New Book Release

Book Two of “The Beach and Beyond” series has just been released.

Building a new life beside magnificent Teal Lake should have been easy. After all Shona McGuire wasn’t asking for much. A return to the world of the white picket fence and ordinary life she once despised, security for her son, and a man that can return her love.

But is the ruthless, workaholic, Blake Coleman capable of being that man. He has left it all behind to join her in paradise, all behind him apart from his corporate life, and his half-truths. When tragedy tears Blake’s world apart, and a stranger, seeking solitude arrives at the lake, Shona finds it is more than an ocean that separates their very different worlds.

“The Cost of Caviar” book two of the “Beach and Beyond” series comes to a chilling conclusion. This is not a sugar coated romance and contains language that may offend some readers.

The author of this book resides in New Zealand. If you are a reader from the United States, the spelling of some words may differ slightly from what is familiar to you. A glossary at the back of the book provides insight in to the lesser known Maori words.

Sneak preview

Yesterday I wrote those wonderful words, “The end.”  Actually it should have been “The beginning,” because this is book one of an upcoming series.  A few trusted people have to work their magic before I push the publish button, but not long to wait.

Here is a sneak preview.

Prologue

A bleak December day, a slippery highway, and Shona McGuire’s ordinary life would never to be the same.

Before the accident Shona’s life was not exactly as she would have planned it. In fact, it was nothing like the dreams that filled her head while she struggled with the trials and tribulations of adolescent hood.

For Shona McGuire, her early memories always return to the beach. To the tumble down bach her family have owned since she was a child, covered in sticky candy. As far as she can remember, it has always been tumbled down, with threadbare carpets and frayed curtains. A special place where sand carried in by bare feet, and their old dog’s tooth marks on the corner of the sagging couch, go unnoticed. The lawn is a tapestry of course white sand and sparse patches of Kikuyu, the only grass resilient enough to survive the salt laden air that blows off the waves, and coats the distorted glass windows in a thin, greasy film.

The handful of tiny wooden homes sit empty for most of the year. But when the holidays arrive, they come alive with the sound of laughter, and the smell of sausages, pipi fritters and crayfish cooking on the barbeque.

Her mind takes her back to Sea Dog Takeaways, and the old couple wrapping greasy fish and chips in unsold newsprint. Of her father sipping cold beer, while her mother tossed green salad, and baked fresh loaves of crusty bread.

It takes her back to a time of innocence. Memories of a handsome boy named John Myer, of two free spirits galloping ponies down the windswept beach, of diving in the crystal clear waters of the harbour, and gathering shellfish from the shallows.

Now only the bach remains unchanged, a tumble down wooden structure, that holds the family’s memories etched deep within its walls.

They say you can never go back. That the things you have left behind are best not revisited. But they never told her to go back would be the biggest mistake of her life. It all started on a slippery highway on December 23^rd.

http://www.amazon.com/Quilt-Unravelled-Rochelle-Carlton-ebook/dp/B00MCV1BO4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1419036240&sr=1-1&keywords=the+quilt+unravelled

Lifestyle or life sentence!

And so began the story of our transition from town life to rural bliss.

This was the last, and one of the most serious asthma attacks our son had had.  Our tools were never recovered.  However the low life that had “removed” them was found and appeared in court.  And we discovered that however tragic the circumstances, there is often a moment of light relief.

We sat in the vets.  Our fur friend had left us the day of settlement.  His earthly remains had been stored at the clinic while we made the transition to the new property.  My son and I waited patently for him to be returned, and as is common with the elderly, a lovely, somewhat wrinkled pet owner  made an effort to communicate.

“What sort of pet do you have?  A cat or a dog?” She smiled sweetly at my three year old.

“A cat.  He is in the freezer.”

The first thing we noticed was the darkness.  No street lights, no traffic and the sounds of birds and sheep had replaced that of  lawnmowers and weed eaters.  Bird life is abundant here.  Everything from native fantails and Tui’s to Geese and ducks.

Read  more about New Zealand in the pages of The Quilt, Unravelled.  A romance, a saga, a journey from the high country to the beaches of Waiheke Island.  http://goo.gl/yrnj5L.  The story of our personal journey will continue soon.

Fantail, a small native bird with a splayed tail

Goose

Tui, a native bird with a distinctive call & vibrant colour

 

Two days left to enter!

Don’t forget to enter if you would like a chance to win a copy of the “The Quilt, Unravelled.”

