Waihau Bay: a sentimental journey. And: An Announcement

When I was six years old, our town of Opotiki (the real-life model for my fictional Ruatane) was flooded. Water went right through our house, leaving a major clean-up job when it finally retreated. To make life a little easier for the adults, many of the younger children were sent out of town for a time. I was fortunate enough to be sent, along with my big sister to look after me, to Waihau Bay, which is close to the eastern end of our lovely Bay of Plenty.

The school had been flooded, too, delaying the start of the new term. So instead of going back to school I had a glorious few weeks staying right by the beach, outdoors for what felt like all the hours of daylight, pottering about the rock pools when I wasn’t splashing in the waves.

It’s a magical memory, and, while some details have blurred with time, one that’s remained bright through the intervening decades. So it was a special delight last month to return to Waihau Bay, for the first time since that long-ago visit.

There have been changes, of course: the road is now sealed all the way, and there’s an electricity supply. There are a few more holiday homes, too. But Waihau Bay has stayed small, and the coast looked very familiar. The jetty, the general store, and the lodge were recognisable at once.

Once again, I wandered along the long, sandy beach and pottered among the rock pools.

We’ve had a stormy summer, and saw little of the blue skies I recall from that earlier summer. But the sea is lovely in all weathers.

And now for the announcement. This was not solely a sentimental journey; I had another purpose in wanting to refresh my memories. Waihau Bay plays an important role in the novel I’m currently working on, which will give Amy’s younger brothers Tom and George a book of their own. While I don’t expect to finish this before the later part of this year, it’s coming along well.

Please rest assured that I will be returning to Daisy! Most probably in the novel after this one. But telling Tom’s and George’s stories is the result of many requests from readers, and my own desire to share what happened to them after they left the farm. I’ve had this clear in my head for a long time, and now it’s time to share it.

Attentive readers might be wondering about the non-fiction book I’ve mentioned previously. It’s become a much bigger project than I’d originally expected, and will therefore take longer than planned. So, while I’m still working on that one as well, it’s become a part-time project while I devote more time to Tom and George, and may continue to be so when I return to Daisy.

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31 Comments


  1. Dearest Shayne,
    So good to hear the good news! My old friends will come to life for me again and I’ll catch up on how their lives progressed after I last left them. I’m very excited because you made them so real for me that it will be like coming upon an old friend that I had lost contact for sometime and learning all that has happened since our last encounter.
    Can’t wait to know the latest publication is on the shelves.
    Lucy Marra

    Reply

  2. Dear Shayne…
    I have just finished reading your 4 books in the Promises to Keep series…could NOT put them down! Went on to read Daisy’s War & After the Roses…simply wonderful continuation…
    Can not wait to read more of what you write!!!

    Your Sentence of Marriage is on my Book clubs list for our May read/share. I asked to be the moderator. My question is this…
    Are there any discussion questions available to use in a Book Club situation?
    I have looked online to no avail. Also, none of the books have questions embedded at the end.
    I want to have a GOOD discussion but I feel I have little expertise in developing my own questions on such a deep, introspective, soul-wrenching level!

    Can you offer me any assistance in this endeavor?
    I look forward to hearing from you.
    Thank you so much for sharing your writing talent with us!!!

    Lauren Wilson
    dlwilson54166@hotmail.com

    Reply

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

      I’ll email you about the book club questions. Thanks for the reminder that I really should add some to this site!

      Reply

  3. Hi Shayne,

    Great news! After I finished the “Promises to Keep” series I felt so deflated until I found Daisy! I love how we can continue to enjoy your characters in new volumes, and can’t wait to read more about Tom and George.

    I have to admit Amy is my favourite, she is still young enough to find love! (hint hint) 😉

    Thank you xx

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Angela! I love (almost) all my characters, but Amy’s my special favourite.

      Reply

  4. I echo the compliments and joy of all those whom have made comments to date. I usually reserve 5 stars for literary classics or contemoorary wanna-be’s, but it would not surprise me if your stories become a 21st century Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Enid Blyton classics for the early reader. In this case your audience is all those who commenced on those series, I believe and many, many others.

    Enough of the praise, will Maisie return in a future storie?

    Perhaps, it would be a fitting ending to see that her life of apparent nothing, improved enough to put her on an equal footing with the opportunities available to her peers of the time; or at least finding sufficient romance and culture to balance of the tedium of the times which so often was the ‘default’ or fallback of most farmers everywhere since antiquity.

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Graeme!

      I expect that Maisie will appear in future books, but I don’t currently envisage a major role for her. But my characters have taken me by surprise before, so you never know!

