Our latest release, Light and Shadow, is a sweeping new historical novel by acclaimed Australian author Candida Baker.
Inspired by real events, the novel begins in 1874 with a scandal that shocked the world: pioneering photographer Eadweard Muybridge—famous for capturing motion in still images—shot and killed his wife’s lover. Acquitted at trial, he walked free. His wife died within a year. Their young son, Florado, was left behind in silence and uncertainty.
But that is only the beginning.
In Light and Shadow, Baker imagines what history left out—crafting a haunting and deeply moving story of Rosa Maria de Martinez, the fictional granddaughter of Florado. Raised in Mexico and unaware of her true parentage, Rosa grows up under the weight of secrets that aren’t hers. When the truth begins to emerge, it sends her on a journey across continents—and deep into the stories of those who came before her.
Set against the backdrop of Muybridge’s iconic photography, the novel explores shame, abandonment, and female resilience across generations. From 19th-century scandal to 20th-century Australia, from Victorian repression to modern self-discovery, this is a novel that asks what we inherit—and what we choose to carry forward.
Available now for $34.99 from good bookstores (or $32.99 directly from us) in paperback and as an e-book.