This is a full length novel set in rural New Zealand.  It takes the reader on a journey to the gem like islands of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.  It explores the dramatic High Country through the eyes of the troubled Clarke family. This story of hardship is warmed by a romance that could change their lives.

Goodreads rating 4.93.

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/124678-the-quilt

“The Quilt, Unravelled” is also available on Kindle.

http://goo.gl/yrnj5L.

For the month of February all proceeds will help a friend battle bone cancer.

High Country, New Zealand

Beautiful Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand.

Good coffee and burnt muffins

New Zealand Tui, native to New Zealand. Seen here in one of its favourite places the Kowhai tree.

As the title suggests my latest attempt at being awarded the title of domestic goddess has failed, and it has failed spectacularly.  But as we washed down blackened berries with strong caffeine this page has been steered in to a logical format.    Welcome to my new look blog.

I would like to share a few of the images that have been included in previous posts.  I hope you enjoy these glimpses of New Zealand through the eyes of some of my talented friends.

If you have been following my blog you will know a friend has recently been diagnosed with bone cancer.  I am happy to say that he is in good spirits and an auction was held yesterday.  It has raised considerable funds towards his treatment.  Great to see so many generous people  donating and bidding.  Mike is a wonderful man, and for another three weeks we will continue to donate proceeds from The Quilt, Unravelled to his on-going treatment..

If you would like a chance of winning a free copy of The Quilt, Unravelled please click on this link.  The competition is running for a further 10 days and is open to readers from all eligible countries.

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/124678-the-quilt

If you would like to download a copy of The Quilt, Unravelled or purchase it as a paperback please click on this link.  All proceeds will help Mike Shaffer battle bone cancer.

http://goo.gl/yrnj5L

Auckland City, New Zealand.

Waiheke Island, North Island, New Zealand. Home of The Quilt, Unravelled.

The spectacular South Island, New Zealand. Photo Des Clegg.

“GIVEAWAY”

Missed out on the last Giveaway?  Another copy of The Quilt, Unravelled is available.  Click on the link for a chance to win.  Open to all eligible countries https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/124678-the-quilt

Tragedy brings them together.  The past drives them apart.  Their choices change the future.  An epic story of love against the odds.

For one month all proceeds from The Quilt, Unravelled (both Kindle and paperback) will help a wonderful man battle bone cancer.

The Quilt, Unravelled

WRAP UP IN THE QUILT

A little advanced news.  Another Goodreads giveaway will start on the 30th of January.  Enter and have a chance of winning a copy of this novel.  Open to all eligible countries.

I would like to share with you the latest review of The Quilt, Unravelled.  5 stars and the description below is beautifully written!

“A POWERFUL FAMILY SAGA WELL TOLD”

A single thread is fragile, as is life. But as more threads are woven together, the fabric strengthens. Now those individual threads may represent major themes of the human condition–both good and bad: the fragility of health, betrayal of family, careers terminated, sociopathic cruelty — or, on the other hand, there’s the kindness of strangers, selfless loyalty, a purpose driven life, the damp muzzle of loving dog, natures splendor and the possibility of true love. All these threads come together in bold colors and powerful strands in Rochelle Carlton’s compelling novel “The Quilt: Unraveled” to render vividly life’s harsh realities in a story that is both personal and intimate. This multi-generation family saga is immense in scope (and intense); but the author finds balance by placing the majority of the action in New Zealand (such a refreshing change from typical book backdrops). By the end, I found I cared profoundly about the characters Ms. Carlton had created, and that is the essence of what a good story is all about. I’m now waiting on her next book!

Review by author Mark Fine The Zebra Affaire

The Quilt, Unravelled

A SUNNY DAY IN AUCKLAND

The New Zealand summer is turning on a show for Auckland’s Anniversary day.  Auckland is nestled between harbours.  A narrow neck of land, with leafy, sprawling suburbs accommodating over 30% of the countries total population.  Today we celebrate, many of us on the water and a few, myself included,  mowing lawns, working on the new novel and feeding horses.

Excerpt from The Quilt, Unravelled.

The soft hint of daybreak sent a milky glow across the water’s surface. They stopped to watch the river turn into a scarlet ribbon and the first shards of light break through the leaves and cast dapples on the damp grass. Paul poured another cup of rich bitter coffee from his flask and skipped the flat stones across the water’s surface for Jess to chase.

