Things That Go Bump in the Night in Australia by Susan Horsnell

As an Australian, Halloween is not a celebration that was widely recognised until more recently so like many families, there is no tradition for mine.

I do have a huge interest though in the past, anything historical, rituals and traditions. I do also believe in spirits but this was not always the case.

My husband and I, along with our almost 2 year old Jack Russell-Miss Gemma-Jean, have been travelling the state of Tasmania, Australia in our caravan (RV) since February this year. One of the main reasons we came over was to explore the natural, untouched beauty but what I have found is an amazing history that is almost unknown. For years successive governments and individuals have seemingly attempted to wipe the past of the island, one which is extremely dark in some instances, from the history books with only a few exceptions. 

It has proved to be Nirvana for me and I will be bringing out numerous Australian Historical Novels under the name of Annabel Vaughan beginning in 2023. Most will focus on the Convict Days and will fictionalise, while keeping a large amount of fact, some of the horrendous treatment and stories of those transported from Britain. 

Identification of young girl 
transported to Tasmania.

The first story I have underway is in diary form and covers the story of Millicent ‘Millie’ Staples. Her story titled “The Cascades: A Female Factory Convict Love Story”  will take readers from her transport at the age of 11 through to her love story with one of the guards and eventual freedom. Her history is one unknown to her present day family until the diary is found as previous generations found the history deplorable and a stigma not to be acknowledged.

11, you ask? I have actually increased the age of her transport from 9 and made her a female who was sent to The Cascades Female Factory in Hobart. The factual story is of a 9 year old boy who stole some toys and was transported to the Port Arthur penal colony! Yep, 9 years old! As I said earlier, it is an horrendous past.

Now, to the title of my article. Earlier this week we visited the ruins of The Cascades Female Factory. It is a place where dogs are allowed and so we had Miss Gemma-Jean along with us. There is not a lot left of the site as there were attempts to wipe it from history but fortunately, it has now been noted as an important part of history and is World Heritage Listed to protect further decimation. The only original building remaining is the Matron’s Quarters.

Baby Cradles at The Cascades

Yards 1, 3 and 4 remain with some of the original stone walls and there are markings as you will see in the photos that show where original buildings around the perimeter once were. There were around 2,000 deaths of babies and young children at The Cascades during it’s lifetime, a terrible tragedy. Girls fell pregnant to guards and men they were ‘consigned’ to outside the factory. Once pregnant, they were sent back for punishment.

Two thousand names of babies and young children 
who died at The Cascades.

Miss Gemma-Jean was fascinated by various ‘smells’ in these yards but when we reached the area where the Solitary Confinement Cells had been located, she became so distressed, she actually squealed and my husband picked her up and carried her away from the yard and into the information building. She was shaking and her heart was racing. It was some time before she settled and the rest of the visit was uneventful since ‘daddy’ carried her to protect her from having it happen again.

A forgotten soul. Say her name

Inside, the staff petted and soothed her while informing us there had been several reactions from people in that solitary confinement area. I believe tortured souls walk the earth in that once soul-destroying site.  It would be interesting to know if those souls really do go bump in the night when darkness falls and all is quiet.

Happy Halloween to your and your families.

Sue Horsnell

I write in several sub-genres of romance so check out my website at: http://susanhorsnellromanceauthor.com

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SUSAN R. HORSNELL

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My Favorite Trips

 Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, soul nourishing romantic women’s fiction with light paranormal elements. My stories show you what life could be like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted, supported and loved. And where, with this support, you make choices to overcome the darkest nights and choose love and light.

Welcome to July! We’re now officially half way through 2022. If you live south of the equator, your days will begin to get longer. Here, north of the equator, ours begin to get shorter. Unlike many of my friends and family, I’m not a summer person. The sun is too bright, the temperatures are too hot and traffic increases as people head out on vacations.

Not to be too curmudgeonly and because our monthly theme is Vacation Trips and Bucket Lists, I’m going to share my favorite trips. I’ve had the pleasure of adding on a few vacation days to more business oriented trips than taking an actual vacation.

