Mama Diaries

Friday, June 7, 2013

Guest Author Jenny Brigalow and a Giveaway






Today, I have a special guest:  Jenny Brigalow, author of  A Man for All Seasons.


Jenny, tell us a little bit about yourself.


Born in Britain, I arrived in Australia as a young woman in 1985 for an impromptu holiday and never left. I fell in love with the Australian bush, its unique flora and fauna and the colourful personalities that inhabit the country. I live on a small acreage close to Toowoomba with my family, dogs, cats and ponies.
I love to write. I write rural romance, young adult and, more recently, literary fiction. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, walking or riding my Connemara pony, Romeo. Rural romance is a natural extension of my passion for all things country. I believe that romance is the universal language of love. And besides, I'm a sucker for a happy ending.

I like happy endings, too!

Here's where you can find Jenny around the web:

Facebook      Twitter       Website     Author Page

 




Jenny was so gracious to share a  cool "Mama" story that has a little Australian flavor.  Here it is:


It was four o'clock in the afternoon. Not so much happy hour as snappy hour. So I did the only thing I could, threw Miss Two and Miss Three  into the pushchair, called the dogs and went out for a walk.


It was a lovely afternoon, still hot, but not oppressively so. Every one cheered up as we set off up the road. The dogs raced around terrorizing the flora and fauna, and the cicada's chirruped in the eucalypts.


At the top of the road, as  we travelled past the hibiscus farm, Miss Three  sat up and pointed, her face aglow with excitement. "Look Mummy, look," she said  "a giant mouse!"


Intrigued , I followed the line of Miss Three's little finger. And there it was. The biggest mouse you ever did see. Although some - who lack in  imagination -  would say that it was just a wallaby hopping by. But I know a giant mouse when I see one. Don't you?
 
That's so funny!  Usually I can tell the difference between a wallaby and a giant mouse, but if I were sleep deprived or completely frazzled, I'd probably go with Miss Three's guess of it being a giant mouse!  (At least she didn't say giant rat!) 


                                   


 
 
And now here's information about Jenny's book:
 


 


 

When successful rodeo rider and racehorse trainer Chad Cherub steps off the plane at Heathrow, love is the last thing on his mind. He’s travelled from Australia to do a business deal with the wealthy entrepreneur and racehorse fanatic, Walter Driscoll. However, he soon finds himself distracted by Wally’s gorgeous daughter, Seraphim.

Sweet, spoiled Seraphim, a gifted dressage rider, is also distracted. Engaged to the eminently suitable Barry Wellington-Worth, the arrival of cool, confident Chad forces her to re-examine her life. When she discovers the devastating truth that she does not love Barry, and learns that Chad’s cook has been injured, Seraphim jumps at the chance to take up the position on his remote property and escape the confines of her English life.
In the great dust bowl of the Australian Outback the couple find they have more in common than horses. Their love blooms as they work hard to start a new life together. But Seraphim’s family, and the past, threatens to tear them apart. It is only when the truth is laid bare that the barriers are broken down.

 


 One lucky commenter will win a free download of A Man For All Seasons!

 Thanks for stopping by, Jenny!  I wish you all the best with your book!

60 comments:

  1. What a great story! I pick giant mouse, too. :)

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    1. Hi Dana,thanks for joining us today. It was a golden moment. Mind you Miss Two and Miss Three are now Miss Seventeen and Miss Eighteen! How time flies.

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    2. A giant chipmunk would be good, too! ;)

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  2. Cute story. Kids really do say the darnedest things. How fun to go somewhere for vacation and never leave. I've lived in California my whole life!

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    1. Kids are hilarious. Never a dull moment with a little person on the go. It was fun to go on holiday and never go back. I've seen California in many shows and movies, it looks fabulous. No wonder you don't want to leave.

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    2. There's a lot to see in California! The state really has it all!

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  3. 'twas a giant mouse for sure!
    Love the cover of the book!

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    1. Hi Dezmond, I can see we are of a like mind! I swear it was a giant mouse. And I must confess I love that book cover too, it's just gorgeous, not that I can take any credit for it. That red dust make me want to dive right in ...

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    2. I'd probably rather dive into the upper part of the pic, but to each his/her own :ppppp

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    3. I think it's a great cover, too!

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  4. I'm very glad it wasn't a giant rat.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Hey Janie, thanks for popping in. Must agree, a giant rat would have made for a whole different story.

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    2. I've heard giant rats aren't friendly. ;)

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  5. Oh, lovely interview, Sherry! I can' t imagine seeing a giant mouse! Even the regular sized ones are creepy to me. The book sounds fascinating.

