WHY MY BARAGULA SERIES? (Book Giveaway!)

Writers are often asked, “Where do you get your ideas from?”
There have been many times for most of my books I simply have to answer, “I really have no idea!”

Another question of course is, “why do you write series?” Usually I have to smile. The truth is that the only series I deliberately planned were my historical Heartsong Presents books that were later released by Barbour Publishing in the 4-in-1 volume called “Australian Outback.” Not even when I wrote my first Baragula book did I plan it as the first one of a series!

And actually, the Great Southland series kind of “happened” too. To start with, when the editor asked me about my writing an historical after several contemporary Heartsongs, I thought I would be smart and simple to use information from my own Pedler and Telfer Family Historical Association published books where all the research was already done for me. Then the editor told me, “but being an Australian historical we’d just have to have convicts, Mary.”

What he didn’t realise was that both sides of my family migrated from Scotland and England to South Australia in about 1838 and that was the only Australian state who never had a convict settlement! So I had to do heaps of research to find out what the convict situation was several years before then. I discovered very quickly I had a huge battle with the plot I thought up fitting in the under 55,000 words for Barbour’s inspirational romance book club. In the end, so many minor characters needed their own story told and the only way was to tell them in other books.

Because I had that problem of word length, for my next book I wondered if I could write a much longer book. And I do know where the “idea” for that first book came from! Several years before this our daughter graduated from Senior High School. In Australia that is the last year of schooling unless going on to university or into other tertiary education institutions. “Schoolies Week” has become famous for the thousands of teenager school leavers who descend on the Gold Coast beaches in southern Queensland.

Apparently most of the locals and law enforcement agencies do not look forward to what happens during those hectic, frantic partying days on their doorstep! I was thankful our daughter did not want to go. But my writer imagination kicked in. What if she, a young Christian had gone with some of her friends who did not share her standards? What if she had become caught up in the “Sun, Surf and Sin” there? What if. . .? What if. . .?

And so Return to Baragula was born. But when it was written – and revised and revised and revised – as happened in my Search series years before, other minor characters just had to have their stories told too in Outback From Baragula. I am really excited that I have just signed a contract for Book Three, Justice at Baragula, which will be released in April 2011.

So, as well as the first anniversary of our ICFW blog, I personally have much to celebrate and would love to giveaway a copy of Return to Baragula to someone who reads this blog post and leaves a comment here. Oh, and you can check out the video trailer for this book on my website -http://www.mary-hawkins.com/

WARNING: Unfortunately my Baragula books are no longer available in most shops overseas. This means you have to obtain a copy direct from my publisher or through my own website and we have to charge you postage on top of the price of the book. So, I am offering a Baragula book as a giveaway. Don’t miss your chance to win Return to Baragula at no cost to yourself.

To enter the draw, just leave a comment about book series you have enjoyed, ask a question or simply say you would like to win a copy - and don’t forget to leave your email address. The winner will be announced on Sunday, November 28.

"Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws."

Mary is a best-selling inspirational romance author. Her 19th title will be released in 2011. A Queensland farmer’s daughter, she became a registered nurse before going to Bible College. She and her minister husband have three adult children and five grandchildren, enjoyed nearly 46 years of ministry including church planting in Australia, two years in England, three short term mission trips to Africa and now live in Tasmania, Australia's island state.