Every choice carries a price as Abby discovers when she marries Joel. If she had known when Joel first walked into Clancy’s what lay in store, she would have stopped the relationship before it got started. However, by the time she found out it was too late. The choice was made. Or so she thought.
But then between her and her one friend in Astley, Laila, they arrive at solution that could benefit Abby and the small county town. A deliberately lit fire and an unplanned pregnancy threaten to bring their carefully laid plans and Abby's dreams undone. Problems of some newcomers to the town impinge on Abby's life too, but it is the arrival of an old resident of Astley that could end up destroying everything and not just for Abby. Who else's lives will be affected and changed forever. Will the unwelcome arrivals in Astley destroy everything Abby and Laila have worked to achieve? What is the secret that will have all of Astley reeling?
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Streets on a Map
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CHARACTER INTERVIEW
with Abby Donovan
Who is your favorite author?
Obviously Dale Harcombe is my favorite author for she wrote about me and Laila and the people of Astley. Of course it's not the whole story. There has been plenty more happened since then. For a small town there’s always something happening. Life never stands still. Neither do I often. I don’t get much time to read these days. When I do I like to read biographies about singers and other musicians and since meeting Laila and encountering her brother’s poems I have an awakened interest in poetry. I also like purely romantic stories.
What do you think makes a good story?
A good story needs to have someone I can relate to and something happening to keep me interested. Every small town has its characters and Astley as more than its fair share. If you’ve read Streets on a Map you’ll know exactly what I mean. Some of them I find more annoying than others but that’s the way of small towns – everyone exists in close contact and knows all about everyone else. Keeping a secret in a small town is a major feat but a couple of people have managed it.
What book are you reading now?
I’m re-reading The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks for the third time. There’s a song trapped in there, I just know it. I’ve been tinkering with lyrics for a while but at the moment I just can’t get it to come right. So I thought if I re-read it and went back again into that story of Noah and Allie I could find the key. What can I say, I’m a hopeless romantic and that is such a classic love story. Sad but beautiful.
On my bedside table I also have a collection of poems by Jane Kenyon that Laila gave me. There are a few that could work set to music. It’s worth thinking about. Marty could easily do it. He’s very talented. He had no problems setting music to Cameron’s Song as Cameron’s poem later became known. Again, if you don’t know about that you’ll have to read Streets on a Map to find out how that came about.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I only ever wanted to sing. Nothing else existed for me. There is nothing that compares with standing on a stage singing to an audience, knowing they are right there with you sharing every emotion.
What are your favorite TV shows?
My favorite TV shows are not surprisingly music based. I love any of the old classic movies like Night and Day, Love Me or Leave Me, Funny Girl or Star. Anything that depicts the life of a singer or composer immediately has me hooked. Yes, I have been told I have a one track mind.
Sometimes I will watch shows like The Voice or a talent type show just to keep an eye on the up and coming singers. Other than that I like to watch romantic comedies You’ve Got Mail, or more recent movies like The Help that has something to say about the way people treat others.
What songs are most played on your Ipod?
Quite a collection- nearly all by female artists. Singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Judy Garland, Anita O’Day, Cleo Laine, Janet Seidel, Diana Krall, Adia, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Grace Knight, and Shelley Scown. They’re the voices that relax me and I relate too. They sing my kind of songs. My favorite songs are the old standards – romantic tunes like Someone to Watch over Me, The Man I Love, Fever, It Had to Be You, They Can’t Take That Away from Me, As Time Goes By, and Stormy Weather, just to name a few. I often think I grew up out of time. I’m in my element with the old ballads and torch songs. The best thing is people like hearing me sing them, so it’s all good.
What is your favorite meal?
A creamy rich pasta (hang the calories- there are plenty of days I miss out on meals all together because I’m rehearsing or too busy to eat). A glass of red wine with it doesn’t go astray either, though I rarely have more than one.
What group did you hang out with in high school?
In high school I was always with the music group and drama enthusiasts. I loved being part of the school musicals and was always first to try out even if it wasn’t my sort of music.
Do you play any sports?
No, not if I can help it. I don’t have time. Anyway it takes time away from important things like singing and music.
