Australian Story

G'day. I am Roo Palmer and I live down under.

I am the author of "Dale" a series of Australian Christian fictional stories that will inspire and touch the heart, while promoting positive solutions to many situations.

I started writing in school, but developed it further in my 20s when I realised that writing was something I had always enjoyed doing, but didn't have the confidence to pursue it earlier in my life.    But then, I suddenly got motivated, doing all I could to become an author. 

I started to write articles, short stories, poetry and a daily devotions book before the instinct came one night to write about social and christian issues.  This moved me to develop a character named 'Dale'. 

If you are after family friendly, non-offensive, entertaining, warm stories that inspire the reader, touch the heart and share messages of hope and forgiveness, but also have drama and mystery and 'edge-of-your-seat' suspense, 'Dale' is a story for you.   If you are after something that helps build positive attitudes in raising children and family life, yet still offer a sense of reality, 'Dale' will open your heart to something exciting and new.  

These days, we need something that offers solutions.   There are people hurting from all sorts of circumstances, and alot comes from greed, anger, bitterness and revenge which only increases our problems, putting much pressure on governments and other organisations.  Where are the solutions?   Where does a person seek ideas that are simple and practical to restore relationships and find better ways of dealing with life in general.       

"Dale", a series of fictional christian, family stories which delve into our many social, family and christian issues that we all experience.  

About  "Dale" and the continuing saga.

Throughout the series of Dale’s story, the lives of many people are dramatically changed.   From the stress of tragedy, frustration, anger, hurt and trauma, Dale's character and ideals boldly flow through the human emotions of his community and express a flattering skill that leans towards a spiritual dimension.   The story adds value to the life of a person, yet does not make judgments against them. 

 

It is full of life stories, of pain, heartbreak, fear and courage, but also lifts the heart gracefully.  It deals with many issues, from cot death, child abuse, AIDS, social status, religious concerns, teenage rebellion, suicide, drugs, and many more.   Hear the pain in the stories from single mothers, war veterans, orphans, immigrants, school children, students, neighbours, and many others.     

How will God move Dale and what purposes will lead him to carry a hope to these people around him?    

It is a mezmerizing and dramatic affair that started out for a normal middle class family torn apart, yet suspended on a string of obscurity by a young man’s uncanny, yet beautiful character.

 

 AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR OF 'DALE' 

Arizonian Photographer and Author of 'Through the Mirror and Beyond Ourselves' Richard. B Lee interviews Roo Palmer about her books.   

Richard:   When did you first come up with the desire to write the Dale series?
Roo:         God gave me five words in the middle of the night which begins the first line of the first book.   I began to work on how to develop those five words into an entertaining Christian story.

Richard:   What was your inspiration in writing about Dale?
Roo:         An Australian tv show called "A Country Practice" inspired me to write drama using every day  life problems and events that people experience at one time or another.   An actor  from the show said in an interview, "Where you have conflict, you have drama."    So what i wanted to find was a dramatic story in things that people can easily relate to...with a positive Christian and Biblical influence.  The first idea was a story about an adopted boy...and developing the story from there.   
Richard:   3. How do you relate to the issues of the central character and his family?
Roo:         Coming to realise that Christian families have a much bigger battle surrounding them in today's world when it comes to holding to our faith when raising children and being a christian in a secular environment.  i wanted to express the Christian approach to many issues that we face everyday.   
Richard:   4. What, do you feel, is the message that Dale gives to the public?
Roo:         My intention is to bring to light many positive solutions to issues that effect us today in our western world, such as bullying, sexual harrasment, AIDS and many others.  There are also many christian issues alot of families face that create stress and i wanted to bring positive solutions to them. 
Richard:   5. What characters in your book have special messages to give by their lifes styles and the events that they live through?
Roo:         Many of my characters are hurting people in some way or another.  Even people we think are too 'great' in our society to feel anything, their secret seeds are brought out to the reader.    But their truth is finally revealed when they meet Dale..and he has a gift of love that touches their hearts to a change for their good.   
Richard: 6. How can your readers benefit from the Dale series?
Roo:   They're entertaining, non-offensive and the biblical and christian messages, as well as helping to direct people to Jesus Christ Himself, are developed in the characters reactions and awareness of their individual situations. 
Richard: 7.  Is there a social impact that these books have to share for our communilties?
Roo:   Yes, I want the readers to see there are better ways to deal with our social problems than what is portrayed through the media and toys.  Often our kids grow up with this teaching, just by watching television and believing that battles, war and violence is the way to deal with life.  I hope to encourage parents, teachers and children that good values start with them, and we can deal with situations better than what is taught.  
Richard: 8. What do each character represent in each of these series?
Roo:    A person loved by God, who have needs and feelings, who deserve respect and their hurting hearts are something that we can deal with more effectively. 
Richard:9. As a writer, what is your background in writing?
Roo:        Started at school, then later began to learn as much as i could to become a writer, mixing with successful authors, learning from authors and doing courses that would help me develop my own style.  I was part of many writers groups in the early stages, but then decided to focus more on my own work and write for God.      
Richard:10. What resources can people use to find your books available for purchase?
Roo:       I am in the Google, Yahoo and Mywebsearch Search Engine or by going to my storehouse at www.lulu.com/roopalmer  where you can browse all my books. You can also view more about me at  www.roopalmer.vpweb.com  and  www.shoutlife.com/roopalmer  

