My newest book, The Naked Girl I Met In The Woods, is out in about a week’s time, and I have to say: I am in love with the cover image.
So that’s the cover, and the words are coming soon. Here’s a few more of them to keep you going:
And there she was. Sitting cross-legged on her coat on the ground, hidden from most angles by the bushes around her and with her back to a tree, with her wellington boots neatly placed beside her.
She was entirely naked without her wellies. I’d never seen her entirely naked.
Samuel sat directly in front of her, beside her sketchpad on the floor, and she rubbed his head as she talked to him.
“I should have known he’d find me,” she said, looking up at me with a smile.
I couldn’t get over how un-embarrassed she was. The first time I’d seen her she’d had her sketchpad on her knees and an arm over her breasts. Now she seemed uncaring about her nudity, and sitting cross-legged… I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman so exposed, not outside of Internet porn. (And Internet Porn isn’t something I really care for.)
“I… uh….” I was lost for words.
“I decided to come out after all,” she said, “I didn’t want to bother you with a message, though.”
She didn’t realise that a message from Alison was the one thing I’d wanted to happen all weekend.
“I… uh….” I was trying not to stare. It was impossible.
“Samuel’s been having fun, I see.” She held out her hand, streaked with grime and muddy from rubbing his head. He looked up at me as if he knew he’d done his job in finding her.
“What…. what are you drawing?” I asked, forcing myself to look at the sketchpad. Anything but stare at Alison’s body.
Kara Bryn 