Literary Morning Tea

I came  across a unique opportunity to hear from two authors with recently released books set in the Southern Highlands.  Joan Sauer’s, Echo Lake, incorporates real locations into the narrative whilst Lucy Campbell’s, Lowbridge, gives fictional names to real locations included in the storyline.  

I went to the morning tea held by The Bookshop Bowral at the lovely Centennial Vineyards Restaurant excited to hear from two authors about their mystery novels and writing life.  I was not disappointed.

I was about halfway through reading Echo Lake whilst Lowbridge had only been released the previous week.  Joan Sauers is a writer who moved to the Highlands with her daughter’s family during the pandemic.  She began writing Echo Lake (which is not a real place) during her time there and had commenced writing the second novel at the time of the Author Talk.  She has planned for Echo Lake to be the first in a series featuring Rose McHugh.  Rose moves from Sydney to her new home near Berrima at the beginning of the novel and sets about exploring the Highlands, visiting places familiar to me which was lovely to read. Interestingly, Sauers, who is a screenwriter, planned the novel out as if writing a screenplay.  She is in talks to have in made into a TV series.  Here’s hoping!

Lucy Campbell’s book is still on my To Be Read pile (it’s a big pile).  I’m saving it up.  It is a stand alone novel with two timelines exploring the mystery of a teenager’s disappearance in the late 80s.  The discovery of the unsolved mystery gives Katherine Ashworth something to focus on during a difficult time in her life. Readers claim the settings are recognisable if you are familiar with the Highlands.  Campbell did not plan to set the novel in the Highlands (albeit fictionally), realising as she wrote that that is what she had done.  

During the discussion interesting questions about first and third person made me think on that a bit more.  Furthermore, Australian author Michael Robotham‘s Joe O’Loughlin series was mentioned as being worth a read.  These had been recommended to me by a friend several years ago and I have now begun reading them.  There are nine books in the series and I am up to number 7; it seems number 9 might be the last).  Interestingly, books 1 to 6 featured first person narratives from psychologist Joe or his retired detective friend, Vincent Ruiz (in books 2 and 5).  Book 6 is written in the third person from Joe, Marnie and Vincent’s perspectives.  It was quite a challenge for me to adjust to this alteration at first.

Unfortunately, I did not take any photos on the day.  My reticent nature will need to be more forthright at such events in the future.

Any recommendations for books I can add to my pile are gratefully received.