Blog – Page 26 – Jenn J McLeod – small-town storyteller

Posted on 04/09/201529/04/2016 by Jenn J McLeod — 6 Comments

Would you like a prairie oyster to go with that?

Allow me to introduce you to ‘the prairie oyster’.

The dogs seem to enjoy them. Only not my dog. I think little Daiquiri’s tastes are a tad more discerning than Diva the farm dog’s. Poor little Dac simply needed a way to say…

“No thank you. No bull’s balls for me today. I’ll stick to my Greenies.”

Yes, the realities of farm life kind of hit me over the head today (or was that Diva tossing her prairie oyster around? Note to self: Wash hair tonight.)

No doubt about it. Kellie gets all the fun jobs! Prairie oyster prep. Someone pass their plate.

As if being castrated isn’t enough!

While Kellie has the cattle in the crush it’s a good time to brand them.

This, folks, is what it really looks like when you have a lot of irons in the fire.

So, there you have it. And while Kellie gets all the fun jobs, I am left with the difficult task of writing the prairie oyster into a scene in my current work. I figured the least I could do, even though this book is a long way off, is whet your appetite with this teaser of words–as I’m sure I didn’t do it with the prairie oysters.

Here you go: The excerpt.

‘G’day!’

‘Hello.’ Gina alighted from the car, her once shiny leather boots covered in dust.

‘Where you’ve parked under the tree is fine. Good shade for a couple of hours.’ He spoke as quickly as he walked, barely glancing her way. ‘ We’ll be done by three.’

‘We will?’

‘If we get started without any delays. This way.’

‘Excuse me but . . . You are J.B. Tate?’

He paused to look back. ‘I am. Why do you ask?’

‘You’re not what I expected.’

‘Well, that makes two of us. You’re not the usual run of the mill worker I’m used to either. Not sure why they sent someone so . . . ’ His gazed travelled the length of her body—up and down. ‘Are you sure you can handle it?’

‘I’m quite capable, Mr Tate.’

Whatever the hell it was. Gina was going to do it—and do it well.

************

‘So, you wanna tell me what you had in mind when you fronted up today for the job?’ He was laughing, which was more than Gina was capable of right now. She’d thrown up as the first testicle hit the ground and the kelpie snatched it up.

‘Prairie oysters,’ he’d told. ‘Dogs love ‘em.’

Thank goodness the actual farmhand had shown up in the nick of time.

‘I thought you were your father.’

He chuckled. ‘Ahh, another journalist looking for a new angle, eh? All credit to you for the dedication. Do you always go to such lengths to get your story?’

‘No, no, I’m not a journalist,’ she said, frustration mounting. ‘I know I should’ve said straight up except . . . Well, whenever a man questions my ability—’

‘You’ve gotta prove otherwise. I get it. I do.’

‘I feel like an idiot. I assumed that whatever the job was it would involve the hospitality part of the business. I assure you I can do most things food and event related without throwing up or passing out.’

********

I hope you enjoyed that little tidbit (the excerpt, not the prairie oyster), although I am told some people consider the cow off-cuts a delicacy.

Please let me know if you are one of those people, or if you’ve partaken in one of these meaty morsels, and I will be sure to think twice before accepting an invitation to dinner!

Jokes aside, I know this stuff has to happen. I just wish that they wouldn’t look at me like that.

I keep wanting to say, “It wasn’t me! No bull!”

If you don’t mind a good cow story, you might enjoy Season of Shadow and Light. It has cows and a fun cloven hooves scene – my favourite!

Posted on 30/08/201517/04/2015 by Jenn J McLeod

Six Degrees by Honey Brown: Review

Six Degrees by Honey Brown I was excited and delighted when asked to read Honey Brown’s, Six Degrees, prior to release.

When I say there is something for everyone in this book, I really mean . . . THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

With a foray into a genre different from her full-length novels, Honey Brown proves she’s an author for every reader. (And any reader who says they can’t relate to one of the six short stories that makes up the Six Degrees reading experience, well, they’re just not being honest!)

Six Degrees takes you to places you’ve never thought you’d go—and I’m not talking geography! 😉 In saying that, Honey’s writing transports you from the seedy skimpy bars of a WA mining community to the ‘so-called’ safe suburbs (with a desperate housewife, or two.)

For the reader, Six Degrees provides a keyhole view into all walks of life, what lurks behind closed doors, and even what’s right under our noses.

For the writer, Honey has provided a text book for great characterisation. (And not a cliché in sight!)

Cleverly structure and sublime writing are the cornerstone of this novella which I read in one sitting. I am a fan of a novel written in parts, in which the individual stories turn out to be more than the sum their parts. (I used a four short story structure for House for all Seasons, with a clever twist at the end.) Six Degrees most definitely hits the mark, and while Honey wraps up the six stories, she left me wanting more, more, MORE!

This was a hard book to put down and an easy book to review, even though slightly confronting at times. Six Degrees will, I’m sure, both surprise and delight Honey Brown followers, like me, and bring her a whole new bunch of fans.

Posted on 16/08/201516/08/2015 by Jenn J McLeod

On the road to Barmoya

What a great name for a novel.

What an inspiring location.

As the coastal fringe of Queensland buzzes with southerners seeking a warm winter, and we finally understand the mantra “beautiful one day, perfect the next”, we are in Rockhampton, super excited to stay with special friends on their not so little piece of cattle paradise in Barmoya (half way between Rockie and Yeppoon).

Our arrival a few weeks ago nudged the all-female team at the time up by two. The girls (about 5 of them) were on the go from first light until sundown—on quad bikes, utes, and horseback—working with the 1200 head of Brahman cattle, eight horses, several pigs, four farm dogs (plus Dash the Dachshund who wants to be a farm dog) and all under the watchful eye—yes, only one—of the one-eyed dude dog.

HPK girls and Lou — Hard working girls! (and Lou, the dog)

We feel like we’re in our very own real life episode of McLeods Daughters, helping out where we can. (Well, The J is working, while Daiquiri the Dude dog dreams of being a farm dog and I sit and write.)

Finding inspiration is not hard in a place like this, with Mt Hedlow on our doorstep.

Remarkable is probably the best word to describe Henderson Park Farm Retreat. But the place has come a long way since the family’s earliest settlers purchased it (and a whole lot more) back in 1885. The landscape is not at all what I expected–although I guess I know why the town is called ROCKhapmton (and the view is different every day).

You know it’s said some people come into you life for a season and some for a reason? Well, this lovely couple certainly came into ours for a reason. Drunk with conversation (and wine) we feel blessed to have such generous and wonderful friends in Marie and David (and family), here on Henderson Park.

Special friends, Marie and David, at my book launch in 2014

While staying on their farm I have been writing book #5. No title yet, but I can tell you it is set amongst the stunning landscape right here on the outskirts of Rockhampton.

Those who know me well can attest to me NOT a morning person. I love my bed and have enjoyed only one voluntary sunrise in the last few decades. That was May 1, 2013—the official release day of my debut novel. So, if this is all a dream, please don’t wake me up. Unless it’s for a sunrise like this. (And I can tell you the sunsets are just as remarkable here in Barmoya.)