When I was researching this book, many people offered their time and knowledge to help me understand Baltic culture and Russian history. Thank you to Helle-Mall Risti, for showing me your ‘mystery shawl’ and sharing your memories of Estonia, and Maie Barrow from the Estonian Archives for translating the lullaby for me. Thank you Imants Viesis for telling me about your father, a real Latvian Forest Brother, and Ahti Arak, my Estonian guide, for smiling so tactfully even though you thought I was crazy to want to visit a rundown old factory on the edge of the Russian border. Thank you to the kind ladies of the Haapsalu knitting circle for showing me the ‘ring trick’ and demonstrating how shawls are made.
It would not be possible for me to write without the generous help and support of my family. Although I thank them last, in my heart they are always first. To my husband Michael, thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams and for not complaining about spending our seventh wedding anniversary eating smoked fish in an Estonian retirement village. Thanks also to my wise and brilliant mum for minding my children and providing moral and mental support and my wonderful dad for cultivating my love of books and for travelling to the other side of the world with me on a hope and a prayer. Thank you to my husband’s parents for your constant encouragement. Lastly, thank you to my darling children, Lachlan and Lily, who were so disappointed to learn that I had not written Harry Potter or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I’m sorry. I’ll do better next time. I love you both.
Lauren Chater
Fiona McIntosh Masterclasses
Read Dream Write
In the year 2000 Fiona McIntosh took a Writing Masterclass with author Bryce Courtenay and her life was irrevocably changed. A dozen years on, Bryce Courtenay asked Fiona – now a bestselling author in her own right – to continue his legacy in helping emerging writers find their place. And her life was irrevocably changed once again.
Since opening the doors to her Commercial Fiction Masterclass in early 2013 Fiona has helped writers from all over Australia take a step closer to their own publishing dreams, with more than a dozen graduates now holding publishing contracts or books in print, and eight graduates having signed with top five publishers.
Now publishers and writers alike are keen to be part of this valuable, practical week of no nonsense guidance into the world of commercial fiction. No gimmicks, no head in the clouds and no time for excuses, Fiona will just set you straight and propel you forward on your writing journey.
If you are serious about investing in yourself and taking your writing to another level, enquire today about the range of options open to you for both creative and/or professional development.
www.fionamcintoshmasterclasses.com
www.fionamcintosh.com
www.facebook.com/FionaMcIntoshAuthor
About the Author
Lauren Chater writes historical fiction with a particular focus on women’s stories. After working in the media sector for many years, she turned her passion for reading and research into a professional pursuit. In 2014, she was the successful recipient of the Fiona McIntosh Commercial Fiction Scholarship. In addition to writing fiction, Lauren established The Well Read Cookie, a blog which celebrates her love of baking and literature. The Lace Weaver is her first novel, and she is currently working on her second, Gulliver’s Wife. She lives in Sydney with her husband and two children.
Find out more at www.laurenchater.com
www.thewellreadcookie.com
www.instagram.com/the_well_read_cookie
www.facebook.com/LaurenChaterWriter
SIMON & SCHUSTER
simonandschuster.com.au
Authors.SimonandSchuster.com.au/Lauren-Chater
THE LACE WEAVER
First published in Australia in 2018 by
Simon & Schuster (Australia) Pty Limited
Suite 19A, Level 1, Building C, 450 Miller Street,
Cammeray, NSW 2062
A CBS Company
Sydney New York London Toronto New Delhi
Visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.au
© Lauren Chater 2018
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 978-1-9255-9634-2 (eBook)
Cover design: Christa Moffitt
Cover images: Marta Bevacqua/Trevillion Images; Kichigin/Shutterstock; author photo by Ben Williams
Typeset by Midland Typesetters, Australia
Map by James Mills-Hicks, Ice Cold Publishing
Lace Weaver Page 38