A Sneak Preview of “One Young Fool in Dorset”
One Young Fool in Dorset is finished! My latest baby is in the hands of my trusted editors and advance readers, and Nick Saltmer has created a beautiful cover. It will be launched 12th June 2015, but is already available for pre-order on Amazon.
And yes, that is a rabbit on a leash on the cover…
Here’s a little excerpt:
“Can I help you, love?” asked the lady behind the pet shop counter.
“I’d like a collar and lead, please,” I said.
“What size would you like? What breed of dog?”
“Um, it’s not exactly a dog.”
“Not a dog? Oh, you’d like a ferret harness?”
“No, a collar and lead, please. For a rabbit.”
“Sorry, speak up, love, did you say a rabbit?”
“Yes, please.”
“Well, if you’re sure… What colour would you like?”
“Red, please.”
I ended up with a cat collar, complete with a bell, and a lead attached. I can’t tell you how many times I drew that collar and lead out of the paper bag and admired them. Everything was ready and I thought I might burst with excitement.
At last came the day when my father arrived home with a cardboard box. Something was scrabbling around in it, something with claws.
“Ach, open it,” said my mother.
I lifted the flaps, and there, pressed into a corner was a white ball of fluff, a baby rabbit.
“Ohhhh…” I exhaled, already in love with the little thing. I reached into the box and lifted her out, admiring her pink floppy ears and deep red eyes.
“What are you going to call her?”
“Twinkletoes.”
“Not Snowy, like you said?”
“Well, her long name is Princess Snowy Twinkletoes the First.”
“Well, take Princess Snowy Twinkletoes to her new enclosure, see if she likes it.”
Princess Snowy did like it. She particularly liked the honeysuckle plants my mother had painstakingly planted. She didn’t eat them, she just hopped along the row snipping them off at ground level with her razor teeth, ensuring they would never grow again. My mother was furious.
“I wouldn’t mind so much if she ate them!” she fumed.
“She’s just a baby,” I said protectively. “She’s probably teething.”
But my mother never succeeded in growing honeysuckle around Princess Snowy’s enclosure, and Snowy thrived. She grew bigger, and bigger. Soon she was big enough to wear the collar and lead, and she came everywhere with me. It took a long time to go anywhere because she would hop this way and that, nibbling grass. People would stare at us, but I didn’t care.
My rabbit was constantly hungry and soon grew to be a very large rabbit. And she developed a kick like a kangaroo. If she didn’t want to be cuddled, which was all the time, a well-aimed kick in my stomach took all my breath away.
“I don’t know why she’s so unfriendly,” I complained.
“Ach, perhaps she needs rabbit company,” said my mother. “We’ll take her over to the Hale’s house today. I know the girls have a nice girl rabbit. Perhaps they’ll be friends and it’ll be nice for them both.”
Princess Snowy Twinkletoes the First was on her leash and I led the way to the rabbit run where Heather Hale’s Miss Bunny sat on her hind legs daintily washing her face. Princess Snowy suddenly saw Miss Bunny and stood stock still, staring, her nose twitching. She tensed, and made a beeline for Miss Bunny, bounding so fast that I had to run to keep up. The signs were good; it looked as though Princess Snowy was keen to play.
Miss Bunny hopped to the front of her run and stood on her back legs, nose whiffling, front paws on the wire. Miss Bunny was much smaller than Snowy, but definitely interested in her new playmate. Princess Snowy was almost rigid with excitement as they touched noses through the wire mesh.
“Look!” I said, clasping my hands under my chin in delight. “Look how excited Snowy is, she can’t wait to go in and play with Miss Bunny.”
“I think they are going to be best friends,” said Mrs Hale, smiling.
“Ach, put Snowy into the run and we can watch them play,” said my mother.
Did we say play?
Wrong word, wrong description.
