CWD Highlights - April - June 2022

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 achievements of our members from April - June 2022

New Releases

The Verindon Conspiracy by Lynne Stringer

Misilina has finished her training at the Academy on verindon and hopes to prove that she’s as good an agent as her father, Keridan. However, her first assignment is guarding Lord Jolan—her childhood tormentor and the son of Overlord Ardon—who is making a planetary visit to Darsair with his bride-to-be, Mandine, to help the Darsairian government improve conditions for the mine workers. But when the miners stage an uprising and attempt to kill Jolan, can Misilina and her fellow agents keep Jolan and Mandine alive?

Lynne Stringer's latest sci-fi adventure, The Verindon Conspiracy, takes place ten years after her Verindon Trilogy, but can be read by first-timers to the Verindon world. 

Date of publication: 30th April 2022
Publisher: Rhiza Edge
It's on sale on Amazon for $2.99 US for a short time only.
 Buy it here 

 Reading Stones Publishing

In April Reading Stones publishing (Wendy Wood and Helen Brown) released the third book in the Gems of Australia Series by Olwyn Harris: Emerald Dreams. 

 Helen Brown’s short story, Casey’s New Life, was short listed for the Power to Change writing competition and was released as part of a combined work. A modified version of this story will also be released along with a series of similar stories written by Helen later this year. 

Helen also released her second work of fiction, Like Father… Like Son, and we were excited to see sales exceed 50 copies within the first week.

In May, Reading Stones produced a small autobiography for Helen’s father, a unique work designed to be distributed at his funeral – life is definitely not boring for us here. We also entered Like Father… Like son was entered in the Bookshelf Fiction competition.

In June, Reading Stones released a non-fiction book about the Old Bakeries of Gympie and their Families, written by John Stark.

Starlit Realms: A Fantasy Anthology

Ten unforgettable stories of mystery and adventure from ten fantasy writers are woven together by the great Storyteller's own eternal magic.

*The mysterious Logunder Library houses no ordinary books, but those created from trees from the Enchanted Forest in a bid to save itself.
*A young princess must choose a husband from four unlikely and undesirable suitors.
*A girl's father goes off to battle dragons in an alternate war and she undergoes dangers to find him.
*A shape-shifting queen risks her life for a family condemned by age-old prejudice.
*One young slave girl risks her life for the sake of reading sacred texts.
*The final day of one of the waterfolk is celebrated with songs and music as she wanders back into the sea.
*A magic boot takes a young couple for the ride of their lives.
*A poor girl deceives the royal family to snag a husband, but it is not as easy as she thinks.
*A biological lab covers up the truth about its research and sends two science students into danger.
*On the summer solstice at Willow Woods Peak, animals may speak and a cat enlists the help of a human to unravel a secret.

The story made it into the anthology along with the stories of a bunch of other great writers - including CWD members  - Elizabeth Klein (the mastermind and editor), Adele Jones, Rebekah Rodda, Jeanette O'Hagan and Jenny Woolsey.

Starlit Realms: a fantasy anthology - is free on Amazon and other retailers. So why not download it and enjoy :)

Awards

CALEB Prize

The Long List for the CALEB prize has been announced - you can see the full list on Monday's post here.  Congratulations to our CWD members who made the long list - Carolyn Miller, Lisa Renee, Meredith Resce, Elaine Fraser, Jenny Glazebrook,  Kristen Young, Susan Brown, Emily Maurits, Dienece Darling, Suzie Pybus, Barbara McKay and Stephanie Walters.  All the best for the awards - which will be announced at the CALEB dinner on Oct 2022.

Sparklit nominee

Helen Brown's the Power of Prayer, published by Kurt Mahlburg and Warwick Marsh (they head up Canberra Declaration) was entered into this year’s Sparklit Christian Book of the Year competition.

Events

Omega Writers Book Fair

Due to the uncertainty due to Covid earlier in the year and also the personal circumstances of the committee member, The Omega Writers Book Fair has been deferred until March next year. We are sad to skip a year but look forward to seeing our readers and authors in 2023.

Coorparoo Presbyterian Church Book Fair

THE COORPAROO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

BOOK FAIR

(EMLYN STREET, COORPAROO, BRISBANE)

SATURDAY 20 AUGUST 2022

10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.

