lines patterned her brow.
“You’ll wish I hadn’t, when you hear.”
“Tell me.”
He turned, giving her his back.
What could possibly be so bad, so hard to admit?
He cleared his throat. “Things change when night falls.”
What on earth does that mean? Her stomach churned, as if a live fish was in there, swimming around.
“When I fall asleep, I wander, walk about the house, and outside, too.”
She rolled her eyes. “Is that it? You had me worried.”
He turned suddenly, obviously irritated. “You don’t understand. “When I’m asleep, I’m not myself.
Thanks, Elizabeth for being here today!
---Anne
---Anne
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