REVIEW: Sunday Age

Posted on April 24, 2008

TWO FOR THE ROAD 

Amanda Hampson 

Viking, $32.95 Amanda Hampson’s first novel was the bestselling The Olive Sisters. This new novel is a similar tale of feminine sea change, but a little more downmarket in its subject matter. As a traumatised teen, Cassie fled seaside Bilkara. An assault on her father brings her back from London, just as her marriage falls apart. In a rather unlikely plot twist, she takes over the family tow-truck business. It owes back taxes and has cut-throat competition and a dodgy accountant. Nonetheless, she makes it work, not least by hiring women to drive the tow-trucks. Thus a book that seems snugly to fit into the cosier end of chick-lit does contain a message of empowerment. Nearly all the women in the story improve their lives, and not necessarily with a dream man. It reads at times as slightly too easy, or slick, but the ending is quite unusual. 

SUNDAY AGE

REVIEW: Geelong Advertiser

Posted on April 24, 2008

TWO FOR THE ROAD  By Amanda Hampson Penguin $32.95 

From the book: They made an odd procession heading out to the chapel. The black funeral limousine bearing Al’s polished timber casket took the lead. Cassie and Josie followed in the pink Cadillac with Kingi behind in his truck followed by the three other drivers in theirs: Eddie, Rod and Dean. It all felt surreal. 

We say: Cassie Munro has reason to complain. Her old man’s just died from injuries sustained in a tow-truck drivers’ war. She was away at the time, in London where she’d been living for years, breaking up with her cheating husband. Back home in small- town, northern NSW again, a past loaded with heartbreak and pain comes rushing back in a torrent. And with a determination to throw herself into the old man’s suffering towie business where life’s only going to get tougher. Good thing mighty Maori Kingi’s on hand. By turns, humorous and saddening, punishing, joyful and redemptive.   

GEELONG ADVERTISER

On the Road

Posted on April 22, 2008

Had an insane week promoting the new book. Managed to do 25+ interviews and 7 flights in one week. Felt that the feedback was very positive - it’s kinda stressful waiting to see what the reception will be for something you’ve spent three years working on but so far, so good. 

Anyway, the crazy week culminated in a trip to NZ to have a massive scripting session with the producer and director of The Olive Sisters ‘movie-to-be’ (Bonnie & Don Burgess, pictured above) we had a brilliant time and hopefully the work we put in has progressed the script to another level - only just finished writing the revisions today.

Have one more publicity commitment and then I’m taking myself off for an actual holiday - phew, I’m soooo ready for that!

Book Launch

Posted on April 3, 2008

After weeks of planning the launch of my new novel ‘Two for the Road’ finally came together with about 100 family and friends gathering for a great night of celebration at a tow truck yard. As a struggling author financing the event (contrary to popular belief publishers do not bankroll extravagant launches for anyone but the BIG authors) I had to be resourceful and as always am amazed at the generosity of my fellow human beans. De Bortoli sponsored the wine - which was brilliant! I approached the event management faculty at ICMS and asked for student volunteers and got a bumper crop. Here they all are in their ‘towie’ vests - their own idea, which was fabulous. They did a great job and we had a wonderful night all round. The book actually hits the bookshops on April 7th and I’m here, there and everywhere doing signings etc - details of which are on my Facebook page.

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