Today we’re continuing our Supporting Local Authors blog post series by spotlighting Tasmania.
‘Local’ at ACW refers to Australia, New Zealand and other countries within Australasia.
In our ACW blogging group we have one blog member from this region – Keona Tann.
Keona Tann writes encouraging and inspiring devotion posts for our blog and on her website.
Here’s a list of links to recent blog posts shared at Australasian Christian Writers by Keona.
Learn more about Keona Tann
I’ve lived most of my life in Tasmania, which is one of the beautiful Australian states. Deliriously happily married to my college sweetheart for over 22 years, we consider ourselves extremely blessed to be raising 2 wonderful teenagers. Hubby and I have also been long time child sponsors with Compassion so we have overseas kids.
I struggled with illness and disease for most of my life. The biggest battles were: endometriosis for 28 years and adrenal/chronic fatigue which was severe for 28 months. In September 2016 healing was declared over my life, praise God, this set me on a path of deep inner healing, restoration and transformation. My passion to write was reignited and I wrote out a mission statement:
“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:3 (NLT)
I desire to impact the world through the words I share. I long to enrich, empower and encourage others whilst delivering my stories with empathy and understanding. Read more.
Visit with Keona Tann and read A Redemption Story at her website.
Many of our ACW Facebook Group members are from Tasmania, or have written books connected to this state/region.
Mary Hawkins is from Tasmania. Her novel, Damaged Dreams, was repackaged and published in the Truly Yours romance imprint.
Damaged Dreams
An accident has reduced her to long months of recuperation, and a broken engagement has placed her in the throes of a deep depression. Not only that, but for the first time Brenda Sparks feels totally unloved and unattractive. Her life is at an all-time low. Unable to secure a new position as a nurse, Brenda accepts Dr. Blake Warwyck’s offer as a last resort. Caring for his younger brother Rick, injured in a car accident, is better than nothing. But Blake, a man with his own struggles, sees life differently, and he wants Brenda to share his vision. Read more.
Ray Hawkins is from Tasmania. Ray has published devotion books including Dynamic Ageing: 31 Biblical Devotions for a satisfying and purposeful life.
Dynamic Ageing
Discover how to make the ageing experience into an adventure. Join the Lord’s plan for ageing dynamically. Understand why God’s seniors are priceless. God’s grace for dynamic ageing more than compensates for physical limitations. Read more.
Chrissy Garwood is from Tasmania. Her debut romantic suspense novel, White Rose of Promise, released in 2019.
White Rose of Promise
A prophetic dream she can’t remember. A shameful past she can’t forget. An impossible future she dare not cherish.
Ria Fontana comes home from twenty years in exile. She is looking for reconciliation but her family refuse to acknowledge the secret that keeps them apart. They cannot accept that the lost years have changed her forever. Her hope for a new beginning fades.
Sebastian Romano has no time for women and abhors weakness. The wealthy businessman is uncertain why he offers Ria a way out of her dilemma, but it is too late to change his mind. If only he had understood the risk.
Ria’s innocence turns his orderly world upside down. Her faith challenges his values as she steps into her destiny. He thought he was done with his violent past, but his enemies have found her. Romano watches helplessly as the prophecy unfolds…
This stand-alone story is the first volume in A River Wild Romantic Suspense Novel series. Read more.
Annette Mace is a local Tasmanian, living on the beautiful North West Coast of Tasmania in the coastal town of Ulverstone.
Learn more about Annette Mace.
I am a Spiritual Mentor, Public Speaker, and self published author of It’s Official It’s a Miracle. My story is about how I suffered with an Acute Post Viral Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Fibromyalgia.
I write about how God was with me through such a difficult journey, and how tough times don’t just affect us but all those around us. I then share, that at the ordained time God set, He miraculously healed me in the most amazing manner.