The instant that Princess Snowy’s fluffy feet hit the ground, she was galloping after Miss Bunny. Miss Bunny, a rather alarmed expression on her face, lolloped away from her pursuer. But Princess Snowy was on a mission and soon caught up. Miss Bunny froze as Snowy gripped her round the midriff, and pumped.
My mouth dropped open.
“Oh!” said Mrs Hale.
“Golly!” said Heather.
“Ach,” said my mother.
“Oh look,” I said, “Princess Snowy Twinkletoes and Miss Bunny are playing a lovely game together!”
“Hmm…” said my mother.
“Oh, look, they’re playing that game again!” I said, as Miss Bunny broke free, chased by Snowy Twinkletoes.
“I think we may have misunderstood Princess Snowy Twinkletoes,” said Mrs Hale grimly.
“Ach, I’m terribly sorry…” said my mother as Snowy climbed aboard Miss Bunny again. And again. And again.
One Young Fool in Dorset is available from
Susan Jackson
May 6, 2015 @ 11:21 pm
ordered IT!!
Victoria Twead
May 6, 2015 @ 11:46 pm
Gosh, thank you, Susan – you must be the first, it’s only been available about 20 minutes! 🙂
Susan Little
May 7, 2015 @ 1:28 am
Intriguing, can’t wait to see what mischief awaits!
Victoria Twead
May 7, 2015 @ 10:34 am
Teehee! Plenty… 🙂
Linda Sepos
May 7, 2015 @ 1:54 am
I’m looking forward to reading it!
Victoria Twead
May 7, 2015 @ 10:33 am
Thanks muchly, Linda! 🙂
Joy Hughes
May 7, 2015 @ 2:42 am
Have pre-ordered today. So looking forward to reading it.
Victoria Twead
May 7, 2015 @ 10:32 am
Bless you, Joy. 🙂
Jill in Derby
May 7, 2015 @ 8:20 am
Well its top of my wish list .
Victoria Twead
May 7, 2015 @ 10:30 am
Thank you, Jill. 🙂
Patricia Powell
May 7, 2015 @ 10:12 am
Also ordered it right away. Roll on June!:-)
Victoria Twead
May 7, 2015 @ 10:29 am
Thank you, Patricia! 🙂
Margaret Cook
May 7, 2015 @ 10:16 am
Ordered for my husband x
Victoria Twead
May 7, 2015 @ 10:28 am
Thank you, Margaret. 🙂
Margaret Cook
May 7, 2015 @ 12:01 pm
just to add your books helped my husband so much when he was having his cancer treatment 6 years ago we do hope Joes treatment goes well you will both be in our thoughts x
Victoria Twead
May 8, 2015 @ 7:23 pm
Thank you, Margaret, that’s wonderful to know! 🙂
marita
May 7, 2015 @ 10:18 am
just what I need on a drizzling wet day when I am down in the dumps ha ha ha!
Victoria Twead
May 7, 2015 @ 10:28 am
Thank you, Marita! Hope you enjoy it. 🙂
vivien
May 7, 2015 @ 10:20 am
Thanks again Victoria am looking forward to reading it. So sorry to hear your news.As you may remember we had to sell our house in Spain due to hubby’s accident there and return to UK. Thinking of you please keep us informed of Joe’s progress.Vivien
Victoria Twead
May 7, 2015 @ 10:27 am
Thank you, Vivien. 🙂
Rebecca Hislop
May 7, 2015 @ 10:35 am
I pre ordered mine last night too Victoria. This is clearly a very difficult time for you and Joe. I will be thinking of you both
and pray that all works out well
Rebecca X
Victoria Twead
May 8, 2015 @ 7:23 pm
Thank you, Rebecca – much appreciated. 🙂
Pat Ellis
May 7, 2015 @ 2:18 pm
Fantabulous …. I pre-ordered it immediately I saw the post yesterday… can’t wait.
Taking this opportunity to send virtual hugs to you too ((xx))
Victoria Twead
May 8, 2015 @ 7:22 pm
Thank you, Mrs Ellis – you are a very good friend. 🙂 xxx
Liz Smith
May 7, 2015 @ 7:44 pm
I can hardly wait to read this! And best of all, it will come to me on my birthday!
