Jeff on YouTube

Reading from the opening of Pica – a novel exploring environmental issues, with themes of friendship and family life. Set in the modern world, Pica, is a fantasy about the ancient magical secrets of nature.

(Click on the pictures to watch the videos)

PICA: reading 1

Luke meets a strange boy called Guy, who is bullied at school for being… different. Luke decides to give him a chance and is shown many wondrous things in the natural world. Meanwhile a magpie (Latin name: Pica pica) keeps appearing and is even tapping on his window

PICA: Reading 2

I have also done a reading from my novel, Myopia – following Jerry who puts an original plan of action into place when he is bullied at school. It’s a timely tale of how to stand up to racism #BlackLivesMatter

Myopia

If all that is a bit too serious then my YouTube channel also includes readings of silly poems and stories for kids of all ages. Try this one: The Mad House…

The Mad House

Thanks for watching.

My YouTube channel can be found here.

The Many Faces of Jeff Gardiner

I enjoy performing a variety of roles in my other life as an actor. I’ve been lucky enough to work as a supporting artist for TV and film; perform in scare mazes and at other public events. Here are some of the images of me over the last few years:

A man in uniform.

Not so sure about this wig for ‘The Royals’:

This moustache was seen on ‘Downton Abbey’.

As a Beefeater on ‘The Crown’ – episode 1

 

Not for the faint-hearted. A selection of characters from scare mazes and street theatre from Tulleys Shocktober Festival.

Just so you don’t have nightmares . . .  I was Santa in Jersey at the Narnia Experience.

Take care and keep smiling. . .

GAIA TRILOGY: the Ancient Secrets of Nature Revealed

The Gaia trilogy, beginning with PICA, is a fantasy series that explores environmental issues in a modern world.

Luke uncovers ancient magic and some of Nature’s lost secrets in an exciting race to save Mother Earth from environmental disaster. But can one person save the planet alone?

Shape-shifting adventure as Luke’s mission becomes more complex and his fame goes global. He meets a group of others who also have a close affinity with Nature.

Can Luke live up to his unwanted reputation as the new messiah? Will it all go to his head?  Can he find Gaia before she gasps her final breath?

Reviews for The Gaia trilogy:

“The strong ecological theme is very pertinent in this time of global warming. I highly recommend this talented writer.”

 “Superbly written – intended for young adults, thoroughly enjoyed by older ones too!”

“It truly stretched my imagination. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. An excellent fantasy story for teenagers to adults of any age.”

“This imaginative story continues brilliantly and beautifully with unexpected twists and turns. It was a joy to read.”

 

THE GIRL WHO CRIED WOLF by BELLA JAMES

A wonderful read. Bella James has created a very realistic protagonist in Anna – she’s a complicated and yet sympathetic character. She faces huge challenges and has a few personal issues to deal with. Great use of dialogue to create tension and depth of character. The novel contains a few surprises and goes in directions you might not expect – and that’s a good thing. The themes are handled sensitively and overall the novel is uplifting. ‘The Girl Who Cried Wolf’ examines what it means to be alive, and as one character says: “The road is more difficult for some, but that does not make it less extraordinary or beautiful or worthwhile’.

Buy it on Amazon UK

 

Blog Winner

I was recently voted in the top 20 story blogs.

Thanks for Feedspot.com – here is the link to their top 20.

http://blog.feedspot.com/short_story_blogs/

FALCO is now out

“Ancient powers are stirring”.

Luke discovers a new identity and realises that only he can stop humanity from destroying our beautiful planet. But what can one teenager do? Is one person able to change the attitudes of billions of people? How will he influence governments and corporations to change their ways? If only he had the ancient magic of Nature at his fingertips. And Gaia is finally awakening…

Buy FALCO from Amazon

JEFF READS FROM MYOPIA

Click on the image below to see me read the opening few pages of MYOPIA, my novel about bullying in schools.

 

Click on cover image to buy

FALCO NOW AVAILABLE ON PRE-ORDER

FALCO is the sequel to PICA, further exploring the ancient magic of nature in a contemporary setting.

Click on the image above to take you to Amazon UK

or here for Amazon US

Here’s the blurb:

Ancient powers are stirring.

As Luke continues to develop his skills as Felis, he finds himself hunting, surviving and using feline instincts, as well as fine-tuning his powers over nature, becoming more powerful than he’d ever dreamed.

However, Luke’s parents find him tearing away and struggle to understand how their son is changing so much – not realising the true extent of it. When a new transformation forces him to leave, he flies across the world and learns how to survive, meeting others who share his powers which opens up a new world to Luke, one he must learn to co-exist alongside.

FALCO: cover reveal

FALCO is the second book in my ‘Gaia’ fantasy series, exploring the magic of the natural world. It is due out in November from Accent Press.

Here is the cover:

 

More info soon…

Igboland – “A great book that was hard to stop reading.”

A lovely new review has just appeared for ‘Igboland’ on NetGalley: 

“Set in 1960’s civil war era Nigeria, this book tells the story of Clem a Methodist Missionary and his wife Lydia who settle in Biafra/Igboland to work with the local populous and churches, clinics and schools. The story is told from Lydia’s point of view and grips from the very start with such attention to the smallest details whilst opening your eyes to the cultural, religious and political differences that they are challenged with.

“Set over a few years it shows the strain that a missionary’s wife has as someone without a ‘role’, ie she is not the missionary, but his wife and the search for self-recognition and finding her own identity. However, war, love, the local villagers and illness all drive wedges between the couple and the pressure on their relationship is huge.

“The story is very well written and you are there with them as they face West Africa together and come to terms with their lifestyle adjustments. The author has created something very special here that really gave me cause to want more of this style of writing that’s alive and thoroughly researched.

“A great book that was hard to stop reading!”

Click here to purchase