Thursday, July 7, 2016

Author Showcase: Tea Cooper

Hello, hello! You won't believe it! I have an author who's actually local to me in my neck of the woods! Tea Cooper lives about 30 minutes from me and you know what? We've never visited. We keep saying we will but we don't. I think it's because we are so close that we don't. We're such slackers!

Please join me in giving Tea a very warm bloggity welcome. Oh and aren't her book covers gorgeous?


Wollombi
Wollombi (c) Harrison Photography, Wollombi Chamber

My world revolves around a tiny corner of the Lower Hunter Valley, the little town of Wollombi. It was the history that drew me here (and maybe the wine) and allowed me to tick off perhaps the biggest thing on my bucket list – to write historical fiction.

When I tell people historical fiction is my passion many open their eyes wide and mutter research … for me that’s half the fun.

The people of Wollombi are my unsung heroes, even today it’s ‘a place of rogues and scoundrels’ and full of inspiration!

Here are a few of the stories behind the stories.

We have an amazing local historian, what he doesn’t know about the area isn’t worth knowing.

Lily’s Leap began this way:

Chief Historian: Ever driven in from Sydney across Ramsey’s Leap?
Me: Often. It’s on Route 33
CH: Know why it’s called Ramsey’s Leap?
Me: No
CH: A bloke called Ramsey was ‘escorted’ to Wollombi to visit the local magistrate.
Me: And?
CH: Didn’t fancy his chances so he did a runner, leapt off the road and disappeared into the scrub. Never seen again.

One of our many conversations about The Cedar Cutter went like this:

Chief Historian: No glass in windows, except for the big landowners.
Me: But I need glass in the front window – it’s integral to the story.
CH: Tell me about this mythical house.
Me: It is around the back of the General Store and used to be a brothel. (In truth The Post Office over the road held that honour.)
CH with a big grin on his face: No problems. If it was a brothel they could have afforded the glass.

Horse
Photo via Visualhunt.com

And the inspiration for The Horse Thief happened in a similar way.

Anonymous local #1: First winner of the Melbourne Cup was a Hunter animal.
Anonymous local #2: Rubbish
AL #1: Wanna put money on that?
AL #2: Why don’t you just buy me a beer? You’re wrong. It’s a local rural myth.

I took the rural myth and ran with it.

(Names have been excluded to protect the innocent – however you’ll find most of them in the acknowledgements at the back of The Cedar Cutter!)

Thank you so much for the invitation to visit your blog, Deanna! Hope to see you Wollombi way one day soon.


The Cedar Cutter by Tea Cooper


The Cedar Cutter
By: Tea Cooper
Releasing July 25, 2016
Escape Publishing

Buy Links:  Amazon (Currently on sale for $2.72 *Note 2)

The Cedar Cutter by Tea Cooper blurb



The Cedar Cutter by Tea Cooper excerpt

Read a longer excerpt here.



Check out some of these titles by Tea too

Note 1: Some of her books are on sale at the moment. Get them while they are on sale. :-)
Note 2: Sale prices correct at the time of posting. I am not responsible for any changes in prices. Those are set by the publisher.



About the author

Tea Cooper

Author links: Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads


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5 comments:

  1. Hi Tea

    Welcome and that you for that very interesting post :) looks like such a lovely part of the world I need to visit next time I am up that way.

    I have heard so many good things about your books and need to get to them I have a couple on my TBR pile always need more hours in the day to read :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Helen, I loved Tea's stories of how she got some of her ideas. Aren't they wonderful?

      Oh yes, do pick up some of her books. They are on sale now.

      Delete
    2. Oh! I replied I wonder where it went! Sorry if I do it twice. I think I said something like .... glad you enjoyed the post, Wollombi's a great place to live and let me know if you're ever in Wollombi ...:)

      Delete
  2. I am sure I have some waiting for me need to get them read ☺

    Have Fun
    Helen

    ReplyDelete
  3. And Deanna - thanks for showcasing The Cedar Cutter. Hope you enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete