All I Want

By Shayne Parkinson

A short story.

In the wake of the Great War, a soldier and his bride turn a wasteland into a home. A tale of hope and sorrow; of loss and enduring love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shayne Parkinson
• Release date: Aug 19, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452346861

Shayne Parkinson

I write historical fiction set in New Zealand, starting in the 1880s and continuing through to the 1920s. I'm fascinated by social history, particularly that of my own country.I live in a state of barely-controlled chaos; fortunately I share my life with an invariably calm and endlessly optimistic husband. I divide my time between an apartment in the city, in reach of good espresso, and a few acres in the country, where the rank grass in the orchard is kept under control by a small mob of sheep (and where we have our own espresso machine).When I'm not writing, reading, or engaged in mundane activities, I play the piano rather badly.

Book preview

All I Want

Shayne Parkinson

Copyright © S. L. Parkinson 2010

Smashwords Edition

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All I Want

The air seems softer at this time of day, turned golden by the last sunlight. This modest patch of grass just behind the house is the highest point on our land; although that’s making no great claim, given how low the rest of the property is. I called this the Pinnacle when I was in a giddy mood one day long ago, and the name stuck, as such things do.

If I were to stand, I’d see the whole farm spread below me, a neat patchwork of paddocks wound through with the dark ribbon of the creek. I might even see a motor-car in the distance, for there are motorists intrepid enough to venture along the coast road these days, now that it’s no longer a rutted track barely fit for carts. But in this moment I’m content to sit, Tom at my side, the sea a thread of blue on the edge of the world. From here I can see a posy of white flowers, scattered petals making a halo around it, in the sheltered corner that’s never without some such adornment.

We found our way up here the very first day we walked the property. That was in 1919, just after Tom got back from

Reviews for All I Want

[mrsrogerq · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good, clean book. Easy, quick read (short story). Emotional book. Story about a couple brought together after the Great War and trying to make a life and family on their farm. I will definitely read more Shayne Parkinson books.

[countrylife_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a bittersweet story about a couple in New Zealand after the Great War, trying to make their farm and start their family. In such a short story, the author managed to bring their little corner of the land to life, and to weld your sympathies with her main character. I really liked this story and look forward to reading more from Shayne Parkinson.