Because of my involvement with The William Glasser Institute International and Glasser Institute for Choice Theory-US, I’ve visited places I heard and read about and never dreamed I’d see in person – both in North American and elsewhere!

Here in the U.S.

I’ve attended conferences in

Houston and San Antonio, TX;
Copper Mountain and Colorado Springs, CO;
Boston, MA;
Hollywood and Orlando, FL;

Vacationed in Cayman Islands after
Hollywood, FL Conference where
my friend and I went to Hell!

Kansas City (twice);

Cincinnati, OH;

Chicago, IL,

New Orleans, LA;

Phoenix, AZ,

Albuquerque, NM;

Los Angeles, CA;

Seattle, WA (twice);

Portland, OR;

Jersey City, NJ with views of the New York skyline and

Philadelphia, PA. Oh and

Nashville, TN in 2010!

One of both of my granddaughters attended the conferences in italics.

In addition conferences were held in Canada (Montreal and Vancouver, B.C.). I missed the one in Toronto.

So that’s North America!

Where Else Have I Been?

Dublin, Ireland

Sidney, Australia
Edinburgh, Scotland

A typical planting of flowers. This one is in Dublin.

Edinburgh, Scotland

And as a bonus, my involvement also ended in 2 trips to the Balkans. Croatia and Slovenia which meant I spent time in Switzerland and Italy.

Bled, Slovenia - we spent a few days here to debrief
after being ordered to leave Croatia during the
Balkan Wars

What has also been a blessing is that I’ve had the opportunity to take one or both of my granddaughters on several of these trips. The Big One was the Edinburgh, Scotland trip with a week in London and sightseeing (Dover, Stonehenge, Glastonbury as well as a London tour).

Why did I, at times, take my granddaughters?

Because in the past, the organization held a “Kids Institute” so the conference was more family oriented and people could plan a vacation around it. Through the Kids Institute, my granddaughters had their own adventures while I was in workshops or giving my own presentation. 

2010 at Stonehenge

They had the opportunity to meet and interact with kids from around the world (Japan, Korea, Australia, Europe, South America as well as various parts of the U.S.A.). I believed then and believe now that when we meet and get to know people from other places in the world, our lives are enriched and we have an opportunity to see how we are similar, what we have in common and that creates a positive impact in our lives.

Bucket list? I used to think I wanted to visit Scandinavia or various places in the Orient. Japan was high on my list because in 7^th and 8^th grade I had a Japanese pen pal.

However, at this point in my life I think my long distance traveling (think international or at least outside North America) is less likely to happen. It isn’t just Covid or cost although they are a factor.

I love my house and my yard. I’m less than 2 hours from the Pacific Ocean although my favorite spot is closer to 3. I’m about the same distance from Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood and only 20 – 30 minutes from the Columbia River Gorge and waterfalls. A five minute walk and on a clear day I can see Mt. Hood.

Mt. Hood as seen over the trees on
the Rose City Golf Course

I’m not saying “never” to long distance traveling. Who knows what the future may bring. What I am saying is that at this point, as I sit here at my computer with my larch tree’s limbs blowing in a breeze, the geraniums and salvia adding cheerful color, the hummingbirds stopping by for a snack, I’ve no particular plans to go anywhere.

Come fall when the weather cools and, hopefully, the traffic eases, I may head off on the 2 – 3 hour drive and spend a few days along the Oregon Coast. As I’m rather weak-willed, the probability of my taking another dozen or so pictures of the waves crashing on the rocks is high. And I will remind myself of the saying we never stand in the same river…thus these will be different waves from the multiple thousands if not millions I’ve watched over the decades.

Number 1,002,010(?)

One of the additional blessing of my trips is creating believable settings in my books. Much of Elizabeth: The Lady and The Sacred Grove takes place in Ireland. The scene at the Ashford Castle? Yep, I did stay there in 1994 when I traveled there for the Dublin Conference.