Jess jumped on to the back of the quad, refreshed by a cool drink from the mountain-fed river. They picked their way through a stand of untouched native bush protected years ago from stock by a secure fence. Tiny fantails darted in and out of the canopy above, catching small insects and dancing to a chorus of tuis and woodpigeons.

They opened a gate, and turned away from the river that had now doubled in width, after a branch flowing through the Kean property had joined its progression. A rainbow trout erupted from the crystal clear water leaving behind a circle of ripples.

Steep hills rose in front of them forming a tapestry of large, orderly paddocks divided by neat, wire fencing. The pasture was covered in a lacework of sheep tracks worn away over the years by thousands of hooves. At the top Paul hesitated to admire the soft folds of countryside that formed creases enveloping the network of rivers below. Small pockets of stubborn morning fog hung like cotton wool in the deep gullies.

http://goo.gl/yrnj5L The Quilt, Unravelled. Tragedy brings them together.  The past drives them apart.  Their choices change the future.  An epic story of love against the odds.

Auckland City, New Zealand. Sky tower.

Auckland City, New Zealand.

Happy Anniversary Day, Auckland City.

THE DIFFICULT BLOG!

Informative, uplifting and easy to read.  This entry does not fall in to any of those categories.  Let me explain.

We all have them.  Those friends that are in need and those causes that rip at your heartstrings.  They touch your life, and when the shock has worn off we are left, perhaps not voicing it, but thankful that it wasn’t us.

This is my situation right now.  A wonderful young man, a great friend to my daughter, and one of those rare people that really brighten the lives of those that meet them is fighting a battle.  Mike Shaffer has just been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma stage 3. (Bone marrow cancer). He requires treatment and he requires it now.  This is where I come in to it.   This is where, with your help we can make a difference to one person’s life.  The life of their partner Traci, their family and their network of friends.

For one month all of the proceeds from The Quilt, Unravelled will go directly to Mike.  Even a small contribution will help him fight this disease.  Yes you can also help.  Click the buy now on either kindle or paperback, share the link and you, just one individual, can really make a difference.

Cancer affects us all.  A relative, a friend, a mother that was taken before I had the chance to know her.  This dreadful disease has been part of my life,  it is possibly part of yours, and it  forms an important piece in the intricate story of The Quilt, Unravelled.

Help me help Mike.

http://goo.gl/yrnj5L Every purchase helps and you get a new book to read!

SINK OR SWIM

I would like to tell you about something important, something our family has been involved in, and something that is pivotal in the story of Paul Clarke and his family.

If you have read  my previous posts you will know I live in New Zealand.  To be precise Auckland City, which is located in the boringly named North Island.  My country consists of two main islands, and numerous smaller islands which all sit smugly in large bodies of water separating  us from our neighbours .   Chances are, if you were to walk in any given direction, you would eventually find  yourself either on the shores of  the Pacific Ocean or the Tasman Sea.

Therein lies the problem.  We love the water. We compete in numerous water related sports, fish in it, ski on it, surf in it and swim in it.  But often we are complacent when it comes to our preparation and safety.  Our populations is comprised of many intelligent, sensible individuals, and, well, quite frankly some that are not so sensible or intelligent!

Take the day the nameless member of our family found a group of ill prepared, drunk  fishermen hanging on to a buoy. In front of them  the hull of their tiny boat disappeared to its watery grave.   The circumstances were not that unusual.  What made this particular rescue stand out?  The individuals were hugging their fuel can and sucking nervously on cigarettes, while they clutched  the slippery surface of their plastic island.

Another rescue that comes to mind involved  tourists.  They were visiting our shores and armed with a high powered launch. They had   “beached” on an isolated island  as the sun sunk over the horizon.  Coastguard were greeted by raucous laughter, and a broken English request for a map and directions to enable them to walk home.   To the best of my knowledge only one human has succeeded in walking on water.

Many of the incidents the nameless member of my family experienced in Coastguard were neither  amusing, nor had positive outcomes.  Coastguard New Zealand is  a volunteer organization, and their crews are located throughout New Zealand.  In no way does that mean they are unprofessional.  Their training is long and extensive, and the  rescue boats are equipped with an impressive amount of medical, and safety gear to cope with most on water emergencies.

Maraetai 1. This crew works close to Waiheke Island, home of The Quilt, Unravelled.

The Quilt, Unravelled by Rochelle Carlton.  Available on Kindle and paperback.