Island author publishes first novel

A chance find in a Prahran op shop took local author Samantha Hampstead on a journey across the globe and back in time.

Her first novel, “Isabel and Chloe, the journey begins” set in France in the 1500s, has just been released.

The book is the first in a trilogy that follows the journey of Chloe, a 13-year-old French girl working as a servant for an aristocratic family during the Crusades.

Without giving too much away, an unexpected link with royalty places Chloe and sister Isabel in grave danger. 

Being part Cathar, a people persecuted by the Catholic Church adds to their peril.

The seed for this epic story was a mysterious medallion.

“I found it in an op shop in Prahran,” explained Samantha.

“It was really unusual, I’d never seen anything like it before.”

She immediately fell in love with the amber and topaz medallion, which included hand-made Sanskrit, and snapped it up for $5.

Around the same time, she’d started writing an historical novel set in 14th century France following the adventures of a fiery and outspoken young woman.

A string of coincidents followed.

Samantha’s research into the medallion also led her to France and a group of people known as the Cathars, a Christian movement which thrived in Southern Europe in the 12th and 14th centuries.

Samantha said she felt strangely drawn to them and the Cathars became part of her novel.

Then a DNA test as part of the research for her family tree, revealed her own family originated from Beziers in France, a town intrinsically linked to the Cathars.  In July 1209, a massacre in Beziers killed 20,000 people.

Further research led her to King Sebastian of Portugal. Sebastian also became part of the novel when Samantha discovered a similar medallion was worn by Joanna of Castille, his great grandmother.

On this backdrop of real-life events and historical figures, Samantha wove in her fictional characters, bringing a volatile period in European history to life.

Research and writing

Although Samantha had edited books and written short stories before, “Isabel and Chloe” is her first novel.

Her writing was fitted in around a busy schedule.

As well as helping husband Jason run Dead4Eva Designs in Cowes, the couple also juggle a blended family of seven children. Publishing the intricate historical tale has taken nine years of research and writing. And work has already begun on the second book of the trilogy.

Samantha said the amount of research needed was immense.

“Research for the book has taken so long,” she said.

“People don’t realise when you do historical fiction, you’re writing about historical facts, but with fictitious characters that can engage an audience.”

Through the course of her research, Samantha has spoken to people from America, Egypt, the Bahamas and France.

After posting an image of her medallion on Instagram, she’s been contacted by people from across the world, helping her to unravel its meaning.

The years of writing and research has made the books an integral part of Samantha’s life.

“You become involved with your characters after you’ve been writing them for so long. I cried when I killed off characters,” she admitted.

The medallion also became such a focus for her that Samantha had it tattooed on her back.

The decision proved to be a fortunate one.

Rescuing her small daughter from a rip at the beach one day, the medallion snapped, leaving Samantha with only the link which connected it to the chain. But her tattoo means the medallion will always be part of her story.

And she’s hoping one day to make it to France herself, to explore the land she’s brought to life through her novel.

Until then, she’s got the adventures of Chloe to keep her occupied.

The French Wolf trilogy - “Isabel and Chloe, the journey begins” is out now, available at Turn the Page bookshop in Cowes, or online at www.indiebooksaust.com.au.