The Universe Parallel

One of Australia's most popular and bestselling authors, Traci Harding, returns with The Universe Parallel, the 2nd book in the Triad of Being. Following on from Being of the Field, taking risks is second nature to Taren, but this could be more than she can handle…

'I was excited to revisit some of my favourite characters and go back to the places I knew from the previous books,' Harding says. 'I was surprised that the new books linked to my previous books, but it has been a lot of fun, a really good romp for me,' she adds.

Amidst a raging space-quake and shrouded by celestial mist, the lost world Maladaan appears in the Esh-mah star system hurtling towards the sun. Taren Lennox and Lucian Gervaise, floating adrift through space on AMIE, are rescued by the immortal psychics of a utopian planet. But their saviours believe Taren and Lucian to be incarnations of their great ancestors, come to help them remove this new, aggressive neighbour from their universe.

Traci Harding was born and raised in Sydney. A natural storyteller, she has been writing since childhood. Traci lives along the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales, with her husband and two children.

The Universe Parallel
Harper Collins Australia
Author: Traci Harding
ISBN: 9780730493952
Price: $17.99

Interview with Traci Harding

Question: What inspired you to write the Triad of Being series?

Traci Harding: I read a book called 'The Field - the quest for the secret force of the universe' by Lynne McTaggart, and herein I found scientific evidence of the esoteric principals that have been the undercurrent in my books for years - like, you create your own reality, heal your own body, bring about your own fortune or misfortune - everything depends on your own thought patterns and intension. So I decided it would be fantastic to be able to explore these principals in a purely scientific way, by staging my story away from this universe and letting it play out in a world where there was no religion only science. Then I decided that it would be even more fun to have a group of scientists in space experimenting with quantum theory and thus AMIE - the Astro-Marine Institute Explorer was conceived of, and 'Being of the Field' almost wrote itself.


Question: Are the characters based on anyone you know?

Traci Harding: A funny question really, as these characters - more than being based on people I know - are based on other characters I have known. Allow me to explain. Once I began writing this tale, I became acutely aware that all the characters seemed to be reincarnations of the characters who were in my first two trilogies - they had all just reinvented themselves in a new universe. I didn't mention this in the text, I thought it might have been just lack of imagination on my part? However, as it turned out there was a very good reason why I recognised everyone, and that was revealed at the beginning of book 2, 'the Universe Parallel'. I won't say more, as that would be a huge spoiler for anyone who hasn't read the books.


Question: How much of your inspiration comes from real life and real people?

Traci Harding: I don't draw much inspiration from real life in a storyline sense - in my stories I endeavour to take my readers as far from their current reality as possible : other times, cultures, dimensions, universes etc. I do draw a lot of inspiration from people, and my own experience, discovery, research and life lessons.


Question: What advice do you have for aspiring writers or artists?

Traci Harding: Make time to work on your passion, whatever that may be, everyday - I never got anywhere until I decided writing was my first job, and everything else was a sideline. Create whatever pleases or interests you, and don't be influenced too much by others. Expect to have to hone your craft - take critic with heart, not to heart and just keep going. Any pursuit is only worth doing for the pure joy you feel doing it, if you are lusting after outcomes - like the money your going to make out of it, or the fame you are going to have - you're not really in it for the art and that will reflect in the quality of your work. Once you start treating your art seriously, so will everyone else.


Question: The best thing about books is . . .

Traci Harding: you can go anywhere, in any time or place, with whomever you want, as many times as you want - doubly so if you write books! I love being an author!


Interview by Brooke Hunter