THE RIDUNA SERIES

Riduna by Diana Jackson

RIDUNA

Historical Novel Society Review August 2010

“Riduna speaks volumes about the power of love and loss and is beautifully written with a fluidity that speaks to your soul. Author Diana Jackson’s ability to portray the everyday ordinary yet life-changing events of those in a community is amazing; you get a true feel of what it must have been like living in Riduna during that era. Fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will fall in love with Riduna.”

Diana writes:

Why is my novel called Riduna?

Riduna is the Latin name for the unique and picturesque island of Alderney, sister island to Guernsey Channel Islands, UK, known here as Sarnia. This island is a character in its own right, since for Harriet, born on Riduna in 1866, and many others in the community it is all they have known and wanted to know and yet for Edward, his head is full of dreams of faraway places and adventure. As their destiny is challenged will their devotion remain constant?

Do you ever feel that your raison d’être is threatened?

Have you ever loved someone so much that you have let them walk away?

Have you experienced displacement, daunted by moving away to somewhere unfamiliar, and yet deep within your heart is the very place you have left behind, a place you once dared to call home?

A twitter follower born on Alderney but now living in Canada once tweeted:

‘You can take the girl out of the island but you can’t take the island out of the girl.’

Riduna is available on Amazon: Riduna

ANCASTA ~ Guide me Swfitly Home

This is the second novel in The Riduna Series by Diana Jackson

Local historian in the history of aviation in the Southampton area,

Colin van Geffen writes:

“In Ancasta, against the background of the new 20^th century, we are re-introduced to the progress of life for the next generation from Riduna, Diana Jackson’s first novel, of the growing Newton family, now living at Woolston, near Southampton on the south coast of England. The author succeeds in jolting the reader’s emotions to give a clear understanding of how things were for so many ‘ordinary’ people in those dark days of wartime. No families were spared the loss or sacrifice of a loved one, but life had to go on.”

Diana writes:

Why is the novel called Ancasta ~ Guide me Swiftly Home?

The River Itchen, important in Roman Times when Southampton was already a strategic port, was blessed by the Goddess Ancasta whom the Romans prayed to for the swift and safe return of their vessels.

Will each member of the family return safely from the Great War which takes Harriet’s sons as far away as Turkey and India?

Will the roles of women, especially Harriet and her headstrong daughter Sarah, empowered by the daunting responsibility of their loved ones so far away, change their lives forever?

Will the island of Riduna, so deep in Harriet’s soul continue to caste its magic over Sarah too?

Ancasta tells the story of Harriet’s family from 1910 to 1920 as it weaves tightly through this period in Woolston’s history, with the birth of Supermarine, early flying boat production and The Schneider Trophy, though the excitement of this new age in flight is marred by the destruction of The Great War.

Ancasta on Amazon

Both books can be ordered from any good book shop in the UK.