Conviction by Lesley Jones
For my dad.
Everything I am, you raised me to be.
I hope so very much I’ve made you proud of the person I’ve become.
So, where to start with the love for this one? This past year has been incredible, exciting, daunting and at times overwhelming. I’ve attended my first Australian and overseas signings, where I got to meet some of you crazy lot. This year I’m attending a total of seven signings, three here in Aus, two in the UK and one in both the US and Canada, where I look forward to meeting more of you.
So, let’s get on with the shout outs. I’ve got to start with my husband, my rock, who is at this very moment vacuuming the floors so I can get this written. You get the finished product while he deals with the tears, tantrums, insecurities and meltdowns required to bring you that bright and polished book. When my characters hurt, I hurt, when they’re miserable, I am too. Meaning my husband has no idea what he’ll be walking into on any given night. Regardless of which characters head I’ve been in all day, he’s there for me throughout it all, putting up with my shit, an untidy house and unwashed clothes.
To my boys, who now basically ignore the crazy lady that appears unwashed in their home occasionally and have pretty much learned to fend for themselves.
To Vix, my sister from another vagina. You’ve gone over and above anything I could ever ask from a friend I met online, over a love of books. It was an absolute pleasure to not only meet you in person last year in Edinburgh, but to share a room, a drink and the entire experience with you. Thank you for putting up with me.
To Jen Lynn my PA, our conversations make me realise that there is someone else in this world who shares a similar thought process as me… random and rarely professional, in fact, if it’s possible for a conversation to be illegal, then yeah, guilty as charged. On the rare occasions we are behaving, we make a great team and I wouldn’t have survived the last ten or so months without you, and I’m looking forward to enjoying a wine or three when I get out to Cali later this year.
To my admin team, Marian, Lynsey, Vix, Karen, Jen, Angie, Lisa, Sharee, Sian and Sam, I thank you. Your patience, wisdom and humour have kept me sane and grounded. It’s a pleasure to have you in my life and to call each and every one of you a friend. You run my groups with true professionalism and do it all because of your love of the words I write and, of course, because I’m your queen :)
To my Beta’s, Vix, Kaz, Lynsey, Bianca and Jeanette, thank you for your valuable time, input and all of your feedback.
To my street team, again, thank you for all the tags, pimps and mentions.
Thank you Kaylene for your editing services and Margreet for yet another amazing cover.
To the bloggers who work so tirelessly to get the word out there. As an independent author, my writing career would be non-existent without you.
I would like to give a special shout out to Kimmy and all of the admin and members of the Fictional Men’s Room For Book Ho’s page. You ladies have overwhelmed me with your support, and both enthralled and terrified me with your posts and comments.
Thank you, thank you, thank you… Mr. Ed Sheeran whose words and music inspired the words written in this book. You sir are a truly talented man.
Special thanks to my muse for Conner Reed, Jacey Elthalion. Staring at his face over the last six months for inspiration, has been an absolute pleasure. Added thanks to Sam Shemeld for introducing me to his gorgeousness. Luv ya guts girly.
That leaves me just to mention all of you, my readers. Your messages, passion and love for my words floors and leaves me humble. I started this journey writing to mentally escape a shitty time in my life, never did I imagine it would lead me to all of you. Saying thank you will never be enough of a way to express my gratitude.
This book has been written using UK English and contains euphemisms and slang words that form part of the Australian spoken word, which is the basis of this book’s writing style.
Please remember that the words are not misspelled, they are slang terms and form part of the every day, Australian/UK lifestyle. This book has been written using UK English.
If you would like further explanation, or to discuss the translation or meaning of a particular word, please do not hesitate to contact the author – contact details have been provided, for your convenience, at the end of this book.
I hope you enjoy a look into the Australian/UK way of life.
Bird - A female, woman.
Blown you out – Moved on. Dumped.
Crib – Dwelling or house.
Fag - A cigarette.
Minge -– Vagina.
Nobjockey - Homosexual male.
Numpty - A fool, idiot.
Old Bill -– Police.
Ponce - To beg or freeload.
Skint - Having no money, poor.
Toots - To smoke or inhale.
Weirdo - A person who is considered strange to other people, it’s a derogatory term.
Dedication
Acknowledgments
A Note for the Reader
Prologue – Conner
Prologue – Nina
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten