Strands Across the Sea (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780473274436)

With one ancestor who designed the New Zealand coat of arms and another who first thought of the idea of the postage stamp, there is plenty of family history from which all manner of stories can be sourced. As a long-time journalist and newspaper editor, I have recently begun writing for my own and hopefully, other people's pleasure. As a child growing up in small town New Zealand I was lucky enough to have a teacher who instilled in me the basics of English grammar and a desire to share my experiences in the written word. Raising a family, remarrying, and traveling extensively to many countries, have all provided me with a wealth of life's experiences which I hope to incorporate in my future novels. 'Strands Across the Sea' is based on the McDonald family and their struggles on the small island of Ulva before moving to Mull and then the story moves to New Zealand where they helped build the land we know today. 'A Long Time Dead' is inspired by the search for my grandfather whose unhappy end was kept a deep dark secret. When a young museum student researches a 100- year-old grave this interesting story of love and hardship is unveiled as a modern day romance also unfolds. 'Man of Vision' follows another branch of my family with the story of the Stevens family, and their life in the early days of two of New Zealand's largest cities. From wealth to harder times the family's fortunes fluctuate against a background of early colonial life. 'Dual Footsteps in the Fog' is set in New Zealand in the 1980s. Twin girls are born on the day that John F Kennedy was killed. Separated at birth, their search for the truth is unveiled in this fascinating journey of discovery. To read these stories, look me up on Amazon Kindle. I hope you enjoy my stories.