Highlighting Members Recent Releases

 

Christian Writers Downunder is a diverse group of writers, editors, bloggers, illustrators. As a group we support each other through our Facebook page and blog.

Today's blog will highlight some of the recent releases of our members from Aug 2025-Feb 2026

Historical Fiction

The Hunter fo Macquarie Collection

The Hunter fo Macquarie Collection - 1795-1822

by Sara Powter

This collection of stories offers insight into life in the colony during the early days of settlement, as seen through the eyes of the governors and trusted convicts. Of the first ten governors, seven were recalled to face inquiries, and all were later exonerated.

Book 1 When Upon Life Billows
Book 2 The Saddler’s Song
Book 3 Tuppence to Pass
Book 4 His Majesty’s Pageboy
Book 5 A Fist Full of Holey Dollars

Sara Powter worked with her mother, Sheila Hunter, to research their family history. Through this, they discovered many wonderful Australian Colonial stories from the four Convicts they found in their tree.

https://www.sarapowter.com.au/ 

Universal buy link to collection:-https://mybook.to/CbMaqV

Romance

A Heart to Treasure

A Heartto Treasure

by A Heart to Treasure by Dienece Darling

The vicar’s son and the draper’s daughter have fought against all odds to be together, yet both are ignoring the cracks in their relationship. And a storm is coming. One that will shatter everything. Can two hearts torn apart by pride find their way back to each other?

Dienece Darling is a former Georgia Belle who calls Melbourne home these days. She writes first person inspirational historical romance, and her first name is a variant spelling of Denise.

Find Dienece on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063748350005

Buy link:
https://books2read.com/ahearttotreasure

Not Running Away

Not Running Away

Melissa Gijsbers

Gemma Duncan isn’t running away — she’s running towards something new. A temporary job in Sapphire Bay was meant to be a quiet escape, but friendship, community, and an unexpected connection with Adam make her question everything. When a permanent opportunity arises, she must choose familiarity… or the life that feels like home.  

Author Bio: Melissa Gijsbers is a late-diagnosed AuDHD woman and Gippsland-based author who can't stick to one thing. She has written picture books, middle grade books, novellas, and more. You can find more about her on melissagijsbers.com or https://www.facebook.com/MelissaGijsbers (feel free to leave out the Facebook link if you only want one link).

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/Not-Running-Away-Melissa-Gijsbers-ebook/dp/B0GHJ1JBH6

Holly Hartmann Romances

One Cabin For Christmas: A forced proximity, second chance, fade-to-black, holiday romcom with rescue horses and a gassy beagle (Christmas in Vermont Book 1)

By Holly Hartman

One job. One cabin. One second chance at forever.
☃️Expect:

• Small-town Christmas magic
• Forced proximity
• Second chances
• Found family
• Veterinary workplace
• Rescue horses
• Heart and humour
• Swoony, fade-to-black chemistry and guaranteed HEA

Buy: https://books2read.com/u/mVJa5r
Or get it free: www.hollyhartmanbooks.com/bonus-Christmas-romance

Running from Christmas: A Grumpy-Sunshine, Snowed-In, Christmas Romance with Heart (and Paws) (Christmas in Vermont Book 2)

By Holly Hartman

She hates Christmas. He lives for it. One rescue dog thinks they're perfect for each other.

☃️Expect:

• Small-town Christmas magic
• Reverse grumpy-sunshine
• Aussie veterinarian fish out of water
• Snowstorms with great timing
• A huge rescue dog
• Widower finding love again
• She’s leaving town (ticking clock)
• Swoony, fade-to-black chemistry
• Guaranteed HEA

Buy: https://books2read.com/u/boJazp

A Very Merri Christmas: A Second-Chance, Snowed-in, Holiday Romance About Brave Love and Finding Home (Christmas in Vermont Book 3)

By Holly Hartman

She's marrying the safe choice. He's the deputy who never stopped loving her. One blizzard means there's nowhere left to hide.

