FAMILY stories provided the building blocks for Kim Kelly’s latest novel which takes us back to the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
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“I wanted to explore the city of my grandparents, who were real people of the time,” the Orange-based author said.
Set in the 1930s Ms Kelly’s third book, The Blue Mile tells the story of star crossed lovers Eoghan and Olivia as they navigate the struggles of the Great Depression and their differences in social class.
Olivia, an aristocratic fashion designer was inspired by Ms Kelly’s grandmothers who were both talented dressmakers.
“My paternal grandmother had her own label, the time was against her though.
“It was hard for a woman to have a business, but she tried,” Ms Kelly said.
“My other grandmother made beautiful ball gowns for my mother and made all my clothes.”
Eoghan is also influenced by Ms Kelly’s family stories about the grim reality of growing up Irish in Sydney.
“Fiction is funny like that, you think you’re creating something new but it’s just your life,” she said.
Ms Kelly turned to newspapers from the time for research where she found a number of interesting stories both in the news and in things like letters to the editor.
“Researching as your writing, the world opens up in a more realistic way,” she said.
“My stories are about young people in their 20s and I discover the world as they do.”
For Ms Kelly, Australia is where her heart is.
“I have a fascination for the place I live in,” she said.
“I did write a novel between my first and second and that’s when I tried to take the story away from Australia.
“I felt like I was scrambling around trying to find something that was always alluding me.”
After working on The Blue Mile for two years, Ms Kelly has mixed feelings about its release.
“It’s kind of a strange feeling,” she said.
“A piece of me is leaving, it’s me saying goodbye, but it’s very exciting to give this gift to readers.”
The Blue Mile will be launched at the Dotted Eight Cafe on Thursday, May 1 at 5.30pm.
The cost is $5 which includes tea and coffee, and nibbles.
To book a place call 6369 1333.