Thanks to Heather Garside for inviting me to be part of this Meet My Character blog hop. It was great to get to know her character Alex Baxter from Breakaway Creek last week. Now it’s my turn to introduce one of my characters and to tag the next authors to continue the Meet My Character blog tour. Decisions, decisions… While I mull over who to choose, here’s a bit about Heather.
Heather grew up on a cattle property in Central Queensland. She now lives with her husband on a beef and grain farm in the same area and they have two adult children. She has previously published three historical romances and has helped to write and produce several compilations of short stories and local histories. The Cornstalk was a finalist in the 2008 Booksellers’ Best Award, Long Historical category, for romance books published in the USA. Breakaway Creek was a finalist in the QWC/Hachette Manuscript Development Program and was released by Clan Destine Press in 2013. It is a rural romance with a dual timeline. Her recent release is Tracks of the Heart, a collection of three short stories. Heather works part time at the local library, at home on the farm and helps produce a local monthly newsletter, amongst other voluntary activities.
Confession time! I got overexcited and tagged not two, but three fantastic Australian authors to continue the blog hop with their own Meet My Character next Thursday (20th November). Below, I’m thrilled to introduce B. Michael Radburn, Josephine Pennicott and Jaye Ford.
But before that, I’d like you to meet John Franklin from my new book Tell Me Why!
1.) What is the name of your character?
Senior Constable John Franklin, who is almost universally called Franklin.
2.) Is he fictional or a historic person?
Franklin is fictional, although he’s become so real to some of my readers, that they have asked when he will be rostered on, and for his home address. (True story!)
3.) When and where is the story set?
Tell Me Why is a contemporary novel and set mainly in Victoria’s spa region. The cover features photographs of Daylesford Cemetery (two of the many photos I’ve taken in researching my series).
Daylesford is a pretty country town, balancing permanent residents – amongst them, the creative, alternative or retirees – with regular influxes of tourists. Besides the inbuilt internal conflict, I enjoyed contrasting the town’s romantic image with a moody crime story. The crimes in Tell Me Why could really happen in Daylesford, but I hope they don’t.
4.) What should we know about him?
John Franklin is aged thirty-six in Tell Me Why and a cop based at Daylesford for over sixteen years. He is also a single dad, in a struggle with fear of change and the need for it, while somehow surviving his daughter’s teens. That’s why his current case, which is a step up from Daylesford’s usual soft crime, is both chilling and exciting and brings out his maverick cop side.
5.) What is the main conflict? What messes up his life?
While he is managing his own challenging case, Melbourne journalist Georgie Harvey comes onto his patch. Sparks fly between these characters from the moment she walks into the Daylesford police station to report a missing farmer. Everything escalates afterwards.
6.) What is the personal goal of the character?
To test if he has the aptitude to be a detective, although being a single dad, he might still need to put his aspirations on hold until his daughter leaves home.
7.) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
Absolutely! It is Tell Me Why, the first book in my Rural Crime Files Series. I’ve written the next two books in the series and plan to start the fourth over summer. You can read more about Tell Me Why or view my book trailer on my Books page.
Meanwhile, here’s the blurb from Tell Me Why.
Picturesque Daylesford has a darker side.
Melbourne writer Georgie Harvey heads to the mineral springs region of central Victoria to look for a missing farmer. There she uncovers links between the woman’s disappearance and her dangerous preoccupation with the unsolved mystery surrounding her husband. Maverick cop and solo dad John Franklin is working a case that’s a step up from Daylesford’s usual soft crime; a poison-pen writer whose targets are single mothers. Georgie’s investigation stirs up long buried secrets and she attracts enemies. When she reports the missing person to local cops, sparks fly between her and Franklin. Has he dismissed the writer too quickly?
A country cop, city writer, retired farmer and poison-pen stalker all want answers. What will they risk to get them? What will be the ultimate cost?
8.) When can we expect the book to be published or when was it published?
I’m thrilled that Clan Destine Press released Tell Me Why (Rural Crime Files: 01) in September 2014. It is available in paperback in Australia and New Zealand via bookshops and online. Check my Books page for some of the links or drop into your favourite store and ask for it. More stockists and the eBook are coming soon too.
Or buy Tell Me Why here: Buy the Book
Now, I tag three incredibly talented Australian authors to continue this Meet My Character blog hop next Thursday (20th November). I can’t wait to see which characters they showcase!
B. Mi
chael Radburn
B. Michael (Baz) Radburn has been writing successfully for many years, having published more than 100 short stores, articles and reviews in Australia and overseas. Through the late ’80s, he was Publishing Editor of the iconic Australian Horror & Fantasy Magazine and founder of Dark Press Publications. He has won several Melbourne University Literary Awards and more recently was short-listed for the Henry Lawson Festival Awards.
The Crossing was his debut novel and his second is Blackwater Moon published in 2013, both available in Paperback and eBook. Baz’s third novel (and the sequel to The Crossing) The Falls, is due for release soon.
Baz lives with his family in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW. He enjoys farming his small property and taking road trips on his Harley Davidson. Aside, of course, from writing, he possesses a deep passion for music and treasures the time he spends with his guitar, banjo and harmonica.
For more information on B. Michael Radburn and his books, and to meet his character next Thursday, please visit his website http://storyteller-baz.blogspot.com.au/.
Josephine Pennicott
Josephine is a multi-award-winning writer in the crime genre. Her story “Birthing the Demons” won the 2001 Scarlet Stiletto, “Shadows” won the 2012 Scarlet Stiletto and she has won the Kerry Greenwood Domestic Malice Prize twice, with “Hail Mary” (2003) and “Tadpole” (2004). Born in Tasmania, Josephine’s early years were spent in Papua New Guinea. She has worked in a range of jobs (including nurse, housemaid, life-drawing model and sales assistant) and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of New South Wales. She has three dark fantasy novels published pre
viously.
Josephine’s crime novels are internationally published and highly acclaimed. Poet’s Cottage is a beautiful and haunting mystery set in 1930s Australia and the present day. Currawong Manor is her latest release, a mystery of art, truth and the ripple effects of death and deception.
Josephine lives in Sydney, Australia, with her partner David Levell and their daughter Daisy.
For more information on Josephine and her books, and to meet her character next Thursday, please visit her website http://josephinepennicott.com/.
Josephine’s author photo by Carla Coulson, with thanks.
Jaye Ford
Jaye’s first book, Beyond Fear, was the highest selling debut crime novel in Australia in 2011, won the 2012 Davitt Award for a Debut Novel, shared the 2012 Davitt Award for Readers Choice and was shortlisted for the 2012 Davitt for Best Adult Crime Novel.
She is now the internationally published author of four psychological suspense thrillers. Already Dead is her fourth thriller. Released in September 2014, Already Dead follows best-selling and adrenaline-charged chillers Beyond Fear, Scared Yet? and Blood Secret.
Before chasing her dream to write fiction, Jaye worked in newspapers, radio and television as a news and sports journalist and ran her own public relations business. Jaye now writes full-time from her home at Lake Macquarie in the NSW Hunter Valley. She is married with two children.
For more information on Jaye and her books, and to meet her character next Thursday, please visit her website www.jayefordauthor.com/.
I hope you enjoyed meeting my character, John Franklin. Don’t forget to check out the Meet My Character blogs for Baz, Josephine and Jaye next Thursday!
Cheers,
Sandi x
