Wednesday Wanderings with ARR authors.
Today, Karly Lane is chatting about new release Tallowood Bound
and the inspiration for the story that’s been in her mind for…
how many years, Karly?
(Giveaway now ended.)
Released today!
When Erin Macalister heads to her home town to help take care of her beloved grandmother she’s relieved to be leaving behind both the city and the remnants of a broken marriage. Arriving in the small rural town she finds nothing much has changed there – including Jamie McBride, who lives on the neighbouring farm to her and is as ridiculously good looking as he was when they were seventeen and madly in love.
Desperate to bring back her grandmother’s smile, Erin goes through old photo albums with her. Though frail and confused her grandmother tells vivid stories about the past, including memories of a soldier she once loved. Erin’s curiosity about the man deepens when she finds an engagement ring he once gave her grandmother.
Meanwhile, Jamie McBride seems intent on rekindling their relationship, even though Erin’s not at all sure she wants to risk heartache again…
From the bestselling author of Poppy’s Dilemma and Gemma’s Bluff, this poignant, heartfelt story of old loves and new possibilities is inspirational and entertaining.
Over to Karly…
Author Karly Lane
Tallowood Bound was a story brewing in my head for close to eighteen years. I wasn’t actually aware of it brewing, but it was always just kind of there. We moved to Townsville back in the mid 90’s right about the time the city was launching into celebrating the 50 year anniversary of WW2 in North Queensland. I remember seeing all the marker posts go up around the district marking various important sites during the war years from 1942 when Townsville became a major staging area for America and their allies after the bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941.
Tiny timber sign posts dotted not only empty paddocks on the outskirts of town, but also in town marking things like US Army and Air force camps, houses that were used by the US military as hospitals and accommodation, as well as outside many of the schools and government buildings which had been taken over by the US military. You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing a marker reminding us of the massive upheaval of an unassuming town with a population of 30,000, that jumped to 100,000 practically overnight.
This era of history has always fascinated me. Imagine what it would be like for these laid back North Queendslander’s to wake up and find that while they’d been sleeping, ships had been unloading jeeps, supply trucks, personnel and machinery onto the beaches and were now setting up camp!
The Yanks were considered to be pretty wealthy compared to the average Aussie digger, (many of whom were serving overseas and in New Guinea, leaving their womenfolk unattended) and quite a novelty, often spending their money on luxuries like stockings and chocolates; items unobtainable for most people on rations. They had manners and charm and let’s not forget, accents.
Meanwhile, the town was struggling under the added burden of these thousands of extra mouths to feed and resentment and unrest was growing. The military claimed first dibs on food, fuel and ice, leaving locals to pay exorbitant prices for basics like milk and fresh produce.
This is what Evelyn, Erin’s grandmother in Tallowood Bound, is dealing with as a young woman growing up in war time Townsville during 1943 when she meets and falls in love with an American pilot.
Karly’s inspirational artwork for what might have been painted on that American pilot’s plane.
It’s a part of her grans life, Erin had never heard about until she uncovered the box of treasures, containing a stack of letters and photos from an era long gone. It’s just the distraction Erin needs as she tries to forget about her recent marriage breakdown.
Although the WW2 era in the story is only a backdrop, I found the research fascinating, and fell a little bit in love with Jimmy, the handsome US pilot, myself!
I hope you come to love Erin and her gran as much as I have and enjoy their story.
Karly
Tallowood Bound is available in paperback and eBook from all good retailers.
BUY NOW
Booktopia
Amazon Australia
iBooks
Kobo
For a chance to WIN a signed paperback of Tallowood Bound, leave a comment here for Karly!
Giveaway now ended and the winner is:
Renee Finn!
Thank you to all Karly Lane fans for posting a comment.
Read more about Karly and her books on MEET KARLY LANE
I really enjoy reading Karly’s books, looking forward to reading this one too!
Hope you enjoy it, Kerry 😀
Thank you for my beautiful banner up the top! It looks awesome!!!!! And this story has been floating around in my head for a very, long time…. scary when I think of how long ago it was when I moved to Townsville… my kids were just babies and now the eldest is almost 22!!!!! EEEEK!!!!! Weird though, because it doesn’t feel THAT long ago since I was living in beautiful Far North QLD!
Can’t wait for Tallowood Bound! Just love Karly’s books!
😀 Love that you love them, Kristy!
Hi Karly another great story love how some of our important history is woven into the romance adding to the intrigue keep them coming
Thanks Julia 😀 I love the bit of history too. it’s so exciting when it fits into a book as perfectly as Townsville and WW2 did with this one 😀
Would love to win this. Love finding more fantastic authors to fall in love with the stories they create.
😀
CONGRATULATIONS Renee! You have WON a signed paperback copy of Tallowood Bound by Karly Lane. Karly will be in touch soon. And thank you to all of Karly’s many fans for posting a comment. Lovely to see you all here!