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    1. Hello Deanie, lovely to meet you (love the photo by the way). In fairness to the wallaby, they are the gentlest, cutest creatures, especially when you catch sight of a joey peeking out at you.

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    2. I agree, Jenny's book sounds like a good read!

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  6. Yep giant rat, is what is picked by the cat, nice interview too

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    1. Hi Pat, lovely to have you here today. Glad you enjoyed the story.

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  7. Fun interview, ladies.

    Good luck with your book, Jenny. I got a kick out of you calling your girls Miss Two and Miss Three. Reminds me of some of our grandchildren. One of our daughters-in-law bought cups for her kids: Thing One, Thing Two, Thing Three, and Thing Four.

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    1. Hey there Susan, thanks for sharing a lovely story. That is such a delightful idea. I can't wait to be a grandma, I hope I have at least four cups like that. Not that I'm expecting any one day soon, but still ... one day.

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    2. I liked the names Miss Two and Miss Three, too. So cute!

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  8. A great story and a great post.

    Yvonne.

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    1. Hello Yvonne, thanks for taking the time to drop by. So pleased you enjoyed the post.

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  9. I love how children see the world. Your book sounds so interesting and I love the cover art.

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    1. Kids certainly do have their own special way of looking at things!

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  10. Hi Belle, its lovely to meet you. I must agree, children have such an unfettered view of the world, its such a shame we have to grow up. Glad you enjoyed the post today.

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  11. Cute! I love Australian animals. I wrote a story about a numbat once. I really should dig that out and see about submitting it again. :)

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    1. A numbat? What's that? I've heard of wombats. Yes, definitely dig out the manuscript. I want to learn about numbats!

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  12. Good to meet you Rena. Australian animals are unique and so quirky aren't they? Terrific to work with. Must confess I don't know much about numbats, except they are endangered (so sad). So, do pull out that story and dust it off sometime soon.

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  13. Congratulations, Jenny, on your book! Australia is indeed a very beautiful place.

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    1. I think the Royal botanical garden there is simply beautiful! The concert hall in Sydney is pretty neat, too.

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  14. Hi Cynthia, and thanks! You sound as if you are familiar with Australia, and yes, it is very special indeed.

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  15. Congratulations on the book Jenny!
    Miss Two & Miss Three made me think of Dr. Seuss and his Thing One and Thing Two *chuckles*... the things that kids say... priceless!
    Writer In Transit

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    1. Kids do say the most interesting things!

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    2. Hi Michelle, great to be here with you and Sherry. I remember Thing One and Thing Two very well, Dr. Seuss brings back many happy memories, both my girls loved his books (and yes, so did I). I still have a few tucked away for grandchildren to enjoy one day.

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  16. This sounds awesome!

    The largest mouse I've ever seen, well, I'm not sure it was a mouse. It lived in the mountains in a SUPER arid climate and was literally a foot long. Crazy mutant mouse!

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    1. That mouse must've had some good cheese! ;)

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    2. Hi Crystal, what a whacky story! Not sure I want to see your crazy mutant mouse up close! But thanks for sharing.

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  17. One of these days I'm going to have to get to Australia. I had a wonderful time two years ago on the Trans-Siberian with a couple of Australians who have encouraged me to visit.

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    1. Hey Sage, lovely to meet you. I do hope you make that trip one day. You must visit the Outback, it is amazing, but visit in the colder months as it is very hot from about November to February. It's a big country so you'll need a bit of time too!

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  18. Cute story. Long ago I would get rats and mice confused.

    It's great seeing Jenny around the blogosphere.

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  19. Hello Medeia,thank you for dropping in for a chat. It's funny the things we confuse when we are small. When I was very little I thought that the motes of dust you can see swirling in the sunshine was actually oxygen! Bit disappointed when I found out the truth.

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  20. I prefer a giant mouse anytime. :) A Man for All Seasons looks like a great summer read.

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    1. Hi Arni, thanks for dropping by. Sounds like summer in your part of the world. Enjoy!

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  21. I always thought wallabies were miniature kangaroos -- shows what I know.

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    1. Hi Milo, thanks for joining us. Well, to be honest wallabies and roos are very similar. Where I live there are no roos, which are found out west. And some are huge!

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  22. Fun post, thanks for sharing Jenny.

    Congratulations on teh release of your A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS!

    Thanks Sherry!

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    1. You're welcome, Nas! It was a pleasure having Jenny here!

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  23. Hi Nas, thanks for dropping in. Hope you enjoy that recipe, it really is scrumptious.

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  24. Hi Heather, thanks for dropping by. Sounds like you appreciate giant mice too!

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