Posts Tagged ‘Australia’
WHITE SPIRIT is based on one of history’s most remarkable true-life survival stories
Posted: July 15, 2023 in UncategorizedTags: Aborigines, Australia, convicts, First Nations, historical fiction, white spirit
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“Five stars and two thumbs up for this outstanding work of Historical Fiction.” -U.S. book critic Howard Lipman
Posted: July 15, 2023 in white spiritTags: Aborigines, adventure stories, Australia, books, convicts, First Nations, historical fiction, history, penal colonies, romance, white spirit
Under the heading “Penal colonies in Australia come to life in an outstanding work of Historical Fiction,” respected US book critic Howard Lipman, PA, has this to say about our adventure-romance novel WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story):
“The Morcan team, Lance and James, invite us to consider the convict colonies of Australia, a little-known story for this American reader. The harsh cruel and brutal treatment of the inmates amidst an unforgiving climate, and environment reminds us how monstrous one group of human beings can be to another, but there is so much more to be considered in this very fine novel. (Cont’d below)…
“I didn’t realize what the Aboriginals of that time were like, and the insights that the Morcans present show initially that they ran the gamut between peaceful Spiritual tribes like the Kobi, to warring tribes and single individuals like ‘Tracker’ who have made themselves indispensable to the British. The Opium-taking, philandering Lord Cheatham, the ‘Commandant’ of the penal colony is a piece of work and amongst others if his kind is an unforgettable villain. There are certain compelling, merciful individuals in all of the cultural groups presented, from the British Military, the Convicts, the Aboriginals and more.
“John Graham, one of the strongest-willed of the convicts, Captain Tom Marsden, Moilo and Mambo of the Kobi Tribe stand out for me. Indeed this is really the story of John Graham, a convict who escapes, eventually finding refuge within the Kobi Tribe that accept him as one of their own. It’s a story that doesn’t pull any punches when describing the wretched conditions of the men in the penal colonies, but hope and spirituality are also presented within John’s joining of the tribe and his other experiences.
“I’ve read the Morcans’ work before, but consider this book to be one of the finest pieces of historical Fiction that I’ve ever read. Though based on a true story, it makes for a wonderful Historical narrative. Five stars, and two thumbs up for this outstanding work of Historical Fiction.”
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‘WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story)’ is available via #Amazon as a paperback and Kindle ebook: https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B01LWIRH9J
Global review rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Escaped Irish convict follows the Songlines in novel based on true story
Posted: May 24, 2021 in white spiritTags: Aborigines, adventure, Amazon, Australia, convicts, First Australian, Goodreads, historical fiction, Moreton Bay, readers, romance, Songlines, the Dreaming, TheDreamtime, white spirit
In Australia’s wilderness, Aborigines told escaped Irish convict John Graham if you want to live follow the Songlines. So he did… and he lived. John found sanctuary with the Kabi, a primitive tribe who had never seen a white man, and he marveled at their uncanny ability to navigate the landscape by following the mysterious Songlines – tracks left by their spirit ancestors from the Dreaming.
Here, we relate some of John’s true-life experiences from our epic historical adventure WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story)…
As his companion Mamba explained, “You know we sing to the land and its sacred landmarks because it is alive… The Songlines allow us to follow the paths left by our spirit ancestors from the Dreamtime. Our ancestors have told us it is so, remember? By following the Dreaming Tracks we walk in footprints of those who went before us and so we journey safely…and never get lost.”
Mamba continued, “The language of the Songlines is in the rhythm of the song, not the words. The rhythm is an echo of the sky and of the land below. Listening to it, or singing it, guarantees you always have a path to follow.”
![White Spirit (A novel based on a true story) by [Lance Morcan, James Morcan]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dxTH5nP7L.jpg)
Set in Nineteenth Century Australia, WHITE SPIRIT is based on John Graham’s remarkable true story. After escaping from the notorious Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, John finds refuge with the Kabi, a tribe of Aborigines who eventually accept him as one of their own. Attempts to recapture him are orchestrated by a variety of contrasting characters working for the all-pervasive British Empire. They include Moreton Bay’s tyrannical, opium-addicted commandant Lord Cheetham, the dashing yet warlike Lieutenant Hogan, native tracker Barega and the penal settlement’s captain, Tom Marsden.
WHITE SPIRIT is available via Amazon as a paperback and Kindle ebook. https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B01LWIRH9J/
4.4 out of 5 stars after 185 reviewer ratings on Amazon.
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An epic Aussie tale for lovers of historical fiction
Posted: January 1, 2021 in white spiritTags: Aborigines, adventure, Australia, convicts, historical fiction, history, Moreton Bay, romance, white spirit
In WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story) Irish convict John Graham is mistaken for a white spirit by primitive Aborigines after he escapes from Australia’s infamous Moreton Bay penal settlement. His is an epic tale!
Set in nineteenth century Australia, WHITE SPIRIT is a sweeping yarn that encapsulates all the nuances of the southern continent’s unique history and provides detailed insights into the tribal life of First Australian (Aboriginal) peoples.
★★★★★ “Disturbing, brutal, honest, unputdownable. It is real, very, very real with fascinating characters at the helm. Very highly recommended! Both men and women will enjoy the story.” – ‘History and Women’ org.
★★★★★ “This is a tour de force of a book… every page and chapter is riveting.” –Amazon Reviews
★★★★★ “It kept me enthralled from start to finish” –Amazon Customer
WHITE SPIRIT is available via Amazon as a paperback and Kindle ebook. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWIRH9J/
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Meet Moilow – the end result of fifty thousand years’ evolution
Posted: June 30, 2020 in white spiritTags: Aborigines, adventure, adventure novels, Australia, convicts, First Australians, historical fiction, history, romance, white spirit
Behind the charred tree stump, a solitary Aborigine stood stock still, his spear clasped close to his side. Moilow had been standing there, unmoving, since dawn. He’d been about to give up when he sensed a presence in the rainforest beyond his hiding place.
