‘Wow. This isn’t the type of novel I’d usually read but I have a bit of a spiritual connection to both snakes and magpies so had been researching Indigenous Australian lore and stumbled upon this book. What a find. This is the kind of book that if everybody in this country read, people would understand why this culture is so sacred and important to our country and how we all have an obligation to preserve and embrace it.’

Mixing thrilling action and touching romance, Steve Trotter gives a wonderful insight into Aboriginal life and culture. Start your journey into celebrating Australia’s rich and wonderful history today!

The Magpie and the Snake

This book introduces readers to the Balagaan and Gawngan and the Nyangbal Aboriginal people. Based on a Dreamtime story, the book explores Balagaan’s determination to be with his true love even though it might mean he is breaking the lore. This story is set in Bullinaa, which means ‘place where seafood is plentiful’. Huge festivals were hosted there. Marriages were arranged, goods were traded, mock fights and a tree climbing event was held, and there was much celebrating and feasting. The book also details the Nyangbal people’s sustainable use of aqua culture, companion planting and free range animal farming that they practised for thousands of years and how all of this was threatened when the explorer Henry Rous charts their river in his ‘canoe with wings’.

“I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the sequel.”  -Kerry Stevenson.

Gawngan And The Marriage Tree

A stand alone picture book, ‘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 of a  husband. The story revolves around the Bundjalung custom that dubay-mir (young women) could have marriages annulled if they successfully climbed a special tree, ‘The Marriage Tree’, and removed a certain 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?

Savages

Balagaan is anxious. The Newcomers are taking their lands, and with less land, his people have less food.

When the Nyangbal people discover the Yirraalii, the Newcomers, on their land, they take no chances and hastily move camp. The Yirraalii have a reputation for being dangerous.

While the Nyangbal people watch the Yirraalii from the safety of the bush, Dangan’s wife stumbles into their camp and recounts a brutal Yirraalii attack on her husband’s clan. Balagaan and his cousins are sent to investigate. They discover the Newcomers are using ‘Native Police’ to hunt Aboriginal people.

The Nyangbal people flee to a secret campsite, deep in the forest. But are they really safe? Balagaan must consult the Clever Man. While he journeys far from home, he is unaware his childhood enemy, Dangan, is leading the Native Police straight to his family’s hiding place.

Can Balagaan return in time to save his wife and children, or will his enemy finally get his revenge?

Leave a review

While you’re here, I also wanted to ask you if you’d be willing to help spread the word about our books? If you post a review of any of our books on Amazon or Goodreads, I’d be happy to offer you a $10 discount on your next purchase. 

Once you’ve posted a review, let me know and I’ll share a discount coupon for your next purchase.

Thanks so much for taking an interest in our books, and for being a Magpie Publishers reader!

Regards,

Steve Trotter