Australian readers appetites for small town stories in country settings shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon, which is great news according to local author, Lily Malone. On the eve of national publication of the latest book in Malones Chalk Hill series on December 17, the Cowaramup author says sales of the genre known as Rural Romance in the industry are as solid as when her first country-set novel was published in 2013. The new book, called The Café By The Bridge, follows the release of Water Under The Bridge in February 2018. The story is set in the fictional country town of Chalk Hill, which Malone says is: “about halfway between Manjimup and Mount Barker on the Muirs Highway.” The Chalk Hill Series is a set of three novels loosely based around the three Honeychurch brothers, Jake, Abe and Brix. “Water Under The Bridge told the story of Jake and Ella. Ella is an ex-almost-Olympic swimmer who hasnt been back in a swimming pool since she missed the Beijing Olympic team. In that first book we do meet Abe—the youngest of the Honeychurch boys—but hes very much a secondary character. Now in The Café By The Bridge, Abe gets his own story.” While Malone says the series doesnt have to be read in order, the timelines of the three novels do interweave, and this has created one of the major challenges during the writing. “It means I have to remember which characters were where and when as Im writing the second and third books. In the first it didnt matter at all: Ella and Jake were a blank page. “Now as Abes story is about to hit the bookstores, and as Ive been working on the third book which centres on Brix, I have to pay more attention. I cant have a scene where Abe is hiking the Granite Skywalk in the Porongurups in the pages of The Café By The Bridge if I gave the poor bloke a broken leg in one of the other books.” Malone says Rural Romance as a genre has stood the test of time. “I think its popular because the stories hold small-town values close to their chest. They go back to a time when life was simpler and neighbours helped neighbours and the local sporting club, volunteer services, farming community and CWA were the heart of social and working life. I think readers might miss this lifestyle or aspire to the comfort of it, so these Australian country stories offer a glimpse of those fulfilling and happier times – especially when the rest of the world is in such turmoil and upheaval.” The Margaret River Bookshop is once again hosting a special book signing with Lily Malone on Thursday December 20 at the Bussell Hwy, Margaret River store. Bookshop owners, Keith and Pauline McLeod are opening the shop for late night shopping and as well as giveaways and prizes, plus chances to win The Café By The Bridge, there will also be a complimentary glass of bubbles to celebrate Lily Malones book launch and for customers to enjoy as they browse the shelves while Christmas shopping. The Bookshop will also offer a special on both Water Under The Bridge and The Café By The Bridge if bought together, and books can be specially signed by Lily. If you can't make the event but you'd like to buy the books as a Christmas present or for yourself – contact the bookstore and Lily will sign them for you on the night for collection at your convenience. The event is free, but please register with the Bookshop for catering purposes: (08) 9757 3331 or email [email protected]
Australian readers appetites for small town stories in country settings shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon, which is great news according to local author, Lily Malone.
On the eve of national publication of the latest book in Malones Chalk Hill series on December 17, the Cowaramup author says sales of the genre known as Rural Romance in the industry are as solid as when her first country-set novel was published in 2013.
The new book, called The Café By The Bridge, follows the release of Water Under The Bridge in February 2018.
The story is set in the fictional country town of Chalk Hill, which Malone says is: “about halfway between Manjimup and Mount Barker on the Muirs Highway.”
The Chalk Hill Series is a set of three novels loosely based around the three Honeychurch brothers, Jake, Abe and Brix.
“Water Under The Bridge told the story of Jake and Ella. Ella is an ex-almost-Olympic swimmer who hasnt been back in a swimming pool since she missed the Beijing Olympic team. In that first book we do meet Abe—the youngest of the Honeychurch boys—but hes very much a secondary character. Now in The Café By The Bridge, Abe gets his own story.”
While Malone says the series doesnt have to be read in order, the timelines of the three novels do interweave, and this has created one of the major challenges during the writing.
“It means I have to remember which characters were where and when as Im writing the second and third books. In the first it didnt matter at all: Ella and Jake were a blank page.
“Now as Abes story is about to hit the bookstores, and as Ive been working on the third book which centres on Brix, I have to pay more attention. I cant have a scene where Abe is hiking the Granite Skywalk in the Porongurups in the pages of The Café By The Bridge if I gave the poor bloke a broken leg in one of the other books.”
The talented local will appear at an instore book signing at Margaret River Bookshop on Thursday December 20.
Malone says Rural Romance as a genre has stood the test of time. “I think its popular because the stories hold small-town values close to their chest. They go back to a time when life was simpler and neighbours helped neighbours and the local sporting club, volunteer services, farming community and CWA were the heart of social and working life. I think readers might miss this lifestyle or aspire to the comfort of it, so these Australian country stories offer a glimpse of those fulfilling and happier times – especially when the rest of the world is in such turmoil and upheaval.”
The Margaret River Bookshop is once again hosting a special book signing with Lily Malone on Thursday December 20 at the Bussell Hwy, Margaret River store.
Bookshop owners, Keith and Pauline McLeod are opening the shop for late night shopping and as well as giveaways and prizes, plus chances to win The Café By The Bridge, there will also be a complimentary glass of bubbles to celebrate Lily Malones book launch and for customers to enjoy as they browse the shelves while Christmas shopping.
The Bookshop will also offer a special on both Water Under The Bridge and The Café By The Bridge if bought together, and books can be specially signed by Lily.
If you can't make the event but you'd like to buy the books as a Christmas present or for yourself – contact the bookstore and Lily will sign them for you on the night for collection at your convenience.
The event is free, but please register with the Bookshop for catering purposes: (08) 9757 3331 or email [email protected]
[contf]
[contfnew]
Margaret River Mail
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