☃️Expect:

• Small-town Christmas magic in snowy Vermont
• He’s always loved her / she’s been playing it safe
• Animal rescue
• Snowed-in survival intimacy
• Poignant and funny
• Swoony, fade-to-black chemistry & guaranteed HEA

Buy: https://books2read.com/u/b5LG7k

Bio: Holly Hartman writes contemporary, small-town romance, with warmth, wit and swoony fade-to-black chemistry. Her stories are filled with longing glances, emotional misfires, and love that feels like coming home.

https://www.facebook.com/HollyHartmanBooks/

Contemporary

Spiralling Solo

Spiralling Solo (book 3 of the Spiralling Trilogy)
by Michelle Dennis Evans

Stephanie is determined to stand alone, juggling finances and past trauma while her friendship with Tabbie fractures. Tabbie faces heartbreak in her final school year. The girls drift apart just when they need each other most, both drawn to the newly confident dancer Joey. Navigating loneliness, loss, love, and temptation, they must discover their true selves before their bond breaks.

Podcaster and YA contemporary author exploring life’s challenges, victories and the joy of hope. Michelle Dennis Evans balances her writing by empowering others to live with health, vitality & freedom.

MDE link:https://michelledennisevans.com/

Buy link: https://www.booktopia.com.au/spiralling-solo-michelle-dennis-evans/book/9781923533073.html

Paint the Walls Red

Paint the Walls Red
 by Suzie Peace Pybus

Meg has carried the weight of one devastating choice for forty years. Now as strange events unfold in the hospital where she works, she senses they are tied to her past. With her memory failing, she must race to uncover the truth before she forgets completely.

Suzie lives on a small fruit and vegetable farm in Tasmania. She writes distinctly Australian stories about courageous women facing social challenges, each threaded with mystery.

Suzie's website: https://www.suziepeacepybus.com/

Buylink: https://tinyurl.com/y3u4s9nv

Restoring Hope

Restoring Hope

by Philippa Cleall

After escaping harm, Hope returns to Wombat Valley to rebuild her life. But when a charming, dangerous figure from her past returns, can she stand firm in the new faith and friendships that she’s found? Restoring Hope is a heartfelt story of resilience, rediscovery, and finding a safe place to call home.

Philippa Cleall is a Children’s and Family Counsellor and volunteer Court Chaplain. She has a heart for seeing faith communities become more trauma informed so they can care for those hurting with greater wisdom, compassion, grace, and truth. www.philippacleall.com

Bu link: www.amazon.com.au/Restoring-Hope-Philippa-Cleall-ebook/dp/B0F4H6WWY4/

Speculative Fiction (Sci-Fi & Fantasy)

The Wells of Callystra

The Wells of Callystra Book 8 (published 31st October, 2025).
by Elizabeth Klein

A perilous journey to the mountains of Karakor is undertaken by elf prince, Aeron Bregolas. Once there, he manages to unite his elven tribe with the largest dwarf kingdom in Bethloria. But at a terrible cost. To save both himself and his men, he is forced to activate an ancient talisman with devastating consequences to himself.

Elizabeth Klein lives and writes in a caravan and has over 100 published works. She enjoys writing YA fantasy and fairytale retellings.

Website https://www.elizabethkleinauthor.com/

Buy Link: https://www.ama:zon.com/-/e/B07ZBTVVX4

Flare Up

Flare Up: Adventure with Jett Faraday, much loved character from the Blaine Colton trilogy 
by Adele Jones

Eighteen-old, Jett Faraday is pushed to the limit when gym manager, Luca, discovers his interest in a bodybuilding competition and pressures him to take an illicit performance enhancer to accelerate his gains. When Luca makes physical threats, and he grows increasingly erratic. Jett digs deeper, unearthing a high-tech operation formulating ingestible products for engineering mind-manipulable super-humans. When that technology is turned on him, Jett faces a fight for survival that may cost him everything.

Adele Jones writes fringe and near young adult "Science fiction for the real world". Fuelled by her passion for family, faith, music and science, she tackles complex teen issues including self-worth, disability, loss, domestic violence, youth crime and more. To learn more visit: www.adelejonesauthor.com

Buy link:

Rise of the Consortium

Rise of the Consortium

by Jeanette O'Hagan

A young blind woman, an ambitious math genius, a rejected splice clone, a cynical detective, an angry post-doc student, or an agent trying to correct the mistakes of her father?

Nine interwoven stories that stretch from the seat of Nardvan power in Pelinor to the far reaches of the sun-system. Ten different and diverse people forced to face their own demons and overwhelming power, privilege and corruption. A growing band of rebels fighting against the might of Endira Corp.

Will their courage, choices and resolve save Nardva or will they die trying – or worse – be transformed into one of Endira’s mindless cyborg slaves?

Find out in Rise of the Consortium, a thrilling collection of sci-fi short stories by Jeanette O’Hagan, set in the future of the world of Nardva.

Jeanette O’Hagan began spinning tales in the world of Nardva from the age of eight or nine. Her Nardvan stories span continents, millennia and cultures. Some involve shapeshifters and magic. Others include space stations and cyborgs.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/47ow8A

Christian Life and Reflection

Stories of Life - Turning Ten 

Turning Ten

Edited by Claire Bell (Editor), Pete Court (Editor), Esther Cremona (Editor)

The Title Story (Jenny Woolsey): Explores a child's ordeal with major surgery, featuring themes of comfort, support from adults, and faith during a challenging time. Turning Ten is, appropriately, the title story of this tenth annual Stories of Life anthology. Once again, ordinary people have sent in wonderfully varied stories of how God met them in everyday situations readers can identify with. Some stories span many years, others a single afternoon. Some are a little sombre, and some are laugh-out-loud funny. Many, like the title story, recall childhood experiences of God’s comfort and provision in difficult times. Other writers drew inspiration from road trips, hospital trips, family life, and walking in nature. But one theme shines through them all. No matter how small or large our need, God always watches over us in love, to guide, protect and equip us.

CWD members include authors Karen John Roper, Jenny Woolsey & Barbara Jean McKay & editors Claire Bell, Peter Court and Esther Cremona.

Alternative:

Buy link: https://storiesoflife.net/product/turning-ten/

Congratulations to all our members for your milestones and achievements.

Jeanette O'Hagan

Finding Christians in Unexpected Places (by Susan J Bruce and Holly Hartman)

 

It started like every sensible writing decision starts: with me doing the responsible thing.

I’d just decided to shelve a Christmas romance idea so I could stay faithful to my mystery series. I even prayed about it with my husband. I stood up, walked five steps toward my study, and prepared to get back to the safe, sensible work of murder.

That’s when the still small voice cut in—clear as anything: “Christmas is in Vermont.”

And just like that, my neat little plan went out the window.

But let me back up.

Most people in Christian Writers Downunder know me as Susan J Bruce, a cozy mystery writer. I’m currently editing Mostly Dead, book two in my Ruthless-the-Killer mystery series—and loving it. 

But that voice led me into an initially secret identity: writing mainstream Christmas romance under the pen name Holly Hartman, set in a town called Christmas, where Christmas happens all year round.

The books are mostly sweet, with a dash of heat. Swoony, fade-to-black romances—mainstream stories about love, hope, and second chances, written for readers who want heart with their happily-ever-afters. And yes, some faith content does seep in because it’s Christmas, and it's really hard not to have it there. 

Unexpected? You have no idea.

The idea began with a grumpy Australian veterinarian who hates Christmas and a sunshine game warden who loves the season. Add a stray dog with a knack for matchmaking, and it became Running from Christmas—a heartfelt rom-com about finding love after loss.

But the surprises didn't stop there.

When Characters Take Over

The story spawned a prequel (One Cabin for Christmas) and then, somehow, a book three (A Very Merri Christmas).

I was almost finished the draft of the latter when I realized it needed something. The story was set against the backdrop of Jack and Mia’s destination wedding (the couple from book two), but it didn’t feel Christmassy enough. That’s when my characters did what characters do: they took over. Secret carols appeared. A grand gesture started looming. And Liam—my male lead—casually revealed he could sing.

Who am I to argue with a handsome deputy?

Once I accepted that the wedding needed music, I had a new problem: what songs were playing in the background? I can’t quote lyrics unless they’re public domain, but I still needed the soundtrack in my head. Songs set the emotional temperature of a scene, and I wanted a Spotify playlist for readers who like stepping deeper into the story world. 