Fremont, OR is loosely based on my hometown, Portland, OR. The little house you first see in Lily: The Dragon and The Great Horned Owl  is based on my own home. Some of Diana: The Queen of Swords and The Knight of Pentacles as well as Gabriella: Chaos to Symmetry take place in Italy. I spent a short amount of time in Milan and Venice but over a week along the Aegean Sea in Croatia and Slovenia. Those views are similar to the ones along the west coast of Italy.

The places I’ve seen, the people I’ve met, the lessons I’ve learned along the pathway of my life, I’ve used as inspiration and fact in my books.

You can read my Sacred Women’s Circle series to learn more about every day women and the struggles and challenges they overcome to find unconditional love.

My Staying Sane in a Crazy World, provides you with a template to create your Personal Staying Sane Plan to help you through the challenging times.

You can find all of my books at your favorite e-book vendor. Be sure to ask your local library if you’d prefer to read my books through that resource.

Learn more about Judith's The Sacred Women’s Circle series at JudithAshley.net

Follow Judith on Twitter: JudithAshley19

Check out Judith’s Windtree Press author page.

You can also find Judith on FB! 

© 2022 Judith Ashley

Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere with Susan Horsnell

 My name is Susan Horsnell and I would like to thank Judith and Sarah for inviting me to provide input to their blog.

I’m an Australian who lives in the sunny state of Queensland. With a population of 300, the village I live in now is a few hours north west of Brisbane, Queensland’s capital. We are at the top of a mountain range surrounded by forest. It’s Summer all year round in my neck of the woods, but most of the rest of Australia has seasons just like many countries.

When the Northern Hemisphere is descending into Winter, Australia is awakening to Summer. While temperatures plummet below freezing, ours skyrocket to over 100. Then, six months later, the reverse takes place.

Australia does have small pockets where it snows. In the far south of New South Wales and Northern Victoria is the Snowy Mountains area. This is where Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest mountain can be found- peak at 7,310 feet. There are also snowfalls in Tasmania on the high peaks. The season is a short one and can vary from very little snow to none at all. The majority of the continent’s Winter is cold winds, rain and icy sleet.

MOUNT KOSCIUSZKO

Here, where I live, is a different story. In the north of the continent, we have a Wet Season – December to April and a Dry Season – May to November. Our temperature rarely drops below 22 degrees Celcius-71 degrees Fahrenheit. During the wet season we often experience destructive flooding.

Being such a large continent, Australia suffers from large temperature swings and events. Flooding is a common scourge throughout the country as are bushfires and drought. Our food bowl areas really are at the mercy of Mother Nature, and rarely, if ever, experience victory. She is a strong adversary which those on the land are now learning to work with, rather than against. For decades, many have sought to bend Mother Nature to their will. The light is finally dawning that this will never happen.

Being the wife of a senior Naval Officer for 47 years, we have traveled extensively, and lived in all states of Australia as well as overseas. I grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney which have no equal (in my opinion). Since retiring after 37 years of Nursing, we have been pulling our RV around the country and many of the books I now write are based on our experiences of these small country towns.

The Outback Australia Series is based out of Bourke NSW and centers around a team who minister to the outback communities with the aid of the Flying Doctor Service.

DARLING RIVER, BOURKE NSW

Claiming His Charge is the story of a rock star who takes us around the country on tour. I describe the cities, as well as the country towns. This book is Male/Male Romance.

Destined to Shatter is another Male/Male set in and around Sydney.

Healing Jarrod is a man who finds love again and is based around Sydney.

Lost in Love is set in a fictional national park on the outskirts of Sydney.

Eight Letters is a tragic story set in the Darling Harbour area of Sydney.

Scarred is set in Sydney.

SYDNEY AND HARBOUR NSW

Love in the Outback is the story of a city girl relocating to, and falling in love with, the town of Longreach in Outback Queensland. 

STOCKMANS HALL OF FAME LONGREACH QUEENSLAND

All books are Male/Female unless otherwise mentioned.

Over the next two years there will be more stories in the Outback Australia Series and others encompassing some of the small town history.

