Local History Checks ~ Carry Me Home

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Details mean everything to the historical author.

It’s the life threads of another time which draw us and that’s what we want to share with our readers.

So it’s paramount this deliciousness is woven alongside the imagined in a way which keeps the reader believing.

Much of my historical inspiration has come from journals, old letters, newspaper archives, cookbooks, and historical records of island life in it’s infancy.

I thought I had the details sorted when I finished writing Carry Me Home. But I knew I couldn’t trust my information gathering alone.

So I reached out to the good people at the Phillip Island Historical Society. Two of their members agreed to read my manuscript for historical and local accuracy.

This was the first time I’d seen my story on paper. It had survived many rounds with critique partners and editors, but now it headed off, printed and all cosy in polka dot boxes, for those who cherished island history more than I ever could ~ the descendants of Phillip Island’s pioneers and early settlers.

I thoroughly enjoyed receiving their feedback. Who knew the marram grass I thought belonged on the island in 1874, had not been planted until 1910? I learned the better option was spinifex, and so I went with that. Cool word. Spinifex.

On all local matters, I deferred to the experts. Where there was a general issue with historical accuracy, I returned to my desk to research further.

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While the use of mum might sound too modern for the 1870s, I found it commonly used as early as 1835, and the word pester appears in literature dating back to 1588. And did you know the phrase, if the shoe fits, wear it… dates back to 1705, and the very modern sounding, I guess, was used by Shakespeare and Charels Dickens?

Double checking to keep a word or phrase, or delete it, brings some satisfaction. I know I’ll never get it all right, but I won’t leave any questions marks unanswered, either. It must be in the nature of a history nerd. I need to know for myself if my word choices fit the time. Anachronisms bother me as a reader, so the writer in me works extra hard to make sure there are none to trouble my audience.

I’m so grateful I had the assistance of the Historical Society members on this manuscript. Their fresh eyes picked up typos and simple errors, too.

And when I collected my polka dot boxes, minus the chocolate reward I’d stuffed in there, I was ready for another round of edits and revisions. This time, armed with something solid. This was not just a love story, anymore. The historical scaffolding on which it draped had been checked by those who knew best. And I reclaimed my absolute favourite combination, the wonderful weight of history and romance… and took it home where I could polish it some more.

“We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiralling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies.” Shirley Abbot

 

Carry Me Home Cover Design

In May, cover photography for Carry Me Home was handed over to the fabulous Kelli Standish of Pulse Point Design. Armed with the book blurb, Kelli began the long process of finding just the right look for our heroine, Finella Mayfield. Many revisions later we decided to look to photoshop to tweak the final outcome.

You won’t see it until next year, but the photography for book 2, Carry Me Away, is so beautiful we wanted to keep Sophie’s face for that heroine, and so began the search for Finella.

Those who know Sophie, will immediately pick what you see in the Carry Me Home front cover is my Honey-Girl from the neck down. The back cover image is of Sophie in full.

We tucked hair up, let hair down, faced dear Finella forward, away from the camera, played with fonts, and even erased toes which needed to disappear from view.. and the final thrilling cover appeared.

Around this time, some of the nicest people I know were asked to read Carry Me Home for endorsement. Siri Mitchell, Sarah Sundin and Joanne Bischof blessed me beyond imagination with their reader delight. And so we added some of Sarah’s words on the front cover.

But there was SO much work required between the covers, and I’ll be back on Monday with more of how Carry Me Home came together.

Have a great weekend, dear friends…  happy reading,

Dotti

 

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Cary Me Home ~ Full Wrap Cover (For Print Copies)

 

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The evolution of a cover ~ side by side.

Carry Me Home On Location Cover Photo Shoot

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My Honey-Girl ~ cover model for Carry Me Home

With April weather most suitable for a photo shoot, our little crew of four headed out to make the cover magic happen. And Phillip Island responded with fabulous weather and sublime skies.

Sophie, my daughter, Rel Mollet, world’s best VA, and me, the author… did what we were told.

The real boss this day, was Jason Lau (Jason Lau Photography) who threw himself into the task of capturing all three heroines on location, on the very island where their fictional lives took shape.

Only this time, it was real and I was looking at my girl in historical costume, ankle deep in the shallows with the sun just starting to drop behind her.

And now, in her purple skirt … she was Finella Mayfield.

Much of the photography for later covers was taken on the beautiful property of Glen Isla House and its heritage listed gardens ~ the inspiration for books 2 and 3. (more about that later)

But it was on the beach where I’d built sandcastles with my babies… that the cover for Carry Me Home came to life.

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Yes, there was a wig in that bucket. No… we didn’t end up using it.

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Photography for author website banner ~ Ventnor Beach, Phillip Island

 

 

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Wardrobe adjustment, Glen Isla House, Phillip Island

 

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Honey-Girl… we put her on a chair to capture the autumnal grape vine in the background.

 

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Shoe-holder, hand-holder…. Rel Mollet has done it ALL~ Love you Rel.

