Bernard Thorogood Releases REEF PASSAGE

WEST PYMBLE, Australia

After decades of gracing the literary world with his most notable nonfictions, author Bernard Thorogood releases his first fictional title with "Reef Passage" (published by Xlibris AU). This Polynesia-set novel tells the story of how a small island community in the South Pacific struggles through the odds of achieving and maintaining an independent government.

A new administrator arrives at a Polynesian island in the South Pacific with the instruction to prepare the way for self-government. The traditional authority of the chiefs and the moral authority of the church are also due to face big changes. Life may look idyllic, but many of the great issues of world politics-economic dependence, religious fanaticism, migration, great power rivalry-are reflected in the little island communities. There is danger as a spiritual revival approaches physical violence, and a fresh young politician, George Avatea, leads the rush towards self-government. The experienced missionary and his wife find themselves out of tune with the local church and the chief discovers that he is sidelined in the new democracy. But there is resilience in the people and strong family ties to hold them together. The administrator comes through without any bad marks but leaves behind a very personal legacy.

Inspired by his extensive personal experience in the South Pacific islands, Thorogood brilliantly surfs through his prose with wit and conviction. "Reef Passage" tells a poignant story of how opposing ideals struggle to meet halfway and approach change with grace - although with inevitable clashes in between - to achieve an ultimate harmonious end.

"Reef Passage"
By Bernard Thorogood
Hardcover | 6x9in | 148 pages | ISBN 9781499018189
Softcover | 6x9in | 148 pages | ISBN 9781499018165
E-Book | 148 pages | ISBN 9781499018141
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author
After study in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Bernard Thorogood was ordained a minister and appointed to serve from 1953 in the Cook Islands, South Pacific, with responsibility for training local pastors. He also served in Tarawa, Kiribati. After 18 years, with much inter-island travel, he was called to serve in London as general secretary of the mission society and then as general secretary of the United Reformed Church in UK in 1980. Much involved in the ecumenical movement, he was chairman of the British Council of Churches for six years and also served with the World Council of Churches. On retirement in 1992, he moved with his Australian wife, Joan, to Sydney. Having written several books on theology and biblical subjects, this is Bernard Thorogood's first work of fiction, based on his South Pacific experience.

Xlibris Publishing Australia, an Author Solutions, LLC imprint, is a self-publishing services provider dedicated to serving Australian authors. By focusing on the needs of creative writers and artists and adopting the latest print-on-demand publishing technology and strategies, we provide expert publishing services with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound and full-color formats. To date, Xlibris has helped to publish more than 60,000 titles.For more information, visit xlibrispublishing.com.au or call 1800 455 039 to receive a free publishing guide. Follow us @XlibrisAus on Twitter for the latest news.

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