Writers On Wednesday: Dale Lorna Jacobsen
Welcome back to Writers on Wednesday. This week I put my questions to Aussie author Dale Lorna Jacobsen ...
Tell me a bit about yourself …
I am a freelance
writer (the best kind) and write out of my little hut in the bush outside
Maleny, South-east Queensland. I divide my time
between feature writing for The Sunshine
Coast Hinterland Times (a high-quality magazine, even if I do say so
myself) and creative writing (ie, books). I used to do research and writing for
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, until we had a change of government. I
was one of those contract workers who missed out. The undoubted
highlight of my life happened in 2013 when I fulfilled a life-long dream to
visit Antarctica. I took part in a 32-day expedition to the Ross Sea, with the
wonderful Greg Mortimer – Australian mountaineer, adventurer and geologist.
Tell us about your most recently
published book?
Yenohan’s
Legacy
ISBN 9781921369414
Horizon Publishing Group (2013)
Yenohan's Legacy celebrates the often
unrecognised efforts of members of the Kosciuszko Huts Association (KHA) who
restore, not only our history, but beautiful huts which serve as a refuge for
walkers and riders who roam the high country. It also tells of the grass-roots battlers
who ran sheep and cattle in the most beautiful country in Australia. Underlying
this history are the often-tragic tales of the Traditional Owners forced from
their homeland. These strands are pulled together in the novel, Yenohan's Legacy.
In
researching this story, I took advantage of the superb collection at the
National Library of Australia, and visited people who had once run their own
sheep and cattle in what was to become Namadgi National Park. I camped where
Fran camped, travelled the trails she travelled, and fell in love with many
rustic huts the early settlers called home. The Aboriginal Liaison Officer from
NSW Parks and Wildlife Service handed my manuscript to two women Elders from
the Wolgal nation who wholeheartedly approved of my use of Yenohan in this
story.
“Yenohan's Legacy is a fascinating mix of
adventure and history and follows a young woman whose life changes
over the course of a weekend as she helps restore a hut in the
High Country. Haunted by ghosts of previous occupants, Fran
is drawn to their stories and seeks the truth - and also finds love
in the process.”
- Anne Brown,
Rosetta Books, Maleny
Tell us about the first time you were
published?
Union Jack
ISBN 978-1876344801
CopyRight
Publishing (2011)
My first book, Union Jack, was the result of 10 years’
research and writing many drafts. It was dear to my heart, as the main
character, Jack O’Leary, was my grandfather. A highly political novel (unions
vs ALP government in Queensland during early 1920s), I began to doubt it would
find a publisher. However, CopyRight Publishers (Brisbane) were brave enough to
take it on. I am pleased to say it has been very well received.
As a writer, what has been your proudest
achievement so far?
Being asked to
speak at the Rail Tram and Bus Union’s 125th anniversary dinner,
when the State Secretary purchased 45 copies of Union Jack to present to each of their councillors, so they would
know a little of their union’s history.
What books or writing projects are you
currently working on, if anything?
I am working on
two: an illustrated book on my recent (life-changing) expedition to Antarctica;
a novel set in the Victorian High Country.
Which do you prefer? eBooks or Paper
Books? Why?
Myself, I prefer
to read paper books. I like the feel of the cover, the smell of the paper, the
sheer joy of going into a bookshop and seeing all those covers. It reminds me
of going into libraries as a child and feeling a shiver of thrill as I
approached the shelves – to choose.
However, if I
was travelling for any time, I guess I would favour the convenience of ebooks.
Indie Publishing, or Traditional
Publishing?
Both my books
have been through Indie Publishing, (CopyRight Publishers and Horizon
Publishing Group) and I really enjoy the more personal approach. I have met the
editor in both cases (not just email contact) and felt both publishers took a
personal interest in my work. Admittedly, I have had to contribute in both
cases, most Indie’s do partnership deals, but I think it actually works out
financially ok.
Aside from your own books, of course,
what is one book that you feel everybody should read?
That’s a hard
one, but one stand-out book for me was Mr
Pip by Lloyd Jones. It has been a few years since I read it, but it remains
in my head.
Finally … is there anything you would
like to say to your readers in Adelaide, Australia?
Even though my
books are site-specific (Union Jack
set in Brisbane; Yenohan’s Legacy set
in the High Country of southern ACT) their message is pretty universal. I write
about grass-roots history, to remind people of the fights and sacrifices that
have given us the freedom that we now enjoy to live in this
beautiful country.
Links
Union Jack is only available through my website
these days, but Yenohan’s Legacy is
available through me or any good bookshop, or the publishers, Horizon
Publishing Group.
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