Jailing of Pauline Hanson was inspiration for a book about Australian politics.

Q. Why after writing a mystery about a desperate girl who sells her baby have you written a book about Australian politics? 

After I published The White Amah I wanted to write a book about a shameful incident in Australian politics. Love her or loathe her there is no getting away from the fact that the plot to break Pauline Hanson was worthy of Francis Underwood of House of Cards at his most machivellian.

To put those not familiar with Australian politics in the nineties in the picture-- a politically naive fish and chip shop operator cum politician from Queensland was damaging the Liberal Party's chances at the forthcoming Federal Election. Her party, One Nation was perceived as a threat by the major parties. And come hell or high water the powers-that- be were out to get her. And they did. Pauline Hanson was convicted of electoral fraud and sentenced to nine years in jail.

After serving three months she was released, the sentence quashed and her name cleared. And yet instead of being viewed as a victim of a terrible injustice, Pauline Hanson who conducted herself with dignity and heroism throughout her ordeal is perceived by many as a figure of fun.

It has always amazed me that there wasn't a backlash against those who conspired to remove Ms Hanson from the political stage. I put it down to the prevailing belief that politics is the province of the well-educated. The inference was clear-- if you don't have a degree you don't have a right to voice an opinion. It got up my nose. I translated MPs and journalists' contempt for Ms Hanson as an indication that ordinary people do not rate.

Salvation Jane was written to draw attention to a disgraceful episode in Australian politics, to thumb my nose at elitist condscension, and to applaud those willing to have a go.

It will be available as a paperback and ebook from 1st July