Victoria Twead
May 8, 2015 @ 7:21 pm
Oh! Happy birthday for the 12th, Liz! Hope it makes you chuckle – it was suuuuuch fun to write! 🙂
Rachel
May 7, 2015 @ 9:41 pm
Ordered it! Can’t wait! LOVE your books and adventures! Praying for you and Joe!
Victoria Twead
May 8, 2015 @ 7:20 pm
Thank you, Rachel! 🙂
Trisha Hyde
May 8, 2015 @ 7:22 am
Waiting to for it to be available on Amazon.au
Victoria Twead
May 8, 2015 @ 7:18 pm
Hi Trisha – it already is available in Australia – http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00X83TLKQ
Thanks for looking. 🙂
Morag Low
May 8, 2015 @ 9:57 pm
That’s it ordered for reading on holiday.Best wishes to you and Joe, I have not been fortunate to meet you but your books have given me hours of pleasure. I hope life gets better for you in Australia
Victoria Twead
May 9, 2015 @ 3:06 pm
Thank you, Morag, and thanks for the kind words. 🙂
Margaret Hobbs
May 9, 2015 @ 10:49 am
Thanks ordered and shared 🙂
Victoria Twead
May 9, 2015 @ 3:03 pm
Thank you, Margaret. 🙂
Edith
May 9, 2015 @ 2:16 pm
Oh Vicky, this brings back memories! We once had baby rabbits even though we kept the male and the female in seperate enclosures – it turned out that my little sister and our neighbour’s son let them “play” together regularly 🙂
Victoria Twead
May 9, 2015 @ 3:03 pm
HAHAHA! That made me laugh!! Thanks, Edith! 🙂
Sallyanne Emmerson
May 9, 2015 @ 2:49 pm
I have ordered it!
Look forward to getting it!
Good luck with everything!
Take care, xx
Sallyanne Emmerson.
Victoria Twead
May 9, 2015 @ 3:02 pm
Thank you so much, Sallyanne! 🙂
lois levy
May 9, 2015 @ 6:34 pm
my birthday tomorrow and my daughter is ordering this as my birthday gift. Thanks for the pleasure your books have given to me xx I hope all goes well for you and Joe xx
Victoria Twead
May 9, 2015 @ 8:03 pm
Thank you, Lois, and I hope you have a wonderful birthday! 🙂
Lyn
May 31, 2015 @ 10:45 pm
Very much looking forward to reading this book, especially as I recognise the cover, as we live there!
Victoria Twead
June 8, 2015 @ 4:10 pm
Gosh, Lyn, really? I bet it’s changed a lot since the days I wrote about. 🙂
Lyn
June 8, 2015 @ 6:31 pm
I don’t think it’s changed that much!
Victoria Twead
June 13, 2015 @ 1:17 pm
Is there still a fish on the church spire? 🙂
Lyn
June 19, 2015 @ 10:49 pm
Yes, the fish is still there! New houses between Worgret Rd and the bypass otherwise much the same.
Victoria Twead
July 8, 2015 @ 10:44 am
I don’t think the by-pass was there when I was a child, but it was planned. 🙂
Dianne Gungor
July 28, 2015 @ 3:46 pm
I had just treated myself to 3 books on Amazon and I saw you have published another book. I feel another order coming on already – I will be in trouble with the other half. Thank goodness for people like you, a natural story teller. One of the books I had ordered was the contribution of authors to raise money for the struggling animal shelter in Spain. I definitely look forward to reading that one too. I hope that book does well too as it is for such a good cause.
Keep writing!
All the best
Dianne
Victoria Twead
August 1, 2015 @ 2:06 pm
Hello Dianne, thanks for the kind words. There are 5 books in the Old Fools series so far, and yes, I hope the charity book does well! 🙂