Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, where I share snippets from new and past releases and works-in-progress, and sometimes con author friends into doing the same.
Spring has sprung gorgeously here in Newcastle. Last Saturday the temperature was over 30°C (86F) and that was at the beach, where it’s normally cooler. Back to normal now in the low 20s, but if that’s a sign of things to come I’d better dig out some shorts and gird myself for the usual startled glances from passers-by as they spot my deathly white legs.
That’s the trouble with being fair-skinned, there’s never much tanning. Just lots of freckles and sunburn. Although these days I’m so smothered in sunscreen that I’m lucky to develop a light fawn sheen by summer’s end.
Hmm. I seem to have gotten off track here.
Right. Something important.
West Coast Fiction Festival
Are you going to the West Coast Fiction Festival at the Rendezvous Hotel, Scarborough, WA on November 3rd? Did you know you can pre-order my books so that you don’t miss out on a signed copy? Time is running out to do so. Deadline for final orders is September 30th but you can secure your copies via this Google form https://goo.gl/forms/FN2fM2bN0kLHGkRy2
More information about the WCFF can be found on its website.
Now to what we’re here for: a bit of booky goodness.
This week I thought I’d share a few paragraphs from The Country Girl. This one features Pa, who everyone loves for his down-to-earth nature and rural charm. Here he’s being filmed giving garden and other advice for Tash’s online fans.
Pa tapped his nose and resumed writing labels for the crops they were about to plant. Old egg cartons filled with seedlings were spread in organised rows at his feet. Pa had used his own growing mix formula and the plants were vibrant with health. All they had to do was tear off each egg cup and bury it straight into the well-composted soil. An old ice-cream tub held packets of seeds they were direct sowing.
‘Been a few nasty comments,’ he said. ‘You right with that?’
‘I wouldn’t say I like it but I’m used to it. It’s an emotive topic. People are going to argue.’
‘Still. Sylvia said one of them called you a murderer.’
‘Probably a troll. The internet’s full of them.’ Tash was thankful Pa didn’t get on the sites himself; there had been a lot worse name-calling than murderer. She’d removed the more offensive comments but a few always slipped through. ‘Some people get a kick out of inflaming others and starting fights. Makes them feel big.’
‘Hmph. Idiots.’
She thought he’d let it slide but it was obviously still on Pa’s mind when they began to film.
‘Carrots,’ he said, ‘can be tricky to grow if you don’t have the right soil.’ He tilted his head to the side and gazed at the camera in his familiar direct manner. ‘It’s a bit like friendship in a way. You can’t grow carrots on stony ground and you sure can’t grow a relationship. All you’ll end up with is something warped. What you need is soil that yields a bit. Not too soft, but not too firm either.’ He used a trowel to form another narrow channel and sprinkled in the seeds. ‘It’s all right to stand up to your beliefs, but let others have theirs too. Unless they’re one of those stupid terrorist sorts. Those fools need their arses kicked.’ He looked up and grinned. ‘Pardon me. Probably shouldn’t say arse on telly.’
You can purchase The Country Girl online in paperback and ebook from these stores.
amazon.com | amazon.com.au | amazon.co.uk
iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Nook
Booktopia | Dymocks | Angus & Robertson
If you’re quick, Angus & Robertson currently has a free shipping deal. Use promo code SPRINGTIME18 and shop your book-lovin’ self silly!
For more about The Country Girl, including another excerpt and a fun video of me attempting one of Tash’s recipes, please visit its book page. Discover how I came to write the story in The Magic Bullet.
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