Father-and-son writing team’s seventh novel released

September 20, 2016

New Zealand father-and-son writing team’s seventh novel released this week

The remarkable true-life tale of an Irish convict who escaped Australia’s notorious Moreton Bay penal settlement and found refuge with a tribe of Aborigines is the subject of the latest historical adventure novel penned by New Zealand father-and-son-writing team Lance and James Morcan.

‘White Spirit (A novel based on a true story)’ was published this week by Sterling Gate Books. It’s the Morcans’ seventh co-authored novel, and it follows their popular historical adventure ‘Into the Americas’, another novel based on a true story. That novel has been a regular visitor to Amazon’s bestseller lists and rates highly with book reviewers.

Set in 19th Century Australia, ‘White Spirit’ is based on the adventures of convict John Graham who, after escaping the penal settlement, was eventually accepted as one of their own by the tribe who gave him refuge. In later years, Graham was instrumental in securing the release of Scotswoman Eliza Fraser who was a captive of the same tribe.

Speaking from Papamoa today, Lance Morcan says John Graham's story is not well known – certainly not as well known as that of Eliza Fraser whose life is integrally and forever linked with the Irish convict's.

“That's surprising, to us at least, because Graham's adventures in the wilds of an untamed Australia must surely rank with the most incredible true-life tales of survival,” says Morcan. “Having both lived in south east Queensland for many years, we can only marvel at his bravery, endurance, fortitude and gumption.”

Morcan says, although ‘White Spirit’ is first and foremost a novel and therefore a work of fiction, many of the adventures described herein happened – exactly as related in some cases, and with some embellishments for drama's sake in others.

“In reality, John Graham's story was so unbelievably remarkable it needn't have been dramatized. However, as novelists, we couldn't resist expanding upon and adding characters to certain true-life events. The great challenge, of course, was the need to always stay true to the broad historical realities while subtly infusing ‘fiction’.”

‘White Spirit (A novel based on a true story)’ is exclusive to Amazon and can be viewed at: https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B01LWIRH9J/

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