A friend who recently bought several of my books (four
different ones) suggested I make a sign with a description of each book, when
selling them. I thought about it. Most of my books are very different in style
and genre, and people cannot buy one with a clear expectation of the sort of
thing they will read.
So, now Lantern Light
is trickling onto the Koorong shelves, one shop at a time, I’ll tell you a
little bit about it, so you can see if it is what you want.
Lantern Light was initially
written for a secular readership. It has, however, a clear Christian message
complete with conversions! But this part is not written in ‘religious jargon’. It
is written the way it would be experienced by non-Christians encountering Jesus.
Well, I like to think so anyway.
It is a good read for most women (perhaps some men?), Christians
included, as it has a good story line with romance and adventure as the main
elements. The setting fascinates many readers – it is set in Madina High School
(PNG) where I taught in 1973 (along with Peter Clyburn among the other
teachers). No, Peter is not one of
the characters!
The background, both geographically and historically, is well
researched – by my own experience and by many hours spent in the State Library
and other such venues. The background geographically includes New Ireland (PNG) and Brisbane, and the story is set
against and influenced by the pre-self-government unrest in PNG, the Vietnam
War, and the Brisbane River flood in 1974.
The characters and the story are fictitious but some of the
incidents (including a dramatic encounter with a whirlpool in a river) are
based on true events experienced by my fellow teachers and other expats I knew.
The pace is slowish at first as the scene is set but it
speeds up as it goes along and according to readers, reaches a “can’t put it
down” stage.
The style is mainly my usual style but includes slightly experimental
parts. I like to keep up with secular literature as well as Christian (where
appropriate) and have been keen to use techniques used by a few current popular
literary authors.
So – A good story. A fairly easy read. Sparkling characters.
An exotic and beautiful setting. A gripping story, increasingly suspenseful.
I think anyone could enjoy it but its ideal niche would be
as a gift for someone not yet Christian or any female baby boomer, especially
those who were saved during the charismatic movement.
Enjoy!
Your book sounds like it would be very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks - I like it better than some of my other books actually.
ReplyDeleteI have read it and love it ! Arlene.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Josephine-Anne! I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteReading through your blog, I'm becoming increasingly aware of how much I love, and resonate with, your writing style. I'd very much like to read Lantern Light. Would it be in Toowoomba's Koorong? I was also right there in 1974 and remember the Brisbane floods very well indeed. We were lucky to live in Bardon - hilly terrain and far from the danger and damage. I know others, some in my own family, who weren't so lucky, and whose homes were almost entirely submerged in places like Goodna.
ReplyDeleteThanks Melinda!
DeleteI'm pretty sure it is still in Koorong T'ba. You could ring and check. It was there. I was up on the hill behind Burleigh during the flood. Weird experience.
ReplyDeleteI'll check, Jeanette. And yes, the whole '74 flood was extremely eerie.
ReplyDelete