This past week has been an exciting one.
After 15 months of solid job-hunting, I finally landed a full-time job, after
ten months of half time employment. It means a significant move for me - back
to country town living in the town where I spent my last two years of school.
While I am looking forward to the job and the move, it has further slowed down my post-edit read through of Mine to Avenge before sending it back to the publisher to prepare the proofs. I have two weeks to finish up my current job, pack and try to find new accommodation from five hours away … but I am going to try to fit in a few chapters a day and send it off before leaving, in about a fortnight.
While I am looking forward to the job and the move, it has further slowed down my post-edit read through of Mine to Avenge before sending it back to the publisher to prepare the proofs. I have two weeks to finish up my current job, pack and try to find new accommodation from five hours away … but I am going to try to fit in a few chapters a day and send it off before leaving, in about a fortnight.
I may not have time to think about blog
posts for a few weeks so I will probably post a few more extracts from Mine to Avenge over the next few weeks to keep it simple. I have been receiving positive feedback about the teasers
posed so far, so keep dropping by my blog for a taste …
A second extract from chapter 29 of Mine to Avenge -
Fuelled and primed by alcohol, Landor’s body was
suddenly possessed by an unfamiliar seething rage and courage. He leapt to his
feet, throwing the photos back at his father, and tipped the coffee table over
towards Spyridon, knocking the beer bottle and a stale-smelling, butt-filled
ashtray to the floor. The bottle and ashtray shattered into thick chunks of
green and brown, the glass ricocheting in every direction over the cold, bare
linoleum.
‘I won’t do
this … you can’t make me. You’ll have
to do it yourself.’
‘Settle down, Landor,’ Spyridon said softly. ‘You’ll
wake the boy if you keep on like this.’
Spyridon remained calmly seated on the sofa,
maintaining eye contact with his son. Landor eventually lowered his eyes in
defeat. He finally found his voice again, but it was hoarse and dry. ‘Get out,
Dad. I want you to leave.’
Spyridon stood up and strolled casually and
unconcerned to the front door. He spoke the last words on his way out. ‘You
haven’t heard the last of this boy. You will
play your part.’
He stepped out into the cold night air and Landor
closed the door behind him. He leaned against the door, hoping his weight
against it would be enough to keep his father from ever coming into his life
again. He closed his eyes, wishing he were dead. He stumbled back to the
armchair, in a dazed stupor, picking up another bottle of beer from the
sideboard as he passed. He set the coffee table upright, and noticed that
Spyridon had left his empty glass on the floor by the couch. He picked up the glass
and hurled it into the empty fireplace and, for the second time that evening,
splintered glass burst like mini comets into the far reaches of Landor’s lounge
room. He threw himself into the armchair and drank the bottle of beer before
passing out.
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