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The Spirit Remains is the final chapter of the Our Unbroken Spirits trilogy, following the discoveries of Tauranga author Donna Goodacre’s ancestors.
“The inspiration for my first book, Finding Miriama, was my mother, Ngaroma Greenwood,” Donna said. “She spent her life trying to find the grave of her ancestor, Miriama Potiki, and when I actually found it, thanks to modern technology, I realised this story could end up being more than just a memoir for my children.”
It took five years for the first novel to be completed, with no intention of continuing the story beyond that. But with the inspiration for the book being her mother’s search for her whakapapa, Donna said she was left with more questions than answers by the end.
A year after Finding Miriama was published, Of Greenstone and Violins was released, followed by The Spirit Remains.
Each book focuses on a new generation. The first book starts during the British-Afghan War, and the third book ends during the Gallipoli Campaign.
This was inspired by a newly discovered ancestor who fought at Gallipoli, and Donna felt his story deserved to be told too.
“The hardest part about writing this book, as in all of them, is making sure I get the facts right whilst balancing those with my imagination. It’s what sets historical fiction apart from non-fiction.”
With the first of the trilogy taking five years to complete, and the third only one year, Donna is well and truely in the swing of writing and publishing.
“Retirement – for want of a better word – is a wonderful thing,” she said.
Donna has found the self-publishing route to be both exciting and frustrating, with a lot to learn along the way.
“While it’s incredibly heart-warming to open a box of books you’ve published yourself, the journey then has only just begun,” Donna said.
The Spirit Remains has received positive feedback from readers. Since its released, there has been a renewed interest in the first two books as well. Many say they enjoyed the book and commented on the improvement of Donna’s storytelling.
“Of course, that’s something that happens with everything, the more you do it,” she said.
In response to overseas readers’ feedback, she included a glossary of Māori words and a whakapapa in the books.
With the third and final instalment now on book shelves, Donna has not only successfully made a memoir for her children, but also a series steeped in New Zealand history that everyone can enjoy.
With more historical fiction to come from Donna Goodacre, follow her journey for updates below.
The Spirit Remains:
Lucy Chappell has already survived one great love and one great loss. Now, as the 1890s open before her, she must raise Hōhepa’s children, navigate a changing country, and welcome unlikely new alliances — including the enigmatic hairdresser Charles Patterson, whose past carries more shadows than he cares to admit.
Across the world, artist Colin Greenwood tries to rebuild his life in Eastbourne, mourning the partner he loses after their hard-won success in creating a life together, despite Victorian expectations. When Charles arrives on his doorstep with difficult questions, the Greenwood family’s tangled threads tighten once more.
Through it all, Wiremu — elder, mentor, peacemaker — becomes the steady heart of the next generation. Guided by the memory of his sister Miriama and the weight of their shared history, he prepares his son Wiri for an uncertain future. But as the world marches toward war, even Wiremu cannot shield the family from what is coming.
And in the present day, Ngaroma continues to follow the trail of her ancestors—unearthing secrets, reclaiming stories, and discovering that the past is never as distant as it seems.
From the quiet streets of Hamilton and the windswept shores of Kāwhia to the battlefields that will claim so many sons, The Spirit Remains is a sweeping tale of grief and grit, of the ties that hold whānau together across oceans and generations, and of the pounamu that carries their unbroken story forward.
Even when bloodlines fracture and histories are concealed, some bonds refuse to fade, and spirits endure.
Links
Website: www.donnagoodacre-writer.nz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/donnagoodacrebooks
Instagram: www.instagram.com/donnagoodacreauthor
Buy Donna Greenacre’s books through her website, or direct from author (NZ and Australia readers): https://www.donnagoodacre-writer.nz/contact-us
All three books are available in libraries, through Amazon, and various bookshops.
