Home to author Cheryl Adam throughout her childhood, the charm and uniqueness of coastal town Eden has helped to inspire and inform a fictitious trilogy of work.
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Based in the 1960s, the second book in the trilogy, titled Out of Eden has just been launched and Ms Adam said writing the book while locked down by COVID in Melbourne helped to keep her sane.
"My confinement was responsible for the completion of the book! I needed something to keep me company," she said.
Ms Adam's family settled in the Bega area in the 1860s and the author still has many friends and family in the area, visiting as often as she can.
The first book in the trilogy, Lillian's Eden, was released in 2018 and set in rural post-war Australia, telling the story of a 1950s family struggling to survive, who relocate to Eden.
"People were asking me after Lillian's Eden was released what happened to the family and wanted to hear more," Ms Adam said.
Set in both Eden and Sweden, the novel took just over a year to complete, and explores the resilience of women defying the conventions of the era.
Weaving a combination of fictitious and known characters into her storytelling, Ms Adam said the town was recognisable in her writing and would bring a sense of familiarity to locals, providing something they can relate to.
"I want to bring Eden out and show its uniqueness to others, I often think the town hasn't been highlighted as it should be," she said.
Criminal investigation, the intricacies of family relationships and the experience of living abroad are all delved into in Out of Eden, published by Spinifex Press.
Cheryl said she is currently working on the third book in the trilogy, which she expected would be released in 2022.
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Leah Szanto
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
