My new Young Adult novel Little Paradise hits the shelves today!

It’s always a wonderful feeling to know your book is all grown up and out on its own. It’s also tempting, when out shopping, to pop into a book shop to see if your new book is there.

Little Paradise has had some great reviews and my publicist, Kate has done a wonderful job securing press and radio interviews so you should be able to find it in your local bookstore if you want to buy it.

Just for starters, here’s an excerpt from Chapter One called Bones of the Soothsayer.

The soothsayer held the oracle bone with both hands and went strangely still. The fire hissed, the light from the coals glowed then faded. He turned the bone, studying the fine lines. Then more stillness. Another angle.

Mirabel rose and sat beside Mama on the couch, not daring to speak. At times a shadow of a frown crossed the soothsayer’s face. At other times the corners of his lips twitched or he raised his eyebrows, wrinkling his brow.

The fire burned low as shades of dusk crept into the room. The soothsayer picked up a metal probe and began carving onto the surface of the oracle bone with tiny scratching sounds.

At last he held the oracle bone out to Mirabel. ‘Hao le, it is done.’

Mama, unable to control herself, took the bone from him. She stepped to the window to read the inscription aloud.

‘Dressing the dead

Treasure not wed

Lost on the sea

To fortune you’ll flee’

Mama looked up, puzzled.

The soothsayer took the bone and pressed it into Mirabel’s hands. ‘Wherever you go, no matter how far from home, be sure to take it with you,’ he said with soft urgency.

‘Yes, sir. Will…everything be all right?’

The soothsayer made no reply but ushered them to the door.

Out in the gloom of the alleyway where the hooded streetlamps flickered, Mirabel walked in silence across the cobblestones. But her mother’s words echoed inside her head: Changing your name will change your whole destiny.