So I went hunting for warm, heartfelt, country-rock-leaning love songs. It turns out that even in snowy Vermont, the Nashville sound feels like home. That search led me to something I didn't expect at all: Christian artists in the mainstream. 

(Unexpected side note: I didn't see myself writing Christmas romance, and I definitely didn't see myself enjoying country music this much, although I don't mind country rock. God is full of surprises.)

Christians in the mainstream,,, 

Brett Young was my first small jolt of recognition. I loved the sincerity of In Case You Didn’t Know, then discovered he’d worked with Chris Tomlin and spoken openly about faith shaping his life. And I thought—wait. He’s one of us.

Then Russell Dickerson showed up in my recommendations with Yours. 

The music video is amazing. Dickerson is singing against the backdrop of a huge storm, lightning flashing (apparently there was a tornado warning that day). The lyrics are strong and song has the intensity and sincerity I needed for Liam. 

But even though it was a mainstream love song, the lyrics had a distinct Christian flavour.

I dug deeper.

I found Russell and his wife Kailey's testimony—shared openly in interviews. And the story behind the song got me. Russell had been dropped from a record deal. They were broke, newlyweds, and Kailey had to take side jobs to keep them afloat. They kept going anyway, following God’s call to bring Russell’s music to the world. The video was slow burn at first but then built into a massive hit.

I love stories like that. God at work while his people keep showing up, creating anyway. Then he steps in and shows off—lightning and thunder included!

It’s unexpected—and deeply encouraging.

Then there was another song of Dickerson’s that I couldn’t get out of my head. This was only a few days ago, after book three was published. 

Happened to Me is another huge hit of his, but very different from his other work. On the surface, it's just a fun breakup song. It went viral on TikTok—catchy, cheeky and full of energy.

And it got stuck in my head. All week. It even made me feel a bit teary. I couldn't work out why until one day it clicked. 

The song is about a woman on the run from a breakup and a guy who falls for her even though he knows she's going to wreck him. He’s falling for her, taking every second he can while knowing this can’t go well.

Cue the facepalm. I can be dense sometimes.

That was essentially the back story of the characters I’d been living with for the past two months. 

The details in the song are different, but the mess of feelings is the same.

In A Very Merri Christmas, Liam met Merri right after she'd had a nasty breakup. He spent the next two weeks falling for her hard, then watched her pull back because it was too much, too fast. 

Six years of her being the one that got away—until a destination wedding and a snowstorm finally made them stop running.

It's a thrill when a song nails the emotional truth of something you wrote—like proof you tapped into something deeply human.

It was like it had been put there as an Easter egg for me to find. 

Totally unexpected.

But I digress…

Making Beautiful Work

Accidentally finding Christians lurking in creative places. Hearing how God breaks through for talented people creating, working, persisting, creating beauty and heart, and trusting God through the hard times. 

It shouldn’t be unexpected, but it is. 

It’s easy to put on blinkers and create a false dichotomy between the sacred and the secular and limit our understanding of what a Christian work is. 

There's a quote from philosopher Jacques Maritain that I love: 

"If you want to make a Christian work, then be Christian and make a beautiful work, into which your heart will pass. Do not try to make Christian."

Be a believer, make the best work you can, and infuse it with your heart. Who knows what the Lord will do with it?

Christian author and editor, Iola Goulton, recently wrote an article about this. I found these words from Covert and Crossover Christian Fiction empowering:

 "If you don't feel called to write Christian fiction, don't. Write to your calling. Trust that God's light will shine through in whatever you write. And trust that God will bring your words to the people who need to read them."

In that same article, Iola shared a story about a family who came to faith after the father read The Da Vinci Code—a book nobody would ever call Christian. He'd never heard of Jesus, but the novel sparked his curiosity. He researched, became a believer, and started bringing his family to church.

If God can use that, imagine what He can do with the words you and I are writing right now. He can bring fruit from work that doesn't have a label stamped on it. He can use songs and stories about love and life to soften hearts, to give courage, to stir hope, to remind someone they aren't alone. 

He can take mainstream US musicians and use them to encourage the faith of an author in Australia. He can take the creative work you and I are called to do and carry it further than we can imagine.

