Cirrus@Austlit

'This is a collection of Clancy’s short stories, bush poetry and anecdotes from a ‘Life on the run’. Many of the stories are based on true-life. So, get in, buckle up and hold on. This book will make you laugh and cry.'  (Publication summary)

'Another Australian history adventure novel by award-winning author Clancy Tucker. A story of bushrangers, bravery and betrayal. Pat Toomey’s violent father dies, leaving Pat, his mother and four sisters in the Port Phillip District of Australia during the 1850’s gold rush. Pat and best friend, Seamus, are offered a job by Irishman, Michael Macevoy; to transport supplies to miners in Ballarat. Less

'Another Australian history adventure novel by award-winning author Clancy Tucker. 

'Pat Toomey’s violent father dies, leaving Pat, his mother and four sisters in the Port Phillip District of Australia during the 1850’s gold rush. Pat and best friend, Seamus, are offered a job by Irishman, Michael Macevoy; to transport supplies to miners in Ballarat. They take the job, and Macevoy becomes a regular caller at the Toomey’s home. The boys meet many people who know their boss, and it intrigues them. They also save a Chinese family from a dangerous bushranger, Jack Lawrie, and meet another wanted bushranger, Martin Riley – Michael Macevoy’s best mate. 

'Jack Lawrie escapes and seeks revenge, surprising the boys one evening, but Martin Riley appears from the dark and seriously maims Lawrie. Whilst transporting Lawrie to Castlemaine, troopers appear, notice Riley, and a chase ensues. Shots are fired and Riley is injured, but Seamus mounts Riley’s horse and rides away. Lawrie and Pat are in custody, a trooper has been shot, and Riley is still free, but Michael Macevoy arrives and Pat is released. That night, Martin Riley dies. 

'The boys deliver a shattered Macevoy to Pat’s mother’s home, and they step up to run Macevoy’s Transport when Michael enters a period of deep depression. The boys work hard, employ staff, and expand the business to the Bendigo goldfields. Will Michael Macevoy overcome his depression? Why does Michael know so many people?' (Publication summary)

'When Severino Agnelli and his family migrate to Australia from Italy in 1954, his son, 'Fozzie', meets a beautiful girl, 'Cat' Ginelli, on the ship, and they become friends. The Agnelli and Ginelli families love Australia, work hard and forge friendships. Cat becomes a nurse and Fozzie a journalist, but tragedy strikes when Fozzie's brother is killed in the Vietnam War, and Fozzie spirals into depression when his dad dies. Cat pleads with him to write the book he's wanted to write - 'Bold Journey'. Fozzie flies to London, writes his book, and travels to Italy where he sees Cat interviewed on television, working as a nurse during a famine in Ethiopia. Inspired by Cat, Fozzie heads to Ethiopia to report on the famine, and his passionate reports are syndicated worldwide. Cat is unavailable, but Fozzie leaves a crucifix with her colleague; one Cat made for him in 1954. Returning to London to fight for the Ethiopians, he is hospitalised with meningitis, and Cat flies from Italy to keep a secret vigil by his bedside. Fozzie recovers, and Cat leaves London to get on with her life. Attending an International Awards ceremony, Fozzie is stunned to win an award for Humanitarian Journalism. Minutes later, Cat is awarded an honour for Exceptional Courage. Will Cat accept her award? Will she and Fozzie finally meet up? Who nominated them for their awards?.' (Publication summary)

'A story about kidnapping and team work.'

'Rida Khalid is a Muslim refugee from Iran. She is bullied by two girls at school for wearing a hijab (Muslim headscarf), reading books and wearing glasses, and seeks refuge in an old man’s garden after school. Rida meets an Asian girl at school, Ky, who also loves books, but Rida soon dumps her for a gawky girl, Carmen, who teaches her about fitting in. To be accepted, Rida removes her hijab at school, but she must wear her headscarf whilst competing in the inter-school sports. Her family will attend.

'Rida deliberately loses the first race because Carmen says, “Only nerds do well in sports”. The sports master berates Rida for losing the race and points to Ky who’s made an extraordinary effort to get out of hospital to watch her run. Ky is battling leukaemia. Rida wins the next two races and gives her winning ribbons to Ky for good luck.

