Bright Flame Dark Shadows
In the mid 1990’s, Stefan Novak’s life is unravelling. A brilliant glass technician, his business in Melbourne is failing and his Aboriginal partner, Tania, has left him without explaining why.
In the midst of his troubles, celebrated Aboriginal Australian glass sculptor, Lennard Currie, contacts Stefan and invites him to Fremantle in Western Australia. He plans to model a cenotaph on Jandamarra’s Rock in the Kimberley – where he lost the love of his life, Rosalie.
He needs Stefan’s skills with glass to help him create the spectacular monument, intended to commemorate the 20,000 Aboriginal warriors who died in the frontier wars resisting colonisation. It will be a beacon of truth and reconciliation for the Aboriginal and wider Australian communities.
Stefan accepts Lennard’s lifeline and they spend the next four years grappling with the problems of completing such an ambitious project. They face unexpected challenges, disheartening setbacks and threats of violence, fighting fire with fire. They must succeed, to give a voice to Australia’s First Nations people, their ancestors and future generations.
Inspired by issues around colonisation and racism tearing at the heart of the nation today, Bright Flame Dark Shadows is a powerful novel of emotional intensity and historical accuracy. It is an insightful, enthralling read. Bright Flame Dark Shadows is Book I in The Truth & Reconciliation Trilogy.