Congratulations Catherine Evans on the release of The Healing Season
Read an excerpt,
and there’s a giveaway too!
GIVEAWAY NOW ENDED
A paperback copy of all three stories in the series. Plus a mug!
(Giveaway open until midnight AEST Thursday 10 March 2016. Giveaway open to Australian postal addressees only.)
Alicia used to know exactly what her life would look like: marry her best friend, manage her home town agricultural store, and live in her grandparent’s old house. But life never goes to plan, and Alicia is left with nothing more than the store to keep her going. Until a new employee walks through her door and offers a new friendship and potentially something more.
Lachlan has spent his life running, and Dulili is just far enough away for a new start. But small towns have few secrets, and running from the past is a surefire way to guarantee no hope for a future.
Over to Catherine…
It’s release day for The Healing Season and I’m excited with just a tinge of nervousness (okay, a lot). It’s like first day at a new job – you’re excited to start and meet people but there’s just that niggly worry that people may not like you, or the job might not be so great.
This excerpt from the story is of Lachlan’s first day in a new job, in a new town. He’s trying to be excited but he’s just a little concerned too.
Have you ever felt that mixture of joy and fear? If you’d like to share the experience, one lucky reader will win a paperback copy of The Healing Season and a mug.
I hope you enjoy the story.
Cath xo
Excerpt from The Healing Season by Catherine Evans
A loud buzzer filled the silence when he opened the door. He cringed for a second before taking in his surroundings, looking around in surprise. The shop was welcoming. Newly painted, it looked and smelled clean but it was jammed packed full of stuff. So much, he couldn’t make head or tail of what was in there. Clothes and boots fought for space with hoses and vegetable seeds, ropes and chain competed with toilet paper and paint brushes. It looked like he’d have a full time job working out what all the stuff was, and putting it in some order. But who would use all this stuff? A smile came to his face when a woman about his age approached with a smile. ‘G’day,’ he said, ‘Lachlan Muirhead, here for work.’
‘Alicia Pearce. I’m glad you could start.’ She sounded just a little bit hesitant and that made him feel a whole lot better for being nervous himself.
He took her outstretched hand and gave it a pump and a bit of a squeeze but she winced, and he realised he’d hurt her.
‘I’m sorry. Are you okay?’ Horrified that he might have injured her, he grasped her wrist and held her hand gently. The scarlet creeping up her face made him worry even more. He’d never worked for a woman before and wasn’t sure what he should be doing. He turned her hand and her palm was a red mess. How on earth had she managed that?
‘It’s just some blisters. It’s not your fault.’ She pulled her palm from his grasp before gingerly tucking her hand into her jeans pocket with another wince and a little shudder.
She was a couple of inches shorter than his six foot, slim and athletic, with hair more blonde than brown, and eyes more brown than green. Her hair was tied back and the ponytail fell past her shoulders. Freckles were dusted across her nose and they made her seem too young to be running the place. And much too young for the dark circles and gaunt cheekbones that marred her pretty face.
‘Welcome.’ She ushered him in behind the wooden desk that kept the customers out of the office area. ‘No one’s going to come in this early on a wet day, so I’ll show you around.’ Her smile came, although he felt she had to force it there.
She pointed out a desk that would be his, then showed him to the small kitchen area where he could leave his lunch, make coffee, eat and hide from customers if needed. A smile punctuated a lot of Alicia’s sentences but it was never a truly happy grin. She looked sad, worn down, and he expected Dulili had caused that. How could you not feel sad in a dying town?
The Healing Seasonis available in eBook from all good retailers.
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Find Catherine Evans on her webpage CatherineEvansAuthor.com
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GIVEAWAY!
GIVEAWAY NOW ENDED
Have you ever felt that mixture of joy and fear? If you’d like to share the experience, one lucky reader will win a paperback copy of The Healing Season and a mug.
Just leave a comment for Catherine below.
All stories in the A Dollar for a Dream series will be available together in one paperback and in the all the usual shops and bookstores at the end of March 2016 in an anthology titled Last Chance Country.
BUY the paperback now on pre-order
Booktopia
Angus & Robertson Bookworld
Harlequin
Or buy the individual eBooks
A Heart Stuck on Hope by Jennie Jones
Honey Hill House by Lisa Ireland
The Healing Season by Catherine Evans
This sounds fab
Hi Gemmasiemensma,
Thanks. I hope it’s fab…it’s so hard to know when it’s yours.
Cath xo
I can not wait to read this story, it sounds fantastic, i love the feeling of starting a new book and falling in love with new characters and their story to escape your own reality.
congratulations on what I am sure is going to be a fantastic book!!