I do hope you will one day get the opportunity to visit my home country where extremes in weather are common, but the beauty is not.

To follow me, check out the links below:

Web: http://www.susanhorsnellromanceauthor.com/

Blog: http://susanhorsnell.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhorsnellromanceauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susan-horsnell

Once again, thank you Judith and Sarah for having me.

Sue 

Bombs or Bordellos - My Travel Adventures by Judith Ashley

Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, soul nourishing romantic women’s fiction that honors pagan spiritual practices. My stories show you what life could be like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted, supported and loved. And where, with this support, you do overcome obstacles and find your happily-ever-after.

I lived well-over a quarter of a century never traveling far from home. I was in my thirties when I first visited other countries unknown to me and experienced a few Adventures in Travel.

But which story do I share?

Ending up in a bordello in Mazatlán, Mexico?

Being stopped by crossing guards and relieved of my passport when leaving Croatia during the Balkan War?

Or the tamer, missing my bus and almost missing my flight back to the US from a visit to Australia? Thankfully the bus driver turned around and came back for me.

Photo bySkitterphoto

While those all were adventures, the one that had the longest lasting effect on my travel was ending up at the United Airline Gate at Heathrow Airport, London, England to take my flight home from a visit in Ireland ---without a security stamp on my passport.

Said passport was confiscated.

I spot against the wall was designated “mine” as in with finger pointed at my heart “stay there and do not move.”

Oh, and I had a travel alarm clock in my checked luggage that “ticked” (this was in 1994 when there were active hostilities between the IRA and England. Passengers were warned that luggage could be destroyed if thought to be carrying a bomb).

If that wasn’t enough, I, unwittingly, had mace/pepper spray in my purse.

My efforts to be prepared on my first trip traveling alone as well as across the Atlantic was a dismal failure.

As I type this I’m smiling.

But in that moment, my heart raced, my hands sweated, my mind imagined all sorts of dire consequences.

I was grateful for a wall at my back when my knees weakened.

So how did I manage to create this disaster?

To this day I’ve no idea. I got off the plane from Dublin to London where I had to change to my flight to the U.S. I followed signs and asked directions to the United Gate. I did end up, at one point, outside Heathrow and knew that I’d taken a wrong turn somewhere. I felt immense gratitude to have finally made it to The Gate when my adventure truly began.

Yep, bright Yellow but tape and words
 "Security Inspection" on it
Photo by Kat Wilcox from Pexels

While polite, the security man was stern.

Did I know that carrying pepper spray was illegal in England and I could go to jail? Words failed and I shook my head.

Did I understand bombs ticked? I nodded.

Those questions I could reply to. The one that, to this day, I still cannot answer is “How did you get here?” Oh, I had a response. “I followed the signs and asked people when I wasn’t sure where I was going.” I’m sure my blurted confession that, at one point, I’d been road side didn’t help.

“Don’t move.” More threatening because of the deadly quiet tone than if he’d yelled.

Here I am in 2019, sitting at my computer, writing about this Adventure in Travel and not including my experiences in an English jail (and No, I do not watch Locked Up Abroad). It seemed hours when in fact it was under an hour before he returned and gave me back my passport.

When I arrived in the U.S., my luggage had bright yellow “security” tape. It had obviously been searched.

The next year when I traveled to Croatia during the Balkan War to help with a conference for my Glasser colleagues, my suitcase was also wrapped in yellow tape. I was pulled from the line and went through additional security when travelling within the U.S. Years later, when I traveled to Australia for yet another Glasser conference, my luggage still was wrapped with the yellow security tape!!!

Who knew that getting lost at Heathrow airport would have such long term consequences!

Available now in e-book and print

However, in 2008 I took my granddaughters with me to a Glasser conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. We flew in to Heathrow, and much to my relief, all was well. We safely made it through baggage claim with no yellow tape in sight! All’s Well That End’s Well!

You can find all of my books at your favorite e-book vendor. Be sure to ask your local library if you’d prefer to read my books through that resource.