Omega Writers Conference 2022 Kingscliff

Omega Writers have decided to give you a greater opportunity to register for the conference at the early bird price. Instead of finishing tomorrow, June 18, the early bird will now close on Monday July 18.

And don’t forget, if you’re an Omega member, you can use your discount code at the checkout to reduce the price even further. 

Why go to the conference?

This year’s line-up of speakers has been deliberately curated to encourage, resource and inspire you on your writing journey. 

With opportunities to network with other likeminded and supportive writers, you will leave with new ideas, new connections, and a renewed excitement for your writing project.

The keynote speaker will be Steven James, author of Synapse and several books for writers. 

Others speakers include: 

*Collett Smart will present a plenary session on Self-Compassion, Resilience, and Well-being for Writers, as well as a practical non-fiction workshop.
*Lystra Rose, winner of the Black&Write Writing Fellowship will present on The unspoken rules of Indigenous protocols every writer should know.
*Hands-On Workshop Streams for Writers of Fiction and Non-Fiction
*A Marketing Intensive with Lisa Renee
*Tips and Advice on writing for the US Market
*Writing for Children and YA

We will also be offering participants the opportunity to book an appointment in The Hub (for a small fee) with agents, publishers, editors and industry experts to discuss their work in progress, or to pitch a manuscript ready for submission..

Click here to find out more, and book before 18 July to save $50.

Did you have a new release or event or brag point that didn't make it to the Highlights Post? Keep an eye out for the next call for information from members - the next Highlights post will be in end of September 2022.

Congratulations to all our members for your milestones and achievements.

Jeanette O'Hagan

Behind the Scenes: Count Your Blessings by Hazel Barker

Today we go 'behind the scenes' as Jeanette (Jenny) O'Hagan interviews Hazel Barker.

Jenny: Congratulations, Hazel, on the release last year of Count Your Blessings: Colin’s Story. This is now your fourth book published book, plus a number of short stories. Can you tell us what is this book about?

Hazel: ‘Count Your Blessings. Colin’s Story’ is about a young Aussie battler who struggles to fulfill his dreams. His mother has mood swings, and his school mates bully him. The Depression Years cast a shadow on his future, and his studies are cut short, but his plucky spirit carries him through one crisis after another and the unexpected turns up.

 Jenny: It sounds like an inspiring tale. One of your books is called Chocolate Soldier. It’s an intriguing title. What does it mean and how does it relate to your book?

Hazel: Clarence Dover, the protagonist of ‘Chocolate Soldier. The Story of a Conchie,’ was a conscientious objector who trained as an Ambulance worker at Manor Farm, which was only a stone’s throw from Bourneville Village and the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. The estate was owned by the Cadbury family who were anti-war and provided training for conscientious objectors. The men came to be known as Dame Cadbury’s chocolate soldiers.

After training, Clarence was sent to London as an ambulance driver during the Blitz. When the blitz was over, he volunteered to work in China alongside members of the Cadbury family.

 

Jenny: Ah, now it make sense. In some ways, I think conscientious objectors needed twice the courage as non-combatants in a warzone. In Heaven Tempers the Wind you relate events of your childhood during World War Two in Burma (now Myanmar).  How did your early years shape you into the person you are today? Have you ever returned to the land of your birth? Would you like to?

Hazel: During my early years, we were under Japanese occupation and suffered from sickness and starvation. I lost my elder sister, June, from the plague, nearly lost my young sister from small-pox, and my two older brothers from the bombing.

One night, an incendiary bomb landed on our house between my brothers’ beds. Fortunately, they had taken refuge in our trench and suffered no harm. My young sister, who had smallpox at the time, could not shelter there, but my mother had taken refuge with her, beneath a table. In her delirium, while bombs were falling overhead, my little sister sang the hymn, ‘Father we thank Thee for the night.’ She recovered and is still alive now. This incident, in particular, has had a profound effect on my life as I have learned to always trust and hope in the Lord.

In reply to your second question, Jenny, I left Burma in 1967 as a stateless person with no passport and only a certificate of identity. I never wanted to return, but years later, when holidaying in Thailand with my husband, our tour guide told us that we could visit Tachilek markets on the other side of the border, if we bribed the Burmese guard with a US Five dollar note. We did so, crossed the bridge over the Salween River and entered Burma. That is the only time I set foot in Burma, but I have never visited my birthplace, Mandalay. The country has changed so much since I left, but I would love to show my husband the places I frequented as a child, and the towns we had fled to when the Japanese army invaded Burma in 1941.

