Heart of the Country

Heart of the Country is the first book in an epic historical saga of three Australian families. Spanning several generations, this epic tells the story of the Baker, Smith and Wiltshire families forging their paths in a land both beautiful and unforgiving. Lives are intertwined by love and community then ripped apart by hate and greed but remain always bound to the land they love...

1846. Newly arrived from England, Thomas Baker is young, penniless and alone. Eager to make his mark on this strange new place called South Australia, he accepts work as an overseer on a distant sheep property, believing this will be the opportunity he seeks. But when Thomas's path crosses that of ex-convict, Septimus Wiltshire - a grasping con man hell bent on making a new life for himself and his family at any price - trouble is on the horizon.

But Thomas is made of stern stuff and his fortunes take a turn for the better when he meets spirited farmer's daughter Lizzie Smith, and soon he envisages their future together.

But this land is like no other he has encountered: both harsh and lovely, it breaks all but the strongest. When his nemesis intervenes once more and drought comes, Thomas finds himself tested almost beyond endurance with the risk of losing everything he and Lizzie have worked for... even their lives.

About the Author

Tricia Stringer lives in the Copper Coast region of South Australia with her husband and their assorted animals. This home base has proved a wonderful place to raise their three, now adult, children and has been a starting point for many a family holiday, camping in favourite Flinders Ranges spots or travelling to other states of Australia. She enjoys a variety of crafts and sipping the odd glass of wine when she’s not tangling with computers, reading a good book or walking on the beach hatching her next story.