My story is unbelievable yet undeniable. You got to read it. It is unashamedly a God focussed book, but in saying that, I have also had many non Christians who have contacted me with how they loved our story. I believe it would fall into the PG category. Read more.
Many of our ACW Facebook Group members write books for the general market. Please read the information for the books below regarding book content, especially if you’re a reader who prefers clean, family-friendly PG books.
Adam David Collings is a proud born and raised Tasmanian, and has always lived here. Jewel of The Stars: Earth’s Remnant, is a space opera book written for a mainstream audience, although it does contain a character who is openly Christian. The book contains science fiction themes (such as aliens). Some very mild language that would rate no more than a PG rating (possibly even a G rating) and some violence, that again, would be around a PG level.
Jewel of The Stars – Season 1 Episode 1 – Earth’s Remnant
The Cruise is Over
Haylee was more confident designing starships than raising an autistic child. Now she just wants a relaxing vacation with her family. But when Earth falls to an alien armada, she knows life will never be the same again.
Les was just a cruise ship captain. Now, he must rise up and become something greater, if he is to keep his crew and passengers alive.
Braxton never wanted to leave the space navy, but now, taking a cruise is the only way to feel the stars around him. This crisis may be his ticket to regaining the life he thought was gone forever.
Can they overcome their differences and save everyone on the ship?
If they reach unexplored space, they might yet survive, but an unstoppable enemy stands in their way…
Earth’s Remnant is the thrilling pilot to an episodic space opera, Jewel of The Stars, by Adam David Collings. Join the crew as they fight for survival against the wondrous backdrop of the unknown. What else will they find hiding among the stars?
Join the adventure today. Read more.
Apart for the authors mentioned I am not sure I know any other Tassie authors. I don’t know of any books set there (Christian ones). It would be great to have some historical fiction set in Tassie. I found out my great, great, great Grand mother (I think) was born in Tasmania so would be great to read books set in the early days of the state.
With so many beautiful places it would be a great setting for all genres. (I could see a mystery involving the Cadbury factory).
A mystery set around the Cadbury factory would be a lot of fun. There is an author who writes cozy mysteries set at the University of Tasmania. I believe she is a Christian. Can’t remember her name off hand. I’ll have to look it up.
I am often tempted to write something around the history of Port Arthur. Of course, knowing me, I would certainly make it a time-travel story rather than a pure historical. The lure of sci-fi is just too strong in me haha.
a time travel story set around Port Arthur would be so cool. Maybe someone visiting just happens to pick up an item and is transported back in time. Or the other way round. There would be so many possibilities. I time travel and Sci Fi. I really liked Sliders where they go to other dimensions. Also like Quantum Leap. and the first one would have been The Time Machine.
Thank you for including my book and thank you for your support. It is very appreciated. It can be a bit of a battle at times to know how to get our stories out there. So, I thank you for what you are doing.
Thanks, Narelle, for highlighting Tasmanian Authors. We Tasmanians often get overlooked in life (but never by the Australasian Christian writing community)
A couple of familiar authors’ names in your list, and lots of other names to add to my list.
I remember my curiosity about Tasmania being ignited many years ago after reading “For the Term of His Natural Life” by Marcus Clark. I’ve never actually crossed over to the island state, but one day …
I love the way a novel can transport you to another location, or another realm.
For the Term of HIs Natural Life was the book I thought of too for Tasmania. Robert Colb
was in the show and he played his part so well. I liked him from Chopper Squad and after this show I wrote him a fan letter. I told him how I really liked his character in Chopper Squad and while I thought his acting in For the Term of HIs Natural Life was really good but I didn’t like the character his played. He wrote back. It was the first time I wrote to a star and to get a letter back was wonderful.
I have been to Tassie twice and I love the state. (Although I don’t like a few of the roads cos I got really car sick).
W.R. Gingell is a young Tassie Christian author writing for the general market. She has an urban fantasy series set in Hobart that is very engaging.
Sounds interesting, thanks for letting us know.