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By Jye Bryant
Hawkesbury local Jackie Randall has released her newest work, Elliot, a historical adventure novel for older children and young adults that has already captured the attention of local schools and libraries. The Blaxlands Ridge author, whose previous book, Only Two, was longlisted for the prestigious ARA Historical Novel Prize, spent three years researching and writing the story, which is now self-published and available at the Hawkesbury Museum, the Ebenezer Church café, libraries across the region, and online.
Randall says her love of fantasy fiction initially sparked her desire to write for younger audiences, but it was the “pull of reality” and her fascination with the stories hidden in old newspapers that ultimately steered her toward historical fiction. After moving to Blaxlands Ridge eight years ago, a simple visit to the Ebenezer Church café became the seed of a novel. “I built a character around the church,” she explains, “and from there, the story grew.”
Elliot centres on its 12-year-old orphaned hero, who is thrust into an unfolding mystery after receiving a strange book laced with cryptic clues. Set in 1898 and firmly rooted in the real history of Ebenezer and the Hawkesbury River, the novel blends intrigue with resilience and local heritage. Randall drew extensively on Trove and regional archives to evoke the rhythms of late-19th-century life, spending hours sifting through old newspapers and historical accounts to understand how people worked, travelled, and spoke. These sources helped her capture not just the facts of the era but its atmosphere the cadence of daily routines, the social expectations, and the way the local landscape shaped community life.
The Hawkesbury River itself became one of her strongest creative influences. Randall’s daily walks along its banks helped her absorb the sights, smells, and sounds of the bush, lending authenticity to the novel’s setting. Her characters, meanwhile, are written with warmth, light banter, and gentle humour. A few draw inspiration from local history, including a Wilberforce constable and a reverend who once served at Ebenezer Church.
At its core, the book explores empowerment and healing. Elliot grieving the loss of his parents begins the story with him barely able to read. With the patience of the man who takes him in, he slowly learns, reluctantly at first, before ultimately using his newfound literacy to unravel the mystery hidden within the newly discovered book. “It’s about refusing to live as a victim,” Randall says. “It’s about growing through hardship and coming out stronger.”
Early community response has been overwhelmingly positive, with students at Ebenezer Public School particularly enthusiastic several had read the novel even before Randall arrived for her visit.
As for what’s next, Randall is already juggling multiple manuscripts, including a Hawkesbury-set tale about the devastating floods of 1806.
After 17 years of writing, she still relishes the craft. With Elliot, she adds another vibrant piece to the Hawkesbury’s literary landscape and reaffirms her belief “when kids understand their history, they’re better equipped to shape their future.”
You can grab a copy of Elliot from the Hawkesbury Historical Society Inc https://www.hawkesburyhistoricalsociety.org/product-page/elliot-the-first-book-by-jackie-randall
