Hailing from the mid north coast of NSW at Valla beach, author Douglas Wakeling combines his passion for the written word, history and family ancestry in his first book Curse the Bells. Since the late 1980’s he has pondered over his family lineage, particularly the story of John Joseph Layburn, his Great Grandfather, and his passage from Otley, England, to the small country town of Carcoar in NSW, Australia.

While writing Curse the Bells Doug lived in Maleny, Queensland, noted for its excellence in the arts, which he puts down to the quality of the mountain air in the beautiful Blackall Range. He was an active member of the Lions Club, and he is the recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship award. He is also a keen rail enthusiast and gardener and his venture into the literary world is sure to continue for years to come.

Doug’s second book The Reluctant Hero’s tells the story of his Irish family history, how his Great Grandfather James Fines was transported in 1823 on the Medina and his Great Grandmother, Catherine Disney, who journeyed to Sydney in 1840. To be released in 2012.