Mercy — Oceans Apart: The Beginning of the Mulga Station Series

A journey from England to Australia, and the beginning of a family story shaped by friendship, history, and unexpected connections.

Written by Chris Ann

A Woman Ready to Begin Again

Some journeys begin because we are searching for something.

Others begin because we need to leave something behind.

For Mercy, the decision to leave England is driven by the need to escape her marriage and seek a different life. She travels by ship to Australia, working as a governess and entering a world that is unfamiliar in almost every way.

Her journey across the ocean is only the beginning.

A New Country and an Unexpected Friendship

When Mercy arrives in Sydney, she meets Barb.

Their shared experiences create an immediate connection that develops into a lifelong friendship. For Mercy, this new relationship becomes one of the important human connections in a life that is undergoing enormous change.

From Sydney, her journey continues inland toward her sister’s property in outback New South Wales.

It is there that Mercy begins to regain something she has been searching for: a sense of belonging.

The People Along the Way

Mercy’s journey also brings Captain Coulson into the story.

He has travelled the world on ships since the age of sixteen and worked his way up the ranks during difficult times.

His experience of life at sea adds another perspective to Mercy’s journey and to the world she enters as she travels toward Australia.

A Historical World Comes to Life

Mercy — Oceans Apart is historical fiction, and its world is shaped by the social and historical circumstances of its time.

Sharon Elliott’s research into women’s occupations in England during the period, including the influence of Florence Nightingale and the development of nursing, helped shape aspects of Mercy’s life.

The story also moves through significant historical periods, including the Boer War, the First World War, and the Great Depression.

Yet the focus remains on people and their lives as they experience these changing times.

Three Families and a Web of Connections

What makes Mercy — Oceans Apart more than one woman’s story is the way it expands into the lives of three families.

People who may initially seem unrelated gradually become connected through circumstances, relationships, and remarkable coincidences.

The story ultimately reaches a moment when paths cross once again and a family meets for the first time.

These connections become part of the larger family saga that continues throughout the Mulga Station Series.

The Beginning of Something Bigger

Interestingly, Mercy — Oceans Apart was not originally planned as the first book in a series.

As Sharon Elliott developed the novel, she began to see opportunities to continue the family story across four generations.

That idea became the foundation of the Mulga Station Series.

So while Mercy — Oceans Apart tells its own story, it also opens the door to a much larger journey.

Why Historical Fiction Readers May Enjoy It

Readers who enjoy historical fiction may find something appealing in the combination of:

• A journey from England to Australia
• A strong central female character
• Friendship and family relationships
• Australian outback settings
• Historical events and changing times
• Three interconnected families
• Unexpected meetings and coincidences
• A story that develops into a multigenerational family saga

At its heart, Mercy — Oceans Apart explores the search for belonging and the ways that one decision can influence generations to come.

Begin the Mulga Station Series

Mercy — Oceans Apart is Book One in the Mulga Station Series by Sharon Elliott.

For readers who enjoy historical fiction, family stories, Australian settings, and characters whose lives become connected in unexpected ways, Mercy is where the journey begins.

Discover Sharon Elliott’s books and learn more about the Mulga Station Series: Sharon Elliott Author Website

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Written by Chris Ann