BOOK LAUNCH~ July 13th !!!!! Read the first chapter here...

I launch my new novel The Visitor on July 13th (yes, I know it's a Friday)
Here is the prologue and first chapter to give you a taste of what the the book is about and my particular style....


PROLOGUE


"Your proposal is the most interesting I have ever been asked to consider. But, you already knew that didn’t you?”
“Yes, master” she said. The tremble in her voice betrayed her feelings. She dare not raise her eyes from the floor.
“Are you quite sure you are ready for such a journey?” Her heart jumped.
“He hadn’t said ‘No’!” “Oh, yes, Master,” she blurted out, all too quickly. “I…” but stopped just in time.
“My child, I know about your previous journeys,” he said reassuringly. “But this is a far greater challenge.” She glanced, quickly up at his face looking for any sign of the condemnation she knew would not be there. All she saw was that oh-so- familiar knowing smile of love and acceptance.
“I have given your proposal serious consid-eration. I have sought opinions from various members of the Meeting of Elders. But, as you are my disciple, the final decision rests with me.”
“Of course, Master,” she whispered, again dropping her eyes to the floor. ‘Here, it comes,’ she thought, tensing herself against the blow of disappointment about to be delivered.
“You may leave in the morning. I…” She leapt forward and threw her arms around the old man who stood before her and kissed him affectionately.
“Oh, thankyou, Master. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
Recovering from the initial burst of enthusiastic response, the Master took her by the arms and gently held her at arms length in front of him. . “I think I do know,” the old man chided, “after all we have known each other such a long time. As I was about to say, I have some conditions I want you to accept. Knowing your uncanny ability to get yourself into awkward situations, I want your word you will follow this list of safeguards I have devised.” From the desk behind him, the old man took a sheet of paper.
“Oh, yes, Master, anything.”
“Yes, well time will tell on that one,” the Master said, with that knowing half smile which conveyed both acceptance and apprehension.
‘Yes, he does know me, even better than I know myself,’ she thought as she took the list from his hands and pretended to read it.




CHAPTER ONE






"Congratulations, Nick, or should I say Doctor Walker,
you sly dog, you. If I was 30 years younger, and not married, I’d certainly give you a run for your money.” Nick reached out to shake the hand proffered.
“Thank you Professor,” replied Nick, quizzically, “but what on earth are you talking about?”
“You’ve always said you had no time for relationships, with your studies and all,” the Professor continued. “Remember all those functions you came to alone? Yet, here, within an hour of receiving your doctorate, you have that drop dead gorgeous young woman singing your praises.”
“I’m sorry, Professor,” Nick confessed. “I still have no idea what you are talking about!”
“Okay, have it your way,” the Professor said, as his face reddened. Nick wasn’t sure whether the older man’s blush was embarrassment or anger. “Anyway, I wanted to know what plans you have. What are you going to do with yourself now you have finished your studies?”
“Haven’t given much thought to anything else than studying for the past seven years. I guess I’ll have to get a real job,” Nick admitted, as he too started to blush.
“Well, I have a proposition to put to you. I was
undecided as to whether I would choose you or young Hawkes until I spoke to your lovely young friend. No need to be embarrassed about her, Nick. She’s obviously infatuated with you. Come and see me tomorrow. I’m teaching first thing, so how does eleven suit you?” Before Nick had a chance to answer, the Professor strode off to catch the Vice-Chancellor who was making a very concerted attempt to leave the reception.
Left standing by himself, Nick scanned the room for a familiar face, someone he could talk to. Not that small talk or chitchat, as he called it, was high on his list of things to do before he died. As his eyes moved from person to person he saw her. The first thing he noticed was her hair. Framing her angelic face, it cascaded down over her shoulders, with a rebellious curl hanging provocatively over one eye. But it was the colour that really caught his attention. It reminded him of the spectacular sunsets over the water he had experienced at the beach where his family spent his childhood holidays. The sun shining through the window behind her lifted the vision before him to heavenly status as her hair became a golden halo.
Transfixed as he was, Nick held his gaze a moment more than might be considered acceptable by anyone more in tune with social niceties. He became aware the young woman was looking back at him, her gaze sure and steady.
She raised the glass she held in her hand in a gesture of acknowledgement, then raised it to her ruby red lips and took a sip. As she lowered the glass slowly from her lips, she smiled. Anyone else not paying close attention would have missed it, but Nick knew it was meant only for him. In that moment, the air between them became so electric Nick felt his skin start to tingle. He knew, with-out a doubt, this was the woman the professor had spoken about. ‘The Prof. was right,’ he thought, ‘she is drop dead gorgeous.’

* * *
“Get a wriggle on, young man. The reservations are for seven. We don’t want to lose them.” Even through the bathroom door, with the shower running, and the radio on, Nick could hear the agitation in his mother’s voice.
“Yes, Mum” he replied, as he turned the water off.. ‘Poor old Mum. She’s always been a stickler for punctuality. I reckon she’ll be early for her own funeral,’he thought, as he reached for the towel hanging on the rail. As he dried himself, he noticed his wrinkled fingertips. ‘Curious,’ he thought, ‘must have been in the shower longer than I thought. No wonder Mum’s panicking. As his thoughts drifted yet again to the mysterious woman he encountered that afternoon. ‘I bet her life’s not ruled by the clock’
“Hurry up! We’re waiting for you.” Nick snapped back to reality yet again as he stood, blindly staring at the reflection that gazed blankly back at him from the bathroom mirror. “Get a grip, boy,” he said to himself, parroting his father’s favourite line as he pulled the brush through his hair. “You don’t know who she is. You don’t know where she’s from. You don’t even know her name.” Nick had lost count of the number of times he’d gone back over the afternoon and replayed their encounter. ‘Gutless wonder,’ he berated himself, for the umpteenth time, ‘you could have at least talked to her. But oh no, you had to run away like a scared little kitten. Oh, well, just mark it down as another lost opportunity.’
“In the car, now!” his father yelled. Nick could see this evening was getting off to a really good start, as he turned and almost tripped over his mother who had come back into the house to get him.
“We don’t want to lose our reservations,” his mother said, grabbing him by the arm and pushing him towards the front door. Nick opened his mouth to excuse himself from going, but the words didn’t come. After all, he was the guest of honour. The only reason the family was going to dinner this evening was to celebrate Nick’s graduation. Besides, having the family together in the same place at the same time would be a once-in-a blue-moon event, let alone all of them going out to eat. His father always insisted a home cooked meal was best. What he really meant was whenever they went out for dinner he was usually so drunk he often ordered something he didn’t like and spent the rest
of the evening complaining.

* * *
“So tell me Nicky,” asked his mother, as they took their seats at the table, “does this mean you’ll come out of your room to eat with the rest of the family now?”
“Jean, leave the boy alone,” piped in Nick’s father before Nick had a chance to answer. “This is supposed to be a celebration, so let’s celebrate. Who wants a drink?” as he stood and started towards the bar, without waiting for an answer. No one else in the family drank, at least not alcohol, so in his opinion they weren’t worth worrying about.
“Congratulations, little brother,” Jude said as she raised her glass of water to toast Nick, “What are you going to do with all your chunks of alphabet?”
“Not really sure yet,” Nick replied, somewhat guardedly. “The Prof wants to see me tomorrow and I’ve got my name on the list for any ministry positions that come up.”
“Never thought my little brother would follow through with it. How will I ever face my friends again, when my brother becomes a holy Joe?” Jude said, only half joking.
His older sister did not share Nick’s beliefs. Due to an unpleasant experience in her past Jude was quite antichurch, which