Hazel Barker lives in Brisbane with her husband Colin. She has taught in High Schools in Perth, Canberra and Brisbane for over a quarter of a century and now devotes her time to books and bushwalking. From her early years, her passion for books drew her to authors like Walter Scott and Charles Dickens. Many of her short stories have won kudos and been published in magazines and anthologies.
Hazel’s debut novel Chocolate Soldier was released by Rhiza Press in September 2016.Based on a true story, the book takes us from the horror of Blighty during the Blitz via exotic India to mysterious China. It is an interesting and enlightening tale.
Books One and Two of her memoirs, Heaven Tempers the Wind and The Sides of Heaven have been Finalists in the Australia and New Zealand-wide CALEB Competitions. Her latest book Count Your Blessings. Colin’s Story published by Armour Books in 2020, is also a Finalist in the 2021 CALEB Competition.
Watch out for his next novel, The Soprano, based on the life of Australian singer, Margherita Grandi.