THE people and places behind Bundy region's sugar industry are about to be captured in an 80-page souvenir book, to be published by the NewsMail in November.

NewsMail Editor Craig Warhurst said The Sweet Life would cover the history of the region's sugar industry from the first plantings in the 1880s and the sweat of the Kanakas, through to its thriving industry, technological advancements and social life of the 20th century, and at the industry's future.

"Bundaberg was built on cane farming and its many associated industries and we're proud to be recognising that with this special souvenir edition,” Mr Warhurst said.

The Sweet Life is being collated and penned by mother-and-daughter author team Cherie Curtis and Sandy Curtis, who have authored other souvenir books for the NewsMail, including Bundaberg and the Four Elements and From Dirt Tracks.

Cherie worked at the NewsMail as a journalist

and sub-editor for seven years before becoming a published fantasy and picture book author and teaching creative writing to children through Creative Dragons.

Sandy has more than 10 published crime novels and romances to her credit and is a recipient of the Queensland Writers Centre's Johnno Award for services to the writing community.

Cherie and Sandy are on the hunt for stories and photos from across the decades, from Bargara to Gin Gin, to be included in The Sweet Life.

"We're searching for heart-warming, humorous or historical stories about our cane farming families and identities in the Bundaberg region, the triumphs, tragedies and the achievements,” Cherie said.

"We want to unearth memories and photographs that can be shared with

our reading community, whether those photos were taken in 1926, 1986 or 2016,” she said.

The book will include stories about the Kanakas, cane fires, mills and sugar trains, harvesters and other technological inventions or achievements.

To contribute: Please email photos, articles or story suggestions to Cherie@creativedragons.

com.au or novels@sandycurtis.com.

Stories and photographs must be submitted by Friday, August 19.

Photos can be taken to the NewsMail offices in Woondooma St to be scanned or copied, or telephone the NewsMail on 4153 8555, Extension 2, with your sugar stories.