Getting to know Darry Fraser, author of Elsa Goody, Bushranger!

Darry Fraser is the author of several Australian fast-paced historical novels, the latest of which is called Elsa Goody, Bushranger. She lives and works on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. She has an extreme fondness for plain potato crisps, dark chocolate, fresh licorice, and loves a bold berry-flavoured red wine (not necessarily at the same time). Hamish the Wonder dog is her beloved writing companion.

​Today, Darry is on the blog to tell us all about her new book and all things reading and writing. Read on!

Darry Fraser

Please tell us about your latest book, Elsa Goody, Bushranger.

Now that her last remaining brother George is dead, Elsa finds herself at risk of losing the family farm at Robe in South Australia after she’s worked it forever – her dying father wants her to marry but that doesn’t suit her independent nature. Besides, one suitor around the place is too young and the other too awful. Her estranged sister Rosie knows George had a tin of gold sovereigns – a fortune in 1896 – and together they decide to find his last resting place in Casterton, Victoria. The thing is, Elsa must be back in South Australia very soon to cast her vote in the first election where women have the right to do so. So with that firmly in mind, and her sister keen to find the gold, they set off for Casterton. Along the way, they encounter desperate bushrangers and the three enigmatic Jones brothers – what could possibly go wrong?

What do you love so much about writing?

I can be me, I can do the thing I love most to do – and now, other people seem to like what I do too. Win!

I was never without a book, or a story to tell, or a blank page and a pencil with me when I was a kid. Writing, story-telling, has always been a part of me, and now I get to enjoy it every day.

What does a typical writing day look like for you?

As a deadline looms, work on the manuscript starts at 4.45am, sometimes earlier. Things that are wrong start to tap me on the head at all hours. The other morning I started at 2am after four hours’ sleep – a plot problem was driving me mad. I walk the dog at 6.30am (a bit later in winter), home for brekky and chores and by 8.30am, I’m back at the desk. It’s often not solid writing, but short sprints, then I’ll go back over and edit. Maybe take a break for research – and that can take hours of ‘happy’ time that translates to very few words used in the story. By about 4.30pm I’m dragging my heels, and definite knock-off is 6pm. I can’t push it past that time. It’s usually seven days a week, and for three of those days it bookends my little part-time job.

What’s the first thing you do after you’ve delivered a finished book?

That’s a strange space in time. The first thing I do is wish it well, and literally and emotionally let the story go. I sit for a bit and let the stress slink away, relieved I met my deadline. I delivered the last one by email at 6am, so I had a whole day to … do other things (whatever they might have been – maybe the vacuuming; housework’s always neglected, and it’s a good mindless circuit breaker. Boring, but there you have it).

Thing is, the subconscious doesn’t let it go and over the course of the weeks waiting for the edits to come back, I get pings all day and night for additions and fix-ups. At the same time, the new story is already pushing its way in. Stories are never not there, although some have been harder to coax forward than others.

Now, when the book is first released – that’s a whole other story. No vacuuming involved then.

What’s one bit of writing advice that’s stuck with you?

Show the emotion – hurt, or love, or fear or rage or any feeling a character might be experiencing.

And finally … name five books that you love or that inspire you and tell us why you love them!

Not in any particular order:

The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico. Such rich prose, a love story in nature and set during one of the twentieth century’s darkest times.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Beautiful, beautiful book, wonderful characters, and again, with a deep understanding and love of nature.

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Wow, it put you right in the frame. Her research was phenomenal, and the story woven from the facts was absorbing.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Fascinating subject, easy writing style, and again, the research!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. How could I not throw in a classic? Intense, high emotion, and mystery and angst – and a terrible decision to make.

Thanks Darry!

Thank you for having me.

—Elsa Goody, Bushranger by Darry Fraser (Harlequin Australia) is out now.

Elsa Goody, Bushranger

by Darry Fraser

1896 Robe, South Australia

When Elsa Goody's father and brother George die in quick succession she and her sister Rosie are in trouble. Pursued by an unpleasant suitor with dubious motivation, Elsa leaves for Victoria on the hunt for a fortune in gold coins that her brother has hidden. If Elsa can find it she will be able to save Rosie and herself from married slavery.

Their quest leads them on a cross-country journey to find the last man who saw her brother alive, Ezekiel Jones...

Order NowRead More

No comments Share:

About the Contributor

Booktopia