If your call is to write Christian fiction. If your passion is to encourage Christians and create stories that outline the path to salvation, then please do so. Your words are needed. But if that's not you, that’s okay too.

The world needs your words, your heart and your hope.

Photo courtesy of www.svklimkin.com on Pixabay

Your Turn

Finding Christians in unexpected places over the last few weeks has been like finding a light left on the porch outside. It's hope. Our brothers and sisters are out there. Faith isn't confined to one section of the bookstore, or one playlist category, or one approved pathway.

God is at work—everywhere.

So here's my encouragement to you, especially if you're a Christian writer who sometimes wonders where you fit.

Write to your calling. Write with beauty, truth, and integrity. Pray over your work—not only for success, but for God to use your words in ways you will never see. Pray that it strengthens other believers who stumble across you out in the wild. Pray that it reaches people who would never pick up something labelled Christian, but who might still be hungry for hope.

You might never hear the results. That doesn't mean nothing happened.

You may be someone else's unexpected find.

Is there a "mainstream" song, movie, or book that has deeply encouraged your faith recently? Share the title in the comments below so we can add it to our reading/playlists!

__________________________________________________

If you’d like to explore more:

• Susan J. Bruce mysteries

• Holly Hartman romances

• The Holly Hartman Christmas in Vermont Official Spotify playlist

Susan J. Bruce is a former veterinarian and self-confessed animal addict who writes mysteries with heart, humour, and plenty of fur. Find her binge-worthy Ruthless-the-Killer series at www.susanjbruce.com.

She also writes funny-with-feeling romantic comedy as Holly Hartman, where falling in love feels like finding home. Follow Holly Hartman on Amazon for swoony, emotionally rich, fade-to-black romance with small-town warmth, second chances, and excellent coffee instincts.

LISTENING TO THE STORIES OF OTHERS

I just spent an enriching day immersed in the wilderness of a deep gorge, with beautiful waterfalls, cascades, forests and fauna. What made it significantly enriching was not just the wonderful environment but the time spent hearing the tireless stories of this area's custodian, geographer and eldered mentor.

Often as authors and story tellers we are more interested in telling our stories to others than taking time to hear other’s stories. This may be true of us as authors, but it is often also the case when we are considering points of view in a world that has so many. What our world needs is some humble listening to help us navigate the monumental changes and fluxes happening across our planet and in the intimate realities of people. People who Jesus cares for.

Jesus demonstrated great listening by giving people his undivided attention, fostering trust, and validating their worth. I love the story of Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). Jesus didn’t just do all the talking. He listened patiently to her, providing a safe space for her to open up about her life and spiritual questions, allowing for a deep, unhurried conversation. In doing so he circumvented cultural norms and ignored his own needs to address her shame, fear, and spiritual hunger. In like manner when Jesus came across blind Bartimaeus (despite the crowd trying to silence him), Jesus heard him, stopped, and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mark 10:46-52). Jesus valued, affirmed and ‘saw’ Bartimaeus so he could fully give him agency in the healing that took place. This was modelled many times.

Listening to others' stories is important. It is crucial for fostering empathy (listeners can begin to relate to others as they recognise that the messenger has feelings and experiences just like them (Colgate 2008)). Listening to other’s stories catalyses our connection with others and takes our relationships to a deeper emotional level.  It helps to build stronger communities by creating closer relationships, trust, and empowerment and encouragement for others to tell their stories. Sharing in people’s personal stories helps others gain new perspectives, understand diverse experiences, and promotes personal and collective growth. We learn from each other’s journeys.

My wife and I are “Member Carers” involved in the vital work of helping to support mission individuals, couples, families and teams on the cutting edge of community development initiatives and humanitarian responses. We are bringing much needed care to those reaching the unreached.  Decades of Chaplaincy, pastoral care, community development and cross-cultural service have produced our unique skillset to help bring this care and support.  Simply listening to their stories is one of the most valuable assets we bring into this space.

We recently met face to face with many long-serving and new-to-field workers in restricted access areas. They face constant significant challenges to their own health, safety and the effectiveness of their operations. The personal cost of service for them encompasses insecurity, loneliness, physical risk, and heightened psychological burdens. Visiting them and providing care by our presence and listening has helped maintain their active service.

