Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve always been intrigued by what took people to remote places so it is no surprise that my stories are set usually set on isolated islands in the southern seas, especially since I lived on one myself for many years. “My” small island was surrounded by never-ending sea – I can still feel the desolation of watching a rare ship sail of the bay.
That island of mine was first inhabited over 4,000 years ago as Polynesians left “Havaiiki” in search of something better or simply different and found strings of spectacular islands and atolls rising out of the sea. They travelled on fragile trimarans that should have sunk but survived the long voyage. They were courageous people, intelligent and beautiful with a lusty appreciation of sex.
Then Europeans came – traders and missionaries, whalers and sandalwood gatherers. Most of them were men who might well have thought they’d died and gone to heaven because of all the sex and erotic dancing under the moon, but by the end of the 1790’s the missionaries were coming and brought wives with them. They set up schools and reduced the language to writing. Polynesian script became an art form.
The clash of cultures would have been enormous – how to express joy or grief, for example. Beliefs about sensuality and promiscuity were miles apart and so was the attitude towards possessions – Polynesians took it for granted everything was to be shared while “sharing” was tantamount to theft to the Europeans. To put it simply, Polynesians believed this was right and that was wrong and Europeans believed differently. This is the world where my heroines and heroes live.
Luke Wainwright is an artist attracted by Polynesia’s vibrant light, but he hadn’t expected to bring a wife along with him. He is forced into a marriage with Hester because by the strict rules of regency England he played the fool once too often. (“Who is He?”)
A young man relies on others to choose the perfect wife for him, only to suffer the consequences. His wedding night is a nightmare – and that is just the beginning. (“A Perfect Wife for Peregrine Winthrop”)
Two wounded people have been acquainted forever but only truly meet when tragedy strikes and he sails to her aid. (“Unexpected Hero”)
Amelia is a destitute teacher who witnesses the slaughter of a man she has never met yet agreed to marry, while Guy thanks God for his wife’s betrayal – without it he would never have prepared for the worst. (“Drums”)
“Mistake” is still being written. Joshua, one of the seafaring Churnsides, blithely believes he is destined to live happily ever after with Reverend Browning’s daughter Susannah – until she makes a mistake he is unable to forgive.
Running through many of my stories is the theme of miscarriage – not surprising, I suppose, since about 20% of conceptions fail. Hester Wainwright has to wait years to give birth to a healthy babe. Charity Trescothick’s experience of tragedy causes weight loss and cessation of her periods, only with Sebastian’s love and care does she begin to heal – and gain weight. Susannah Browning is eventually happily married but still lives under the cloud of her mother’s many miscarriages.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Drums” is my latest and just uploaded on Amazon. Life in the early 19th century was a bit different to ours!!!! Especially for women, and especially in new settlements like Sydneytown in the colony of New South Wales. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be an aging (i.e. over thirty!!!) spinster and how such a woman would respond to the chance of marrying a newly-widowed missionary – “Drums” is the result, and here is the blurb.
1825, Polynesia. Amelia Yorke is a destitute teacher with a petunia in a flower pot outside her dingy cottage in Sydneytown. Guy Richmond is a botanist seeking orchids in the rainforest and heir to vast lands in New South Wales.
They come from different worlds and should never have met, yet come together on the deck of a sailing ship overlooking a spectacular tropical lagoon. And as drums on the beach threaten, a man desperately paddles for freedom: he is overtaken and soon the aquamarine water of the lagoon is stained by blood.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sorry – I just sit in front of my laptop and write, everlastingly thankful for the Scrivener programme.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
John le Carre, Jo Nisbo, Henning Mankell, Lavyrle Spencer (her “Gamble” is the first ‘romance’ I ever read and I love it.)
What are you working on now?
It’s called “Mistake” and is about childhood sweethearts destined to live happily ever. It’s set (as so often in my books) on a remote Polynesian island. The hero is a member of the seafaring family who often appear in my stories. The heroine is the daughter of a missionary. But life isn’t as simple as my hero thought. The heroine is attacked and eventually recovers. But then she makes a mistake that questions his honour. Recovering from that that takes an enormous leap in maturity.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well – Bookgoodies of course! And I really like the little books Fiverr produce.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
When I started writing fiction I attended a creative writing course. Afterwards I became good friends with the tutor. She told me the most important asset for a writer is fortitude. She was and is right.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See above.
What are you reading now?
Phantom by Jo Nesbo – I’ve read all his and Mankell’s books. I’m also reading The Italian’s perfect lover by Diana Fraser. It’s a contemporary romance and not a genre I usually read but Ms Fraser has a lovely silky ‘voice’ and I’m enjoying this book.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More of the same. Adding to my bookshelf of four books. I’ve a couple of manuscripts drafted and want to work on them. And I really ought to learn something about promotion.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Pride and Prejudice followed by The Gamble
Author Websites and Profiles
Gwendoline Ewins Website