Shelagh Mazey lives in a thatched cottage in Hardington Moor, Somerset. Since retiring from the NHS she has written an ongoing saga of regional historical romantic novels, commencing in 1830 and leading up until 1876. Her first story, Brandy Row is a pastoral tale involving smuggling, set on Portland. Dawn to Deadly Nightshade is an upstairs downstairs story set in the Yeovil area. Legacy of Van Diemen’s Land involves both areas, plus the Tasmanian penal colony and the Victorian goldfields of South Australia. The fourth book, The Golden Fleece, is set in the Wincanton area and involves horse racing and gambling. The book that is due out in February is called All That Glitters and this one takes the reader to the South African diamond mines and the Australian gold fields. During lockdown, Shelagh has converted all five novels into an ongoing screenplay.
BRANDY ROW (Ist novel in the 'Heart of Stone' series and adapted as a screenplay) Historical ⋄ Romance BRANDY ROW - Poldark meets Moonfleet in this 19th century smuggling love triangle, located in Brandy Row on Portland, at the southernmost end of Dorset's notorious Jurassic, Chesil Bank, exposing long standing family secrets and leading to conflicts, tragedy, heartache and ultimately salvation.
DAWN TO DEADLY NIGHTSHADE (2nd book in the series, also adapted as a Screenplay) Historical ⋄ Romance DAWN TO DEADLY NIGHTSHADE The smuggling theme continues in this 'Upstairs Downstairs' love story, when the son of the heroine in Brandy Row,becomes Lord of the Manor and inherits a Somerset country estate. Conflict and drama develop between Joshua and his immoral pagan aristocratic neighbour, who is a law unto himself.
LEGACY OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND (3rd novel in the Heart of Stone Series, also adapted as a screenplay Historical ⋄ Romance LEGACY OF VAN DIEMEN’S LAND - From the civilised society of Somerset to the wilds of the Australian goldfields, after being transported for life to Van Diemen's Land for rape and infanticide, our antagonist, Nathan Meakins is challenged to return to reap revenge on his nemesis.
THE GOLDEN FLEECE ( 4th novel in the Heart of Stone Series also adapted as a screenplay) Historical ⋄ Romance THE GOLDEN FLEECE - Thomas Hardy meets Dick Francis in this tale of racing, gambling, drunkenness and debt when Billy, the heartbroken stable lad leaves Alvington Manor to become a racing jockey. Only to be thwarted when the husband of his past love turns up at the racetrack and embroils him with the dregs of society.
ALL THAT GLITTERS (5th novel in the Heart of Stone Series, adapted into a screenplay for television) Historical ⋄ Romance ALL THAT GLITTERS - Wilber Smith meets Bryce Courtenay in this 19th century tale, charting the adventures of two women who leave their families in Somerset to travel; one to the goldmines of Australia and the other to the diamond mines of South Africa, both seeking romance, love and new adventures.
'Brandy Row' Finalist in the Page Turner Awards
(2021)
'Legacy of Van Diemen's Land' Finalist in the Page Turner Awards
(2021)
'Brandy Row' Highly Commended in the Yeovil Literary Awards
(2018)