Again this week I’ve done work outside of my office, travelling to the Katherine Susannah Prichard writing centre in Greenmount, which is a 35 minute drive from where I live. Odd to think that I’ve been writing for 20 years and have never visited this little country cottage where one of Australia’s most famous writers used to live. There, I addressed a creative writing class, where my book BROKEN JOURNEY was dissected and discussed. Amazing how 3 hours can pass so quickly in pleasant company.

BROKEN JOURNEY, which was released early this year by Severn House UK is basically a love story between Jilly and Alec. It begins in 1944 towards the end of the second world war, when the main characters are children. From there it weaves the journey their lives take over 40 years, a journey where their friendship being threatened by distance, and the love that grows when they’re brought together again. Threaded through is the trauma of the birth of Jilly’s first child, who she was forced to give up for adoption, and the subsequent reunion that eventually takes place. Booklist, the journal of the American Library Association, reviewed it thus: “Woods gives readers a sweet and gentle story about lonely souls overcoming adversity.”

It’s been an interesting week. Last weekend I was one of the resident authors on the Romance Writers of Australia, online conference. It was busy in the chat room, with writing questions being fired at me from near and far. Hard to keep up with them, let alone answer them with any great wisdom or thought. It was good fun though, and it was nice to catch up with fellow writers online - especially those who couldn’t attend the “real” conference in Melbourne, where there was a line up of romance writing stars like Jennifer Crusie and Anne Stuart.

Since then I’ve been scrambling to get going with my current book, which is a historical romance, catch up with answering readers letters, and with friends.
Yesterday I had lunch with former critique partners Wendy Evans, who was a journalist before she took up fiction writing, and Sharon Milburn, Sharon writes in the regency genre, and has two books published. Her latest is published by Cerridwen Press, is titled CAPTAIN’S LADY and is gathering a plethora of good reviews. I can personally recommend this book, which is available online from Book Depository postage free to anywhere in the world, at the moment.

Introduction

Hi, I’m Janet Woods. I was born and raised in Dorset UK. I’m a novelist and I live in Western Australia. This blog is to mostly showcase my latest books, but I hope to chat now and again about anything that takes my fancy.

I usually alternate between saga and historical romance. Both showcased books are sagas. One set in Dorset, the other near West Hartlepool in Durham, where my mother was born. I wrote the “The Coal Gatherer” as a tribute to her for her upcoming 100th birthday early in the new year.

My previous publications can be found on my web site: http://members.iinet.net.au/~woods

The Convict’s Woman
Janet Woods
Simon & Schuster - Pocket Books
ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-0253-1
ISBN-10: 1-4165-0253-X
August 07: £6.99

The Convict’s Woman.

Framed for a crime he didn’t commit and sentenced to seven years’ transportation, former stable lad Seb Cornish returns to his Dorset home with old scores to settle. Above all, he seeks revenge against the young girl who unwittingly betrayed him all those years before.

Amanda Lapsly is now a beautiful young woman, but impoverished and without protection. Her vulnerability attracts Seb. To obtain the vengeance he seeks, he must win her trust - and her hand in marriage. But Amanda has already been promised to one man – while her heart belongs to another.

Will Amanda fall for Seb’s trap? Three men desire her - but only one can offer her unconditional love. Will she make the right choice?

The Coal Gatherer

THE COAL GATHERER
Janet Woods
Severn House Ltd
ISBN: 987-0-7278-6546-5
Hardcover
Price: £18.99
Aug 30th 07




This is an engrossing saga set in the North East of Victorian England. As the sixth of Mary Ingram’s surviving children, Calandra - known as Callie - determines from an early age that she will not follow in her beloved mother’s footsteps. Married into a fisherman’s family near Hartlepool, Mary’s life is one of hard work, unrelenting poverty and narrow horizons.

One day, whilst gathering sea coal at the water’s edge, Callie meet Patricia Lazurus and her brother James. Though their backgrounds are very different - the Lazurus children’s great-uncle, with whom they are staying, is a lawyer - a friendship is forged that will last for ever. When Great-Uncle Harold offers Callie the post of companion to Patricia, it is the first step in her journey to a better life...and lasting love.