Family Tree

In my first novel, Katie is wrongly accused of a crime and sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia. Over the years readers have asked me if there are any convicts in my ancestry and I've always answered, "I don't know."

Well, now I do.

This month our church's fellowship lunch had a missions focus and DH and I decided we would provide food from Ireland. In the past we have done the Shetland Isles, and Wales, places from which his ancestors emigrated, and I figured it was time that we did a country from my side.

However, the Irish connection has always been a little vague since details of my maternal grandfather's heritage have always been rather sketchy. Whether this was because his mother died when he was eighteen and a lot of that information was never handed down, or whether it was because his father had little time for worrying about those who had already died when his focus was on providing for the living, or whether for some other reason, even my own mother was not aware of how she was related to several individuals in our community and even in our church. Just that she was related. Somehow.

My previous foray into researching my family tree had turned up some links to individuals born in Ireland and I thought that was as much as I was going to discover. But then, only last night, as I was looking again at my family tree I noticed that a distant relative had been born in Australia prior to 1800 and I commented to DH that it was likely that his parents had been convicts or else his father a soldier. DH and I then proceeded to search and within minutes we were astonished at what we learnt. 

In 1791 John Tucker Snr (my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather) was accused of stealing almost five hundred yards of linen. Although he tried to protect his step-mother, she was accused of receiving stolen goods and both were sentenced to transportation to New South Wales, Australia. He arrived as part of the Third Fleet in 1791. 

In 1794 he married Ann (Heratage) Vales/Viles who had also been transported for receiving stolen goods from her then husband. Her husband and two daughters appear to have died on route to Australia or shortly thereafter.

John and Ann had two children, John Jnr and Charlotte. When John Snr moved to Newcastle to the closed penal colony (even free persons needed permission to enter or leave the town) to take up a position as the first storekeeper his children were the first colonial-born children in Newcastle. He held this position on and off for several years.

In 1812 John Snr began to farm land on the Paterson Plains where his son had been working as a sawyer (cutting cedar logs to fulfil government orders). It has been suggested that land was not granted to his son either because of his youthful age or because of an earlier indiscretion (he had tried to leave Newcastle without permission). John Jnr's first wife drowned only days after their wedding, and his second wife was a convict who had worked as a nurse and absented herself without permission and was consequently sent to Newcastle (as a secondary penal colony and a closed one at that, it was far harder to escape from Newcastle than Sydney).

So, it would appear that there are at least three convicts in the family tree on my maternal grandfather's father's side from whom I am directly descended. Since we know that there are also some Irish connections on my maternal grandfather's mother's side as well as on my maternal grandmother's side (as well as a lot of individuals whose parentage/heritage is at this stage still unknown), it's possible that a few more convicts may come to light. However, I have a vague recollection of one or more of these Irish relatives being granted assisted immigration which possibly means that they had a relative who had earlier been transported to the colony, or else they decided to take up the government's offer of assisted passage and hopefully make a new life for themselves in a distant land.

Only more research will reveal the truth. Meanwhile, I feel that I must apologise to each of my daughters-in-law who unknowingly married into the family unaware of its criminal history.

For a sneak preview of the farm that my ancestors originally settled and which is now a wedding venue go here. According to their website, Albion Farm was the first land settled in the Hunter Valley and is the oldest, continuously farmed land in Australia (some sources say outside of the Sydney basin, others omit this, but either is impressive).

For a slightly more in depth look at the history of John Tucker senior and Junior go here.

And to purchase any of my books, go here.

Researching

I guess my love of history and detail is to blame, but when it comes to researching for a new book, I tend to get carried away. I make copious notes - many of which I never use - and bore DH with all the fascinating facts that I learn about a new place or time in history. When it came time to research my latest book, I discovered an interesting fact: it's quite different researching and imaging a scene in a place in which you have never lived and know pretty much zilch about than it is about a town or area that you know well.

My Distant Land series was set in an area I knew intimately. Intimately for a twentieth century story. Except my books were set over one hundred and fifty years earlier. So I had to do research. What I discovered when I started to delve into the history was that I had more knowledge than I realised. I had already learnt much about that earlier time period just from growing up in the area, absorbing facts and figures about the early settlers, their way of life, etc.