Richard:12. What were your influences in writing these books for the public?
Roo:   The stories on the Australian tv series A Country Practice was my main influence.  The stories were natural and things that happen in our every day lives.  As i watch these shows i can see the drama in each scene and the message that it wants to portray so I used that 'style' to help develop my own christian stories.
Richard:13. What do you expect to come for the readers in the near future from you as an author?
Roo:       I want readers to be open and to understand the positive messages so that they can share those values with their friends and family.
Richard:14. Do you represent any specific denomination?
Roo:  No,  my books represent Christ and His Church only.  There are many christian denominations in the books, but no specific religious doctrine is mentioned.  It all comes from the Bible's teaching and what Christians believe and do in their lives.  
Richard:15. What message about these books would you most like to share with the public?
Roo:   Christ and His message and the biblical and Christian witness to a hurting world.

Who is Dale? 

What is so different about Dale compared with any other main character in a fictional story?   What are his dreams?  What are his fears?   Will he come to know more about himself and what God is trying to teach him? 

You will warm to his love for others.  You will feel the tenseness in his spirit and learn of his unique style of expression, sometimes causing many differences of opinion.   His character is mysterious, difficult and hard to grasp, but at the same time, his love is a gift of God and strengthens our own hearts for God Kingdom. 

HIS EARLY CHILDHOOD.

Out of the mid 1960s, a handsome, six year old boy brings havoc to a very comfortable middle class christian family in Melbourne, Australia.  He completely changes their lives as he grows into adulthood, while bearing a mysterious and senseless past deep within him.   What is it?    How does he deal with the events that have brought him to this new existence.    

Dale is abandoned on the Willis's doorstep one August morning in 1965.  How will he express to them where he has come from when he doesn't know himself why the events happened to him.

What about his sisters and his parents?   What do they feel?   No one could have prepared them for this bizarre and remarkable child.   Was God trying to play a huge game with this normal Australian family, or was He using them for a unique reason that no one would ever understand?

He meets a young girl and their friendship is sacred, until he comes to know her truth. 

Dale is an eerie story, yet filled with inspirational energy.. 

It’s full of mystery, hope, drama, human need, grace and love.   It will encourage and inspire you in your own walk with God and how you approach God more personally.  You see yourself in many of the characters, many you will recognise as people you know. 

On future 'Dale' stories.

The second book in the series, "Dale. Image of Innocence"  delves into more deepers secrets of Dale's past through another young boy named Lindsay.   The young lad's dream of being a normal and happy child from his inability to understand the world around him, becomes an enormous challenge for Dale and his family. Yet love overcomes, but how?

He will warm to Margot, a young single mother striken with AIDS, in  "Dale. AIDS Child" when he befriends her but at the same time they struggle with the Monaghan community's harsh and presumptious judgment of their friendship which becomes the town's affair.

You can view the book trailer at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJgeYtdna-U

This story brings on a new dimension with insidious innuendo, yet displays a logical and loving abilian with AIDS on a mother's road to glory.

His ancestors and his past will constantly haunt him in  "Dale. Forbearing Secrets"   His past will always be a constant war path within him, and his imperfections will frustrate everyone around him, yet people will be moved to know more about him.  

You will love his story as I did in writing it.       

Books 1 and 2 in the series,  ’Dale. A Love Story, and ‘Dale. Image of Innocence’ , Dale, AIDS Child, and his future stories  are released on  www.lulu.com/roopalmer  

No 4 in the series 'Dale. Forbearing Secrets'’ is now released.  

Coming Soon:  No 5   Dale. The Spirit's Bequest.  .. A story about spiritual warfare. 

This story will raise your spirit and soul to a new level,  yet open your heart to the very element of God's character. You will come to experience God's hunger for reaching people for His Kingdom.  He desires that none should perish, but you can feel the heartache and drive in The Spirit of God Himself to bring mankind to eternal life.   You will come to know the trickery. deviousness, and the lies amongst the perverse agenda of the evil one they call Satan.  You will be alerted to his tactics and along with his armies of demons that want you to fail God, so that you will follow his lies and not the love and grace of the Father God and His Son Jesus Christ, Our Saviour.   The characters in this story experience the very heart of God...the desire to reach people for His True Paradise...Heavenly Kingdom, but you will also come to know Satan's final days as taught in Holy Scripture.