Jenny: I'm glad you managed to get a small visit to Burma. I enjoyed showing my husband around my birth town some years ago. And, wow, such a formative moment with danger at every side, yet God's faithfulness shinning through. I also glad you've taken time to write your story. 

When did you start writing about your life and your family? What have been some of the biggest challenges and joys along the way.

Hazel: I commenced writing my story as soon as I retired from teaching. It was so difficult telling my story that I wrote it in the third person but feeling that a first-person account would have more appeal, I re-wrote the entire book in the first person. I shed many tears when re-living our sorrows and hardships, but my biggest challenge was not to hurt my family.

After storming heaven with my prayers, I felt I needed to keep writing. I hoped that others too, would more greatly understand the Lord’s mercy and never give up hope even in the direst circumstances.

The biggest joy when writing my memoirs was re-living those happy moments, and just holding my books when they first arrive from the publisher.

Jenny: Good on you for keeping on writing at the Lord's prompting through the difficulties. Holding one's book is a wonderful feeling. Any tips on how to approach writing a memoir or biography?

Hazel:   1. Read many memoirs and find out what appeals to you about them.

              2. Write a timeline of your life and decide which events you wish to include in your memoir.

              3. Think of a theme to link your story.

4. Start writing your first draft.

5. Ask clarification about incidents you may not quite recall. Ask your parents, your family or

   anyone who may be able to jog your memory.

6. Do not delay.

Jenny: Do you plan to write and publish any other books? What will they be about, and do you plan to publish them?

Hazel: Yes, Jenny. There are two more books I hope to write before I pass away.

1.      The last book of my memoirs, ‘Opera, Orchids and Oz.’ I’ll give my publisher, Armour Books, first preference for its publication, as they have already published books one and two of my memoirs.

2.      My final book will be ‘The Soprano,’ a novel based on a true story of an Australian opera singer. I will give first preference to Rhiza Press as they published my first novel, ‘Chocolate Soldier. The Story of a Conchie,’ which is still earning Public Lending Rights from libraries.

Thank you, Jenny, for giving me this opportunity to speak of my books, which I hope, will continue to result in more faith and hope in the Lord, as well as heaps of pleasure to my readers.

Jenny: I love that title 'Opera, Orchids and Oz'. All the best with your two projects and thank you for taking time to share your fascinating and inspiring story with us today.

Hazel Barker migrated from Burma in 1967. She holds degrees in Arts (UWA), and Education (UNE), and excerpts from her books have been published in anthologies. 

Hazel’s debut novel, Chocolate Soldier. The Story of a Conchie was published by Rhiza Books in 2016. Both her memoirs, Heaven Tempers the Wind. Story of a War Child (Armour Books, 2016) and The Sides of Heaven, (Armour Books, 2018), were finalists in the CALEB Competitions, 2017 and 2019, respectively.

Count Your Blessings. Colin’s Story was released by Armour Books in 2020.

Blog address: http://hazelmbarker.wordpress.com

CWD Highlights - July to September 2020

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 achievements of our members from July to September 2020

Awards

CALEB Awards

Congratulations to the CALEB award finalists including our CWD members - Helen Carr, Emily Maurits, Kirsten Hart, Judy Rogers, Jean Saxby, & Susan Barnes

Winners will be announced via a Zoom meeting on Saturday 17 October 2020

Check out the full short list here HERE

New Releases & Cover Reveals

Grace Upon Grace by Teri Kempe

Teri Kempe has published her book, Grace Upon Grace. My five amazing years in Fiji in June this year.

Teri Kempe had a job she loved in Sydney, Australia when her life took an unexpected turn. Having just reached retirement age, she heard the unmistakable call of God to move to Fiji as a missionary volunteer. With only her aged pension for financial support, she left her family, friends and church for five life-changing years.

Grace Upon Grace is the story of the author’s five amazing years as a missionary. She shares the highs and lows of her time there, as well as her trust in God as she went about his work. Over five years, without knowing what the future held for her, she made a startling discovery that God’s grace is tangible. She began to see life through a different lens as God worked his refining process.

