Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Striking Out by Scarlet Bennett!

Title: Striking Out

Author: Scarlet Bennett

About the Book:

Sparkling with distinctive Australian humour, this action-packed novel follows one small-town girl’s fight to reach the top.

Sharon Jackson is a small-town girl with big-city dreams. Forced out of her home in regional Western Australia with her singing career in ruins, she hits the big smoke in search of stardom. After signing with a sleazy agent who wants more than a ten percent cut of her earnings, she struggles to earn a place in the macho world of rock-‘n-roll, encountering a series of colourful characters along the way – like Todd, the sexy, brooding muso with a dragon tattoo and Kevin, the whip-smart fighter with some hidden demons of his own.But when her troubled past follows her to the city, Shazza’s dreams begin to unravel. With no home to go back to and a past that won’t stay buried, everything she has worked for is on the line. Shazza must make a decision that will define the course of her future, and time is running out.

Excerpt:

Des finally rang on a Monday, just when I was getting ready to leave for work at Kevin’s dojo.
‘Great news!’ was his opening line.
‘Hello to you too,’ I said, gathering my teaching gear off my bed and throwing it into my training bag.
‘I’m a businessman, Shazza. I haven’t got time for small talk.’
‘My mistake.’
‘I’ve got a gig for you – if you’re up to it.’
I was elated. ‘Oh! That is great news. What’s the story? And what do you mean, if I’m up to it?’ I picked up my training bag and rushed out of my apartment, locking the door behind me. If I didn’t keep moving I was going to be late.
‘That new repertoire you were telling me about…reckon you could manage a set?’
I thought for a moment as I unlocked my Mini. ‘Yeah. I haven’t got a full gig’s worth ready yet – getting there, though – but I could definitely do a set or two.’
‘Good. I’ve got a hotel in the city – the Condor. Very upmarket. They want Eva-Cassidy-meets-soul for some function, but only for about forty minutes before dinner’s served. Reckon you could manage that?’
‘Definitely.’ I tossed my workout bag onto the back seat of my car.
‘This is a good gig and I’m sticking my neck out for you here, Shazza.’
‘I appreciate that, Des.’
‘Yes, well, ole Des always looks after his people.’ He grunted. ‘Jillian’s been on my back too, to be honest.’ He paused and I could imagine him shaking his head. ‘I can’t stand women who nag.’
I thought about telling him that women can’t stand men they have to nag, but I didn’t think he’d see the humour in it.
‘Send Jillian my best.’ I buckled my seatbelt, inserting the keys in the ignition.
‘You can send her yourself. She’s coming with me to check out your new repertoire. Saturday night at seven. Be there or be square.’
I groaned inwardly. That line wasn’t just tired, it was dead and long buried. Des reeled off the rest of the details and I scrambled to grab a notepad and pen out of my glove box. I scribbled everything down.
‘Thanks, Des. See you Saturday.’
‘Don’t let me down!’ The phone went slam before I could reply.
I was on a high that night and my concentration was woeful. I hit the curb with a very loud thud when I was trying to park my Mini at the dojo and, to make matters worse, Kevin was getting some folders out of his car when it happened. I saw him laughing as I opened my door and jumped out.
‘Nice park, Shazza.’
‘Not my best, I admit.’ I opened the back door and grabbed my training bag.
‘Well, Minis are difficult to park,’ he said. ‘Big, unwieldly, hard to manoeuvre in tight places.’
‘Exactly.’
He pointed to the far end of the carpark. ‘I might put a reserved sign over there in the corner for you. I think it’s probably best if you park as far away from my car as possible.’
‘Hilarious.’
He looked at me closely. ‘You’re in a good mood.’
‘That transparent, hey?’
‘What’s happening?’ For a brief moment, something flashed across his face, but I couldn’t tell what it was.

Get it Here:

Amazon

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About the Author:

Scarlet Bennett spent her formative years in regional Western Australia, and it shows. Years of city living have softened her broad accent, but the slang she’s stuck with. After earning a Masters degree in Psychology, the colourful characters of her childhood – and that irrepressible Aussie spirit – found their way onto the page. She is a graduate of Allaboutwriting’s mentoring program, and lives in Canberra with her husband, kids, and far more animals than can reasonably fit on a suburban plot.

Website | Facebook | Firefield Press

Giveaway:

10 sets of earrings handmade by the author (INT)
Ends September 2nd
All earrings are made with sterling silver and semi-precious gemstones. The gemstones included are turquoise, rose quartz, red agate, freshwater pearls and amethyst.


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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.