Blundering Blokes (Looking for Sarah Jane Smith, Girls Like Funny Boys & To Dare A Future)

Book excerpt: A three-novel anthology that wallows in dark, twisted humour, sexual obsession and the latent violence of the male animal. Book 1: Looking For Sarah Jane Smith Marty's living in a Welsh town he hates, doing a job he's lost interest in and so bored he can't even be bothered with sex. But a new life beckons in Australia. It's also a chance to get away from his stupid mates, the loveable loser John and the ultra-macho Wasp Boy. Maybe he'll even meet an exquisite girl like his Doctor Who heroine, Sarah Jane Smith, and live happily ever after… Looking for Sarah Jane Smith – For anyone who suspects life's a bit rubbish. Part road trip and part celebration of idiotic male friendship, Looking for Sarah Jane Smith is sure to strike a chord with those who appreciate Withnail & I, Peep Show and Bill Hicks. '...if there's one thing that stands out about this, it's how bloody funny it is. I actually packed Looking for Sarah Jane Smith for a long-haul flight and such a page-turner did it prove to be that I finished it within a couple of hours.' - Living Abroad Magazine '...A bitter, crude, but funny book... These boys are not particularly likeable, but their story is raw, honest, unsophisticated and rooted in bittersweet reality.' - Post Newspapers 'An agreeably raucous novel that touches on Dr Who and men behaving badly. Its strong language and adult scenes make it the perfect Christmas gift for that impressionable nephew.' - The West Australian Book 2: Girls Like Funny Boys Part coming of age story, part exploration of the maddening nature of dreams, Girls Like Funny Boys is a potent mix of sexual obsession, guilt and fame. "Gina crouched, resting on her haunches to continue the conversation. Her legs were too far apart. There was a hole in her black tights just above the left knee. Johnny felt a hot urge to poke a finger in it. He wished she'd leave him alone. He wished she wasn't wearing tights. He stared at her lopsided mouth and the way her fat lower lip jutted out. It was so red it bordered on purple, the colour of strawberries on the turn." Meet Johnny Goodwin. He's grown up in a quiet Brisbane suburb with loving parents, a faithful dog and an unrequited yearning for his teenage sweetheart, Angie Everson. Now in his last year at school, he's finally caught her eye by starring in a teacher-baiting pantomime. Dreams are already taking shape of a career in entertainment, perhaps with Angie by his side. All he's got to do is pass his exams, get to uni and keep away from Gina Wood, that weird girl who once let him touch her… 'Girls Like Funny Boys wasn't what I expected - and that's simply not fair as Dave Franklin's not meant to be writing to a formula. But I really didn't expect to find this as engaging, involving and quite as emotional as I did. I loved Johnny, rode the waves of his life every step of the way. Most of all I just loved this book.' - Australian Crime Fiction Book 3: To Dare A Future A van driver with abduction and murder on his mind. An eleven-year-old girl snatched on her way home from ballet. A tortured reporter, happy to use her death and the terrifying reign of a child killer to help make his name… To Dare A Future – We all have black thoughts. It's just some of us act on them. 'Don't let the rather bland title put you off – this is an impressive read, spiced with ethical dilemmas as well as earthy dialogue and humour.' – Sunday Times