Aidan Curtis
A HOMEGROWN best-selling author is feeling lucky to have so much community support ahead of the release of her fifth novel.
Tantanoola-raised Maya Linnell has been living her dream of being an author since the release of her debut novel in 2019.
With her latest book, Kookaburra Cottage, soon to hit the shelves, Ms Linnell said community support for her writing has been instrumental in making her writing dream a reality.
“To fill my days with books and words is a very special thing and one I certainly don’t take for granted,” she said.
“I’m really aware that all the support of the people in the local community is a huge factor in helping to keep my books on the shelves and allowing me to sit at the keyboard all day and do this work telling Australian stories.
“That has been humongously helpful in the books becoming bestsellers and that’s something you’ll never ever take for granted as an author.”
The local support has been one of the highlights of her writing career, with friends and neighbours regularly checking in with her to discuss her work.
“I think the really good thing is writing about country scenarios and small communities, and living in small communities is really good for the authenticity factor,” Ms Linnell said.
“I have wonderful friends and neighbours that will come across and say they’ve heard of a great story or turn of phrase and I should put it in a book.
“So that’s really nice to have people coming up with their thinking caps on when it comes to different things that might make a good storyline, which is lovely.”
Ms Linnell said while her books have previously been set in western Victoria, where she currently lives, it was “high time” to set a story in the South East.
“The new book has got a food and wine tourism focus and it’s lovely to be able to turn a spotlight on such a beautiful part of the world,” she said.
“The Blue Lake has been a regular feature mentioned in the previous four books, but at least now the characters are actually going to Mount Gambier.
“It’s really lovely to be able to put in local special spots and things like the donut van that sets up on the foreshore at Beachport every summer.”
Kookaburra Cottage is set to hit the shelves on Tuesday, May 30.