A Changing Land (43 page)

Sarah thought of the men and women who'd lived and died on the property, of those who'd been unhappy, and others who'd been unable to envisage setting foot beyond her rich soil. Wangallon was an intriguing legacy to be part of. No wonder the old homestead never felt empty. It was filled with the thoughts of her ancestors and she suspected they would have much to say over the coming years. Jim's thirty per cent share of Wangallon had passed to her following the news that he was not remotely related to them, so that Sarah now controlled sixty per cent of the property. This was how it was meant to be, Sarah mused. One descendent in every generation, one strong-willed Gordon to act as custodian until the arrival of the next. Now she was on
the verge of creating her own family, of producing an heir, she was beginning to understand the lengths her forefathers were prepared to go to protect their heritage. In the future Sarah knew it would be no different for her.

N
o book such as this can be written without acknowledging the pioneers of this great country, Australia. Their tenacity and determination to forge new communities in an unknown, harsh environment continues to provide inspiration for those of us attempting to tell a little of what their lives may have been like.
A Changing Land
is the sequel to
The Bark Cutters
and in writing it I have once again drawn on my rural landscape, although the work is entirely fictional.

My parents, Marita and Ian, like many of their generation, have a strong oral storytelling tradition and I thank them for their love, guidance and humour. Thanks to my agent, Tara Wynne, and my sister, Brooke; between the two of them they have covered every business element I could think of, and then some. And to David, thank you for your ongoing support.

To Random House and the wonderful team within: publisher Larissa Edwards, editor Chris Kunz, rights manager Nerilee Weir, marketing strategist Tobie Mann and PR stalwarts Karen Reid and
Judy Jamieson-Green, thank you for your continued assistance and professionalism.

Thank you to Margaret Adams for advice on the Kamilaroy tribe and to the enthusiastic booksellers across Australia who continue to support me.

Lastly, to my readers and friends, both old and new who have joined me within the pages of my novels. By reading my work you have made it come alive for me, thank you.

In the course of her career Nicole Alexander has worked both in Australia and Singapore in financial services, fashion, corporate publishing and agriculture. A fourth generation grazier, Nicole returned to her family's property in the late 1990s. She is currently the business manager there and has a hands-on role in the running of the property. Nicole has a Master of Letters in creative writing and her poetry, travel and genealogy articles have been published in Australia, America and Singapore.

 

Visit
www.nicolealexander.com.au

1. Succession planning – the passing on of the family property to the next generation – is a major issue in Australian agriculture. In
   A Changing Land
   a strong succession plan is vital to Wangallon's longevity. Do you believe Sarah has a right to be offended when she learns she must share the property with others?
   
2. Do you think Claire makes the right choices in
   A Changing Land
   ? In what ways is she different to Hamish's first wife, Rose?
   
3. Lauren and McKenzie each have their own agendas throughout the course of the novel. Did you feel empathy for them at the end of the novel? Why?
   
4. Do you agree with Anthony's decision not to tell Sarah immediately of his development plans? Discuss.
   
5. Consider the role animals such as Bullet, Ferret and the fox play in
   A Changing Land
   .
   
6. What significance does the tortoiseshell hair comb play throughout the novel?
   
7. To what extent do you blame Maggie Macken for the events that unfold in
   A Changing Land
   ?
   
8. What do you make of Luke's feelings for his stepmother? Do you think Hamish is aware of these feelings?
   
9. The spirits that roam Wangallon are tied to it for many reasons. Discuss.
   
10. The author uses an interwezaving narrative involving different timeframes in this work. Why do you think she chose to write the novel in this way?
    

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