Verity Croker Verity Croker i(A16209 works by)
Born: Established: 1956 ;
Gender: Female
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Works By

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1 y separately published work icon Ticking-clock Quicksand Verity Croker , Auckland : Sunshine Books , 2024 29163119 2024 single work children's fiction children's

'Bud the dog is sinking into quicksand at the beach and his owners gather all their friends together in a race against the clock to try and save him.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon Go, Eve, Go! Verity Croker , Auckland : Sunshine Books , 2024 29163004 2024 single work children's fiction children's

'Eve is one of the best swimmers in her school, but at the annual district schools swimming competition, things don’t go her way. She doesn’t win any of the individual race medals. But in the relay she finally triumphs with her three friends.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon Brave Battle Friends Verity Croker , Auckland : Sunshine Books , 2024 29162835 2024 single work information book children's

'Brave animals have helped people in wars throughout history. The book looks at four animals’ stories – a packhorse called Bill, a clever Pointer dog, a bomb-sniffing German Shepherd dog and a little grey kitten who is smuggled onto a battleship.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon Alba Alba : Hidden Secrets Verity Croker , Australia : Verity Croker , 2024 29119854 2024 single work novel young adult

'Sixteen-year-old Rebecca is consumed by grief after the sudden, tragic death of her boyfriend, Alastair. Her pain is exacerbated by the fact that their relationship was a secret, a love story hidden from the world. Now, as she mourns in silence, she feels trapped, torn between the anguish of losing him and the guilt of revealing their bond.

'Calum, Alastair's brother, remains unaware of their relationship. As Rebecca grows closer to Calum, their friendship takes an unexpected turn when they stumble upon a mysterious suitcase in an abandoned ice house in the remote northern Scottish village of Cromarty. They also find a 19th-century diary written in code by a girl named Martha, also sixteen, whose secrets echo Rebecca’s hidden grief.

'As Rebecca and Calum work together to decode the diary and uncover the truth behind Martha’s life, their bond strengthens. But with each revelation, Rebecca is forced to confront her own secrets and the emotional burden she has been carrying since Alastair’s death. The discovery tests their growing relationship, as Rebecca struggles with the question: Is it better to keep our deepest secrets hidden, or should we reveal them and let others help carry the weight of our grief?

'"ALBA" explores the delicate balance between love and loss, secrecy and truth, and the healing power of sharing one’s heart with those willing to listen.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 The Letterbox Verity Croker , 2022 single work short story
— Appears in: Corrosion 2022;
1 y separately published work icon Moving House Verity Croker , Auckland : Sunshine Books , 2021 29163231 2021 single work children's fiction children's

'Benji's family is moving house, downsizing to an apartment. Benji and his dog Doris aren't so sure they're happy about the idea. But Benji's friends help with the move, making it fun, and it seems he and Doris will soon get used to their new home.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon Hot Pot Verity Croker , Australia : Verity Croker , 2019 29119743 2019 single work novel

'Lara, an English language teacher, finds her world turned upside-down when she falls in love with one of her adult Brazilian students. As her feelings deepen, she realises her long-term relationship with partner Alex is drifting apart.

'Yearning for the space and time to delve into her true desires and uncover her authentic self, in a daring move Lara seizes the chance to embark on a transformative six-month teaching job in China. Meanwhile, Alex grapples with conflicting emotions when their mutual friend Sondra makes a tempting play for his attentions. Although Alex feels a strong attraction to Sondra, his loyalty to Lara holds him back. To determine the future of their relationship, Alex takes a leap of faith and joins Lara in China for a four-week holiday. Together, they embark on an unforgettable journey, immersing themselves in the rich cultural experiences and awe-inspiring sights that China has to offer.

'As Lara and Alex navigate the complexities of their evolving relationship, an unexpected element has the potential to either strengthen their connection, or shatter it completely.

'Hot Pot is a captivating tale of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of relationships, which questions the boundaries of loyalty and desire.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon Jilda's Ark Verity Croker , United States of America (USA) : Harmony Ink Press , 2018 15265265 2018 single work novel young adult

'What was supposed to be a sixteenth birthday celebration cruise for identical twins Jilda and Rosa quickly turns into a nightmare. While her mother and sister are enjoying an excursion on a Fijian island, Jilda, who is unwell and remains onboard, finds their ship has sailed off, leaving most of its passengers stranded on shore.

'An unknown group has overtaken the ship. After a few days, they collect thousands of new passengers from a distant archipelago, making conditions onboard overcrowded and uncomfortable. Nobody seems to know where they are headed, so the mood on the ship rapidly deteriorates. Though Jilda is desperate to reunite with her family, she meets someone who comforts her and will completely change her world. But how will her new friend Jade feel when she learns Jilda has a boyfriend back home?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 Grasskiller Verity Croker , 2015 single work short story
— Appears in: Forty South Short Story Anthology 2015 : The 10 Best Stories from the Tasmanian Writers' Prize 2015 2015;
1 y separately published work icon May Day Mine Verity Croker , United States of America (USA) : Harmony Ink Press , 2015 9053688 2015 single work novel young adult

'Life in a small mining town can be like living in a fishbowl, where everyone knows everybody else's business. Fifteen-year-old Jodi's mother wants her father to quit his binge drinking and his dangerous job at the mine-even more so after a collapse leaves two miners dead and three trapped deep underground.

'As tensions escalate both at home and around the town, Jodi seeks comfort with her friends but soon faces a double betrayal. Meanwhile, her ten-year-old brother Jake reacts by joining a gang of schoolyard bullies who engage in increasingly dangerous antics.

'As Jodi struggles to gain autonomy over her life, she begins to discover the person she really is. But with everything around her spiraling out of control, it may not be the right time to let her family, friends, and ultimately the whole town know–no matter how much she wants to.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 y separately published work icon Block City Verity Croker , Auckland : Sunshine Books , 2001 29163206 2001 single work children's fiction children's
1 y separately published work icon Cyclone Christmas Verity Croker , Auckland : Wendy Pye , 2000 Z1731680 2000 single work children's fiction children's

'Kirsten lives in Darwin, Australia and Cyclone Tracy is coming. Will things ever be the same again?' (Publication summary)

1 She i "Slipping in close beside me", Verity Croker , 1995 single work poetry
— Appears in: Verandah , vol. 10 no. 1995; (p. 24)
1 A Brown Paper Bag i "An entire life-time", Verity Croker , 1995 single work poetry
— Appears in: Gathering Force , Spring no. 4 1995; (p. 36)
1 Borroloola i "Six hours to the highway and then some-", Verity Croker , 1995 single work poetry
— Appears in: Northern Perspective , Wet Season vol. 18 no. 2 1995; (p. 24)
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