The decisions we make... that critical sliding door moment.
Also signing books in Perth and news of a re-release and a contest
I have been feeling in a philosophical mood recently.
Last week, hubs and I spent a few days in Perth (Western Australia). I was primarily there for the Wild Out West book fair but I took some time to revisit a small moment in my past.
In 1968, my parents made the decision to leave Kenya and emigrate to Australia. Their first choice for a new home was Perth and we settled into an old Edwardian house in Subiaco (then very much a run-down inner city suburb).
The house was across the road from the fabulous Kings Park (a sanctuary of the Australian bush in the centre of Perth). In pre-boom Perth, Dad could not find a job and drove for the Red Cross as a volunteer to keep busy. My brother was not old enough for school, and I was struggling with my first encounter with the Australian education system. For six months, my parents weathered the difficulties but money must have been running out and panic setting in. According to family lore they were looking at ship sailings to South Africa when a job came up in Melbourne… and to Melbourne we went. The irony is that Dad, on return from his initial ‘recon’ of Australia, had always staunchly declared Melbourne was the last place he wanted to settle (I think it was mostly because of the uncivilised 6pm closing for pubs).
And so nearly 60 years later, I stood on the footpath in Thomas Street, Subiaco, looking at the row of old houses and trying to remember which had been our home for such a short, but important time. I wondered what would have been my future if that job offer had come through too late, and we were on a ship to South Africa.
One of my favourite movies is the John Hannah/Gwyneth Paltrow film SLIDING DOORS. When we look back at what we think were our major life decisions… were they really decisions or did the door slide back at just the right moment? Have there been times in your life that were your ‘sliding door’ moments?
Before I move on (and there is lots to come, so keep reading!)… huge thanks to the organisers of Wild Out West and to the readers who stopped by my table. My trusty assistant and I had a fun but exhausting day. I almost sold out of books (for which hubs was profoundly grateful… less to carry home!).
The weather in Perth was sublime and we had a lovely day out on Rottnest Island where a quokka (those cute little smiley marsupials!) climbed on my lap and we saw a whale breaching on the ferry ride back to Fremantle.
NEWS
LOTS OF NEWS TO SHARE so don’t go away!
Firstly… This is a little project my publisher and I have been working on! We are taking one of my favourite back list books - GATHER THE BONES - and re-releasing the ebook, not only with a new cover but also a new title - THE GIRL WHO NEVER LEFT! I love the new cover. What do you think?
If you would like to read an advance copy, you can preorder it at the pre order price of 99c click HERE. It will only be available on Amazon (including KU) for the time being and it goes live on 4 June.
If you have already read GATHER THE BONES, it is the same book and the print and audio will continue to be sold with the old title and cover.
Second bit of news… The audio edition of the final book in the Maiden’s Creek series THE HOMECOMING has just been released. This is a brand new recording as it never went into audio in its previous life. We were able to secure the same fabulous narrator and I am listening to it at the moment. Jennifer is so good… I keep forgetting I wrote it!!!
SPECIAL OFFERS, NEW RELEASES and SHOUT OUTS
I have a little contest for you!
My publisher has given me two Google Play codes for each of the following audio books. Email me with your choice of book and you will go in a draw to win the book of your choice.
For the fans of Regency romance, A CHRISTMAS LOVE REDEEMED is part of a free book promotion at the moment. There is a huge choice of titles so do check them out.
MONTHLY SHOUT OUT:
My monthly historical fiction shout out is for JANYRE TROMP’S latest release: THE SCORPION THIEF - available from Amazon. Got to love a book with an Egyptologist as the main protagonist!
A deadly Cold War political game.
A cursed Egyptian artifact.
Two sisters: one the treasure’s guardian, the other its thief.
Join Janyre in her Books & Beautiful-Ugly Journal. There you’ll receive:
— A free myth-infused historical novella, Guardian of the Red Desert
— Early access to giveaways, sneak peeks, and subscriber-only perks
— Books and more books! An eclectic mix leaning toward the beautiful ugly and deliciously creepy.
— Cat craziness when her cat Brave tries to take over.
Her sign up link is HERE
Reading/listening/watching…?
Reading: I am resolved to work my way through my TBR pile and I am currently reading AN ILL WIND by Margaret Hickey, a murder mystery set in regional Victoria and revolving (no pun intended) around the politics of wind farms. It took a bit to get into but I am enjoying it… even if I am waiting for an explanation as to how the body got to be hanging from a blade on a wind farm tower! Ever practical Capricorn!
Listening: Finished THE HOUSE OF WOLF and can recommend. I’ll need to check when the next in the series is out. I also listened to the latest Karen Baugh Menuhin’s Heathcliff Lennox series THE GATHERING OF CLAN McFEE - always good fun. Current listen is the fabulous THE HOMECOMING by Alison Stuart <vbg>
Watching: I am watching the phenomenal Chinese production THE PURSUIT OF JADE (Netflix)… a historical romance drama set in old China (what I believe is called a C drama). At 40 episodes it is a long haul, but the two leads are mesmerisingly beautiful, the chemistry between them and the slow burn romance is agonising and while the politics is a little hard to follow, the costuming and cinematography is wonderful and I am there for the ride.
What are you reading/watching or listening to this month?
Finally…
All from me… please feel free to comment directly on the Substack post :-) I love hearing from you and if you are not already a subscriber, consider subscribing to my Substack posts and look out for a link to a free download of the Harriet Gordon prequel novella THE UMBRELLA in your inbox :-)
It is important to keep writers caffeinated and, as most books sell for less than a cup of coffee these days, in the interests of transparency, some of the links I use in my newsletter may be ‘affiliate links’ which earn me a small (very small) commission.
Best regards
Alison
Interesting you mention the sliding doors moment. I recently sat down and did a life journey path to see all the sliding doors and farewell any that had lingering emotions attached. Both the doors I chose and those that happened without my choosing.
Glad WoW went so well!
So glad to hear you did well at Wild Out West. Love the sliding doors story, and the revised title for Gather the Bones. I haven't actually read that one, so off to order.