Actor and author Judy Nunn talks about her new historical novel

The charismatic and illustrious Judy Nunn is coming to Orange for one night of fun this September, just in time for the release of her new book ‘Black Sheep’.

Judy Nunn is an Australian author of both adult and children fiction, and is well known in her former years as a theatre and television actor. She is best known for her role as Dr Irene Fisher on the TV show Sons and Daughters, and as Ailsa Hogan on Home and Away.

Quite literally inspired by the popular children’s nursery rhyme, Black Sheep is a character strong historical novel about a prosperous sheep grazier dynasty, and the enigmatic young man they let into their lives. It’s a story of power, relationships, and the lengths people will go to in order to keep their secrets hidden.

“It’s written under the title, ‘there’s one in every family’”, said Ms Nunn.

“The book is based around a wealthy sheep breeding station, and family who ran this station for several generations on the Goulburn Plains, just outside of Goulbourn which is of course a great pastoral area for sheep farming.

“It’s not ostensibly about sheep breaking, but really about the genetics of those who are breeding the sheep.”

Ms Nunn explained that the book is populated by very colourful characters, and her curiosity for ‘nature versus nurture’ shines through in this new title.

“It’s very much a treatment about what makes a bad seed or a good seed, is it genetically handed down through generations? Or is it the lives people lead and the influences they have arrived on?”

The story starts in the 1880s, and goes through to the end of world war I. While the characters are fictional, Ms Nunn bases her stories around real events. In Black Sheep’s instance, the story encounters the Australian Shearers strike, in Queensland 1891.

“Every book will have a different form of inspiration which could be something massive or life changing, or it could be the tiniest, silliest little thing, which has happened to me,” explained Ms Nunn.

“In this case, weirdly, the original inspiration came from the Baa Baa Black Sheep nursery rhyme. When I come to Orange, I’ll do a reading from the book, which demonstrates very much my inspiration from Baa Baa Black Sheep.”

When asked why Orange residents would be interested in Black Sheep, Ms Nunn told Orange City Life that it’s “a bloody good yarn”.

Laughing, she explained that every book she writes is different.

“In this case, it is quite a generational book, but I have discovered what people across the country seem to find attractive in my novels is the combination of history and fiction.

“People like to read a good yarn, a good story, above all characters. All of my novels are very character driven, and while readers discover these characters, they also discover things and learn things. They think ‘gosh, I didn’t know that happened. I didn’t know that took place’. That is what interests me. Research interests me.”

While she may not have lived on a sheep farm, Ms Nunn’s extensive research has led to ample understanding of the ins and outs of the industry.

“I go and do field research, and I read a great deal. My books are pretty well researched… I try and get all my facts right, I really do. So I think that’s what interests the people of Orange. Orange, while it is a beautiful city with glorious architecture, you’re still a farming area.”

Ms Nunn hopes to see many wonderful people join at Orange City Library for her book talk on Tuesday, September 26. She hopes people come to be entertained, enlightened, and to learn.

“They’ll learn about the background of Baa Baa Black Sheep for instance!” Ms Nunn concluded.

PHOTO CREDIT: © PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE