AustLit

'Presents an account of the period, 1972-1976, when the Minad company chose Meekatharra as their gold exploration centre. Meet characters who were still supplying the Meekatharra State Battery with gold ore from their mines where rock gouges date back to the thirties, and experience Minad's perilous journey.' (Publication summary)

'An Original Talent is complete in itself. But it is also the third novel in the trilogy about high-spirited Jerusha Braddon and her gallant struggle to survive as an independent woman painter in the 1870s Melbourne. It follows Fishing for Strawberries and Jerusha Braddon, Painter.

'The art dealer Peter Larchy has launched her first exhibition and she is elated at having dared to thrust in the public's eye a painting of a nude prostitute and a portrait of her murdered friend Christine. But her originality scandalises bringing social rejection, poverty and estrangement from her fiancé John. In love with Peter Larchy, she yet fears that marriage to him could destroy her independence as a painter. She asks herself if married women painted and admits despairingly, 'I knew none that did.'

'To avoid starving, she sketches passers-by in Bourke Street for two shillings. Torn between her timidities and her daring, she remains undaunted in her passion to create paintings that are groundbreaking and unique.

'And finally she courageously makes a decision about marriage.' (From the publisher's website.)

'"Hello Sailor!" the curvy blonde calls. Andrew, a 16 year old navy cadet, looks and is at once interested. Maybe this holiday in Cooktown might not be so bad after all, he thinks.

'Andrew is at that age where he is very interested in girls but he has not yet learned the social skills needed to sustain a relationship. His girlfriend Tina (another navy cadet) thinks she is being taken for granted and dumps him.

'During a short voyage on a navy patrol boat the cadets are spectators to the capture of a suspicious old freighter and then help search for an old naval mine that has been reported by fishermen on Hope Island. The mine is found and the patrol boat has to go to Cooktown to pick up a team of bomb disposal divers. While there Andrew meets some of the local girls and suddenly the prospect of spending the Christmas holidays at the famous bush pub, the 'Lions Den', looks quite attractive. But on their return to Hope Island the mine, now identified as having been laid by a German raider during World War 2, is nowhere to be seen. It has drifted off on the tide.

'After returning to Cairns Andrew's family travel to the 'Lions Den' and there Andrew and his big sister Carmen explore the surrounding country and river banks and meet some of their relations and a host of unusual characters. There is romance, lust, romantic opportunities and sadness. Andrew is faced with difficult choices (which girl?) and hard moral decisions during the following weeks. The difficulties are compounded when Tina, who is Carmen's friend, comes to join them after Christmas.' (Publication summary)

'Air Cadet Willy Williams wants nothing more than to become a pilot in the Australian Air Force. Willy is passionate about flying… and girls. His current fad is airships. Not content with making working models he decides to build his own.

'Whilst test flying his airship, Willy stumbles upon the grisly murder of his uncle. Willy and his friends are plunged into dire peril. During this testing time Willy learns much about himself, the meaning of true friendship, and love.

'Come along for the flight and share Willy’s adventures in the mountains of tropical Far North Queensland.' (Publication summary)