Welcome

Time is out of joint. Something odd’s going on this summer. Everyone can feel it, even if no one knows exactly what it is. Why do the village and the marsh and the broad feel as if they are under some kind of spell? Where did all these flies and bees come from? Why are the house martins’ nests falling from the eaves? Nick is 15 and fed up. When his father gets a job in California, he persuades his half-sister to have her nephew to stay for the holidays in her remote cottage on the edge of a marsh, a couple of miles from the sea. Initially angry and hostile, Nick gradually begins to feel welcomed by Dina and her neighbours—particularly Dina’s boyfriend Gerry, warden at the nearby nature reserve, famous drinker and teller of tales that may or may not be true; Charley Maddox, 92 year old ex-novelist, retired school teacher and columnist for the East Norfolk Gazette; Moon, a twenty-first century hippy in serious danger of forgetting her own name; Harry the dog; the lovely Rachel who, like Nick, could have chosen better parents; and an assortment of new age loonies who spend their evenings in The Strangled Ferret, setting records for drinking too much and talking rubbish. There’s also young Sam, every social worker’s nightmare. How could anyone neglect a child in such a way? He’s dirty and smelly and has terrible clothes and a terrible haircut. He seems to know little about the world of mobiles and iPods, but rather a lot about how to catch eels and shoot coots. He also has an annoying habit of turning up when and where he’s least expected and a talent for getting on everyone’s nerves. In just a few short weeks, Nick has to learn to deal with them all. He’s got some growing up to do and a lot to learn—about himself and about the world. Welcome is the first book in The Revenant Trilogy (which also includes Swanfall and Tell the Tree by the Fruit it Bears). REVIEWS "... a haunting atmosphere, sharply punctuated with a lot of laughter" (Amazon review) "This is a book you FEEL from page 1... charming, funny, vivid, evocative writing" (Amazon review) "... gentle, sensitively written and enthralling" (Amazon review) "I really do want to spend the rest of my life hanging out with Dina," (Amazon review) "The detailed picture the author paints of the Norfolk Broads and the wildlife there is truly beautiful." (Amazon review) "... a charming rite of passage book which creates a strong sense of place and atmosphere" (Amazon review) "... a gentle initiation story that is full of warmth, wisdom, humour and empathy." (Amazon review) "The wild beauty of the Broads is presented with intense clarity." (Amazon review) "Read it slowly and savour every sentence. It really is very funny indeed." (Amazon review)