What are you passionate about these days?
I’m passionate about singing, about my husband Joel, about friendship and maintaining relationships. I’m also passionate about trying to help others who are having a tough time. I get incensed by injustice and cruelty
What do you do to unwind and relax?
What else? I sing, I watch movies, sing some more and toy with writing lyrics. Singing is my life. How did I ever think it could be otherwise?
If you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be?
Cheryl would be top of the list. I destroyed a friendship then by interfering when I shouldn’t have. At the time it seemed like the right thing to do but boy was I ever wrong! She never forgave me for what I did. I know there have been others too. I have a tendency to react and want to protect people and make things right if I can. Being impulsive gets me into a lot of trouble at times. I need to learn to put my brain into gear and think things through before I open my mouth.
What would you consider to be the best book you have ever read?
That’s a no brainer - Streets on a Map because it is my story or part of it anyway. One day maybe there will be more. Other than that I like biographies, or books that deal with real issues and emotional problems or romance.
Who should play you in a film of your life?
Interesting question. I’d love to say Catherine Zeta Jones but I’d be having myself on more than a bit. I’m not beautiful like she is. Joel might disagree but then he’s so wonderfully biased as far as I’m concerned and I love him for it. Maybe Amy Adams could work if she wore a dark brown, nearly black wig and green contacts.
Morning Person? Or Night Person? How do you know?
Definitely a night person. I come alive after dark.
What would we find under your bed?
Boxes of sheet music carefully wrapped in plastic to protect them from the dust that lives under there as well. It’s not an area I’d ever want my mother in law or any other house-proud woman poking her nose into. Housework is squeezed into the corners of my life and not high on my list of priorities. Neither is cooking. I love weekends when Joel cooks. Bliss!
Tell us about your favorite restaurant.
Only one answer to that! Lincoln’s Lodge of course- Astley’s top restaurant. Never mind that’s it’s the only one in Astley. The way Elsa cooks it was always gong to be a winner. Her food is to die for!
What makes you happy?
Singing, Joel, friends, family, music, Angel. If you don’t know who Angel is you’ll have to read Streets on a Map to find out.
What one word best describes you?
Only one word? Not sure it’s possible to sum anyone up in one word so how about a few? Impulsive, caring, impatient, loyal –that’ll do.
Do your friends think you are an introvert or an extrovert? Why?
Those who don’t know me so well would say an extrovert. Those, like Joel and Laila, who know the Abby behind the public image, would see the nerves and insecurities that still raise their heads from time to time. Every time I step in front of an audience those feelings come back. But they disappear the moment the music starts. Then there’s only room for the song.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dale collects wooden and ceramic owls, and has two rookeries of owls in tall towers which originally started life as CDs racks. They are now filled with owls of all shapes and sizes.
When not writing and reading, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music, singing, going to live theatre, watching AFL, playing games like Settlers of Catan, walking along the beaches and taking photos.
She loves dogs and has always had dogs. At present she and her husband have two dogs, a cross Kelpie Border Collie and a Shih Tzu cross Maltese Terrier. The Kelpie cross is very old. The other ginger ball of fluff on paws is only a little over three years old. She spends a lot of her time sleeping inside when not guarding the house. For her size she can make a lot of noise. There is no chance of anyone coming near their house without their dogs letting them know about it. Read Dale's extended biography on her website.
7 COMMENTS:
Thanks Laurie for hosting the interview with Abby.It's always fun when a character gets to speak for themselves.
Dale
I think our characters have a lot more to say than our stories of them allow. I think it's fun too, to talk to them after their stories have unfolded - to see where life has taken them.
Nice to met you Abby! I'm glad you're happy. And Dale? Congrats on creating such an intriguing character.
Congratulations Laurie for interviewing Dale's main character!
Brilliant idea!
Good luck Dale with your competition.
Cheers,
Karen :)
Thanks Karen. I love to meet the characters too!
I agree Kaz! Thanks for stopping in. :)
True enough Kaz. You can learn a lot about a character when you interview them. Thanks Kaz and Karen for stopping by. Good luck.
The giveaway winner is Kaz Delaney, Congrats!! :)
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