An Ipswich woman who followed her heart to the other side of the world more than 20 years ago has published the first in a trilogy spanning a thousand miles and the Indian Ocean. 

Ellie Atkinson, 53, was delighted to publish her first novel, Ravenswood Hall in November.

This story follows Edgar Tirips, the 19th century lord of the manor who has just inherited the family home in the rural outskirts of Ipswich, and its curmudgeonly housekeeper, Thomas Crabbe. 

The home is inspired by the village of Bramford.

Two more novels are set to follow, with their story set to take readers on a journey from rural Suffolk to Australia. 

This follows the arc of Mrs Atkinson's own life, for she left Ipswich in February 1996 to follow her heart. 

“I met a tall, dark, handsome Australian,” she said.  

“We worked for the same shipping company. We started a relationship, but six months later, he was recalled to his job in Sydney. 

“He asked if I would go with him. I took a leap of faith.” 

Mrs Atkinson settled into life in Sydney with her new husband, Andrew.

She had never tried writing creatively before, having continued to work in shipping, then in finance, and then as a disability support worker. 

In September 2020, Australia locked down due to the pandemic, and the character of Thomas arrived in her head. 

“I had this picture in my head of a manservant, an older man, muttering to himself and stomping off down dark corridors with lanterns,” she said. “I thought, who is he? 

“I decided to start writing it down, and the character Thomas was born.”  

Other characters began to emerge, including Thomas’s employer, Edgar, and “local lass” Grace, a periphery character in the first novel, who is set to take centre stage in its sequel. 

By Christmas, she had a complete draft of Ravenswood Hall. Finally, after the encouragement of a few trusted friends who had enjoyed the story, Mrs Atkinson sent it to a publisher in May last year. 

Ravenswood Hall can now be found in most major bookstores, while its sequel, Ticket to Botany Bay, is expected to be released before Christmas.