I have been so excited to read this one Karly! Congratulations, you’re a fantastic Author! Can’t wait to read it and have my own signed copy! xx
Thank you Elly <3 xxxxx
Your stories are amazing. Always anticipate your book releases. Definitely excited to get stuck into this one.
Thank you Amanda!!!! 😀 xxx
Sure would love to win this book from a wonderful author. The books I have read have help me go to my own little space heaven. Thank you
Don’t you just love that feeling when you can escape for a while! xxxx
Hey Karly, can’t wait to get a hold of your latest bestseller-to-be 🙂 Love the linking of the war, military and rural romance. Bec 🙂
I really enjoy when I can combine all those favourite things I love !
Love your books Karly, I have all of them so far and can’t wait to add this one to my collection.
Thank you Silvana 😀 Hope you enjoy it xxxx
OOOH yes please would love to add this to my book shelf.Love love love your books and stories ,can’t put them down once you pick them up. I recommend them to everyone and they all come back with big a thank you .Keep up awesome work Karly, xo
Thank you so much Janelle!!!!! <3 I'm so lucky to have people like you out there xxxx
Love all your books. Can not wait to read this one! Sounds like perfect Summer reading.
I am a Canadian now living my dream of living in Australia. I love to read books that are based in Australia, I just gobble them up 🙂 I have read a few of your books and enjoyed them all. Looking forward to reading this new one…and a few more of your older ones! 😀
Oh wow! welcome to Aus, Shaayna! Gotta love it when those dreams come true! Thanks for dropping by 😀 xxx
Thanks! 😀 I’ve got 2 little boys under the age of 4 too, and my older one is getting the Aussie accent. Yay! 😀
Ha!!!! That’s funny 😀
Can’t wait a must have.
🙂 good luck
Have only recently discovered your work. …. just loved Gemma’s Bluff and Poppy’s Dilemma! Tallowood Nound is on my Christmas wish list.
Lovely! thanks, Danielle xx
Reading a Karly Lane at the moment -Burnt. Macksville just up the road 😊
Look forward to this new book!
Always great reading, Thankyou Karly 😊
Almost a local then, Kim!!!! xx
Congratulations Karly - I cant wait to read your new book im sure its amazing as all your other books best wishes xox
Thanks Selena xxx
Amazing achievement Karly! Another book that is bound to be brilliant. Loved all your others, can’t wait to get this one. Keep them coming 🙂
Thanks Jane xx
Well done Karly, i look forward to reading!!!
thanks Katrina xxx
I have really enjoyed reading your other books would love to win this 🙂
Thanks Maria, good luck!! 😀
Congratulations on release day Karly! I love your work and am looking forward to getting a copy of Tallowood Bound to read and add to my collection of your books 🙂
thank you Brenda 😀 xxx
Love your books…..always a great read. Can’t wait to read Tallowood Bound 🙂
Thank you Nat xxx
I am looking really forward to reading Tallowood Bound, the WWII era is one that interests me too. Working for Legacy I interact with ladies of Erin’s grandmothers generation every day. Some of them have fascinating stories to tell.
It’s just an amazing time in our history, isn’t it. They went through a lot, both those who went to war and the people left behind who also made a lot of sacrifices. Loved the research involved with this book, i’d often find myself getting sidetracked by reading something so interesting i’d lose hours!!! 😀
Karl’s, I hear nothing but great things about your book from Len, I would love to add you to my list of great authors!! 😊 Your book sounds really interesting with WW2 being a theme in the background. Fingers crossed xx
Len’s such a sweetheart! Best of luck with the comp, I hope I end up on your book shelf!!! 😀
I haven’t come across any of your books yet Karly. This one sounds great of a bygone era full of optimism and hidden romances. I’d love to read more about Erin and her Gran and what stories and treasures they discover in Tallowood Bound.
Then I really hope you enjoy your first Karly Lane xxx
Hi Karly,although I haven’t read one of your stories yet, I love the premise of this one. I had an aunt who fell in love with an Amercan serviceman during the war. Congratulations on your release day and I look forward to reading your story. Cheers Delores
Thanks Delores, I look forward to hearing what you think 🙂
Congratulations on the release of Tallowood Bound Karly! Wishing you every success with the new book! Can’t wait to immerse myself in another good read! Cheers Jane
Thank you, Jane xx
I love reading Karly’s books and can’t wait to read this one. Congratulations and best wishes on the release of Tallowood Bound. Cheers Heather
Thank you Heather x
My parents went up to Townsville for the 50th anniversary. My father was shipped from there to New Guinea during WWII. He was 18.
My father used to say that the Americans were ‘soft’, but that it was their help that saved Australia from invasion.
A must read for me.
This book is all about that exact era in the war 🙂 it was fascinating! and I wish I’d been more interested back when the anniversary was on! The stories and research I could have gotten!!! Priceless. But I guess at that time in my life I was busy with babies and the usual stuff, and I wasn’t really thinking I was ever going to write books ‘for real’ back then! 😀
Congrats on another book release Karly! Burnt was a simply stunning read and the synopsis of Tallowood Bound sounds like another fabulous read 🙂
Thank you Karen! I hope you enjoy it as much as Burnt! xxx
I just love to read your books they are down to earth good stories, I have read them all cant wait to read this one, thank you for writing such good stories.