It was not easy. Sometimes she cried, sometimes she laughed, but through it all she grew closer to understanding God’s unconditional love. She found a peace and joy she could not imagine possible as God saturated her in His grace.


Terri has been encouraged by good sales, but especially by a letter from a man in his final weeks who was encouraged and uplifted by Grace Upon Grace.



Terri has also had two short stories accepted for publication in an anthology - A story of WWII - my mother sheltered my sister in the Blitz" in the NSW Senior's Volume 6 Anthology on the theme of Resilience and a story (under a pseudonym) in the Stories of Life 2020 - Tabor Press.

Heart of a Princess by Hannah Currie

Hannah Currie's second book, Heart of a Princess, released 15 July 2020 through WhiteFire Publishing. It's the second book in the Daughters of Peverell series. 

To the watching world, Princess Alina has it all – maids to serve her, a kingdom to revere her, a prince to marry her, and a wardrobe filled with enough frills, flounces and shades of pink to rival a flower shop. But behind the smiles and designer clothes, Alina has a secret. She’s barely holding it together. 

After a moment of panic almost ends in tragedy, Alina is sent to a refuge far from the palace to recuperate. Her family claim it’s for her own good but – faced with cows, knife-beaked ducks and far too many of her own insecurities – Alina is pretty sure it will kill her first. And Joha Samson, infuriating man that he is, will laugh as it does.

Only there’s more to Joha than she realizes, and more to herself too. When the time comes to make a stand, will she find the courage?

Available from Koorong and other retailers (Amazon, Book Depository, WhiteFire, etc). 

Australian author, Hannah Currie, loves God, family, people, and the incredible privilege of seeing God use her words to encourage young (and young-at-heart) adults all over the world.

Wellspring of Time by Elizabeth Klein

Elizabeth Klein has published her YA fantasy novel, Wellspring of Time as an eBook on 24th July. As a paperback on 30th July.  

Dark forces released in the form of shape shifters threaten brothers Dougray and Robbie and their companion, Belle, when they embark on another perilous journey, this time to the Dead City. Here they are faced with the most fearsome trial of all when Dougray, poisoned by a rogue spell, attempts to kill them one by one. After a deadly sword fight ensues, Robbie flees the city with Belle, believing Dougray to be dead in the catacombs, along with his father.

You can buy it HERE. 

She has revealed the cover of Book 6 in the Bethloria series, Symphony of Star Songs, which is soon be published. 

Elizabeth has also published a short story called 'Abandoned' in Open House 4 on Monday, 3rdAugust, 2020 by Storm Cloud Publishing and her play 'A Museum Piece', was requested to be reprinted by The School Magazine on 28th July, 2020

Elizabeth Klein writes fantasy, fairy tale retellings and humorous middle grade adventures. She has a new website, which you can find HERE.

Under the Mountain Boxed set 4-5 by Jeanette O'Hagan

Jeanette O'Hagan has released the second Under the Mountain boxed set with the final two novellas of the series, Shadow Crystals and Caverns of the Deep on 8 September 2020

Shut fast for two hundred years and defended by deadly traps, the Gate stands between the people of the Glittering Realms and survival.

Delvina and Zadeki seek the key to opening the Gate from the Vaane overlords across the ocean while Delvina's twin, Retza and the former Overseer's daughter, Zara, face its cunning dangers. Will they find answers before it’s too late as food supplies dwindle and conflict intensifies in the Underground Realm. Madness and shadows, death and betrayal stalk the tunnels.

Will Zadeki, Zara and the twins - Retza and Delvina - find a way to save the Glittering Realms in time and secure a better future for their people?

Set in the World of Nardva, Under the Mountain Boxed Set Books 4-5 includes the last two novellas of the 5 novella series: Shadow Crystals & Caverns of the Deep. Buy it today and be immersed in the exciting finale of this epic novella series. Both boxed sets are available at a reduced price until the end of the month. You can find a it HERE

Jeanette O'Hagan's Nardvan stories span continents, millennia and cultures. Some involve shapeshifters and magic. Others include space stations and cyborgs.  

Events & Opportunities

Other News

Short stories from CWD members, including Jeanette Grant-Thomson (That Wonderful Peace) have been accepted for the 2020 Stories of Life competition. We look forward to the publication of the anthology later this year.

Save the date:  

CALEB Awards Night: 17 October

Congratulations to all our members for your milestones and achievements