Description: Set in the Australian Bush, Deep Water Tears is a coming-of-age story of a non-Indigenous Australian girl, and her relationship with a part-Indigenous Australian boy, during a time when mixed-raced relationships were still commonly frowned upon. A story of how heart-breaking loss becomes the key to finding immeasurable joy.
Brief description: A sixth generation Australian, Jan Reid's early years were not unlike many others born in the 1960's growing up on a wheat and sheep property in Central West, New South Wales. After the sun went down, almost every night she would be found reading a book, and under the bed covers with a torch when the lights were turned off. In 2009 Jan became a freelance writer, in 2011 a Kindle book author, and in 2013 she completed the Diploma of Professional Writing - Novel Writing and Publishing, with High Distinction. In March 2014, she completed her first novel (Deep Water Tears), in November 2014, her second novel (Grace), and in November 2015, her third novel (Barons Reach). Grace and Barons Reach were both completed during the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge. Jan is also the author of several children's picture books, self-published for her grandchildren. Jan is still an avid reader although she no longer needs to hide under the bed covers with a torch. When she is not writing or reading, she puts on her walking shoes and takes off on one of her many favourite walking tracks, savouring the beauty and tranquillity of the South Coast area of New South Wales.
Review Quotes: 'A story of coming to age in the Australian bush with a difference. Jan tells the beautiful story of two Australian children, Rachel and Darel growing up in a rural Australia still beset by ignorance and rumor. The story is told against a backdrop of Wiradjuri dream time stories, demonstrating how the stories persist as oral recollection to modern time and how they act as a touchstone of strength and power. The characters are real and compelling - the localities well researched and remembered. I recommend this story to those just interested in a good yarn or those wanting a little more - an honest look at our recent history.' - Peter Quinton, Amazon. 'From the very first page, Deep Water Tears, pulls you into the story like a magnet. It is one of those love stories that makes you want to keep reading, wanting to know what is going to happen next. Will a mother succeed in keeping two people apart because she doesn't approve? The love for each other started at an early age and even though they were kept apart for years, their love would never fade. Jan Reid did an excellent job in telling a story of a never ending romance. She is a writer that we will be hearing more of.' - Larry W. Fish, Amazon. '...The characters are well drawn and kept from being cliches by their interesting connections to each other. Additionally, the personalities of the two main characters draw on their love and interaction with the place they spent their childhood, drawing many personal parallels to my upbringing. The birds, sounds, smells, weather may have been exotic compared to rural Pennsylvania but their effect on the characters was universal. The book brought back memories and I found myself comparing they very specific descriptions to my own memories growing up, and it was an enchanting effect. American audiences will be charmed by the Aussie dialogue and the accent fairly jumps off the page. In many ways, the Australia of this book sounds like the lush parts of Texas. I need more time to get lost in both of those places because Ms. Reid makes Australia sound like so much fun. Ms. Reid's storytelling leaves you wanting more and even though you understand at the beginning that this is the beginning of a series, at a point near the ending you know that you want to know more about a particular character and then you are rewarded for not peeking ahead by finding they are the subject of the next book-and I was delighted!' - Greg Miller, Amazon.