Family stories from grandparents and others also contributed to the bigger picture if they lived in the area. And if you have a grandparent or two particularly proud of their relationship to the earliest of settlers and their impact on the area, well, your research is more about verifying facts than searching them out.

But when deciding to write about a place you have never lived in, you quickly learn that you don't know what you don't know. Knowledge that is common to every child who attended school in that place - in fact in that country - is new to you. You struggle to acquire the common knowledge, not realising that what you think is "delving deeper" is still just scratching the surface.

When I began my research into early Wellington, I would share facts with DH and he'd look at me as if I had two heads.

"Did you know that land around Wellington was reclaimed from the harbour?"

"Yes," followed by that look that says, "Everyone knows that," and then evidence that he knew far more than me: an indication I needed to do even more research.

"Did you know ... ?"

"Of course."

But there were some things he didn't know.

"Did you know that Basin Reserve was once going to be the wharf?"

He looked at me as if I was insane.

"It's true. Before the 1855 earthquake it was part of the harbour."

I still didn't convince him. Not at the time. But I think I have now. And all because of a visit.

DH and I spent this past weekend in Wellington. Now, there are obvious challenges to researching mid-nineteenth century Wellington when one lives in the early twenty-first century. Wellington is not a sleepy little town that has hardly changed. Early buildings have disappeared - destroyed by fire or earthquake (common occurrences in the early days of settlement) or removed to make way for bigger and better buildings or wider roads and motorways. Some of the earlier streets have disappeared or have become narrow access ways that are difficult to find. Wellington now, sprawling around the harbour, reaching up into the hills, is a far cry from the capital city that was birthed in the eighteen hundreds.

But there was still some evidence to be found.

We walked around Basin Reserve, established in 1868, and I was able to picture what it may have looked like one hundred and fifty years ago.

We went around Oriental Bay and even though the nursery and tea room has long disappeared, I could easily imagine the view patrons were once privileged to enjoy.

We went up to Mount Victoria lookout and for the first time, could see how Basin Reserve could have once been connected to the harbour.

We tried to imagine where the harbour used to be before reclamation but it wasn't until we walked around Lambton Quay and saw the remains of Plummer's Ark underneath the BNZ building and stood outside historic Government House and learnt that prior to reclamation, the spot where we were standing would have been three to four metres underwater that we fully appreciated the hectares that were added to the city.

 

We visited Wellington Museum and experienced what Queen's Wharf would have been like when it was first built (and where DH first realised my cold was making me feel extremely unwell as what should have taken me three hours to explore - and would have required much patience on his part - took me less than thirty minutes.)

And we stood inside St Paul's church, feeling the tangible awe, joy and wonder of over a century of worship within its timbered walls.

I pictured my characters living and breathing in these places as they once were. I gained enough of the sense of early Wellington to feel as if I could have once lived here.

Once.

Not nowadays. While I've idly thought at times that it could be a city I could live in and enjoy the arts and history it has to offer, I soon changed my mind.

Wellington is traffic and noise and people all the time. All the time.

And don't even get me started on the wind. Wellingtonians are a hardy bunch ... but I don't intend to join their ranks except as a character in one of my books.

Books Launched

I'm still waiting for the official photos from the launch of my latest two books, To Await the Dream and The Scent of Rain. In the mean time, these will have to suffice ...

Book Review

John Massam, former editor of Challenge Weekly had this to say about To Await the Dream:

"What an amazing book.

From the first page it grabbed my attention and held it to the end.

The story line was clear, simple and tantalising and brought me to tears more than once.

The design and presentation were excellent. I liked the cover, blank pages between chapters and the presentation of letters.

The short pithy sections and the gradual unveiling of the story held my attention. It was presented so that the whole story seemed credible, real and believable and as it unfolded you realised that it had a genuine historical basis. It was from the past but felt up to date.

It presented the real life dilemmas that are experienced in families, society, and the church, and addressed them in their starkness and yet in a compassionate way. It highlighted the desire to do what was right, regardless of personal cost and demonstrated the importance and significance of a real personal faith. It has a reality about it and is not preachy or stuffy. 

A wonderful book to encourage, challenge and inspire young and old alike."

To Await the Dream

Their dreams have come true … or have they?

