COMP CLOSED | Book Giveaway | Pocket Money & Other Stories

A delightful collection of short stories from New Zealand writer Vivienne Lingard that are irreverent, surprising and touching.

An academic and his wife are on holiday in Rome. He has a secret to reveal, but as he has yet to discover, so does his wife. A retired New Zealand businessman, lost in the middle of New Delhi, is dealing with crippling anxiety. A jilted bride takes her honeymoon alone and finds peace through meeting a giant owl.

Every story takes the reader on a journey as these richly painted characters solve mysteries, betray friends, battle bullies, all the while finding resilience and purpose in their lives. Spanning countries, cultures and characters, this delightful collection of stories is irreverent, surprising, and touching.

‘A good short story aims for the heart. It appeals to the senses. It keeps us guessing. It brings lives into sharp focus, and threads of a reader’s own life will often echo through the paragraphs. That is not an easy accomplishment. Having the commitment to produce a collection of stories that shine a light on human character is an accomplishment worth celebrating. Pocket Money & Other Stories is such a collection – a microcosm of everyday life, and the ‘sting in the tail’ of so many of the stories is that they will resonate strongly with many readers. We will all find ‘someone we know’ between the covers of this book – and like “peas on a fork,” there will be some lines, some stories that linger long after the reading is done.’ –– Adrienne Rewi, Writer, Christchurch

‘Pocket Money & Other Stories by Vivienne Lingard is a collection of stories in which a variety of characters face individual challenges. Their experiences are rendered freshly, in sharp detail, and with surprises. Human frailty and resilience are on display in stories that can be both amusing and moving.’ –– B. Coley, writer, Melbourne.

About the Author

Vivienne Lingard has written the fictional memoir The (almost) True story of a Man called Jack. A new adult novel, Mrs Forsythe, is due for release in the future. Pocket Money & Other Stories is her first collection of short stories.

Vivienne entered University at 50, first gaining a BEd (Massey University), followed by a Cambridge Certificate in ESOL (International House, Barcelona), a Masters in Creative Writing (University of Auckland), and a NZSA mentorship with Stephen Stratford. In 2016, she was accepted for a short story masterclass with Tom Jenks, author and editor, in San Francisco. Vivienne lives in Auckland.

Terms and conditions

1. 1. You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
   2. Competition closes on the 14th June 2022, winners will be notified via email by 16th June 2022.
   3. As a competition winner, you must confirm you have received our email notifying you of the win within three days. If we have not heard from you in three days the prize will be redrawn, and your prize will be forfeit.
   4. Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
   5. GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
   6. By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
   7. One entry per person.
   8. Prize in non transferrable.
   9. You must reside in New Zealand – the prize will only be posted within New Zealand.
   10. You must be over 50 years of age to enter, check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.