Book 1 in the ‘Lockley’s of Parramatta’ series:- The small town of Parramatta in New South Wales, is a rough place in the early 1830s. Convicts and ruffians galore. However, opportunities abound for those who are willing to work for it. Some do, many won’t; the Lockley’s are a family who will. Charles becomes a trusted community member after he helps quell a mutiny on the way out aboard the convict ship his faith also grows. He’s given a ‘Ticket of Leave’ and becomes the Government Stores Keeper in Parramatta, whilst running an Inn. Charles and Sal, his wife, grasp the opportunities this colony offers their growing family. Charlie, their oldest son will take over the Inn. However, it is Eddie, their second son, a Blacksmith, who becomes an unassuming hero. Unlike England, the class system is almost gone. There is Convict and Free. There is opportunity for all, if you work for it. A Love story in more ways than one.
Sara Powter was born on the NSW Central Coast in 1959. Her childhood was spent with her parents travelling mostly up and down the East Coast of Australia, fishing, Shell collecting and doing some of her education by Correspondence Schooling. With a passion for Science she worked for the Department of Agriculture as a Scientific Assistant in the Entomology Department. She married Stephen soon after leaving there and they spent 30 years in Ministry in the Newcastle Anglican Diocese in NSW, only retiring at the end of 2020. When ‘Covid 19’ hit, ‘time’ was available to pen some of the stories she’d wanted to write for some time. Within just four months, three stories were finished and a fourth on the way. These stem from her passion of Colonial Australia, her convict Ancestors and the amazing history of the Amazing country, Australia! Sara did thess as she wishe dto finishe one of her mothers unfinished manuscripts. "Dancing to her own tune" is now completed and ties in Sheila Hunters Australian Trilogy with Saras Lockley series. There is a second prequel to these that shes nearing completion. "Amelias Tears" . Watch for more...
Cover Paintings are all by Joseph Lycett. An Early Colonial artist. They are all in public domain usage and held in various libraries throughout Australia
The series follows a convict and his family through his life in Parramatta. Book 1 focuses attention on his second son, Eddie, but sets the scene for the changes in their lives. How they overcome adversity, and assist others who are in a similar situation. There were many in the early colony on New South Wales who took the opportunities offered to them and made successes of their lives. this story is loosely inspired by the Authors own family.