Katie accepts Samuel’s proposal but when he is wrongly accused it looks as if all their dreams will dissolve. Will they have the strength to endure?

Rhiannon returns to England only to discover that she has left her heart in a distant land. Will she follow her head or her heart?

Kieran pursues his dream for further education but he has another dream that few know about. Will he too realise his dreams?  

To Await The Dream is now available on my website with a special offer for Australian and New Zealand residents. Stay tuned for more offers and another release in upcoming weeks.

Doubts

This afternoon my publisher emailed to tell me that my books were on their way!!!

This is the moment when I start doubting myself ... when I think that my writing isn't good enough ... that no one will read my book let alone buy it ... that someone will find an elementary mistake that should never have made it through the first draft ... that more than one person will find that mistake and all will point it out ... that all the reviews will be bad (a few bad ones are to be expected) ... that my readers won't enjoy the sequel to the first two books ... that my 'baby' will be badly received ...

I learnt a lot during the writing and publishing of this book - and I mean a lot - God really took me on a journey of faith and learning to trust with this manuscript - but at the moment my most enduring memory is that of going over the reader spreads on the back veranda with Kielsie, our beloved Border Collie, at my feet on what was to be her last full day with our family.

As corny as it may sound, I think it's going to be a while before I separate Kielsie and the publication of my third book in my mind.

Publishing

I am grateful - and nervous and scared - all at the same time.

I have finished Book Three (for the what I sincerely hope is the final time) and it has now gone to the publisher.

I await his response ...

Reflections

Occasionally in the past I've been asked if my books are autobiographical. Usually I would reply, “Not really”, but recently I've come to realise that some aspects are very much autobiographical.

Events, experiences, lesson that have shaped me have somehow found their way into my books. Just as Katie in To A Distant Land had to leave family and country and all that she held dear, I was in a similar situation over seventeen years ago. And while not exactly leaving against my will or by ... force, it wasn't without a struggle.

To Rise Above was different in that I knew ahead of time that I would write about an experience in my life where God, in His Grace and Mercy, preserved my life. It was after my first book had been published that I realised just how much God had given back to me. Then, as now, I felt so humbled that God would take someone like me and use me in this way. It was from reflecting on God’s goodness to me that the second novel in the Distant Land series was born.

And Book Three? It’s very much based on a lesson that I've had to learn – and re-learn – and am still learning. All will be revealed when the book is published …

Book Launch

  

  

  

Finally Here

The sequel to "To A Distant Land" has been published and is now available from my website, from the publisher's website, as an e-book from Amazon, and should be available in shops soon.

Many thanks to my readers for their patience, to my family who put up with my writing and fears and anxieties, to the faithful ladies on the online prayer board who have laboured with me every step of the way, to the friends who encouraged me again and again, to those who pushed me out of my comfort zone (you know who you are), to my sons and their wives who have each contributed in various ways to seeing this book published (from everything to editing to housework to web design to being super supportive), to my beautiful granddaughters who fill my life with such love and joy, to my husband for his unending patience and support and encouragement, and, most of all, to Him who has blessed me so abundantly and taught me to rely on Him in order to rise above.

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31, NKJV

December 2012 Newsletter

Hello and welcome to my second newsletter. I must apologise for its lateness - I had planned to update more regularly but, as for all of us, life happens. But more about that later.

I am currently (and by currently, I mean this very day) going over the proofs for the next book, To Rise Above. Those readers who have asked what happens to Katie and Samuel will soon have a chance to find out. More news soon (I promise).

This year another son has announced his engagement to a very special young lady and we're hoping for a wedding around Easter next year. I do however still have two very handsome, very single sons left. This same son will not be moving back home as his older brothers did but instead has landed a job that will involve him moving away. We knew it would have to happen sooner or later, but we feel blessed for the time we have had with our sons close to the nest.

In August we were blessed with another beautiful granddaughter who arrived six weeks early and extremely tiny, but is doing well now. It's amazing how quickly the tubes and monitors of the neo-natal ward are forgotten. I'm astounded when I see those early photos to discover that those memories have all but disappeared. Instead, we're enjoying getting to know her and the unique personality that God has given her.

