Spotlight: White Spirit by Lance and James Morcan

Last Updated: 17 May 2024

After escaping from Australia’s notorious Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, Irish convict John Graham finds refuge with the Kabi, a tribe of Aborigines who eventually accept him as one of their own. Attempts to recapture Graham are orchestrated by a variety of contrasting characters working for the all-pervasive British Empire. They include Moreton Bay's tyrannical, opium-addicted commandant Lord Cheetham, the dashing yet warlike Lieutenant Hogan, native tracker Barega and the penal settlement's captain, Tom Marsden.

Marsden's young daughter Helen, a progressive lady ahead of her time who is both an egalitarian and a feminist, boldly inserts herself into the clash between the Irish convict, her father, and Moreton Bay's other iron-fisted rulers. Helen complicates things further when she finds herself in a Pride and Prejudice-style love triangle with men on opposite sides of the conflict.

When Scottish woman Eliza Fraser is found shipwrecked and close to death in Kabi territory, Graham and his legion of pursuers, as well as the Irishman's adopted Aboriginal family, are all forced to navigate a multi-faceted rescue mission. The precarious rendezvous is made all the more dangerous by Helen Marsden's ethically driven meddling that often outwits the men involved.

White Spirit is not only based on arguably the great Australian (true) story, a sweeping tale that encapsulates all the nuances of the southern continent's unique history, it also provides readers with detailed insights into the tribal life of First Australian (Aboriginal) peoples. As is often the case, truth is stranger than fiction, and Graham’s story is so incredible it must surely rank as one of the great wilderness survival tales.

About Lance & James Morcan

I write in collaboration with my son James. We are a rare New Zealand father-and-son writing team who have co-authored 20 fiction and non-fiction book titles published by Sterling Gate Books. James is based in Sydney, Australia, while I’m based in NZ so our collaboration is essentially conducted long-distance albeit with the help of daily Skype and phone calls.

I’m a former journalist/newspaper editor with experience in all media. James is also an actor and has accrued leading roles in film, television and also on stage. His film credits can be viewed here.

We are also screenwriters and filmmakers and have adapted several of our novels to feature film screenplays. These are in early development with our production company Morcan Motion Pictures. Several of our film projects can be viewed here.

Several of our books have been regular visitors to Amazon’s bestseller lists. These include the novels Into the Americas (a historical adventure) and The Ninth Orphan (an international thriller) and the non-fiction books Genius Intelligence and Antigravity Propulsion (paid links; commission earned).

Our latest book is a historical adventure titled White Spirit (paid link; commission earned). A novel based on a true story. It’s a 1,000-page epic set in 19th-century Australia and based on the remarkable true story of Irish convict John Graham.

Giveaway

If the book's hooked you, you're in luck as Lance and James have very kindly offered an ecopy of White Spirit to one lucky reader. Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and conditions:

1. Giveaway closes on 20th December 2016 at 11.59pm (GMT).
2. The prize consists of one ecopy of White Spirit by Lance and James Morcan.
3. Upon confirmation of the winner's address, the prize will be sent to the winner by the authors, NOT The Writing Greyhound.
4. This giveaway is open internationally.
5. The winner will be randomly generated by Rafflecopter once the giveaway has ended.
6. The winner will be informed by email once the giveaway has ended.
7. The winner will have 72 hours to claim their prize. If the winner has not responded by this time, another winner will be announced.

Will you be reading the book? Let me know in the comments below!