      Reply

  5. I have been reading these books back to back since I discovered this series. They are wonderful! Am about to read Daisys War and am looking forward to seeing where the path leads. I so appreciate Kindle, because I might not have discovered these otherwise. These are downhome people just like the ones surrounding us in the southern United States….Keep up the GREAT work. Thank You for sharing your talent

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Ann Marie! It’s wonderful to hear from people around the world who respond to my characters.

      Reply

      1. I’ve just re-read the whole series again for like the tenth time and still love them!

        Looking forward to the continued Daisy story but does that mean we won’t hear about John and Harry and their families anymore with Daisy moving?

        Also looking forward to the Tom and George story (though not suzzanes part – not keen on her!)

        Do you know when we could be reading more?

        Thanks for great books!!!

        Reply

        1. Hi Abbie,

          You’re right that Daisy will see less of John and Harry and their families now that she’s moved away. I’ll make sure she sees them sometimes, though. Susannah certainly can be… irritating, to put it mildly. She’s mellowed a little with the years, but I’m not sure she’ll ever be an easy person to get on with.

          “Tom and George” is coming along nicely, but still some time away – I’m never very good at estimating times, though, so won’t hazard a guess.

          It’s wonderful to hear that you still love the books after all those readings! Thanks so much.

          Reply

  6. Hi Shayne,

    I’m glad a new book is coming, it’s been a long wait.

    After reading “Sentence of Marriage” I’ve been grabbing each book in the series as soon as they were available.

    You’re a great writer.

    Greetings from Argentina

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Pablo! Yes, I’m afraid it certainly is a long wait between books. Thanks for your patience!

      Reply

  7. Shayne,

    I have read all of your books over and over again. I have been checking on your site hoping to see that you. Are releasing a new book. I could read another 6 stories about your characters! Keep up the awesome work!

    Reply

  8. I can’t wait to read Tom and George’s stories as well as Daisy’s. I have read and reread the rest of your books 6 times through and readily await adding to my collection. You have taken over as my favorite author of all time and that is saying a lot considering the amount of books I have read in my 47 years.

    Reply

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

      Reply

  9. Hi Shayne

    I’m so looking forward to reading your next novel. I’ve read your books over and over again and I can picture in my head the scenes of where they all take place. You are a fantastic writer to be able to write so imaginatively so that your readers can visualise what the characters look like and where they live. I hope that we can expect something very soon (no pressure!! 🥰
    Best wishes from Dorset,UK

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Lou! You’re very kind. And thank you for your patience 🙂

      We were close to your lovely part of the world in June, when we had a few days in Devon and Cornwall.

      Reply

    2. Dear Shayne,
      I’ve finished again reading After the Roses. Sometimes it seems your books are just what I want to read. Glad to hear you’re working on another one. I hope to hear more about Benji, as well as Daisy, Eddie, Tom and George and the many others.
      Thanks again –
      M.Rose

      Reply

  10. Love,love your books and looking forward to more on Any and her family!

    Reply

  11. I just finished your books. Absolutely loved them. Waiting for more so please hurry!!!! 😀 I feel like the characters, Amy, Daisy etc. are like family. So well developed and real that I miss them already. Keep the books coming. You are a great writer!

    Reply

  12. Your books are:
    FANTABULOUS!!!

    The series just pulls you in and I envision being there part of the family. So many feelings and emotions to many to count..

    I have not been able to find the continuation about Daisy and Eddie…
    After the Roses has put me on the edge of my set with anticipation…please let me know where to find it if it’s out there or when it will be out…..I so hope they find away to live happily ever after…
    Thanks so much and have a peachy day

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Sally!

      The next book in Daisy’s story won’t be out for some time, I’m afraid, but rest assured I’ll be announcing it here and on my mailing list when it is.

      Reply

      1. Loved the whole series. Can’t wait to know what happens to Daisy.

        Reply

  13. Hi.
    I just finished reading your books………….about one a day and am looking forward to the next one……I really enjoyed them…couldn’t put them down……any idea when any of your books will be released? I’m not fussy…any character will do….(smile)…Thanks for your reply…

    Reply

  14. Hi,

    I read all your books…average of one per day and really enjoyed the writing. I learned a lot about New Zealand as I am quite a distance from your part of the world (in Canada) and am looking forward to other books…are any of them due out soon? I thank you for your reply.

    MB

    Reply

    1. Hi Mekaala,

      Thanks so much! That’s lovely to hear.

      The “Tom and George” book is coming along well, but I’m afraid it’s still some time from being released. I’ll be announcing it far and wide when it is!

      Reply

  15. I loved your first three books but the last two seems to have much of filling up space but you seem to clean that up in the end. I must say I am still a little confused as to how daisy and Eddie play as bother and sister. Maybe I need to re read.

    Reply

  16. Love your books. Is there a sequel to After the Roses?

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Angie! As it happens, I’ve just started work on the sequel 🙂

      Reply

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