From her earliest years, the destiny of Laneve de Nervode has been marked by her extraordinary musical talent. One of France's finest concert harpsichordists and pianists, only the brilliance of her playing has thus far saved her from the violence and bloodshed of the French Revolution. But can it save her from the guillotine?

The beautiful South Pacific island of Grande Terre, (New Caledonia) was first used by the French in 1853 as a penal colony. In order to protect its vast nickel deposits from a British takeover, Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie announced a settlement program. In 1865 young women from the orphanages of Paris were offered a free passage to Grande Terre, there to secure the French presence by becoming wives and mothers of the new colony. Among the first to sail were Clotilde, Louise and Satine. Barely seventeen years of age. Will they fulfill their dreams of finding happiness, love and marriage, far away in an exotic new homeland? ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mary Mageau is an award-winning composer and writer. Born and educated in the United States, she has lived in Australia since 1974. Her writings in the Japanese verse forms of haiku, tanka and haibun are published in the United States by Red Moon Press and MET Press. Mary's poetry also appears in American, Canadian and...