And now - another very special guest: the wonderful and multi-talented Jeff Gardiner.
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Jeff Gardiner is a UK writer who was born in Jos, Nigeria.
His first novel, Myopia, explores
bullying and prejudice among teenagers. Igboland
is a novel of passion and conflict set in war-torn West Africa. Treading On Dreams is a tale of
obsession and unrequited love. He has recently signed a three book deal with
Accent Press for a trilogy of YA fantasy novels.
His acclaimed collection of short stories, A Glimpse of the Numinous, contains
horror, romance and humour. Many of his short stories have appeared in
anthologies and magazines. Jeff also has
a work of non-fiction to his name: The
Law of Chaos: the Multiverse of Michael Moorcock.
“Reading is a form of
escapism, and in Gardiner’s fiction, we escape to places we’d never imagine
journeying to.” (A.J. Kirby, ‘The New Short Review’)
For more information, please visit his website at www.jeffgardiner.com and his blog: http://jeffgardiner.wordpress.com/
TREADING ON DREAMS is a contemporary novel from Tirgearr
Publishing exploring unrequited love and obsession. It is currently at the
special sale price of 99p/99c for the first two weeks of April only.
Donny is obsessed with his housemate, Selena – but his love
is unrequited. He enthusiastically accepts her willing friendship, which only
fuels his deepening fantasies.
Jaz is their crazy landlord who likes sleeping with women –
lots of them. He takes pleasure in educating the once innocent Donny in the
hedonistic pleasures of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll. It blows Donny’s mind.
Selena is engaged to Melvin – the perfect man – but is also
keen to befriend the ever-demanding Donny ... until she falls pregnant and her
wedding looms.
Donny expresses his true feelings at the wedding, causing
mayhem and anger. But there remains a chink of hope: perhaps Selena’s marriage
to Melvin is not quite as perfect as it seems.
TREADING ON DREAMS
extract:
Donny remembered how, when he was ten, his favourite granny
gave him an old, valuable book, larger than most on his shelf. The green vellum
cover and gold-plated script fascinated him. He delighted in the magical
paintings of mythical beings and creatures in exotic landscapes—dragons in the
orient, trolls in caves of ice and a hippogriff soaring over Atlantis. The
colour plate of Selene the Moon Goddess, the most beautiful girl Donny ever
saw, most acutely captured his attention. She evoked grace and sensuality
beyond expression, sitting naked on the sands of a golden desert on the
mystical moon.
Entranced, Donny fell in love with her perfection. He stared
at the picture for hours; her face possessed a supernatural beauty and her
nakedness aroused new sensations in him. For him, she was the perfect creation:
his moon goddess. She seemed to beckon him to follow her while he sat
hypnotised by this elemental creature. From then on, she dominated his dreams
and waking hours. He hid the book beneath his bed as if it were a pornographic
magazine.
Selene lived, caressing and embracing each part of his
imagination.
***
Hunched into himself on the top stair, Donny strained to
listen in breathless silence. Raised voices came from downstairs.
‘I won’t have my daughter acting like a cheap tart. You
should have more respect for yourself.’ Steve Haynes sounded exasperated.
‘Where have you been, anyway? Your mum and I have gone mad worrying. We thought
you’d been in an accident.’
‘Well I wasn’t—’
‘When you’re in my house—’
‘Yeah, I know…your house, your rules.’
‘I’m sick to death of your disobedience and rudeness—’
‘Do what I bloody like,’ Hazel mumbled.
‘Don’t you dare take that tone with me.’
‘Why not? Whatever I do’ll be wrong, anyway.’
‘Who the hell do you think you are?’
Hazel sighed but remained silent.
‘I’m talking to you, young lady.’ Donny recognised the
familiar growing anger in his dad’s tone. ‘Why can’t you take a leaf out of
Donny’s book?’
Upstairs Donny cringed and hugged himself tighter. No, don’t
use me like this. He squirmed. Don’t use me to make Hazel feel bad. Don’t make
her hate me, dad. The voices carried clearly through the closed door and up the
stairs.
‘You’re a curse on this family, you know that?’
A tear dropped from his cheek onto his bare arm. He waited
for his sister’s response.
‘I hate you. I bloody hate you.’
The sound of a slap preceded an eerie silence. Then the door
sprang open and footsteps rang on the parquet flooring in the hall. Hazel
stomped upstairs, stepping over him as he cowered backward. As she slammed her
bedroom door behind her, Donny stayed where he was, even though he desperately
wanted to help her. For the next few minutes, he screwed up his face and craned
his neck to hear the reaction. His mother began sobbing.
‘What have we done to deserve this?’ Her broken voice only
just reached his ears.
His father picked up the rustling newspaper. ‘I tell you
she’s cursed.’
‘At least we’ve got Donny.’
Donny seethed. If Hazel was a curse then so was he. They
came from the same cells and grew together in the same womb.
She didn’t answer when he knocked, so he pushed the door
open and walked in. She sat at her mirror removing her thick gothic make-up
with trembling hands. Black eyeliner matching her black-dyed hair ran in a
smear across her cheeks. Donny kissed the top of her head. Taking some cotton
wool from her open drawer, he dipped it in cold cream and carefully wiped his
sister’s face clean.
‘Just remember, Hazey, I’ve got you and you’ve got me.
She smiled through bleary eyes. ‘Thank God I’ve got you.’
‘I hate them when they’re like this.’
‘Got a right bollocking, didn’t I?’ Hazel attempted a smile.
The twins embraced.
Donny glimpsed his reflection in her mirror. Great hero he
was—didn’t even stand up for his own sister. How pathetic.
‘Love you, you old tart.’
‘Love you, bumface.’
They laughed and hugged tightly.
Buy-Links for
TREADING ON DREAMS (only 99p/99c for the first two weeks in April):
Tirgearr Publishing: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Gardiner_Jeff/treading-on-dreams.htm
Thanks for hosting me, Sue. Much obliged.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Jeff