Secrets of the Water Meadow by Tasmanian writer Dawn Meredith

My newest book, Secrets of the Water Meadow, published by Forty South, is now available here:

buy from Forty South

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So, what is this story about?

I based this story upon my own experiences as a young girl, who moved to Norway, aged twelve. From Western Australia to one of the coldest countries in Europe, it was a big change! And learning a new language was also a challenge. My younger sister and I lived with our family on a small island, in an old wooden house, facing the magnificent Romsdalsfjord. It was like my favourite TV show of all time - 'Little House on the Prairie!

Secrets... is told by the younger sister, Freya, who is an adventurous but quite lonely girl in some ways. She has a best friend at school, but her family live and work on a dairy farm on a small island, so going to school means travelling by mini bus and ferry, twice a day. Freya lives in a stunningly beautiful place and spends a lot of time outdoors. One day, she meets a strange but beautiful creature she calls Lorelei, who becomes her secret friend.

Why does this story means so much to me?

Moving to a foreign country, meeting a whole new step family and becoming part of a different culture was a life changing thing for me. I absolutely love Norwegian culture and traditions! And it has influenced my work as an author of books for children, young adults and adults. Living at a time when there were no mobile phones, (and we didn't even own a television) meant we had to socialise in person, with our friends and cousins. We spent a lot of time outdoors and we loved every minute of it. I have such fantastic, happy memories of that childhood period. I've since been back to the island, and our old house, twice. The second time i took my eleven year old daughter with me and it was so special to be able to share the place I had talked so much about with her. She loved it and caught the magic!

So here is a little blurb about the story, which is actually printed on the back of the book:

All her life Freya has been told that the havfruer of the deep fjords are dark angels who lure children into the water and drown them. But Freya is certain that if she sings a havfrue to the shore, they can be friends. To her surprise and joy, it works! Meanwhile, in Freya’s family, secrets come to the surface and all the adults are upset. Freya’s sister Lisbet suddenly becomes angry and depressed holding in a secret of her own. And so Freya seeks comfort and advice from Lorelei, her havfrue friend, that no one else has seen. When her sister falls into the cold waters and is in danger of drowning, can Freya really trust this mysterious, oddly beautiful creature to help? Or will Lorelei choose the darker side of her nature?

Set in magnificent Norway, Secrets of the Water Meadow is an evocative, rich world where the senses are tingled and love is deep as the fjord itself. No matter what conflict simmers in the Askvold family, the ties are strong and the patience to persist in healing wins out. 

I do hope you enjoy reading my story! And I would love to hear your thoughts about it. Send me an email to this address - dawnmeredith1@gmail.com

Until the next book!

cheers, Dawn

2019 - surprises right til the end!

Hello!
Well, we're nearing the end of 2019! I think I will concede defeat and start saying 'twenty...' instead of 'two thousand...' It seems simpler and less tongue twisty! What did you get up to over Christmas? We had a couple of gatherings and lots of great food! Harry loved his new toys. And the dogs' toys too!

We swam in the big dam for the first time since we moved here last year. That's now possible because of all the work hubby has done to clear away nasty thistles, bracken and bulrushes, so there's less places for snakes to hide... The water is so deliciously cool! next I'm going to buy some old pallets and make a sort of platform and then a floating raft thing you can swim out to. Won't that be fantastic?

So what's new?
I'm in my studio, facing its first summer here on the farm and its so far been pretty cool inside. The Lithuanian pine log cabin style seems to keep the heat in nicely in winter the cool inside in summer. I have been working very hard in my garden since the weather improved. Such lovely days we have now! Sunny, gentle breeze and around 25 Celsius. That's a Tassie summer for you! I have some gorgeous colours to gaze at while I beaver away at the keyboard and watch the birds splashing in the birdbath, catching insects on the fly and hopping about.

Superb Blue Wrens
Speaking of birds, the Superb Blues wrens are nesting in my big flower bed, among the pansies! If you look at the photo below you can see some red and yellow flowers. The wrens are nesting somewhere between them, quite low to the ground. I only found this out because I was hauling out the ridiculously long and overgrown pansies and came across the nest. The female takes 3-4 days to build it. Unfortunately the three chicks in the first nest died so this is her second attempt. Good luck Mrs Wren!

Kelly
In other news, we have a beautiful new girl in our lives - Kelly. She is a three year old palomino, quarter horse/warmblood. She is stunning! And has a sweet temperament. She's only very young (horses can live to 40 years old) and full of mischief! Adjusting to life here on our farm has been different for her, because she had never left the stud where she was born. Kelly is learning lots every day and getting on with the sheep and our border collies Polly and Flossie.

Kelly the palomino

You can see more of all of them on instagram @mytasmaniangarden.
Kelly has her own hastag - #kellythepalomino
So does Harry #harryatcrumbletonmanor

Freya
For my new book coming out soon, a young adult fantasy novel, Rebel, I have finished drawing a white eagle, which is one of the characters in the book. Everyone who pre-orders a copy through the publisher's website Shooting Star Press will receive a copy of Freya, the giant white eagle! Here is the finished drawing:

New Book
In other news, I have started writing my next book! All you mid graders out there may be interested to know that I'm working on a farmstay series called Hartfields. The first book is called The Foal of Emerald Queen. Chapter one is complete and now chapter two is coming into life. It's about Jessica Jane, called JJ by her friends, whose family decides to up and move to Bear Island. Lots of chaos and fun! And horses. So if you are interested in how horses think and feel and act, this book will be great! If you're into adventure you'll love it too. I'd love to tell you more but... not yet.

Well, that's it for now. I have to get  back to writing. Have an excellent New Year's Eve and many warm wishes for fun and excitement in 2020.