'Rida enters the State Athletics Championships, but two athletics clubs lodge an objection to her hijab. Rida is shocked when a retired Queens Counsel (QC) represents her at the Equal Opportunity Commission. Who is he? Will Rida win the case? Will she run in the State Championships? Will Ky beat leukaemia, and who owns the garden that Rida has used as a sanctuary?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Fifteen-year-old Gunnedah 'Gunnie' Danson begins work at Wiralee Station, a cattle station owned by his family since 1848 and one made famous by his great-great-grandfather, Smokey 'Gun' Danson. Gunnie attends a clearing sale at Swenson Station where his great-great-grandmother, Molly, was born. He finds a journal she wrote in 1910 called 'A Drover's Blanket', discovers a mare that's directly related to Molly's original horse, Dusty, and meets Molly's brother, Artie Swenson. A foal, the old mare, the journal and a famous painting, 'The Wiralee Queen', is stolen and Gunnie is shattered. Jenni Danson, a relative of Smokey's best mate, Magic Billie, is missing in Queensland and Gunnie's uncle, Wirra, is diagnosed with a tumor. Nothing but bad luck has happened since Gunnie arrived at Wiralee and he spirals into depression. Will he stay at Wiralee Station? Will Wirra be okay? Will they find Jenni alive during the monsoon season?'

Source: Publisher's lburb.

'Maddie and Toby are fishing partners who live in a small mill town where people are dying from 'Mill Flu'. Keen to catch the biggest rainbow trout ever, Mister Rainbow, they disobey orders, fish in the 'Big Pool' and find a recluse living in a shack in the bush. Maddie falls into the big pool, almost drowns, but is saved by the recluse. Maddie becomes ill, but Toby continues to fish and finds people pumping toxic waste into the Rainbow River. He contacts the Environment Protection Authority and the local police, and investigations begin. Toby learns that the old recluse is Colonel Bolt, a former soldier who was highly-decorated during the Vietnam War, and an amazing artist who sketches pictures of his war memories. The colonel collapses near his shack, Toby finds him and arranges his transport to hospital. Finding two war medals in his shack, Toby e-mails the army and tells them of the colonel's plight. Will the army respond? Maddie and Toby enter one of Colonel Bolt's sketches in an art competition, selling Mister Rainbow's Magic Bait at a local market to earn the entry fee. Then, Toby goes missing and Maddie calls Colonel Bolt for help. Will they find Toby? Will the colonel win a prize in the art competition, and will they catch Mister Rainbow?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Danny Morandi lives in a large Australian country town and is bullied by a local farm boy, Kyle 'Mad Dog' Fletcher, because Danny has an artificial leg, wears glasses and wants a sheep dog. Inspired by videos about sheep dogs, Danny earns money by doing odd jobs, and his parents finally agree to him having a sheep dog. He purchases a female pup born with a deformed hind leg and names her Sheeza. Danny trains her to compete in the Wanganui Sheep Dog Trials and finally enters the prestigious contest. It rains during his presentation, Danny falls over and the bully's dog deliberately interrupts his trial, but Danny pushes on. Will he finish? Will he win?Sheeza is stolen and Danny is heartbroken. Months pass and he loses hope in finding his dog, but his best mate, Joey, remains positive. With the help of friends, Danny appears on talkback radio and later that night on a famous television show, 'Tonight Live'. His search for Sheeza has caught the attention of the entire nation. People call the station and recall seeing his dog. Then, a dog matching Sheeza's description is located outside a diner in Queensland, and the owner of the diner calls the station. Is it Sheeza? Will Danny find his dog?' (Publication summary)

'14-year-old Gunnie Danson spends the weekend at Wiralee Station, a cattle station that has been in the family since 1848. His late grandfather has left him a box containing a manuscript and a letter that is not to be opened until after Gunnie has read the entire story.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Boo is a seven-year-old Thai girl whose father is dying. She must leave home and travel 1700 kilometres to live in an orphanage, ‘Pa Joe’s Place’, run by a foreigner (farang). With a bag of clothes, some food and a mysterious envelope addressed to ‘Pa Joe’, she endures an adventurous train trip to Songkhla. On the way, she meets influential people who know Pa Joe, and a wise monk who gives Boo a lucky amulet.

'Boo settles into ‘Pa Joe’s Place’, makes friends and inspires Pa; an American Jesuit priest who has cared for Thai orphans for 50 years. She and her friends establish a successful jam-making business to make money for Pa and Boo meets Jack Ryan, an Australian farmer she admires. Shattered by the death of her father, Boo runs from Pa Joe’s Place but is soon found by Pa and the Chief of Police.

'Boo has survived four life-threatening situations since she left home: a train crash, snakebite, tsunami and a fire. Suddenly she takes ill and is rushed to hospital. Will her lucky amulet help her to survive?' (Publication summary)