Details
Author name: George Mallory
Book title: The Unexpected Heiress
Genre: Literary
Launch date: 29.04.2024
Website: George Mallory – The Erudite Pen
Buy links
Summary
She inherited a legacy of ambition, betrayal, longing and secrets.
In the shadow of Poisson Gold, a multi-billion-dollar gold mining conglomerate, a family’s legacy unravels in a compelling tale that dives deep into the human psyche.
At the helm of this empire stands the enigmatic Abe Silver, a concentration camp survivor whose past holds secrets as complex as his fortune. With his health failing, Abe’s last-minute will alters the course of history, leaving his daughter Ellie, a newly minted lawyer, to navigate a treacherous path to control the colossal riches.
As grieving Ellie grapples with the titanic responsibility thrust upon her, she must confront not only the malignant opposition of her own family and the rigid glass ceiling, but also her deeply buried secret – her sexuality. Set against the backdrop of 2010, a time when LGBTQ+ acceptance was scarce, Ellie’s struggle to reconcile her personal truth with her public facade adds an extra layer of complexity to this compelling narrative.
The novel seamlessly weaves between the present and the past, offering a poignant glimpse into the horrors of a concentration camp and Abe’s incredible journey from a concentration camp to Australia, where he emerged as a successful magnate.
With two distinct viewpoints, from Abe’s harrowing past to Ellie’s contemporary challenges, the novel paints a vivid portrait of a family divided by ambition, betrayal and the enduring power of love.
Let's talk about it
Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
The details of the Russo-Japanese 1904-5 war and how Russia lost the war and won at the Peace Conference.
Why did you choose the themes in your book and were you aware of them from the start?
My years as a corporate manager alerted me to social prejudices in general, and discrimination in particular. It provided a fuel to these issues in my writing. Countless novels exist about survivors’ stories. They deal with the minutiae of the horrors “over there”. The Unexpected Heiress is a story about how a man has put the traumas behind and made enormous fortunes “over here”. And what happens to these riches after his death. In particular, his daughter’s fight to succeed in a man-oriented world.
How difficult was it for you to write this book? Did you face any obstacles?
I had to dig deep into my life’s experiences on the subject matters. I wrestled with the structure and the POVs.
Do you always write in this genre or do you like to break out of the box?
My other books are: A historic novel – again a woman surgeon seeking recognition circa 1905, in the context of the Russo-Japanese war. Contemporary novel – A young Russian girl forced into prostitution slavery in Italy.
What are your writing habits or idiosyncrasies?
I have no regular writing schedule, but attend regular peer review groups.
What would you do differently next time?
Start writing earlier in my life.
With hindsight, what would you say to yourself as a fledgling writer?
Be a keen human observer.
If you worked with a professional editor, what was the experience like?
Wonderful. I would not be the writer I am today without their guidance.
What’s next for your writing?
Re-edit and publish the novels mentioned in 4. above.
Author Bio
George was born in Serbia, his parents originally hailing from Russia.
He went to Lithgow High and then graduated with B.Eng. from UNSW, and B.A. at Sydney Uni.
With three manuscripts under his belt, he embarked on what is now his favourite project: The Unexpected Heiress. In this family saga, George believes, he has faithfully depicted a story from rags to riches. To sharpen the focus, he has chosen (yet again) a female protagonist, as the daughter of such a successful person. And added other characteristics to include the topical subjects of the glass ceiling, sexual orientation and abuse.
In his novels, George hopes to inspire people to examine these topics while enjoying a good read.
