Stone Fruit

Originally titled, GRANITE BELT, this was the first book I wrote. I started it when I participated in a Year of the Novel writing course through the Australian Writers’ Centre. The storyline had been in my head for years. A couple of times I started it with a view to writing a screenplay. I found doing the course and having deadlines to meet provided me with a structure and the discipline to write. 

In 2017, it was shortlisted for the Publishers’ Introduction program at Varuna, the Writers’ House in Katoomba. It made it to the final twenty eight and was submitted to Scribe publishing. Unfortunately, it was pipped at the post. Although this was great and certainly let me know that I could write, this experience actually became something of a burden. As I continued to work on the book, I was submitting it to publishers and a couple of agents. I soon discovered, rejection does hurt but after awhile you realise it isn’t personal. What I found confusing and began questioning was why am I being rejected when it was shortlisted and I received some amazing feedback. Part of that feedback were suggestions on how to improve the story. So, I began another draft. The book remains unpublished. It has had a professional assessment, again full of praise but also detailed notes on possible improvements. I have had a range of friends and former teaching colleagues read it. A practice discouraged by agents and “real” writers because family and friends won’t what to hurt your feelings. Each time, though, I have asked for and received honest and constructive comments. 

The story is about two boys starting Year 12 and an Italian woman trapped in an abusive marriage. It is set in small country town in southern Queensland in 1976 but is framed by events from 2016. Although there is a very clear narrative and elements of mystery, my concerns are probably of a more literary nature. All the writing I have done, whether fiction or a play, begins with a question, as most stories do. This leads to the exploration of a range of issues, ideas and themes. Stone Fruit is about growing up, small towns, racism, sexism, masculinity, femininity, love, violence, sexuality, family, education, ambition, dreams. It is also about music and food. 

The first chapter introduces Greg, one of the boys, who is fifty six in 2016. It is forty years after the events of the novel. Greg has written a book about them, called Stone Fruit. He has returned to his home town for the official launch. This chapter introduces Michael, Greg’s best friend from school and the boy who has fallen in love with his mate. We are also introduced to Maria, the Italian woman, and her abusive husband, Vito. 

Once you have read the chapter, feel free to contact me with any comments/feedback. All I ask is for you to be totally honest and blunt. After almost sixty rejections I think I can handle it. If you want to read more, that is the trickier question. I’m happy for that to happen. One caveat to that, you might have to wait until it’s published. Along with my other works. 

Thank you for reading my work and I look forward to hearing from you.

White Bikes

In 2017, I participated in a Year of the Novel at the Queensland Writers’ Centre. WHITE BIKES is the story I worked on. It was inspired, quite simply, by the sight of a white bike leaning against a post on the road to Nudgee Beach. On the bike is a sign that bears the name of the man who was killed riding the bike. I had always thought the person responsible for the man’s death, had gotten away with it. So, what I wanted to explore was the notion of getting away with murder. More specifically, if you found yourself in a situation where you could escape, free from any responsibility for another person’s death, would you take it?

This is the choice presented to Michael, a young Drama teacher, on his way home on a Friday afternoon, after a few drinks at the local pub. He is married and has a pet dog. The story unfolds over the course of the week following the accident. Of course, as time proceeds, Michael finds his life unravelling. 

I have written about forty pages of manuscript. These pages consist of chapters from various points in time from the week. I haven’t really done much work on the story. However, in those times when I think about the work, I realise the story probably won’t sustain a novel. I’ve decided to maintain it as a novella, when I return to it to finish it. Along with this decision, White Bikes will form part of a work that will also include a number of short stories.

These works will be connected by a central symbol of an abandoned car. The cars you see on the side of the road, emblazoned with a piece of paper posted by the police that says, ‘Police Aware’. Each car contains a story about the last occupant of the vehicle. Each automobile, by it’s type, name, what is contained within the car, the condition of the car, where the car is located, will feed into the content of the story. Perhaps one or two stories will contradict this, for example, the beautiful BMW, driven by a  woman who abuses her husband. Or the run down Mazda owned by one of the wealthiest people in Queensland. You get the idea. Some of these stories have been started. Along with White Bikes, they will be published in a collection called, ‘POLICE AWARE.’What you will read on the website, is the first chapter from White Bikes. Again, let me know what you think about it as well as the idea for the short stories. 

Vienna

The idea for this story started to emerge while I was writing Stone Fruit. At one point, I considered making the events of Vienna part of my first book. Realised that would have been an epic and might have stretched reality. In some ways, Vienna is a sequel to Stone Fruit. It is set in the same town, the same high school, contains a couple of characters from my first book and deals with similar issues and themes. The time setting in the first part of Vienna occurs a year after the events of Stone Fruit.

I started work on the structure of the book in 2020, when the Faber Writing Academy was supposed to start. Of course, Covid changed that. It took me quite awhile to achieve this. Finally, I did. 

Vienna begins with Jake starting Year Eight and confronting the abuse he has been experiencing from family members. His first year at high school is marked by many firsts: school dance, kiss, Drama, Music, amazing teachers who will change his life. And, magically, it seems the abuse does stop. The second part of the story is Jake in Year Twelve, another watershed year in a young person’s life. Sadly, the abuse and intimidation restarts.

Ultimately, the boy’s family is ripped apart by a number of tragedies. But the end of high school ends on a high when Jake achieves one of his dreams.

Again, I’ve attempted to explore notions of secrets, family, love, relationships, gender, sexuality, history, violence, education, life in the country, life in the city, redemption. I also incorporate the idea of ‘getting away with a crime’, not having to answer for sins committed.

Hold on. So why is the book called Vienna? For a number of reasons. The second part of the story, when Jake is in Year 12, occurs in 1981, the height of the New Romantic movement in music and fashion. He and his friends are obsessed by it and the characters associated with the movement; Adam Ant, Spandau Ballet, Boy George, and Ultravox with their huge hit, Vienna. If you don’t know it, listen to it. It’s the perfect soundtrack for Jake and what he is enduring. In 1977, he became a fan of David Bowie, who released his Heroes anthem that year. Both songs play major parts in the story. That title will never change, even if a publisher demands it!

After sorting out the structure, I started writing late 2020. Then I applied for the Faber Writing Academy and Vienna became the focus for 2021. At this point I have almost 35 000 words down. I know where it is headed and what happens. Much of that is down to the experience of having another eight, nine, ten people read your work. And the chance to talk about your own writing. This was an integral aspect of the Academy. 

By this point in ‘my writing career’ ( and I use the word loosely) I absolutely have no issue with receiving feedback that might be less than encouraging. That’s the whole point because at least you are getting feedback, compared to, too many words or it just didn’t grab me. What the hell do those two statements contribute? 

The observe of that, is giving feedback. There is no point going ooh, aah, this is terrific. That a first draft needs no work. You are giving a writer a false sense of their worth.

AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY FIRST BOOK WAS SHORTLISTED! It made me think I was worthy of publication. That would have been the case if my book was chosen by Scribe. My book came second. 

A caveat- the feedback must always be prefaced by ‘ As a reader, this is my opinion. Do with it what you will.’ Then be constructive. Identify positive aspects. Talk about bits you didn’t really get. Do some line editing. Tell the writer their story has potential and keep going. Don’t destroy them. 

The first two chapters of VIENNA will be released as part of the Faber Academy  Anthology, that is published and sent to agents and publishers in the United Kingdom and Australia in February 2022. 

I look forward to sharing success with my colleagues from 2021 and seeing nine new Australian writers storming the bestseller lists in the next two years!