By JOLENE OGLE
PATRICIA Robinson Dunn first wrote her debut novel more than 15 years ago. But it sat collecting dust until a few years ago when, like a haunting dream, the novel wouldn’t leave her thoughts.
Robinson Dunn decided to polish her work and went to find an agent to help publish her book.
But, after a sea of rejection letters from publishers, Robinson Dunn was on the brink of giving up before her agent sent an email that would reinvigorate her drive to publish her novel.
“My agent said she was disappointed I was giving up,” she said.
“She emailed me at 5.19pm… before the sun had set I was designing the cover and colours for my novel,” she said.
With her passion renewed, Robinson Dunn decided to publish her semi-autobiographical novel herself.
Mr Townsend’s Lion – a Baby Boomer’s tale – tells the story of her parents, her father a Scottish ex-Navy man and her mother a practical nurse and excellent baker – through the eyes of their daughter growing up in the 1950s.
The family leave behind the reminders of a post-war Britain and set sail on the Orion for a new life in the Queensland bush, where funny and charming stories of creepy crawlies and bewildering colloquial language read alongside stories of sorrow and sadness as the family settle into their new life.
Robinson Dunn captures the essence of life for ‘Ten Pound Poms’ in a strange, new land where the environment can be hostile but the people friendly, and entangles the tales with joy and humour and a real warmth towards the people of the bush is evident.
Anyone who is lucky enough to enjoy a chat with Robinson Dunn will see her love and enthusiasm for telling a good story and this translates into her debut novel.
Mr Townsend’s Lion was launched last week at the Riverdeck Restaurant and Bar where over 100 people gathered to welcome the latest edition to Noosa’s novel community.
“There was a really good vibe happening,” she said.
“What can I say? I was thrilled and delighted with the response and I hope it continues… all in all, my eyebrows seem to be semi-permanently lifted in surprise.”
Mr Townsend’s Lion is a heart-warming book just in time for spring reading, and is available from local bookstores.