Learn more about Judith's The Sacred Women’s Circle series at JudithAshleyRomance.com

Follow Judith on Twitter: JudithAshley19

Check out Judith’s Windtree Press author page.

You can also find Judith on FB! 

© 2019 Judith Ashley

FIVE DIAMONDS FROM THE LAND DOWN UNDER

Hi everyone!

It’s great to be back at Romancing the Genres. I hope you are all well and enjoying 2018 so far.

I’m back this month to introduce you to some of the fabulous authors we have Down Under in Australia. 

Just last month, the Rita finalists were announced. I’m proud to say that there were a few Aussies amongst those finalists. Aussies I know and respect when it comes to their writing. And then there are others I believe deserve recognition, despite not earning a mention in the Rita Awards to date.

So, let’s take a look at five amazing Australian authors whose work I love, and I hope by doing introducing them to you today, you’ll discover some new favorite authors to love and enjoy too.

1. AMY ANDREWS

 

Amy Andrews is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling author who has written sixty plus contemporary romances. Her books bring all the feels from sass and quirk and laughter to emotional grit to panty-melting heat. For many, many years she was a registered nurse. Which means she knows things. Anatomical things. And she’s not afraid to use them! 

Her extreme bull rider story, Troy has just been announced as a finalist in the 2018 Rita Award. 

Cocky, young Aussie bull rider Troy Jensen has been busted down to the pro-circuit. He needs wins and points to get him back into the big league and a shot at being crowned champ but an injury forces him off the circuit and into the arms of the woman fate keeps putting in his path.

The first time local Doc Joss Garrity meets Troy, she’s brandishing a lug wrench. The second time, he’s dragging her delinquent teen son home. The third time, he’s in her ER. How he ends up convalescing at her house she’s not quite sure. But it does make it hard to ignore him and their simmering attraction.

As Troy gets to know Joss, he starts to see a life after bull riding for the first time. But can Joss risk her heart on another man who may not come home one day?

2. AVRIL TREMAYNE

Avril was born into a big, chaotic, Italian/Irish family that was heavy on the laughs. She writes sexy, funny, modern romances, featuring strong, successful heroines who refuse to swoon, and heroes with enough alpha in them to make swooning a clear and present danger. Her hallmark is fast-paced, witty banter, which can tend toward the screwball, delivered with a strong emotional punch.

Avril's novel The Dating Game has been announced as finalist in the 2018 Rita Award. 

You need to learn the rules, fast!

Book two in the new steamy romance duet from Avril Tremayne!

Sarah’s brother Adam has been educating her best friend Lane in the arts of the Kama Sutra for weeks, all in the pursuit of Lane’s real target, David Bennet. So when Sarah finds herself alone with David at an exhibition, weeping over her own terrible dating history, they strike up a conversation. A budding artist, he wants to paint her, so she agrees in return for a guarantee that he’ll find her a relationship that can last more than three weeks (her rather dismal personal best).

She reassures herself that she isn’t betraying Lane. After all, Sarah wants marriage and 2.4 kids, and David has made it more than clear he will never want that. Plus he’s going to sleep with Lane any day now. Isn’t he?

3. P J VYE

PJ Vye lives on the plains of central Victoria where the sun shines nearly every day, even when it’s freezing. Her passion – when she’s not writing witty, off-the-wall romance – is gardening and transforming her six acres into a writer’s sanctuary.

Her debut novel, The Hermit Next Door, won Australia’s Emerald Award in 2015.

Smart, sassy and drop-dead insensitive, Pip Lessis has learned the only way not to upset colleagues is to work alone. She's completely unsuited to a job in the service industry, and yet when she inherits a funeral home, she figures it’s a good fit for her personality type. Dead people don't require small talk, right?

Pip discovers her new small town business can't prosper without the support of the community, and when she starts accusing the town folk of a murderous conspiracy - well they'd rather invite a serial killer in for tea and toast than trust an outsider.

