FROM auctioneer to author, Peter Maidens has done a lot in his life.
Peter now lives in Mapleton, Queensland but grew up around Moree and spent a couple of his younger years, between the age of 10 to 11, at school in Inverell.
“My great grandfather was born at Wollombi, but spent much of his later life in and around Inverell working on rural properties,” Peter said. “Upon his retirement he lived in Kaloona, a little siding village just west of Delungra.
“His son Edward Ellis Maidens was my grandfather, and he too worked on rural properties and was a fine horsemen who specialised in harness horses.
“He and his wife Nell were living on a property near Copeton when my father, Jack Maidens was born.”
Jack married Heather, the daughter of a police sergeant at Warialda, and soon after they moved ‘out west’ where Jack managed larger pastoral properties.
While living between Moree and Mungindi in the mid 1940s Jack and Heather realised there was a problem getting education for Peter and his brother.
They sent their sons to a boys hostel in Inverell.
“We lived with about 20 boys whose ages ranged from seven to 17,” Peter said. “I completed my primary school education at Ross Hill Primary.”
Peter has now written his first novel, Fake or Fortune.
The story begins in the northwest of NSW and moves to many distant places.
“The book is a deeply moving love story; the intriguing fine art thread that runs through the book, right to the end, is the reason that the love story happened in the first place,” Peter said.
“During my lifetime I have read many, many love stories.
“There is one I consider to be better than Fake or Fortune; it sold over 12 million copies and was made into an unforgettable movie.
“I am not so naïve as to expect sales of that magnitude. If you enjoy reading this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it, then that will be my reward.”
Fake or Fortune is already a best seller throughout the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and has been nominated for The Queensland Premier’s Literary Award 2010.
© 2010 Inverell Times
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