In April 2014 ‘The Trader’s Reward’ was
published, Book 5 and final in the series called The Traders, set in Western
Australia and Singapore in the 1860s to 70s..
I didn’t start off to write this series at
all, but one character from the final book in the previous series (Destiny’s
Path) would not get out of my mind. I kept seeing Bram Deagan, thinking of what
might happen to him next. In fact, he e refused to go away.
I not only started to write his story, but
found that he stayed at the heart of the whole series. He’s the most romantic,
loving hero I’ve ever worked with. He’s not tall, dark and handsome, just middle
height, scrawny and fairly ordinary – till he smiles! But he’s the most loving,
big-hearted man you could ever hope to fall in love with – and be loved by.
When he took up the offer to travel to
Australia with the son of a neighbouring family, the voyage opened Bram’s eyes
to how ordinary people were making successful new lives. Why be a servant all
his life? He too would make his fortune.
He had acquired some goods by chance and
decided to become a trader. Since people from Western Australia often imported
goods from Singapore, he travelled there to make his own contacts and find out what
was available.
He met and rescued a beautiful woman, way
above him in status, but destitute. They made a marriage of convenience, backed
by the Chinese merchant she’d been teaching English to, who would now trade with
Bram.
But the marriage became so much more, a deeply
loving relationship, the sort that makes you stop and go ‘Ahhh’ very softly. Bram
did start to make money, but he cared most about his Isabella.
I had a wonderful time writing about them as
they set up Deagan’s Bazaar in Fremantle, Western Australia. She had experience
in selling silks from her time in Singapore, so set up her own business within
the Bazaar.
I planned to write three books about them,
with members of his large but poor family coming to join him in Australia in
the other two books.
Ha! It wasn’t nearly enough. Readers wanted
more stories about the Deagans and I wanted to find out what happened next. I’m
not a planner, I only find out when I meet the character and write the story.
So my editor agreed to two more books, and I started dreaming of other linked
characters.
But five is the maximum my publisher wanted
for a saga series, so I’ve had to say goodbye to Bram and his family. I took
great care to tie up all the ends from the whole series, then I had to give him
a really good send-off, so I wrote a warm, fuzzy epilogue where he got his
reward ie being surrounded by the family and friend he loved. He had such a big
capacity for love of all sorts.
I wonder sometimes where these characters
come from, the ones who grip your heart and won’t let go. Are they real, living
in a nearby universe, popping over for a visit? They can’t just be figments of
our imagination . . . can they?
And now, I’m starting a new series. I’m
‘finding’ some new people to care about. But I’m sad not to be writing about
Bram. I wonder how he’s going on, if he’s still happy. He seems so real . . .
Anna Jacobs: Historical stories: ‘The Trader’s Gift, ‘Heir to Greyladies’, ‘The Trader’s Reward’ (4/14) Modern stories: 'Winds of Change', ‘A Place of Hope’, ‘In Search of Hope’ http://www.annajacobs.com
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