I am happy to introduce you to Kaye Dobbie today. Kaye is a multi published Australian author who has written romance for Avon, as Sara Bennett, and Australian historical books as Lilly Sommers.
Her current novel, Colours of Gold, is published by Harlequin MIRA (Australia), and is two tales in one. Firstly, a story set in 1866 about Alice a mysterious young girl found half-drowned in the Murray River, and secondly, a story set in the present day about Annie Reuben, a painting restorer, who uncovers the secrets of Alice’s life.
” The child has no name, she’s a little girl…lost and forgotten.
1867: Named by the wife of the paddle steamer captain who finds her half drowned in the Murray River, Alice must survive in a world that reviles her. Because Alice has a gift…or a curse. She can see an aura of colours around the people she meets — and those colours tell her of impending doom. With her friend Rosey, Alice runs away to the gold fields and then joins a troupe of entertainers where people pay to hear her predictions. But she can never escape her past…along with the frightening man in the dark coat who follows her wherever she goes…
Present: Annie Reuben is an art restorer in her father’s business, but times are tough. After being given a long-lost painting found in the basement of a condemned hotel, Annie becomes intrigued by the two girls who stare out at her from the ruined canvas.
Who were Alice and Rosey? And why does Annie find their lives so important? As Annie becomes caught up with finding answers from the past, she finds herself being stalked by the same frightening man in the dark coat who follows her wherever she goes…
A beautiful novel of a young girl’s life and adventures in the Australian goldfields — and how a painting revealed her story to the next generation of her family.“
*****
My review of Colours of Gold can be read HERE , but first please READ ON and learn how you could WIN 1 of 2 copies of this wonderful novel.
AKA Kaye Dobbie
I seem to have been writing forever—yes, it has been a very long apprenticeship. From childhood diaries to a Last Will and Testament I drew up at the age of six, leaving my extensive doll collection divided fairly among my three brothers (I was the only girl). They still think it was hilarious.
When I was about fifteen I wrote a grand novel full of murder and mayhem and angst. The culprit turned out to be an elderly man in a wheelchair. Boy, I was clever. I bet no one guessed.
A publisher impressed by my dramatic flair suggested I try Mills and Boon, but it took me a while to come to grips with the happy ending. Once I did though, I embraced it whole-heartedly. At this time I was an at-home Mum, and those five romance books I wrote fitted into my chaotic lifestyle, as well as being the perfect learning experience for an aspiring writer. There isn’t a formula, in case you’re wondering. The happy ending is obligatory, but other than that you just need to focus on the main couple, and you can write them into whatever settings, situations or conflicts that appeal to you.
Later I wrote five books for various Australian publishers under the name Lilly Sommers. The publishers kept changing because 1) my editor moved to another publishing house and I followed her (reminder not to do that ever again) and 2) the industry was in flux and publishing houses were downsizing. The novels were mostly historical, but one of them had some ghostly elements and there was a novella about time travel in convict era Tasmania. I learned a lot during these years and I always felt privileged to be an Australian writing about Australia. It was one of the reasons I longed to publish another Australian-set novel.
For the last ten or so years I’ve been Sara Bennett, writing romance for Avon in the USA. Firstly Medieval books, with hunky knights and feisty ladies, and then moving on to the Victorian era, in particular a series about the daughters of an infamous courtesan. It has been a lot of fun but it came to a natural end. However I am planning to self-publish under my Sara Bennett name, when I have a moment. Romance is very life affirming and I love the happy endings.
Right now I’m writing under my own name, Kaye Dobbie. Colours of Gold is my first book with Harlequin MIRA (Australia). If I’ve been completing an apprenticeship, then I feel as if this book is the culmination of all those years of learning to be a writer. I haven’t finished, of course I haven’t. The growing and learning goes on.
And, finally, you ask, does Colours of Gold have a happy ending? Well, yes, it does, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few tears along the way.
Colours of Gold is available to purchase from
Harlequin Au I Booktopia I Bookworld I via Booko I Amazon AU
and all good bookstores.
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GIVEAWAY
Courtesy of Kaye Dobbie
I have 2 editions of
Colours of Gold
to giveaway
1 x print edition for Australian residents only
1 x electronic edition for international (outside of Australia) residents only
Please leave a comment on this post and then
ENTER HERE
Entries close July 20th, 2014
Drawn via random.org
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Oh this sounds so good! I don’t get to read Australian-set historical fiction much. I mean, there’s not much of it out there, sadly. (I’m super curious about the time-travel book set in colonial Tasmania, too!)
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Hi Shannon. That book (the colonial Tasmania one) was the first of Kaye’s books I ever read. It’s well worth trying to locate a copy. After reading it I researched Lilly Sommers, discovered her other books written as Sara Bennett and Sarah McKenzie and have been a huge fan ever since.
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Thanks for Guesting me Shelleyrae!
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Thank you for the giveaway. This book has a very intriguing story line, young woman throughout time stalked by a man in a dark coat. I don’t think I have ever read a book set in Australia!
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Another Aussie I’ve been meaning to pick up! Thanks for the great post Shelleyrae, and the opportunity to win this book! 🙂
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I love Sara Bennett and I didn’t know she was Kaye Dobbie! WOW, I am floored! I love the Husband Hunting Club & Greenbrae Sisters series so much! My library has all those books! I hope they have more of books there or I will just have to use that Evil & Mean Amazon “BUY” button!
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I am currently researching my ancestors lives in the Australian goldfields, (no, they didn’t find any gold)……and my first female ancestor on maternal side, who drowned while attempting to cross the Hawkesbury river. Obviously, Colours Of Gold, resonates with me. Looking at old pics and wondering who they were, enthralls and saddens me………am hoping for a happy ending here 😉
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I’m going to have to take note of all of your aliases.
It’s the journey to the HEA that I love to lose myself in.
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Just stumbled accross your blog some great reviews, great giveaway.
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Lovely review, dual time lines are just up my alley
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I don’t read a huge lot of historical but this one is already on my TBR. Would love to win a copy
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A few tears and a happy ending. Sounds like the perfect read.
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I’ve added it to my TBR list…… Sounds like a great book!
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I wrote to you about the Amazon US page that says your book is not for sale, then I found this page. I’m hoping to get to read your latest novel.
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It sounds so interesting, I can’t wait to read it!
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I’m intrigued! 🙂
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I would really love to read this book, I love historical fiction and this sounds particularly good.
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Sounds really good. I haven’t heard of it before but I’m glad I have now
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I think I’d enjoy this book, love a bit of Australia and a bit of fictional history.
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Looks like a good book, would love to read it
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Oh gosh this sounds so good! Thank you!
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Sounds really good–I love well-written historical fiction and combined with a parallel story–even better.
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Would love to have a read!
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This sounds like a wonderful read…that it involves the subject of art restoration makes it very appealing to me!
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