Devon Wakefield only wanted to escape the unwanted attentions of her lustful stepfather. Yet her hiding place proved to be a doorway to a new life. Having inadvertently stumbled onto a convict ship bound for New South Wales in 1787, no one would believe her when she said she didn't belong there. So, like it or not, she was on her way to a new home. On the banks of Sydney Harbor, Devon found strange new animals and people who would become her friends. She learned that she had an extraordinary talent and love for farming. And above all, she discovered the love of her life: Lieutenant Jonathan Lake of His Majesty's Navy. The first few years in Australia brought nothing more pleasant than poverty and starvation. However, as the colony grew more prosperous, so did Devon. Yet as successful as she was as a farmer, Devon's heart was broken. For Jonathan was gone, and she had been forced to marry another man. Sometimes it seemed as though Devon would never find love again-that all life promised her was work, work, and more work. Then, back in London, Jonathan makes a bizarre discovery that sets him and Devon back on the road to reunion and to true love.
MARY DEVLIN is a prolific author of books, essays and magazine articles. A double Taurus born in Great Lakes, Illinois, Ms. Devlin has long been fascinated with the stars, English history, music, and literature - along with many other subjects. As the child of a decorated Marine officer, in her early years she traveled all over the United States. She graduated from the University of Nevada at Reno.
She became interested in New Age thought at the age of eight years - though at that time, the term "New Age" had not yet been coined. In the mid-1970's, she studied astrology at the Astrologer's Association in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was certified as a professional member of the American Federation of Astrologers. In 1976 she met psychologist and astrologer Marcia Moore and became her assistant. It was during her employment with Ms. Moore that she wrote her first book, I Am Mary Shelley, and did the research for Astrology and Past Lives. She went on to publish Astrology and Relationships; The Psychology of Spirit; Medieval Music, Magical Minds; and five novels - Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage, The Legend of Good Women, Portrait of Victorine, Devon Wakefield, and Madame Jane, a historical novel which she began writing when she was fourteen years old. At present, she is working on two books, a romance novel, and a book on medieval music theory - and is already researching two more.
Her interest in early music was aroused when she was in high school and discovered folk music, particularly the ancient English ballads. In 1989, she discovered medieval music, and became active in the San Francisco Early Music Society. She spent three years in England, researching several books and articles and performing with The Lion Tree, an ensemble dedicated to the performance of medieval music. When she returned to the Bay Area, she founded the Sherwood Consort, a mixed vocal/instrumental ensemble who performed all over the Bay Area and recorded three successful CDs: Between March and April; Robin Loves Me: The Legend of Robin and Marion; and One Day As I Went Riding, which received some great reviews, and are still selling. Ms. Devlin has also performed with the Casa Italiana Opera Company in Los Angeles, and has continued with her performances of medieval and Renaissance music. She is also planning two more Sherwood Consort projects.
Ms. Devlin has three children - Thomas Dye, Allan Dye, and Laura Dye Meador. She is also the grandmother of Laura's sons, Bradley and Wesley. Presently, she lives in Los Angeles with her son Thomas and two cats, Draupadi and Erin.