 

Sadly, the thrill of our on location photo shoot diminished when we discovered later that day, that while Sophie traipsed around the island in beautiful costumery, The Costume Factory from where we’d hired all her outfits, had fallen at the hands of arsonists. Completely burned to the ground in a senseless attack. A heartbreaking end to a day which otherwise had captured more than I expected. All that was left of the extensive collection in Flemington, was what was out on hire that weekend. Including the costumes we’d carried over the island all day.

 

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Carry Me Home, Book 1 ~ The Blue Wren Shallows

 

 

 

The Costume Hunt

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Petticoats and Frills

So, I had a story.

And I’d decided to share it with my readers. Off it went for critical sessions with some of the best critique partners a girl could asked for. Back and forth, revisions and blood letting and more blood letting, until Carry Me Home was ready for big the guns ~ a hired editor.

While the book sat among her well sharpened knives, I turned my attention to that all consuming, non writing task… the book cover!

For as long as I could remember, I’d dreamed my own Honey-girl would model for the Carry Me Home cover photography. And once I’d booked the photographer, I knew I wanted to shoot all three Blue Wren Shallows covers on the same day. With said Honey-girl.

This meant hunting down all the costumes for the entire Blue Wren Shallows books series. And who better than to hunt alongside me, than Rel Mollet herself.

We headed off to Melbourne’s premier historical costume hiring warehouse, The Costume Factory, and rummaged through what felt like acres of exquisite costumery. One rack held all the costumes used in Heath Ledger’s Ned Kelly movie.

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Acres of Costumes

 

Right era… but nothing grabbed us for Finella, or our other heroines.

Each hanger sagged with not only the richness of upholstery fabrics used for their exquisite stage sway, but extra weights in the hems.

Soon, we found our arm muscles flexing more than we were used to.

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Rel made me!

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She started it!

That’s our excuse for giving into the giddiness that miles of dress-ups bring, even to the most grown-up.

By day’s end, we’d found a great selection and the following week, Honey-girl and I returned for a fitting.

When we’d decide on dresses, we added shawls, petticoats and bustles, shoes and even a wig. The ensemble was wrapped in plastic, the wig went into a bucket for easy transportation, and we were set for a day of photography on location, at the beaches of Phillip Island.

All we needed was good weather.

Not much wind, please.

The right light and NO RAIN.

And if you know Phillip Island, you’ll know this was some order. Tomorrow, I’ll share how that all played out!

 

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Honey-girl, dressed in yesteryear… not letting go of the modern day

 

 

Dotti

Why Phillip Island?

Many hIMG_3807ave asked how Carry Me Home came to be written. And why I set this love story on Phillip Island.

The better question would be… How could I not?

Phillip Island has been our family holiday destination for more than 40 years. Many of my childhood memories are of summers on the island and as soon as my own babies were able to sit up, they dipped straight into the Ventnor rock pools.

This majestic volcanic outcrop, surrounded by picture perfect coastline, has charmed many over the centuries. Some years ago, a newspaper tribute captured some of the stories of the early island settlers. It included old photographs which only hinted at how life might have looked for those who chose to make Phillip Island their new home.

I already had the love. And so began the wonder.

I wondered what it would have been like to live on this remote island in its first decade of white settlement. How would people have arrived (without the bridge which now connects it to the mainland at San Remo)? What difficulties would they have faced in creating a new life? What comforts would they have enjoyed… or longed for?

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I  wondered… who would choose to come here?

And so I created one character, Shadrach Jones, who chose for himself. And then I added Finella Mayfield, for whom the choice had already been made by her father. I threw these two already troubled souls into each other’s midst, and watched how the wild weather, isolated location, and general mischief of life overturned their plans and dreams.

And when I was done, I discovered it was not enough to stop with Shad and Finella. So much more of the island’s delicous history beckoned.

So I find myself gladly marooned there, still … working on the next two books in the Blue Wren Shallows series.

I am a happy castaway. Not just on this island, but trapped in a time I can only dream into existence.

That’s where you’ll find me. Sifting through the remnants of lives once lived. Taking inspiration from those who pioneered a hard yet satisfying life, and fleshing out those who my imagination suggests might have walked among them.

Dotti

 

 

 

 

Celebrating Release Day ~ Carry Me Home

IMG_4090I’m so thrilled to share this pinch me author moment! It happened a few weeks ago when Amazon sent through a proof copy of my debut historical romance, Carry Me Home!

Isn’t that delicious?!

I won’t lie. Holding it in my hands for the first time warranted a tiny flood of happy tears. Along with crazy high-pitched phone calls to friends and a super-long string of Viber emoticons.

It’s a thrill to share this picture with you, today. There’s nothing to compare with the moment your first book arrives in the mail and it’s all done.

Ready to share. Dressed up for taking out.

Today… is the day you too could make this book your own. Won’t you join me? Hop over to Amazon where the digital version is available for instant download to your Kindle.

The long-awaited print copies are also now available for purchase and will be delivered to your door. Exactly like the one you see in my photo!

If you live in Australia and would like a signed copy, send me a message. Let’s get Carry Me Home into your hands, too.

Thank you for the many good wishes you’ve sent my way this last week since the website went live. You guys are amazing!

Bless you for cheering me on,

Dotti