Blog Tour: Extract from The Frog Theory by Fiona Mordaunt

Today I am pleased to be saying hello to author, Fiona Mordaunt and the blog tour for her novella, The Frog Theory which was released by Clink Street Publishing on 14th February 2017.

Tragedy and comedy in perfect proportion.

Kim and Flow are the best of friends, living on a council estate, making money selling drugs.

Just around the corner in a smarter part of Fulham is Clea, a well-heeled young woman coping with a violent home life at the hands of her twisted step-father.

The Principal runs a famous college for problem teens. Fostering guilty secrets which distance her from her own children, she resists the advances of a man she sees on the train every day.

When Kim and Clea meet by chance, Kim is smitten but worried about her. Using the anecdote of the frog theory – that it will jump straight out of boiling water and live, but stay in and die if heated slowly from cold – he wakes her up to the dangerous situation she’s in at home.

Serendipity and a cake-fuelled food fight that goes viral will bring Kim, Clea, Flow and The Principal together in weird and wonderful ways in this frenetic, laugh-out-loud story about love, conscience and lion-hearted nerve.

I have reviewed the book below but first, thanks to Fiona and Clink Street Publishing, I have an extract to share with you. Enjoy.

 Smart Shoes – Kim meets the principal for the first time.

Kim was used to teachers and probation officers trying to make an effort, trying to understand him, gently coaxing; this was new. ‘What kind of fucking teacher are you? You don’t know anything!’ he accused. It had taken a lot for him to come there and try for once in his life. ‘Sitting behind there in your smart suit with your smart nails and your smart hair and, and…’ he searched for something else to say.

‘My smart shoes?’ she suggested with a raised eye-brow.

Kim shifted awkwardly.

‘I couldn’t see your shoes.’

From the waist down she was concealed by a large, low-skirted desk. Strewn across it were some letters showing her home address, he memorised it, might come in useful. ‘I’m sure they’re smart, though,’ he added politely as an afterthought, wishing to appear respectful after a less than perfect beginning.

‘Sit down and tell me your name,’ said the principal.

He did as he was told.

Kim Carter. She tapped it into her computer, a computer with a difference. It had a link up with the police and social services; it had been just one of the many things she’d relentlessly slashed through red tape for. She could find out anything about anybody who was or had been in trouble – that way she could see the full picture straight away and be more effective at helping.

She pulled Kim’s files. Poor attendance at school and lots of trouble with the police for petty crimes, some more serious, including stealing a red London bus with a youth called Frank Young.

My verdict on The Frog Theory:

Kim and Flow have been friends forever. Hanging out, selling drugs and being with girls has been their life but they decide that they both want more out of life.

Clea is smart and pretty. However, her step dad is abusive and her mother has decided to ignore what goes on in the house so, after a windfall, Clea decides to run away and start a new life.

The principal is divorced and is not happy with how her life has progressed.

The Frog Theory is told from the point of view of these four people. They are all different and yet they all are looking for the same thing – to be happy in life.

I didn’t know what to expect when I first started to read this novella. To begin with , the style of it, the language and the characters were a little awkward for me to get my head around. They were so different to any characters I had ever begun to get to know. The more I read, the more I wanted to know about them and where they would end up.
Yes, it does feel strange to read to begin with but stick with it.

At the point where they all meet, Clea, Kim and Flow have the potential to change each other’s lives. They are all strong influences on each other. All three are fighting their own internal battles. All have varying childhood and family issues to contend with, some of which will be familiar with many people reading. The backgrounds of some of these characters are quite tragic.

The Frog Theory mentioned in the book is an insightful one and I found it a very interesting concept.

I really did care about all these characters by the end. It’s almost a shame that it wasn’t a full length novel as I would have liked to have seen more of each character. The principal has a story all on her own and you don’t get to see as much of her as I would like.

This novella is very unique, funny and is very much worth a read. It’s unusual but in a good way. It’s very much left an impression on me. It’s a book I may not have independently read so I am glad the blog has brought it to my attention. I’m planning on reading more from Fiona.

About Fiona:

After attending school for model-making, Mordaunt started Image Casting in 1998, specialising in customised body castings. Over the course of 13 years, she worked on such films as Atonement and The Wildest Dream, as well as for personal clients like Lionel Richie. In 2012, she relocated to Botswana with her husband and daughter where she currently resides.

Check out Fiona’s website: http://www.fionamordaunt.com/

Purchase The Frog Theory from Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Frog-Theory-Fiona-Mordaunt-ebook/dp/B01N6J03NQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1485387163&sr=1-1&keywords=frog+theory

Purchase from Barnes & Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-frog-theory-fiona-mordaunt/1125370715?ean=9781911525196

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.