Theme 2 - School Principals
The main characters in Theme 2 are principals of schools, ranging from a London primary school in Stretched Horizons, a private girls' school in Blemished Jewel, tiny rural schools in Long Valley Road and the saga of a school teacher's life in Wind Across the Playground.
Wind Across the PlaygroundNeil Johnston a young school teacher arrives to take charge of a two teacher rural school at Ashleyvale in the South Island of New Zealand with his partner, liberated Lisa. She is just one of the five women who has a profound affect on his life through the next quarter a century.
Margaret, a promiscuous farmer's wife engulfs Neil like a spider and almost tears his relationship with Lisa apart. Afterwards there is a tragedy, Kelly, the assistant teacher in the junior room at Ashleyvale and decisions to be made. Neil matures quickly and when faced with an ultimatum by the woman who loves him, makes a decision that involves shifting back home to the North Island with one woman and away from the other. Two girls also affect his life,Wendy a pupil at Ashleyvale and his daughter Alexia who, as a baby, unknowingly provides the comfort and love. There are always changes as society moves through the decades. Smashwords Kindle iBookshop Nook Long Valley Road
American John Berg purchases a farm on Long Valley Road in rural New Zealand and emigrates with the change affecting all his family. His daughters learn to fit into a new country, Fiona discovers she is not just a mother-in-law and the lonely widower falls in love with Kylena, a local schoolteacher. Kylena's estranged husband arrives in the valley and attacks her. Also problems back in New York State affect John's family. He has to return to defend a lawsuit by his brother who contests his inheritance and right to purchase the farm in New Zealand. The outcome will affect them all. The inhabitants of Long Valley Road have their lives changed forever by the events happening around them. This fast paced novel combines human emotions of love, empathy, revenge and greed with the sheer force of Mother Nature. Is love strong enough to surmount the problems about to descend upon them all? Smashwords Kindle iBookshop Nook Blemished JewelGail Fernhill, newly appointed of principal of Queen Anne's Girls' School in Dunedin, New Zealand is haunted by her past but befriends new property manager Neil Goodall. Neil pierces her reserve to support and help her when he discovers that as a teenager, she killed her abusive father in self-defence.
However, the case is reopened after the discovery of her father's rifle. Inspector Peter Carrington attempts, by fair means or foul, to build up a murder case against Gail and directs Tania Brogan, an undercover police officer employed by the school as a teacher, to find evidence. However, after an accident involving a bus load of pupils on a ski trip Tania switches her allegiance to help Gail but unwittingly plays into Carrington's hand. Intertwining with Gail and Neil's growing love and the conflicts of school life, the problems deepen when John McKendrick arrives at school and attempts to abduct his daughter Penny. Gail and Neil intervene but Gail is wounded and, with Neil and Penny, abducted. Is Gail's successful life as a principal about to be cut short by her past? And what of her abduction? Is Neil's love enough to help the blemished jewel through these trying times? Smashwords Kindle iBookshop Nook Stretched HorizonsWhen Sunset Grove Primary's Headteacher, Bree Ashworth goes to help teacher Jenny Dench in her classroom she is attacked by an intruder. The attacker escapes and Bree is taken to hospital. Her husband Colin arrives and tells her he is leaving to move from London with his mistress Linda Rouke.
Bree has bookings to attend a reading conference in New Zealand over that country's summer vacation. With double tickets bought and Colin gone, she invites Jenny to come with her. In New Zealand the small commuter aeroplane they fly in crashes in thick bush country. The pilot is killed and Jenny and Bree try to survive by themselves. However, all is not lost, for a tramper in the bush, Ray Barnett and his dog, Pattie find them. Police in England tell Colin, Bree has been involved in an air crash and is missing. Colin abandons his partner and flies out to New Zealand but his intentions are not those one would expect from a worried husband... Smashwords Kindle iBookshop Nook |