Wednesday Wanderings with ARR authors.
Today Annie Seaton walks us through Kakadu – the setting of her new rural novel, Kakadu Sunset
Kakadu Sunset will be released in print in Australia and New Zealand, and digitally worldwide, in the week before Christmas. 22 December has a huge circle around it on my calendar!
The release of this, my first traditionally published print book, is the culmination of several journeys for me: physical, emotional and spiritual. My journey as a writer, as a traveller of our beautiful country (I believe grey nomad is the correct term) and as a privileged visitor to the spiritual places of the Northern Territory.
Kakadu National Park is one of Australia’s special places—World Heritage listed for both its environment and its living Aboriginal culture. Two years ago on the way to the Northern Territory, we crossed the vast outback through three states, travelling through ancient landscapes. Many of these landscapes have been scarred by various types of mining.
Visiting Kakadu and experiencing the spirituality of the land made me wonder what would happen if mining occurred in that pristine environment. The idea for Kakadu Sunset was born. I guess you could call it Crocodile Dundee meets Erin Brockovich! I love including places that I have travelled to in my writing to share the experiences, and the beautiful landscapes, with readers who cannot travel to them. Crocodiles were a big part of this experience and feature strongly in Kakadu Sunset!
Annie’s croc at Yellow Water
On our journey we explored many of the wonderful scenic areas of the national park and some of these places make an appearance in the book.
Annie at Jim Jim Falls
Up at the top of the escarpment, a single, narrow ribbon of water trickled down the rock face to a large pool. The water was dark green, but crystal clear. Kane let his gaze wander around the huge expanse of pure white sand edging the large pool. Towering red cliffs rose majestically on three sides of the gorge.
Jim Jim Falls was one of the places that had an enormous impact on me. When I describe the setting in my book, I used one of the many photos I took on our trip to evoke the essence and the silence of the gorge:
The sky was low and dark, but the air was still, as taut as a bowstring. As the first puff of wind rustled the leaves of the small trees along the fence, the distant sound of running water carried across to him.
Other points of interest that feature in Kakadu Sunset are all actual places we visited: Sandy Billabong, Ubirr Rock, and Yellow Water. I hope you enjoy some of the photos which I took on my research trip.
Sandy Billabong
The cover of the book is an image of Yellow Water where my fictional resort, Makowa Lodge, is located.
Sunset at Yellow Water
The development of this story and the wonderful experience of achieving my lifelong dream, of writing a book, and being published in print has been an amazing journey which parallels our physical journeys around Australia. Excitement, new experiences and new friends are common to both travel and writing.
Taken from the boardwalk at Yellow Water (Annie’s fictional Makowa Lodge)
Since our trip to Kakadu we have undertaken more trips in our trusty camper trailer: to the Daintree and to the East Kimberleys in Western Australia and these have provided rich material for my next books in the Porter Sisters series with Pan Macmillan Australia: Daintree Sunrise and Kimberley Moonlight.
“In the ancient lands of Kakadu, it’s not just the crocodiles you should be afraid of…
Helicopter pilot Ellie Porter loves her job. Soaring above the glorious Kakadu National Park, she feels freed from the heavy losses of her beloved family farm and the questions around her father’s suicide. But when a search-and-rescue mission on the boundary of the older property reveals unusual excavation works, Ellie vows to investigate.
The last thing she needs is her bad-tempered co-pilot, Kane McLaren, interfering. The son of the current owners of the farm, her attraction to him is a distraction she can’t afford, especially when someone threatens to put a stop to her inquiries – by any means necessary.
Ellie will have to trust Kane if she is to have any hope of uncovering the truth of what is really going on.
Between Ellie’s damage and Kane’s secrets, can they find a way to open up to each other before the shadowy forces shut her up…for good?
Kakadu Sunset will be released 22 December 2015 and is available for pre-order now from good retailers.
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Booktopia
Amazon Australia
iBooks
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Read more about Annie and where to find her on her webpage and on Facebook on MEET ANNIE SEATON
And stay tuned for a release day giveaway!
‘Crocodile Dundee meets Erin Brokovich’ - sounds wonderful Annie. Congratulations!
Thank you, Jennifer. I had a wonderful time writing this book.
I love how you set the scene so beautifully, Annie, and am looking forward to holding this gorgeous book in my hands very soon. Thanks for the tantalising snippets.
Love the setting and the blurb, Annie. Can’t wait to read it.