Weathered Bones, the first novel for writer Michele Powles, is about to hit the shops.  The book tells the story of Antoinette – a widowed grandmother, Grace – an emotional young wife, and Eliza – a lighthouse keeper from another century, in a book of dark water, flowers and midnight paintings.

Inspired by the real-life character of New Zealand’s only female permanent lighthouse keeper at Pencarrow – which celebrates its 150th anniversay this year – Eliza becomes a presence in Grace and Antoinette’s lives, demanding an audience, a voice and perhaps even a life of her own in the present day . . .

At the edge of three women’s lives a storm is brewing . . .

The storm snaps the mast of a boat and the sound of old wood hitting bone wakes Antoinette. Across the harbour Grace sets down her cup of tea and watches it shudder as the wind shakes the house. And a hundred and fifty years ago the same storm slams into the boat which carries Eliza to New Zealand. This is no ordinary storm.

‘This is spine-shivering territory, the haunted past reaching out to touch the
present, and turn it on its head. A book full of “real” women from an exciting
new writer.’ Dame Fiona Kidman

'This is a very fine first novel – containing traces of Fiona Kidman and Maurice Gee – by a young new writer
who is already attracting attention for the effortless and skilful way she blends past and present.'

The book will launch at Storm, 161 Ponsonby Road on Thursday the 2nd of April and then tour to Havelock North, Napier, Whakatane and Ohope. For author bookings contact Lyn Olds at Penguin NZ +64 (0)9 442 7400