A respected member of the local Kabi tribe, Moilow was, in many ways, typical of others of his race. Intelligent, dark, deep-set eyes peered out from beneath furrowed brows; his broad nose protruded above full lips, and he wore a black, matted beard to complement his bushy hair, which he’d tied in a knot; his coal-black skin glistened and his near-naked, wiry frame oozed strength and robustness – the end result of fifty thousand years’ evolution in this unforgiving, inhospitable land; his chest and limbs were scarified as a result of his following the age-old practice of lancing the flesh with shells; and his nakedness was covered only by a skimpy loincloth fashioned from the skin of a dingo, the native wild dog that ranges over much of the continent. The loincloth, once yellow like the dingo that wore it, had browned with age.
You have been reading an exerpt from our epic, historical adventure WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story). It’s available as a paperback and Kindle ebook via Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWIRH9J/
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Five-star review rating for The Last Tasmanian Tiger
Posted: December 21, 2019 in The Last Tasmanian TigerTags: adventure, Australia, AustralianFiction, reviews, Short Stories, Tasmania, Tasmanian Tiger, Thylacine
Amazon book reviewers are resonating with the new release short story THE LAST TASMANIAN TIGER as reviewer comments (below) show.
![The Last Tasmanian Tiger by [Morcan, Lance]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51F-v1Z9AlL.jpg)
New book enjoys 5-star review rating.
Reviewers’ comments:
“This outstanding story takes one on a walk with Charlie Truganini through the forest on the Southwest side of Tasmania.” -Cyrano1db
“A fascinating, compelling read.” –Sheri A. Wilkinson
“An absorbingly interesting story. Highly recommended!” -Amazon Hall of Fame Top 100 reviewer Grady Harp
“What a wonderful piece of writing, I really enjoyed it. I’ve read so many wonderful stories by Lance Morcan, and this one really captured my attention.” -Todd Simpson
To view THE LAST TASMANIAN TIGER on Amazon go to: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082GGKR77/
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Book launch: THE LAST TASMANIAN TIGER – a mystery-adventure short story
Posted: December 9, 2019 in The Last Tasmanian TigerTags: Australia, Australian Fiction, book launch, fiction, history, new release, Short Stories, Tasmania, Tasmanian Tiger
In the new release book THE LAST TASMANIAN TIGER, Charlie Truganini can’t believe his eyes when on a trip into Tasmania’s wilderness he sees a Tasmanian tiger – a carnivorous marsupial considered by most Australians to be extinct.
Charlie has a number of claims to fame – one of those being he’s a direct descendant of one Truganini, the woman considered to be the last full-blooded Aboriginal Tasmanian and whose name he inherited. A close second to that is he’s the great-grandson of one Dingo Truganini, the tracker who helped capture the last known Thylacine cynocephalus – an animal better known as the Tasmanian tiger.
It’s his admiration for his great-grandfather’s exploits that explains why Charlie has devoted his life to searching for the Tassie tiger, as he refers to it, or the thylacine, as scientific types insist on calling it, to determine one way or the other whether it still exists. He has always suspected it does despite having never sighted it nor even stumbled across its spoor in all his travels.
When Charlie sees a Tasmanian tiger with his own eyes, he realises he doesn’t want his tiger meeting the same fate as the last one. And so he makes a decision. A decision that will have life-and-death consequences.
THE LAST TASMANIAN TIGER is available via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082GGKR77/
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Coming soon… THE LAST TASMANIAN TIGER – Watch this space!
Posted: December 4, 2019 in The Last Tasmanian TigerTags: Amazon, Australia, Australian Fiction, authors, kindle, readers, Short Stories, Tasmanian Tiger
Charlie Truganini always suspected the Tassie tiger wasn’t extinct. He finds out for sure when he goes bush one fine day.
Coming soon to a Kindle near you!
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In ‘WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story)’ an Irish convict follows the mysterious Songlines
Posted: June 11, 2019 in white spiritTags: Aborigines, adventure, adventure novels, Australia, First Nations, historical fiction, romance, Songlines, the Dreaming, The Dreamtime, white spirit
In Australia’s wilderness, the Aborigines told escaped convict John Graham if you want to live follow the Songlines. So he did… and he lived.
![White Spirit (A novel based on a true story) by [Morcan,James, Morcan, Lance]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51dxTH5nP7L.jpg)
White Spirit is available as a Kindle ebook and paperback via Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWIRH9J/
(Book’s Amazon review rating after 90 customer reviews = 4.6 out of 5 stars)
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Understanding the Dreamtime
Posted: December 9, 2018 in white spiritTags: Aborigines, action, AdventureNovels, Australia, FirstNations, HistoricalFiction, MorcanNovels, romance, white spirit
Quote from the novel White Spirit: “To understand the Dreamtime, you must understand that we do not own the land. The land is our mother and she owns and nurtures us.” -Old Aboriginal saying.
In the historical adventure White Spirit (A novel based on a true story) Irish convict John Graham escapes confinement only to be captured by fierce Aboriginal tribesmen. He is sustained by the love of two women – one black, one white.
★★★★★ “Disturbing, brutal, honest, and unputdownable.” –Great Historicals TOP 50 REVIEWER
Authors’ note: Though 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.
White Spirit is available as a paperback and Kindle ebook via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B01LWIRH9J/
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Morcan Books & Films 