Prolific author Maya Linnell is heading north but before she leaves the region she has called home for so long, she is embarking on a whirlwind tour to showcase her latest novel.<\/p>\n
The former Limestone Coast journalist has been living most recently in Narrawong but will now be writing from her =new home in Queensland, moving for her husband\u2019s work.<\/p>\n
But in between packing up her family\u2019s life, she is set to showcase her new novel, Wallaby Lane, set for release on June 4, in the region that has not only been home but also her inspiration.<\/p>\n
She has events planned for Millicent, Portland, Warrnambool and Casterton.<\/p>\n
Maya gathers inspiration from the small communities she has always lived in and loved, and is happiest when she\u2019s writing about rural issues, spreading the word about good books and spending time with her family and with Wallaby Lane ready to be embraced by readers, she is already working on a new manuscript \u2013 Cockatoo Cove \u2013 set for release in May next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will be my third novel set in the Limestone Coast, with lots of Beachport references including the crayfishing season opening celebrations and the Blessing of the Fleet, a Prep-12 area school that bears a slight resemblance to Kangaroo Inn Area School, and lots of love for the wineries in the fictional town of Penwarra, which is inspired by Coonawarra and Penola,\u201d Maya said of Cockatoo Cove.<\/p>\n
The storyline for Wallaby Cove is also steeped in her personal experience in the Limestone Coast.<\/p>\n
From interviewing local flower growers to receiving blue ribbons for her baking at the Show, Lauren Bickford knows her genuine love for her small town community is a big advantage in her ambition to become the presenter at the local Penwarra radio station. But is it enough to outweigh the series of on-air stuff ups that have plagued her career?<\/p>\n
No stranger to this small winegrowing region in South Australia\u2019s Limestone Coast, Jack Crossley is the new cop in town. He\u2019s traded his city beat for a slower pace, and as a former local, knows only too well that mischief can lurk around every quiet corner.<\/p>\n
For Jack and Lauren, the course of true love is not running smoothly. Can he restore order in the town before the neighbourhood watch vigilantes take justice into their own hands? Or are Jack\u2019s biggest worries much closer to home? Can<\/p>\n
Lauren\u2019s reporting remain impartial as her attraction to Jack grows? Or will her family\u2019s advice lead her completely astray?<\/p>\n
Featuring Penwarra\u2019s 100th Show, a one-eyed goat and a galah named Gary, Wallaby Lane is a complete delight from Maya, who has quickly become one of Australia\u2019s favourite rural romance writers.<\/p>\n
And Maya will continue to set her books in the region she loves, although has no discounted how life in southern Queensland will influence future works.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy 2025 and 2026 novels will be set in South Australia, but there\u2019s definitely scope for future novels to take on a new setting, once we\u2019ve settled into southern Queensland,\u201d Maya said. \u201cI\u2019ve always loved creating fictional towns from familiar landscapes. It\u2019s a nice way to pay homage to those communities and hopefully drum up some local tourism.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeveral readers have contacted me to say they\u2019ve travelled to the Limestone Coast for the first time, after being charmed by the setting in Kookaburra Cottage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maya\u2019s first novel dates back to 2017 and she can now look back and reflect on just how her career change has evolved.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of writing, editing and touring for each novel, but I try to celebrate the wins as they occur,\u201d Maya said. \u201cWhen I was writing my very first draft in 2017, I dreamed of seeing one book on the shelf, and now I feel proud to have half a dozen published stories out in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs an author, there\u2019s a lot that\u2019s out of my control, so anytime my books do well, like making national bestseller lists or a library\u2019s \u2018Top 10 most borrowed books of the year\u2019, I celebrate with a nice bottle of wine – usually a Coonawarra drop.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also get great joy from hearing from readers and knowing my characters and stories have touched someone\u2019s heart and made them laugh or cry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ands despite the fact, she is set to set up a home base thousands of kilometres from her original home, she has already promised not to be a stranger.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Limestone Coast will always be home, so I\u2019ll certainly return with my family for holidays,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve been so very grateful for the support of the fantastic hometown crowds who attend the launch events in the middle of winter, support the books and spread the word.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know for a fact that this local enthusiasm and encouragement has played a huge role in the success of my books and I look forward to returning for launches in coming years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Given she has made the successful move to author, Maya has simple advice for anyone contemplating a similar career decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d tell them to keep writing and revising until they\u2019ve made the draft as good as they possibly can before submitting to a publisher,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a tricky industry to break into, and you only get to submit a manuscript once to each publisher. Luckily there are lots of writing courses and podcasts to help aspiring authors hone their craft and understand the intricacies of getting published.<\/p>\n
\u201cAuthors are usually happy to answer any questions about the process at launch events too, so make sure you tag along and have a list of questions ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
AUTHOR EVENTS:<\/p>\n
Friday, May 31Millicent Library and Gallery, SA – 6pm<\/p>\n
Tuesday, June 4Warrnambool Library – 10am<\/p>\n
Thursday, June 6Casterton – 11amPortland – 6.30pm<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Prolific author Maya Linnell is heading north but before she leaves the region she has called home for so long, she is embarking on a whirlwind tour to showcase her latest novel. The former Limestone Coast journalist has been living most recently in Narrawong but will now be writing from her =new home in Queensland, […]<\/p>\n