Jaimes Everest, her largest competitor, seems determined to strike a deal, but when he reveals a surprising truth about his deceased wife, Pip believes he might be slightly unhinged. And why is it, slightly unhinged seems so damn attractive to her?

With one foot in the grave and one foot in her mouth, can Pip find a niche market in the funeral business, uncover a killer and find friendships worth risking everything for…without having to join the netball team?

I Bury Dead People is a cosy tale with a touch of romance, a touch of mystery and a hearse load of laughter.

4. STEFANIE LONDON

Books that make you laugh a little, and love a lot.

Stefanie London is the USA Today bestselling author of over fifteen contemporary romances and romantic comedies.

Originally from Australia, Stefanie now lives in Toronto with her very own hero. She frequently indulges in her passions for travel, good coffee, lipstick, romance novels and anything zombie-related.

Everybody's talking about the hot new app reviewing New York's most eligible bachelors. But why focus on prince charming when you can read the latest dirt on the lowest-ranked "Bad Bachelors"—NYC's most notorious bad boys.

If one more person mentions Bad Bachelors to Reed McMahon, someone's gonna get hurt. A PR whiz, Reed is known as an 'image fixer' but his womanizing ways have caught up with him. What he needs is a PR miracle of his own.

When Reed strolls into Darcy Greer's workplace offering to help save the struggling library, she isn't buying it. The prickly Brooklynite knows Reed is exactly the kind of guy she should avoid. But the library does need his help. But as she reluctantly works with Reed, she realizes there's more to a man than his reputation. Maybe, just maybe Bad Bachelor #1 is THE one for her.

5. SHANNON CURTIS

Shannon Curtis was born and raised in Sydney, Australia.

She’s always enjoyed reading mysteries. In primary school she hid her Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden books behind her textbooks in class, and her teachers just thought she was being studious. 

When she was old enough to realize boys didn’t have ‘germs’, she became interested in romance and used to ‘borrow’ her mum’s books and read them in her room while she pretended to clean it (Ahhh, the subterfuge!).

Then she discovered romantic mysteries, and an entire new world opened up to her. How could she not write a genre that encompassed her two loves: romance and crime? 

She'll do whatever it takes to track this killer ...

Harmony Talbot's world is destroyed when she arrives home and discovers her cousin's dead body, left with a single white rose as the killer's calling card. Lightning shouldn't strike twice, but this is the second unsolved murder in Harmony's family. Harmony is determined that this time there will be justice, even if she has to track down the culprit herself.

Homicide detective Bern Knight is good at catching criminals. Though meaningful, his work leaves little time for relationships, and the last thing he needs is a beautiful, bumbling amateur sleuth getting herself into trouble. Whoever committed this crime is no ordinary murderer; he's a ghost, leaving behind no evidence until more bodies with the same sadistic markers start turning up.

As a digital forensic investigator, Harmony has a special set of skills that she's fully prepared to use, no matter how much the stern detective is against her interference. Tracking the killer is no easy feat, but Harmony lures him out of hiding. Except now she's the one in the killer's crosshairs…

And there you have it, five fab Aussie authors with five fabulous stories.

I hope I’ve introduced you to one or more authors who may just become one of your new go-to’s or favorites. If so, I’d love to know, no matter how far down the track J

Have you heard of or read any of these books? Do any intrigue you more than others? Have you read any other Aussie-authored novels that you’d recommend? I’m always looking to expand my horizons J

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Michelle xx

 

Michelle Somers is a bookworm from way back. An ex-Kiwi who now calls Australia home, she's a professional killer and matchmaker, a storyteller and a romantic. Words are her power and her passion. Her heroes and heroines always get their happy ever after, but she'll put them through one hell of a journey to get there. 

Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her real life hero and three little heroes in the making. And Emmie, a furry black feline who thinks she’s a dog. Her debut novel, Lethal in Love won the Romance Writers of Australia's 2016 Romantic Book of the Year (RuBY) and the 2013 Valerie Parv Award. 

You can find out all about Michelle, her adventures and her books at www.michelle-somers.com

Please pop by and say 'hi' 😊