As we head towards the another Christmas and the end of the year, I would like to wish all my readers a very Happy and Holy Christmas.

Blessings,

Julianne Jones

April 2012 Newsletter

Hello and welcome to my first newsletter. If you have found your way here from my website, thank you for taking time out of your busy day to follow the link here; if you've come via my personal blog, I am grateful for your faithfulness; and finally, if you have come via a search engine, I am humbled that you took the time and made the effort to find me.

Readers have asked me what happens to Katie and Samuel and I feel that I need to respond. There is another book – two actually – in the Distant Land series, but despite all my best efforts, these have not yet been published.

When the second book was submitted to Ark House Press, the economy had taken a downhill turn, and Ark House made the decision not to commit to publishing novels for a time. I found another interested publisher, but to cut a long story short, I recently resubmitted the manuscript to Ark House Press. Currently I’m waiting to hear “Yay” or “Nay”. As soon as I know, I’ll let you know. But be assured that Katie, Samuel and Rhiannon’s story does continue. I hope you will enjoy what is in store.

I know that whatever happens, our God is in control. I trust and believe that there is a reason for this delay … and thank you – my readers - for your patience.

As I write this, I can’t help but reflect on how God has shown His goodness to my family yet again. Less than a week ago my husband, our two youngest sons, a friend of our youngest son, and I were involved in a car accident. Given the circumstances, it’s a miracle that we were all unhurt and able to walk away from the scene. We thank God for His goodness and mercy and everlasting love.

God has also blessed us abundantly in so many other ways. Since To A Distant Land was published, another beautiful daughter-in-law has joined our family and two more gorgeous granddaughters. Another grandchild is due early October. I am grateful that God has allowed us to still be here to enjoy these incredible little beings and to watch our family grow and change.

My husband and I have also experienced a number of changes, not the least our youngest son leaving home. I will not deceive you: we were dreading it. But it has been exciting to see our children mature and go out into the world on their own - confident and responsible - and we have discovered that this is but just another stage in our life together.

If you're interested in learning more about the author who penned the story of Katie and Samuel, please feel free to visit my Personal Blog. Here you will find that I am just a very ordinary person with faults and struggles like everyone else. Please leave a comment if you do drop by.

What does my writing hold for me this year? Well I would love to see my second novel published ... but that is in God's Hands and I will try to wait patiently on Him. I have a fourth novel that is all but finished which I am itching to get back to. And then ... hopefully more ideas, more writing, more words. I love the whole process of writing from the ideas and research to the writing and to the editing. It is when I'm engrossed in writing that I feel that this is what I was created for.

If you have a dream to write: never give up. Keep writing and reading and writing and reading. Pursue your dream. Whether your writing touches millions or just a few, if it's what God has called you to do, don't be sidetracked. Go for it!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NKJV).

Blessings,

Julianne Jones

Another Long Wait

It seems I've spent the majority of my writing career waiting ... and I doubt that will change any time soon. For someone who is not naturally patient, I'm learning a lot about patience and to wait on the Lord.

This past week I've been re-reading MaryAnn Minatra's Alcott Legacy series. I love her books and wish she'd write a lot more. The characters, the plot, her way with words, all inspire me to be a better writer. Perhaps someday ...

Meanwhile I'm waiting to hear from my editor re the second book in my Distant Land series and yesterday I finished self-editing the third - and perhaps final - book in the series.

I've also started another book completely different to anything I've ever written before. Not historical but social issues this time. I just hope I can do the story justice.

I Think

I think I may have just typed the last word for book three in the Distant Land series. After months of suspense and agony and nail biting (not literally) and not being able to find the right word, it's finally done.

I think I've done a good job. Not great. Not a bestseller. But good.

Now it just needs now to be edited.

And edited.

And edited.

And EDITED.

Perhaps that's why the elation I was so sure I was going to feel when I hit SAVE is missing.

Or perhaps it's because having written that last word I now have to go and cook dinner and pick up the mail off the floor and fold the washing and ...

Second Attempt

I'm currently printing off almost 300 pages so that I can resubmit my second manuscript to a publisher. I'm realistic enough to realise the chances of a publisher taking on a sequel are relatively slim but I also believe that with God all things are possible.

I'll just leave it in His Hands and wait.