Mementos from a journey most magical

On the eve of Publication Day — I’ve been sifting through some mementos of my debut novel’s creation. (Nothing like some sentimental indulgence when you’re feeling, frankly, a bit wonderstruck.)

So this, dear reader, is THE hardcover journal in which I first started writing my story — by messy hand, while holding a newborn in the other arm — so many years ago…

The first lines in this journal contain the opening sentence of my published novel today, and the rest of my first chapter remains very little changed within these pages. In the years since, I’ve stuffed this journal full of extra pages, photographs, and random scraps of scribbled prose. When the spine seemed in danger of splitting, I started another journal, then another, and so on — in fact, I have a whole shelf of Hamilton Sisters journals now!

I’ve also pressed in lots of natural keepsakes found in my very own rainforest garden, too. Like these Ulysses butterfly wings, and the emerald green feather of a Wompoo Fruit Dove. My personal Instagram page has acted as a sort of’ scrapbook’ for my writing over the years, too. (How lucky we are to go everywhere with cameras & note apps these days, able to capture whimsies at a moment’s notice.)

In writing those Those Hamilton Sisters, I have sought to evoke all the magic and splendour, harsh beauty and danger of the tropical playground I call home. And I can’t wait for you to experience it all with my three red-haired, spirited, literature-loving heroines!

From my messy old journals to a REAL BOOK in REAL BOOKSHOPS tomorrow.

One. More. Sleep…

xx Averil