Try Out My Dramatic Book
It’s time to take back ownership of my novella
In 2019 I published my book, ‘The Fathers, the Sons and the Anxious Ghost’ with a vanity publisher.
Let me add to this. I paid them to publish it.
Why? — I hear you ask. Because I was stupid.
Now I am republishing my book as a self-published kindle book, after four and a half years with zero publicity by the publication house that shall remain nameless.
If you care to read it, it is just 99p or $0.99 on Amazon.
Here is taster. I really hope you like it.
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‘Mummm!’
I wished he would give it a rest.
‘Dadddd!’ he went on.
It made me wonder why his mum never answered. I was too busy trying to get knots out of Tess’ hair.
‘What’s wrong now?’ I replied anxiously.
Alfie stormed in with a red face and swollen, angry cheeks.
‘I can’t find my football socks anywhere!’ he announced.
‘Try under the bed,’ I said, trying to remain calm and de-escalate his crossness.
‘Ouch,’ squirmed Tess softly, as I caught yet another knot.
She was always so relaxed. She never let anything get to her. She was ten times cooler than Alfie, whose hot-headedness got him into scrapes left, right and centre.
He stormed out again and slammed the door to his room. I winced and hoped that he could find those damn socks, or we would never hear the end of it. The clock was staring at me and reminding me that we hadn’t got much time left. I went to find Michelle.
The distant noise of a bath filling, coupled with an aroma of scented steam made it obvious that she would not be coming this morning. When we woke up this morning she told me that she had had a bad night’s sleep and her headache was back. Women use headaches as excuses to get out of things, but this was not like her! She always liked to be involved in school-related stuff. She loved the banter between mums. Her favourite thing was pricking her ears up and listening intently for any titbits of gossip that she could soak up from the gaggle of parents who would usually surround her on that packed and bustling playground. Maybe this time she was actually feeling a bit sick. Quickly I realised I should attend to this in a sympathetic, understanding way. After all she had cared for me like a private nurse when I had man flu last Christmas.
‘Are you alright?’ I tried, gently.
She turned off the tap to the bath and opened the window slightly to let out some steam.
‘Have fun today. I bet the assembly goes well.’
I could tell she was not feeling very well. She kept holding her head; sort of wiping her brow as she spoke. I had not seen her look like this for a long, long while. Thinking back, I should have realised this was out of the ordinary for her. Instead of prying further, I left her to it, planting a quick kiss on her forehead and then rushing down the stairs.
Alfie and Tess soon followed and we collected our things and burst out into the driveway, where they ran to the car, Alfie calling shotgun as usual to make sure he got to sit in the front passenger seat. I asked if he had kissed his mum and he simply said the bathroom door was shut. Tess went on to say, ‘I hope mummy gets better soon because I want to go swimming later.’
When we got Tess off to class and I had signed Alfie in, I went to find a seat next to someone I barely knew and sent Michelle a text. Quickly I switched off the phone and tucked my coat under my chair. I gave a slight nod to Matt as he rolled in, just in time. The lights came on and that teacher did the introduction. It did not cross my mind that today was going to turn out so black and dismal and full of anger.
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If you enjoyed this please highlight or comment. Perhaps check out my novella on Amazon. I have put a link to it in my profile.
Sales of this may help me recoup the incredible fee they charged me to have it initially published. More fool me.
Also please consider following my new and growing publication — Work It Out. Thanks so much for taking the time to read my extract.