Hi Renee,
Thanks so much. Oh, yes, starting a new book is the best fun…when you aren’t sure if you’ll like the characters and then they snare your heart. Such a great feeling!
Cath xo
Woohoo Catherine Happy Release Day I am very much looking forward to this one and the series I now have all three as ebooks and can’t wait to read them
You know for me joy and fear come together a lot with so many things for me seeing my grandkids get older thinking about what lies ahead for them but the joy in watching them
Have Fun
Helen
Thank you so much, Helen. I hope you love all three as much as we do.
Oh, gosh, that’s such a thought. I can see how joy and fear would mix there. I don’t have kids, so I haven’t really thought of that before. It kind of makes your throat choke up, even as you’re smiling. I hope your grandkids have a fabulous future - they do look like fun kids from your FB photos
Cath xo
The joy of finally making the decision to retire from FDC (Childcare in my own home) after forty years then selling my home of 32 years moving to a new area, Ooohwah will I like it placating myself with I can read books uninterrupted now
Wow, Julia! Those are some huge moves. I hope you love your new area and find thousands of fabulous books that you can read uninterrupted with your feet up and a big smile on your face.
Happy retirement!
Cath xo
CONGRATULATIONS JULIA - you won! Catherine will be in touch shortly. Thank you everyone who left a comment - Catherine and ARR appreciate your support - it’s the best!
Would love to read your story on my tablet with a coffee in hand.
Hi Sue,
Thanks! I hope you enjoy your coffee and reading
Cath xo
Congratulations on release day, Catherine. I thought that excerpt sounded fab!
xx
Thank you so much, Lily. Your support is awesome for both of me
Cath xox
Congrats on your release!! Can’t wait to read the book!! Joy and fear….parenthood! Every single day!! xx
Oh, Melissa, you make my heart go in my throat. I hope your kids give you much much more joy than fear, but I can see how both are intertwined so closely.
Thanks so much for your congrats
Cath xo
Congratulations Catherine, loved the excerpt. My most memorable experience of joy and fear was the premature birth of my first set of twins. Overjoyed that they had arrived and absolute panic about my ability to fulfil my parenting duties. Thankfully I managed to step into the role, so that when the next set came along I was more prepared,and still overjoyed at how blessed we were.
OH! Deebebbington! Two sets of twins! Wow! My friend has one set, and wow, seeing her struggle in those first few weeks/months was so difficult. I take my hat off to you!
I hope your kids bring you bucketloads of joy!
Thanks,
Cath xo
They bring me joy everyday Catherine!
Congratulations on your book Catherine, love reading books by Aussie Authors, specialy rural romance, i can take myself away to dreamland among those beautiful places you write about !! Will wait with batted breath for your book to arrive whoo hoo !!
Hi Dorothy,
I moved from rural NSW to the coast, and that’s when I started to seriously write about rural NSW because I missed it so very much. There’s something so beautiful about those places, you’re right. That’s probably why I devour rural books too!! Glad you feel the same about the bush.
Thank you for your congrats
Thank you,
Cath xo
Fantastic! Congratulations on your new release, Catherine. For some reason I had it in my head that this was being released on Saturday, so I kept checking and checking - until I realised I had the wrong day! At least it will be waiting for me after work tonight - and I’ll definitely need the pick-me-up by then (and it’s so damn tempting to not go back from my lunch break and just read instead!) 😍 😍
Hi Kylie,
So glad there’s another book addict like I am! I do that - wait desperately for a book, then tick the minutes away until I can read it! I hope Lachlan and Alicia’s story is worth all that wait!
Thanks heaps,
Cath xo
I would love to read your new release. I love the genre and have not as yet read your books. I love knowing more about Australia and more closely, unique and interesting towns.
Hi Margaret,
You’re up-to-date with me!! Australia is a most fascinating place. I agree that reading rural stories gives you so many more views of life and towns.
This is my first rural book, so I don’t have anything else for you to have read
Thanks,
Cath xo
Look forward to getting lost in this story and leave this world for just a while. He can touch my hand any time also. lol. Best wishes for a bright and happy future.
Looking forward to many more books.
I grew up in a NSW Rural town and the closeness of everyone and even though they sometimes they knew too much about me but still my roots are still there. Always a place to call home. xxo
Hi Michelle,
Thanks so much for my laugh - I love that line, “He can touch my hand any time”! He’s a real sweetie, Lachlan. Thanks for the wishes too.
That’s a good way of describing a country town - everyone knows too much but your roots are there. That’s how I feel about country towns and what I tried to get across in this story.
Thanks heaps,
Cath xo
Can’t wait to read this😀
Can’t wait to read the whole trilogy 😃
Thanks, Craig. I hope you enjoy them all!
