The Ruby Talisman (20 page)
Belinda Murrell comes from a very literary family, with a history of Australian writers stretching back 180 years – her great-great-great-great-grandmother Charlotte Atkinson published the first Australian children’s book in 1841, and her sister Kate Forsyth and brother Nick Humphrey are both published writers.
While Belinda studied Children’s Literature at Macquarie University and has been a professional writer for more than twenty years, her passion for children’s books was reignited when she had her own three children and began telling and writing stories for Nick, Emily and Lachlan. She is also inspired by her travels around Australia and the world. Some of the family’s recent adventures include living with an Aboriginal family on the remote Dampier Peninsula, staying on vast outback cattle stations, sailing the islands of the Barrier Reef, fossicking for gold and gemstones and exploring the Strzelecki Desert.
Belinda lives in Manly in a beautiful old cottage overlooking the sea with her husband Rob, three gorgeous children and lots of animals including a brave and loyal Rhodesian Ridgeback called Asha, who was the inspiration for a character in one of her books.
Find out more about Belinda at her website:
When Sophie falls asleep wearing a locket that belonged to her grandmother’s great-grandmother, she magically travels back to 1858 to learn the truth about the mysterious Charlotte Mackenzie.
Charlotte and her sister, Nell, live a wonderful life on a misty Scottish island. Then disaster strikes and it seems the girls will lose everything they love. Why were the sisters sent to live with strangers? Did their uncle steal their inheritance? And what happened to the priceless sapphire – the Star of Serendib?
Sophie shares in the girls’ adventures as they outwit greedy relatives, escape murderous bushrangers, and fight storm and fire. But how will her travels in time affect Sophie’s own life?
After their village is attacked, a young brother and sister set off on a dangerous quest to save their captured family and friends – and free their land from the Sedah invaders. Where are Ethan and Lily’s parents being held? And where have the Sun Sword and its magical gems been hidden?
Joined by their friend Saxon and the determined Princess Roana, Ethan and Lily must solve puzzles and riddles, escape legendary sea monsters and outwit bandits along the way. But the greatest threat to the children is the sinister Sedah tracker, Sniffer, who is close on their trail...
Can the four friends find the sun gem – before the Sedah can find them?
