The Convict Birthstain Collection

The term "Convict Birthstain" was used by the last Governor before the Federation of Australia. Earl Beauchamp voiced these words in Perth, and his words arrived in Sydney before he did. He lasted only eighteen months in the job before Sir Edmund Barton became our first Prime Minister. (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9448508)

Over two hundred years after the arrival of the First Fleet, many Australians are descended from those convicts and the 160,000 plus convicts that followed them. 

There are three sides to the colonisation of our land. The Aboriginal oppression, the English domination and then... There are the convicts. Often, they were ripped from the loving arms of family and banished halfway around the globe. Most never returned to the motherland.
Having said that, living in this wonderful country gave them a life they could not have dreamed about in England. 

Between us, my husband and I share seven convicts in our direct bloodlines. There are, of course, many more if you count those who married their siblings. Many of my books have elements of those convict lives.  

I tell stories that are nice because many of these people were nice, and their stories are untold. 

Women, in particular, were sent out for petty crimes. Saying "NO" to a man in public could have you arrested and banished. Thefts of over 1 shilling (ten cents)  were enough to have you transported. NB Many women intentionally stole to be transported as they had little choice in England but become prostitutes. Life in the very early days of settlement was no bed of roses. Disease and hunger were rife, and life was cruel. Vile abuse of women was rampant, but life in London was not that much better. 

Not all of my characters are convicts, but they must live in a settlement where emancipists (freed convicts) were the majority of the population. 

There are nine books written in this Collection.  (Amazon Links)    Underling titles - are individual book information.

No More My Love (Amazon) (Long Listed in the 2023 Historical Fiction company's Competition) No More, My Love  (book information)

The Vine Weaver (Amazon)(Long Listed in the 2023 Historical Fiction company's Competition) The Vine Weaver   (book information)

Scotch at The Rocks  (Amazon)  Scotch at The Rocks (book information)

Waiting at the Sliprails (Amazon) Waiting at the Sliprails  (book information)

Convict Shadows of the Past (Amazon) Convict Shadows of the Past  (book information)

In Defence of her Honour (Amazon) In Defence of Her Honour (book information)

I Can't Stop Tomorrow  (Amazon) I Can't Stop Tomorrow  (book information)

Madeline's Boy (Amazon) Madeline's Boy (book information)

Jam or Marmalade for Tea (Amazon)  Jam or Marmalade for Tea  (book information)

NB One character who appears in many, if not most, of the stories is Major Ned Grace. I bet you will fall in love with him!  He is modelled on a dear friend who embodies many of Ned's wonderful attributes.  He knows who he is!  If I get stuck on how Ned would react, then I wonder how this dear friend would respond and put those words into Ned's mouth!