Catching Up

I’ve been neglecting my blog, so it’s high time for a short update.

2016 was a busy year, with time taken up in travelling and researching (sometimes both at the same time), and of course writing.

I’ve been hearing from many readers regarding Daisy. Please rest assured that I’ve no intention of abandoning her as at the end of After The Roses. There’s much still to share of her life and that of other family members.

In the mean time, I’m thoroughly absorbed in my work in progress. This is quite a departure for me, as it’s my first non-fiction book, although the period (Victorian New Zealand) is certainly familiar. I’m finding it involving and challenging, and am looking forward to sharing it eventually.

But I will be returning to my beloved characters. They’re occasionally unruly, sometimes maddening, and never far from my thoughts.

New Zealand forest

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38 Comments


  1. Now you REALLY have me excited. Fiction or non-fiction, I am ready for anything that you write. You are one of my top five favorite authors!

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  2. I have just come across your work, I loved all of the books on Amy and her family. I hope that you have more to follow on Daisy and her journey to be a doctor, of course Eddie and the rest of the family also. I will look forward to the release of the next book in the series, I pray it will not be years from now.
    Thanks Tammy

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    1. That’s lovely to hear, Tammy. I’m afraid it won’t be soon, but I hope not *too* many years away.

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  3. I’ve read and re-read the promises to keep series as well as the spin off books about daisy, these are my go-to reads whenever I feel the need to escape. I always recommend this series to anyone asking for something new. Thank you for sharing their world with us and I look forward to hearing more about Daisy’s adventures in Auckland as well as what happens between her and Eddie.

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    1. Thanks so much, Samantha, that’s lovely to hear. And thank you for recommending my books!

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  4. Hi Shayne!

    I’m so happy to have come across this post! My sister and I have read all your books to date (even though our reading tastes are usually not in sync 🙂 We both are big fans of the Promises to keep series and have been on tenterhooks waiting for the next release. I’ve reread Amy’s story over and over again, and it is one that grips the imagination and the heart. I appreciate the detail of life and history you sow into each novel. The characters themselves linger beyond the page and I find myself processing the tales of their life and times long after I have moved onto a new work. Sister and I always recommend you to friends or family when they are looking for a new author/good read. I’m looking forward to reading your new books in the future, thank you!

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    1. Hi Josephine. Thanks so much for your kind comments. It’s lovely to think of you and your sister sharing your enjoyment of the books!

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  5. Hi! Me again, I was just checking in to see if you had written more for Amy. She suffered so much, I just can’t think that she deserves a happy part of life.

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    1. Hi Vickie,

      Not recently, but she’ll definitely appear in the next Daisy book.

      I so much agree that Amy deserves happiness after all she’s endured. She’s very happy in her life as it is in “A Second Chance” and the later books. I’ve just been re-reading “Settling the Account”, and I still get a bit weepy over some of the saddest parts.

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  6. During the past four weeks I’ve read your five books starting with Sentence of Marraige and ending with After the Roses. I was engrossed as I read while recouperating from knee surgery and the days passed quickly. I look forward to you continuing the story in future books!

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    1. Martha, it’s lovely to hear that my books kept you company while you were recuperating! Thanks so much.

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  7. I love these books! I have read the series multiple times. Your writing style is beautiful and descriptive.

    I grew up adoring the Little Houses on the Prairie series and this is along the same vein only for adults.

    I am from the US and am unfamiliar with some of the different things mentioned in the book. While Amy had to use multiple texts I am lucky to be able to Google everything! I have looked up everything from the style of military uniform Malcolm wore to the beetle that Eddie pulled from its home in the tree.

    I am so looking forward to your “current work in progress” and cannot wait to hear more about Daisy and Benji’s journeys. Also, I’m hoping for a happy ending for Thomas. He has made such a sacrifice in keeping his promise to Jack.

    You were born to write! Thank you so much for sharing your stories with us.

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    1. Thanks so much for your kind words, Beth – and what a lovely name you have. 🙂
      It’s great that you’ve been looking up images! Being able to envisage things does make the reading experience richer.