Robyn Fivush (2020), Professor of Developmental Psychology at Emory University and the director of the Family Narratives Lab confirms these sentiments: “Knowing how to listen to others’ stories is just as important as being able to tell your own story. When we listen, truly listen, to someone else’s story, we understand who they are in a new and different way, we hear their perspective, their interpretation, their understanding of the world and of themselves. Closely listening to others’ stories creates a shared moment of compassion.”

Colgate (2008) adds another powerful reason why it is important to tell our own stories so others can listen: it brings healing for us and sets others up for their own healing journeys. “As we recall our own stories, we begin to uncover old wounds, hurts and traumas. We also begin to identify the ways in which we have tried to cover over or to deny our pain. Then, by the gracious touch of Jesus and often with the help of a friend, we can experience healing and release. This whole process of healing, release and renewal has tremendous impact.”

I have learnt over the years (with all the cultural immersion and care work I have been blessed to be engaged in) that respecting the culture and history of peoples requires a wise acquiring. This is empowered by access, understanding and actioning of endemic communication methodology and storying that requires listening, adapting, and adopting creative methodologies.

An example of this are my relationships with Indigenous friends who have welcomed me like family. When I was considering the recent musings and discussions of Australia Day, I took time to reflect on the blessing of interactions and family connections with many ethnicities (my family were  immigrants in the 1800's and 1950's. English, German, becoming generations of Aussies) and multiple indigenous embracings.

I remember always caring, sometimes intense 'Aunties' sharing stories, welcoming, praying over, calling forth my formative, eyes-opened, heart-responsive, listening and learning, loving and growing, going and journeying in community, family, mates and markings. Nows and futures. Together. 'Uncles' doing likewise with practiced hands teaching to walk and talk the land, gather and collect, hear and hunt, treading, trusting, braving, sometimes slow, moving, mustering, making, moulding, and mentoring.

Lessons of humility stand out with stories of responsibility and storied teachings of reverence, sacred ways of giving thanks, awe of life and spirit, Creator and created, experiential teachings of giving, kindness, caring, justice, mercy and love, orality, oral pronouncements and wisened sayings by meaningful adult interactions. They are oral in spoken words as well as in songs, in utterances, and the sounds of sight and sounds of thoughts and feelings shared on journey together, perhaps gathering foods or hunting or wandering with purpose together on an adventure, sitting in the dust around a camp fire and simply being together, and sometimes this means sitting in silence for a long time and simply sharing space together in the presence of The Almighty.

I am humbled and honoured for their welcome. Thankful for teaching me and helping me listen. To see. I am glad we can join hands with all our diverse backgrounds to journey into our future together.

There are many other examples of relationships with many different peoples I could share of the vitality of listening.

Finally, when stories are shared to listening ears and hearts, they are spiritually powerful:

“We overcome by the word of our testimony and the blood of the lamb” (Revelation 12:11).

It may even be considered to be a form of spiritual warfare as it is truth telling, helps to break down deception, and reveals Godly purposes, plans and prophetic insights therefore countering  isolation, judgment, and spiritual darkness. Honest testimonies and authentically hearing others, can help bring freedom, build hope and faith, and testify of God’s power.

Jesus took time to listen to people. Perhaps we can too.

Listening to others’ stories empowers their future story. I believe it is also a potent way for us as story tellers to have more powerful future stories.

My wilderness journey and storied immersions have changed my life. I hope your adventures in listening do too.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Colgate, J (2008) Relational Bible Storying and Scripture Use in Oral Muslim Context,

Fivush, R. (2020) Listening to Stories: The Power of Story Circles Story Circles build compassion and connection during challenging times. In Psychology Today. 

Lausanne  (2004) “Making Disciples of Oral Learners” Oral Communicators and Oral Cultures in the Lausanne Report (pages 14-18) Making Disciples of Oral Learners Can we in our day do for oral communicators what Gutenberg in his day did for literates? In Report from the Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization Issue Group  Pattaya, Thailand. Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2004

Strauss, R. (2018) “Tell This Man We Were Sleeping” EMQ, October–December 2018, Volume 54, Issue 4, Missionexus Introducing-story-strategic-methods/