Author Archives: Debbie Terranova

About Debbie Terranova

I write stories of mystery, history, and adventure that will inspire readers to question accepted 'truths' and discover alternative explanations. I call this approach ‘fiction with a conscience’. While settings, historical events, and some characters may be real or based on research, the narratives and central characters are generally the creation of my imagination. I have published three stand-alone novels with a fourth due out in 2021.

My year as a research fellow …

Posted on 23 August 2019 by Debbie Terranova

My 12-month research fellowship with the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) has come to an end. What a wonderful experience! While I learnt a lot about my topic, I learnt even more about myself. Here’s my SLQ video interview about … Continue reading →

Posted in Author Chats, On Writing, WW2 and Internment | Tagged Australia, Enemy aliens, internment, presentations, Research, SLQ, women and war, world war 2, World War Two, WWII | Leave a comment

What happened on the homefront during WWII? Townsville Festival of Stories.

Posted on 21 June 2019 by Debbie Terranova

Posted in Author Chats, WW2 and Internment | Tagged Enemies, Germans, history, internment, internment camp, Italians, Japanese, Loveday, Migration, Tatura, women and war, WWII | Leave a comment

“Under the Skin 4” – SLQ Fellows’ presentations about the world wars

Posted on 2 May 2019 by Debbie Terranova

On 29 March 2019, I was honoured to present some findings of my project, “Queensland Women and War: a multicultural perspective of the experiences of female civilians during World War II”, at a public event at the State Library of … Continue reading →

Posted in WW2 and Internment | Tagged Australia, civilian woman, Enemies, fifth column, German, internment, internment camp, Italian, Japanese, SLQ, Tatura, women, women and war, world war 2, World War Two | Leave a comment

An invitation: hear about my “Women and War” project for SLQ

Posted on 26 March 2019 by Debbie Terranova

Are you curious about what happened during wartime in Australia? Follow the progress of the 2018 Q ANZAC 100: Memories for a New Generation Fellows Elaine Acworth, Dr Anastasia Dukova, Dr Martin Kerby and Deborah Terranova as they bring to life memories and … Continue reading →

Posted in WW2 and Internment | Tagged 1939-1945, detention centre, German, Internee, internment, internment camp, Italian, Japanese, migrants, Tatura, women, world war, World War Two, WWII | Leave a comment

From Brisbane trainee nurse to U.S. war bride.

Posted on 10 March 2019 by Debbie Terranova

How different was the life of a young woman in Australia during World War II? Personal diaries are a wonderful way to rediscover the day-to-day activities of our past. In this 1941 diary, twenty-year-old Elvie Geissmann records her first year as … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest blog posts, WW2 and Internment | Tagged 1941, Brisbane, Diary, hospital, nurses, nursing, Queensland, SLQ, trainee nurse, war bride, WWII | Leave a comment

The War Diaries of Nurse Taylor

Posted on 10 December 2018 by Debbie Terranova

In 1941 a young Brisbane nurse began recording the events of the war in these dainty little cloth-covered notebooks. For four long years, while working and studying, she never failed to note what happened. Like to read more? Go to … Continue reading →

Posted in WW2 and Internment | Tagged 1940s, 1941, austerity, Brisbane, coupons, Diary, Home front, nurse, nursing, rationing, SLQ, war, world war, World War Two, WWII | Leave a comment

Read history this year

Posted on 14 November 2018 by Debbie Terranova

Secret shame or wartime security? Learn the shocking truth about civilian imprisonment in Australia during WWII. Great gift idea for the history buffs in your family. Buy a copy direct from the author and have it autographed.

Posted in Speaking Engagements | Tagged authors, Enemy aliens, German, history, internment, internment camp, Italian, Italy, Japanese, Loveday, Migration, WWII | Leave a comment

Queensland Women and War research project

Posted on 6 March 2018 by Debbie Terranova

In July 2018, the State Library of Queensland awarded me a research fellowship for my project, “Queensland women and war: a multicultural perspective of the experiences of female civilians during World War II”. For the project I am seeking to … Continue reading →

Posted in WW2 and Internment | Tagged Brisbane, Enemies, Enemy aliens, German, Home front, internment, Italian, Japanese, migrants, Tatura, tour, women, Womens Land Army, ww2, WWII | Leave a comment