      I’m oh, so glad that you’d like to read more about Thomas. That’s a definite possibility. 🙂

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  8. Hello!
    I recently had surgery on my right foot so I am confined to a recliner chair in my living room.
    I was looking for something to pass the time when I came across “Sentence of Marriage”. The book immediately won me over! I laughed, I cried, and fell in love with Amy and her family. I just finished the sixth book of the series and I am looking forward to the next book (please Mrs Parkinson don’t make me wait too long).
    Love you writing,
    Noelia

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    1. I’m very glad Amy and her family have been able to keep you company, Noelia! Thanks so much.

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  9. Love your books! So happy you are continuing with Daisy’s saga! Can’t wait, I just finished reading all the books for a second time and enjoyed them
    just as much as the first!
    I live in the USA and have always wanted to visit NZ…maybe I will sometime!

    Sheryl

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Sheryl! That’s great to hear.

      I hope you can visit my country some day. Maybe by then there’ll be an “Amy Trail” to follow :).

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  10. I just finished reading all your books back to back. I probably won’t be able to sleep tonight worrying about Daisy and Eddie. Look forward to their story continuing.

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    1. Thanks so much, Jane. I hope they don’t give you too many sleepless nights!

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  11. I have read and re-read these books so many times I feel like the characters are my own family. My heart broke for young Amy but was securely put back in place at the arrival of Sarah. I just finished After The Roses last night and I could barely sleep I’m that worried about Daisy and Eddie. I hope we don’t have to wait to long to see Eddies reaction when he sees poor Daisy’s face when she gets to Auckland. But whatever you write next can’t come soon enough. 🙂 Your work is beautifully written and amazing.

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    1. That’s wonderful to hear, Morgan! They feel like my own family, too. 🙂 They’re never far from my thoughts.

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  12. Well, like everyone else, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with Amy and Lizzie’s families and can’t wait to hear more about Eddie and Daisy. I’ve been worried reading the whole last book about Eddie and Daisy being first cousins and praying they would be able to make a go of it. They obviously seem born to be together. I hope it really isn’t two more years before I know. But if it, I’ll be here waiting anxiously. I’m hooked now.
    Love reading them.

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    1. Thanks so much, Betsy! I’m honoured by your praise, and very grateful for your patience.

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    2. I don’t want them to make a go of it, Betsy. Let them be brother and sister and fall in love with great characters.

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      1. i’d love to have Eddie and Daisy together..The era Shayne writes in had people marrying first cousins.. They have known each other all their lives and fell in love at a sweet age..The encourage and push each
        other to do their best.

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  13. I agree with everyone’s love for the books and your ability to write and hold interest for over 3 generations! Just finished the final book last night and I LOVE, dearly love, the love shared between Daisy and Eddie … so pure, rich, and rooted in tenderness and intimate friendship. <3 Thank you.

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  14. Hi Shayne
    Yr books got me back in the habit of reading novels. I love many of the characters – Amy, Lizzie, Dave, Beth, Daisy and of course, Sarah.
    Lizzie is the friend we all wish we had: loyal, helpful, uncritical (of Amy, at least) born to see outcomes clearly and solve problems. Lizzie never seems to fail at anything, though???
    Some things bothered me: Amy, insisted on voting, craved independence since childhood, and even stood up to Charlie in Mud and Gold, excusing Charlie’s horrendous abuse by saying Charlie could not help who he was. Aren’t our actions conscious choices unless we are mentally incapacitated? I believe One should never excuse or condone abuse, especially such as she suffered. To have said; Charlie did a terrible thing but I have forgiven him and don’t wish to talk about it is fine and fair, but to take Sarah or Dave to task for saying Charlie abused her is wrong and unjust and sets a bad precedence. Such abuse must be condemned. The abuser deserves no respect.

    When Dave returned to his abusive father, it was Charlie who owed Dave an apology. When Amy chided Dave instead of Charlie when Charlie was in the wrong, it was unfair. Yes, she did right in having Dave care for his father with kindness and respect and in caring for him herself but she continued to let him manipulate her to his death. I wished she’d been firm and kind, reassuring him he’d be fine with Dave and Visiting Lizzie, and her brothers at the very least, and getting help on the farm.
    The other thing I hope to see is growth in Dave. Having Beth’s expertise should have made their farm prosperous in 10 yrs with a herd rivalling Frank’s in quality though not size as Dave had 50 acres to Frank’s 400. Frank was supporting a much larger family, so Dave and Beth should, to my mind, not be so poor that Daisy had 1 good dress and they needed Aunt Sarah to pay her exam fees. I love Dave. Please let him grow as Frank did. Beth is as good a farmer as Frank; she’s also an excellent self taught vet.
    Also Sarah came at least twice yearly – didn’t she take Daisy the latest fashion as she did for Amy? What did she give Beth and Dave for gifts? What was her relationship with Dave? We don’t see much of how they interact as brother and sister. Why doesn’t Sarah and Beth go out together even to the store? They like each other.
    How did Lizzie and Sarah become friends? When did Lizzie stop disliking her?
    Pretty, please, let Dave grow.
    I’m very much looking forward to Daisy at university. I hope Richard has a wealthy cousin, a lawyer, who settles in Ruitane, opens a car dealership and falls in love with Daisy and I hope Eddie falls in love with Daisy’s best friend so they can continue to be close.
    And I know Benjy is going to be famous – a director or something big where he can use his musical gift. I love Benjy. He’s clever, quiet and strong. Like Lizzie, he knows what he wants but he goes about getting it so nicely!

    Reply

    1. Novlette, it’s great to hear that my books have got you back into the habit of reading novels!

      Thanks so much for your very thoughtful comments. I think I can sum up much of my response into this: I always admire Amy, but I don’t always agree with her. She’s too soft-hearted with Charlie (as Dave tells her) – too careful of his feelings, at her own expense. It’s that kindness, though, that allows him to reach a measure of self-awareness and even repentance, which brings comfort to Amy.

      Daisy is always dressed very well, as Amy brings her new clothes on every visit. For Sarah to give large sums of money directly to Dave would be difficult, as she’d be concerned about his self-respect, but it’s easier for her to insist on contributing to Daisy’s education. Dave and Beth don’t think of themselves as poor – there’s certainly no debt, as there was for Frank before he pulled his socks up. But it *is* a small farm. I’m glad you love Dave, he’s always been one of my favourites (I do have quite a few…)

      Dave and Sarah are very fond of each other, but there’ll always be something of a gulf, as their lives follow such different courses. They’re united most of all by their love for Amy.

      Lizzie stopped disliking Sarah when she realised she was family (all-important to Lizzie), and that Sarah cared so deeply for Amy.

      “Clever, quiet and strong” is a good description! Benjy has inherited strengths from both his parents. He’s another of my favourites, needless to say. 🙂

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  15. I love your books, I keep re reading them over and over and Sentence of Marriage breaks my heart every time (but in a good way). While I like Sarah as a character I feel like she was too keen to remove Amy away from Davie in ‘A Second Chance’ .

    I love the Daisy series- I’m wondering what will happen. Part of me hopes that this phrase means something “not always the most honest of girls but a kind hearted one”.

    I would love to see more about Thomas and also the rest of Amy’s family e.g John, Harry and their families.

    I eagerly await your next book and in the meantime am passing the series on to anyone I know.

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Anna! Hearing of my books being re-read makes me especially happy.

      Sarah can be rather determined on getting her own way – she’s perhaps a little like Lizzie in that. 🙂 One reader described her as “always having her elbows out”. She does mean well, but she can be a bit too forceful for comfort.

      I’m very pleased to hear that you’d love to see more about Thomas and the others. I do have something in mind for that…

      Thank you for recommending my books to other people. Personal recommendations are precious.

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  16. Like everyone else on this post, I love your Amy/Daisy series. Is there a possible date as to when the next book might come out?

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    1. Thanks, Rose! I’m afraid there’s no date just yet. It won’t be soon, but it will definitely happen. Thanks for your patience!

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  17. I love all your books, can’t wait for your next book. I keep looking and hoping one will be soon. Thank you for writing them.

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  18. Shayne,love your books and love the story of Amy and her family, looking forward to more on these stories.Thank you!

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  19. I was born in NZ and grew up there in a very small town somewhat like Ruitane. I just discovered your books. Love ALL the characters. I really loved hearing about the trip from Auckland and how it evolved from sea to land through Rotorua. Makes me realize how little NZ history we covered when I was in school. I am 65 yo. I have lived in USA for over 30 years so imagine the joy when I discovered your books. It has made me want to seek out other NZ writers. Looking forward to when you are able to continue the stories of this family.

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