Cath xo
So this is your debut rural romance. Congratulations. I,m sure this will be a great read and start of many more.
Hi Bronwyn,
It’s been a long journey but fun too!
Yes, this is my debut. I have another that was supposed to have come out but it’s being rewritten (again) and hopefully I’ll get it right this time and it might be out next year
Thanks heaps,
Cath xo
Congratulations on your release. Joy and fear all rolled into one when I’m about to start the 10km melbourne marathon. Running off with thousands and the last 10 seconds is both nerve wrecking and exciting!
Thanks, Venetia. Wow! Marathons. That would certainly get your fear and excitement going, not to mention wear you out! Good on you for doing them.
Cath xo
CONGRATS AGAIN CATH! SUCH A DIFFERENT WORK CALL COMPARED TO THAT WE SHARED. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE! XX
Hi Kerry,
Nah, just kidding!!! It is a very different work environment to the one we shared. Thanks so much for all your support!
I used that fear of walking into the office you guarded for the story
Cath xox
Joy & fear; that sounds like how I felt when I went into labour - both times.
I look forward to catching up with the entire series.
Hi Mary,
Yes, labour. I can see how that would bring out both fear and excitement! I’m child-free so it hasn’t been something I’ve felt. I imagine it would be mega-huge emotion!
Thanks heaps,
Cath xo
Happy Release Day
loving the sound of this!
Thanks, Kerry. We loved the sound of it as we came up with the town and the ideas, so I hope that is felt with readers too.
All the best,
Cath xo
Looking forward to reading this series. Fear but joy - leaving a job i had been in for 15 years (from school) to start again in a whole new industry - from legal industry to high school librarian!
Hi Geckogirlreads,
That’s a big change but judging from your name, I bet you love being a librarian! I hope it’s been a positive change for you!
I hope you enjoy the series
All the best,
Cath xo
For a quiet little country town, Dulili, a lot seems to be happening.
It’s like that Midsomer Murders town…except Dulili can’t afford to have murders we need romance and reproduction!!!
Thanks for my chuckle, Meryl
Cath xo
Congratulations on your new release Catherine. It sounds great, I’d love to add it to my aussie author rural romance collection. 😊
Thanks for the congrats, Aileen. It’s been a long term dream of mine to be added to Aussie author rural romance collections
Cath xox
Dreams do come true!
The time I felt both joy and fear that the same time was when my 3 daughters were born, but especially with my first daughter was born as I was only 19 years old and hadn’t experienced much in life yet. Over the years they have all given us all the joy in the world, I wouldn’t change anything even the tough and trying times of bringing up children are all a learning experience.
Yes, they do, Aileen
Having kids seems to be the most common mix of fear and excitement. As a 19 year old, that must have been a huge mix of both emotions, and more. Glad that the joy is there.
Thanks for coming back to chat!
Cath xo
Hi Catherine. I recently got back into the workforce (FUNforce actually - I’m a relief Librarian!) after 16 years on a disability pension with a spinal injury. It’s a small step, but I’m taking leaps and bounds. It’s nice to use the words “I CAN” now. Yes, it was very scary to step out and take a chance at going for my dream job, but at the same time I knew I was the right person! So glad I made myself go for it.
Best wishes, Jay
Hi Jay,
That’s a fantastic story of fear and excitement blending. I hope you enjoy your new job and begin to chase more dreams. Good on you!
All the best,
Cath xo
Fear and joy - when I first step onto a plane - will it fly smoothly, motion sickness, cramps in legs if not moving around enough, but once landed and exploring a new country makes up for all the fear of those terrible few hours in the sky. We’re new overseas travellers and the fear is crippling yet I continue to book overseas trips. We’ve caught the travel bug!
Congrats, Catherine on your new release, so happy for you! And will look forward to your many new books that are to follow.
Oh, Sue, that’s so brave of you to keep booking trips even with all that fear! Hope you enjoy your overseas travelling!
Thanks so much for your wishes,
Cath xo
I can relate to Alicia’s feelings of nothing ever going to plan! Life certainly tests us at times
Yes, I agree, Sarah Mary. My life never seems to follow the plan, which is why Alicia’s probably doesn’t either.
I hope your testing time isn’t too difficult and you get a bit of smooth sailing soon.
Thanks for commenting.
Cath xo
THANK YOU everyone! I’m sorry there aren’t prizes for all of you.
Thank you for sharing your stories with me. And thanks for sharing release day for my rural debut - you made it a very special day. I’ve never ‘chatted’ to blog readers before and I loved it!
Thanks everyone. May you all find many books that touch your mind, heart and soul!
Cath xox