The author behind a novella taking place in 1970’s Cherbourg will re-launch her book at the town’s Ration Shed Museum during NAIDOC Week.
Red Dirt Blue Lights, the second book by retired Queensland Police Service officer Tess Merlin, will have its second launch event at the Cherbourg Ration Shed Museum on 8 July, starting at 11am.
The novella follows the lives of Jemma, an Aboriginal woman living in Cherbourg torn between her family and lover, as well as Tess, a police officer and new arrival to the town learning about the community’s struggles with decades of governmental neglect and oppression.
Ms Merlin drew on her own experiences as a police officer in 1970’s Queensland when writing the book; she herself served in the South Burnett for a time where she learned about the history and people of Cherbourg.
Ms Merlin published her work through AndAlso Books in April 2025, holding a launch party in Brisbane the following month – but she always expressed her wish to bring the book back to the community that inspired her to write it.
She began working on Red Dirt Blue Lights after a visit to the Cherbourg Ration Shed Museum where she met Wakka Wakka elder Eric Law OAM.
During the book’s writing process, Uncle Eric provided Ms Merlin with plenty of advice on Indigenous culture and the history of Cherbourg. He has since become a strong supporter of the finished work.
To make the book’s connection to Cherbourg even stronger, Mr Law’s daughter Niketa also designed the novella’s cover artwork.
At the upcoming re-launch of Red Dirt Blue Lights in Cherbourg, both Ms Merlin and Uncle Eric will be in attendance to answer the questions of readers.
The launch event on 8 July follows Cherbourg’s community NAIDOC Week celebrations at ANZAC Memorial Park, which start at 10am.
Attendees will be able to purchase copies of Red Dirt Blue Lights on the day, and the Ration Shed Museum will add the book to its Rocko Langton Gallery store going forward.
Goomeri’s Wimberley and Co bookstore also stocks the novella.
