Deborah Challinor has a PhD in history and is the author of thirteen bestselling novels, including the Children of War series, the Convict Girls series and the titles in the Smuggler's Wife series. She has also written one young adult novel and two non-fiction books. In 2018, Deborah was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to literature and historical research. She lives in New Zealand with her husband. Louise Crawford is a drama graduate from Queensland University of Technology with a major in acting. Louise has a successful career on stage, film and television in Australia. She appeared in the film The Hard Word, and on television in Natalie Wood, Farscape, Beastmaster and All Saints. She hosted Scream Test and was a series regular on Breakers and Echo Point. Her theatre appearances include The Vagina Monologues, The Importance of Being Earnest, Uncle Vanya, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Caucasian Chalk Circle. Louise has also been a scriptwriter on Home and Away and Breakers.
'From start to finish, the author gives us a lively plot entwined with colonial history, and an insight into Maori and European traditions, values and expectations prevalent of that era.’ -- Heritage Matters ‘... historical romance writing at its best ... Challinor is extraordinarily talented.' -- New Zealand Books ‘Deborah Challinor’s heroines are always easy to cheer for.’ -- NZ Women’s Weekly