Thanks so much, Robyn 😀 xxx
Love love love Karly’s books… Hope To Be picked… If not I’ll just have to buy it…. Mmmm now it won’t be me, guaranteed income and all.. 😂😜
Can’t wait to read it!!
It’s drawn randomly, so you’ve got just as good a chance as everyone else!!! 😉 I wish you could all win a free book! I love, love, love that you love the books! xxxx
Karly’s books are stories you can relate to. Outback Australia, romance & adventure create such a capulating story that you can’t put her books down. Can’t wait to read this new release as always
Hi Sharon, 😀 Thank you for being such a loyal and awesome reader xxxxx
Hi! Karly,
Congratulations ! on your new release. I have enjoyed reading a few of your books. My favourites were Bride’s choice and North star. Love a little mystery,romance , rural setting and history. Just can’t wait to read Erin and her Gran’s story.
Thank you Jessy! Hope you love their story just as much as the other books xxxxx
Good to see another book from you - cant wait to read it. Love the fact you live in Townsville - Best Regards and once again love your books.
Hi Cheryl, Unfortunately, I don’t live in Townsville any more, but while I did I loved it. I think a little bit of my heart will always belong to Townsville 😀 xxx
Sounds great and I need to read this one. As you delve into some of ww2 thoughts., my father fought in New Guinea. Am sure there will be some tears. Loved reading your books.
Hi Bronwyn, I hope you’ll be ok with the tears. And thank goodness for people like your Dad <3 I'm sure you're very proud of him. xxxx
Congratulations on your new release, Karly. Another fantastic story to sink my teeth into. Luurve your work!
Why, thank you Ms Hein! And you KNOW i feel the same about your work! 😀 Many a day i’ve spent reading one of your books when I should have been writing some of mine! xxxxx
I so love your books Karly. I havnt been a book reader. My mum said to me I need tobtake time out more and suggested I read Bridies Choice which she had read and loved it. I also loved it and now I’m right into my book reading!! Look forward to reading all your future books. Thanks. Leanne
Leanne, that is such an awesome story! I’m so, so, so glad your Mum got you into reading again 😀 Sometimes it takes a while for it to be something you do for enjoyment, but it doesn’t matter when you get into it, as long as you’re enjoying it now!! 😀 So happy to hear all this! xxxx
Hi Karly, I’ve read all your books and know that I would love this one too! Keep up the great work. Venetia
Hi Venetia! what a cool name! 😀 Good luck with the comp! xxxx
Love the look of this book Karly. My 91 year old mum reads all day, every day, I think I will have to introduce her to your books. Congrats on release day!
HI Chris! I would love her to read my books! That would be so lovely! 😀 Thank you for dropping by xxxxx
I have added them to my Xmas list 🙂
Ohhh, I can’t wait to go out and get this one. I have all your books and this one will also be so thoroughly enjoyed too. Congrats on the release of Tallowood Bound Karly.
Hi Melissa 😀 thank you so much xxxxxx
What a beautiful cover! Great choice! I’d love to read this book!!
I so want to win this book. It is the only one of your books that I haven’t read. I looked for it at Big W Sunbury and Big W Watergardens but not on the shelves here yet.
Hi Margaret 🙂 good luck! Hopefully it’ll be on the shelves soon 🙂
i have read many of Karly Lanes books and hope to be able to read this one tried to get i today but not in stores yet guess thats what living in country is all about ..waiting
I hear ya, Karen! Bit disappointed that the shops haven’t got their act together, but I’m sure it won’t be long xxxx
Love your books MissKarly, just wish an audio too
Thank you, Miss Helen 😀 No idea how the whole audio thing works… have asked the publishers but can’t get mine done for some reason 🙁 Maybe we need a petition!
wow I really think this is a story which will be talked around dining tables around Australia and I do look forward to obtaining a copy should be very proud of yourself what an accomplishment youre Gran sounds like an awesome Lady, love that era
What a lovely comment to make, Pamela 😀 thank you so much xxx
yah soon to be another escape to the outback for me love all you books(my escapes)
So glad you’re enjoying rural fiction, we’re very lucky to have so many great authors in Australia 🙂
Haven’t read any of your books but I love the Australian outback books hoping to read one soon
Hope you enjoy it, Pam 😀
Hope you enjoy it Pam!
I just love all the output from such beautiful Australian authors writing about Australian places. Even if I have never been to these places, you transport me there through your writing.
We’re very lucky to have so many talented rural authors here in Australia 😀
How fabulous, Karly, that this book has been brewing for 18 years. It must have been an absolute joy to write. You’ve inspired me to dust of my MacBook, quit the excuses, and get back to writing my own novel. Thank you!
Lovely! Sometimes the best plots need a long time to brew! 😀 Good luck with your novel, I look forward to seeing you on here one day! 😀