Her blue eyes stare out from beneath a very masculine looking pair of goggles. She is nearly done. Only the main wall left to sand. She arches her back, in the hope of stretching out the massive ache that has settled itself within her shoulders and spine. Next she surveys the mammoth area she has managed to complete since seven this morning. A smile creeps across her lips, under the small white paper mask she wears to keep the fine white dust out of her lungs. They are right, she thought. It does give her pride an inner glow knowing she completed all this. Yet there is no time for admiring her work, she still has the widest wall to complete. Her gaze falls upon the sander. There is still enough sandpaper left to do the job at hand. With the flick of her right index finger, the machine she bought two days ago whirls into life. She holds it up against the wall, running it over the plastered patches in a circular motion. Within seconds she can barely see the wall with all the white dust the sander is throwing up. Her forearms are covered in white instantly. By the end of this day she will need that warm inviting shower.
Today we talk about Adelaide Rainbow Bridge, a book by Anja Grafton published with our publishing house Adelaide Rainbow Bridge.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author, Anja Grafton, to get to know her better, where she found the inspiration to write her book Adelaide Rainbow Bridge, as well as how she decided the title of her book.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to write your story?
I like any story that takes me on a journey, but most of all I love mysteries and Murder mysteries. I love the process of working out who did it. There is a satisfaction, in knowing you paid attention to the clues of the Author. After the hundreds I read it was suggested that I should write my own. My time, teaching at various High Schools around Adelaide taught me to hone my skills of observation. It was easy using Adelaide as a back drop and the People I know as pointers for my characters. All this made writing easier as the sleepy City of Churches-Adelaide, is the capital crime City of Australia. Which made this the perfect place to set my crime story.
- What do you want to communicate to readers with your book?
I want to communicate to the readers the wonders of other places. I believe that Adelaide is an interesting place not only to visit, but to live in as well. There is a peacefulness and laid-back atmosphere that comes through in everyday life. This place offers far more than a church at every corner, which is ironic since Adelaide had the evilest crimes. This is partly why crimes fascinate me. I also wanted to communicate that I studied human behaviour – both physical and psychological. This is why, I have written this story set in real locations, so people are able to use a map of Adelaide and follow the story as it enfolds as well as feel part of the Adelaide community.
- What was the first book you read and what did it teach you?
My first book was the ‘Shaman’s Daughter’ by Nan F. Salerno and Rosamond M. Vander burgh. The story is about American Indian Culture and how a minority fits into society. The story is about a young 12-year-old Girl who climbs a mountain to pray to the great spirit. The heroine of this story has inner strength. This book is an evocative saga of life seen through the eyes of a girl who turns into an unforgettable Woman struggling to survive as her world falls apart around her. This story inspired me to not only develop but create my own heroin. It also showed me that a strong family unit creates a well-rounded character base. This in turn taught me to write about what I know. That the simplest Idea can evoke inspiration.
- How did you decide the title of your work?
I had several titles, some that were nondescript and others that evoked the wrong reaction. It took several months before I decided on Adelaide Rainbow Bridge. As the story developed, Rainbows came popping into my head and the idea that they have a start and an end. As my characters developed a sense of dynamics from the present to the past cemented the title. This is how I broke the title down. Rainbow was a metaphor for my characters past life’s intruding into the present. Bridge reminded me of crossing both ways, from one day to another, and how little we observe from one moment to the other. While Adelaide is added because I live in the place. So, to reiterate the title of my book ‘Adelaide Rainbow Bridge’ means Place where everything happens, where present and past collide under a chance of opportunities.
- Are you working on a new book on the same genre?
Yes, I currently am. In this new book my characters have evolved. Not only the family dynamics have grown among each of the main characters, but they have become more complex. Kayley is now a Police Officer at the station where her brother was first accused of murder. Both detectives are bewildered by this. As she finds her feet, she is intwined in a new Murder mystery. With her new found strength and dogged determination she becomes a force to reckon with, pitting herself against the murderer. This story has the same intrigues. It is set in similar surroundings – The west side of Adelaide. The idea is that you can follow the story again. I high light other interesting features of Adelaide. I hope to draw people into Adelaide and hope they come and visit. I realise a good second story builds on what has come before. This is why all the old favourites reappear.
Europe Books thanks the author, Anja Grafton, once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book Adelaide Rainbow Bridge. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my readers, I truly hope that this book captures your curiosity and it will also allow to know Adelaide and its places, becoming interested in visiting them for real.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!