A young woman defies society's expectations to become an early graduate of the Otago Medical School. A pregnant convict sent to Norfolk Island suffers flogging for her stand against authority. A woman sails with her family from Scotland to Tasmania, and sets up a bakery in Hobart. Award winning writer Susan Cambridge uses creative non-fiction to depict the thoughts and emotions, joys and fears of inspiring women, all her direct ancestors. The stories paint portraits of courageous women making homes in unfamiliar worlds, challenging society, defying convention. Together the stories form a family saga, a history of woman settlers in Australia and New Zealand, a collection of stories starring women who pushed boundaries.