From the Ashes

In 1950s Auckland things are changing – and fast. Women are joining the workforce in numbers, white goods are readily available and the age of rock ’n’ roll has arrived.Allie Manaia works the Elizabeth Arden counter at Smith and Caugheys. It’s been two years since the Dunbar and Jones fire, where some of her friends perished, but she still has nightmares.Kathleen Lawson – rich, lonely and bored – is one of Allie’s customers. Kathleen takes a shine to Allie, but when she discovers Allie’s husband is Maori, her attitude changes. Is she trying to make friends or poison the relationship between Sonny and Allie?Meanwhile, Sonny’s beautiful younger sister, Polly, is embracing the more relaxed moral standards of the era, living a vibrant but wayward life as a waitress–model–goodtime girl while leaving her young daughter to be raised by her mother.As each woman navigates the shifting social and cultural landscape of the 1950s, she is faced with new possibilities and decisions – with freedom comes joy, but also fear and, occasionally, mistakes.Told in Deborah Challinor’s trademark style – equal parts heart and humour – From the Ashes follows the fortunes of the women of three families through one decade of incredible change.

'Challinor is a good storyteller ... seamlessly joining fact and fiction and creating a convincing, atmospheric yarn.' -- Bookseller + Publisher
'... the perfect blend of fact and fiction.' -- The New Zealand Herald

Deborah Challinor has a PhD in history and is the author of thirteen bestselling novels, including the Children of War series, the Convict Girls series and the titles in the Smuggler's Wife series. She has also written one young adult novel and two non-fiction books. In 2018, Deborah was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to literature and historical research. She lives in New Zealand with her husband. Voice actress Rachel King has worked extensively in advertising, promos, long-form narration and animation projects, including Kitty is Not a Cat, I Got a Rocket, Old Tom, Master Raindrop and Deadly. She has also written and directed on various projects including Theater Royale, Bat & Possum and My Family By Sam. Rachel co-owns a creative hub in Newcastle called Softys.

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