Posts Tagged ‘penal colonies’

“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 spirit
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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

‘White Spirit’ novel a worthy follow-up to ‘Into the Americas’

Posted: September 20, 2016 in white spirit
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Finding a worthy follow-up to our popular historical novel Into the Americas  was always going to be a challenge, but we believe we’ve achieved that with our new release historical adventure WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story).

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Set in 19th Century Australia, White Spirit  is based on the adventures of Irish Convict John Graham who escaped the brutal Moreton Bay penal settlement in what was then New South Wales, and lived with a tribe of Aborigines who eventually came to accept him as one of their own.

This epic tale caters as much for lovers of romance novels as it does for action and adventure fans. A love triangle adds to the storyline’s tension.

It’s fair to say few have heard of John Graham. That’s surprising, to us at least, because John’s adventures in the wilds of an untamed Australia must surely rank with the most incredible true-life tales of survival. Not only Down Under, but anywhere in the world. Having both lived in Australia for many years, and having experienced first-hand the harshness of its climate and terrain, we, the authors, can only marvel at John’s bravery, endurance and fortitude.

Though White Spirit  is first and foremost a novel and therefore a work of fiction, many of the adventures described therein 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”.

We sincerely hope we have also done justice to the Indigenous Australians in our writing. We strived for accuracy and balance in our portrayals of these unique Aboriginal people; we show the cruelty the Aborigines were capable of, and we show their love for family, their community-mindedness, their incredible hunting and tracking skills, and their ability to survive in the most unforgiving of environments.

 

WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story)  is exclusive to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B01LWIRH9J/

 

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Morcans’ latest historical fiction novel ‘White Spirit’ launched today

Posted: September 14, 2016 in white spirit
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Following on from the success of Into the Americas  comes our latest historical adventure WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story), an epic work released today on Amazon.

White Spirit (A novel based on a true story)

A true-life tale of adventure.

 

Spanning 1,000 pages and based on the remarkable tale of an Irish convict, White Spirit  is an epic historical adventure set in 19th Century Australia. This novel is not only based on arguably the great Australian (true) story – a sweeping tale that encapsulates all the nuances of the southern continent’s unique history – it also provides readers with detailed insights into the tribal life of First Australian (Aboriginal) peoples.

 After escaping from the notorious Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, on Australia’s east coast, Irish convict John Graham finds refuge with the Kabi, a tribe of Aborigines who eventually accept him as one of their own.

Attempts to recapture Graham 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.

Marsden’s young daughter Helen, a progressive lady ahead of her time who is both an egalitarian and a feminist, boldly inserts herself into the clash between the Irish convict, her father and Moreton Bay’s other iron-fisted rulers. Helen complicates things further when she finds herself in a Pride and Prejudice-style love triangle with men on opposite sides of the conflict.

When Scottish woman Eliza Fraser is found shipwrecked and close to death in Kabi territory, Graham and his legion of pursuers, as well as the Irishman’s adopted Aboriginal family, are all forced to navigate a multi-faceted rescue mission. The precarious rendezvous is made all the more dangerous by Helen Marsden’s ethically-driven meddling that often outwits the men involved.

 

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WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story)  is exclusive to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B01LWIRH9J/

 

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