Bücher veröffentlicht von Magpie Publishers

Gawngan had almost got what she wanted. She just had one last obstacle in her way... the Marriage Tree challenge!Set on the Far North Coast of NSW on the coastal lands around present day Ballina and Evan's Head, 'Gawngan and the Marriage Tree' tells the story of Gawngan, a young woman, who desperately wants to be free from an arranged marriage to a bully. The story revolves around the Bundjalung custom that dubay-mir (young women) could have marriages annulled if they successfully climbed a special tree and removed a set number of branches from it.Can Gawngan climb the enormous tree and remove the branches so she can be rid of Dangan forever and be free to marry her childhood sweetheart, Balagaan?The story follows on from events in 'The Magpie and the Snake' a story set in the 1820s that weaves local history and Bundjalung myths together to celebrate the rich culture, practices and lore of the Nyangbal people of Bullinaa.

Balagaan must choose: let his mortal enemy wed the love of his life, or break the lore to be with her and risk certain death.Balagaan comes from a saltwater people; Gawngan comes from a desert people. They are forbidden to marry. But for these star crossed lovers, their love is worth the risk; even if it means death.After the tribal Elders learn of their secret relationship, they banish Balagaan to live with another tribe for a number of years, hoping that he the love between the boy and girl will die. Entrusted to learn their ways and language, he must live there until he is summoned back home where he can take his place amongst his tribe.While the years pass, and Balagaan passes through his initiations into manhood, his childhood friend, Yirinyin, must also pass his rites into manhood. After failing to prevent a terrible accident on a kangaroo hunt, Yirinyin feels he is failing the old ways, but when the tribe encounters the Newcomers in their strange skins in the boat with wings, the old ways themselves may soon be under threat.Summoning Balagaan home, he returns to make a terrible discovery. His childhood sweetheart is betrothed to his mortal enemy. Risking everything to be with his true love, he visits the terrifying Aboriginal sorcerer, the Clever Man for his help.While the Clever Man foretells that Balagaan will be with his true love if he wins the treacherous Tree Climbing event, he cannot be trusted. His ways are mysterious and sometimes, deadly. Also, Balagaan has two obstacles in the way: he is terrified of heights, and his enemy, Dangan, wants to kill him!Can he really win the challenge and avoid getting killed, then break the lore and marry his childhood sweetheart or is the Clever Man playing a deadly trick on him?If Balagaan fails, he may not survive, and his true love will be doomed to marry his adversary.Mixing thrilling action and touching romance, Steve Trotter gives a wonderful insight into Aboriginal life in Book 1 of his Australia's Black History series. Buy 'The Magpie and the Snake' to start your journey into celebrating Australia's rich and wonderful history today!'Like Dark Emu, it paints the strength and grace of Aboriginal people.' - John Gardiner, journalist and author.