Out Now! Tiny Moments of Joy: #Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand
Hello lovely people,
Today's the launch day for Tiny Moments of Joy and we couldn't be happier to share the news with you.
You can get your copy here:
https://www.swashbucklerpress.com/tiny-moments-of-joy
It's available in print worldwide from our small publishing company, Swashbuckler Press* - with a special version for Kiwis and Australians.
You can also get it in ebook form in all stores (Follow the above link for all details)
Spoil yourself or gift someone you love with a little slice of Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Inside, you'll find 240 of the best market day moments from 2024/25, selected for how much our readers enjoyed them.
You'll also find a glossary at the back of common Kiwi terms and days just in case you're not familiar.
Huge, huge thanks for all your valuable support and positivity this year.
Sending a very big and maybe a bit emotional smile from the living room of a little wooden cottage in Aotearoa New Zealand.
xxx George
(Continued below)
#Bookstodon #books
Who wouldn't want a guide to the "Best Worst City on the Globe!"? Impress your friends and torment your enemies with intrepid feats of armchair travel!
All subscribers to our magnificent newsletter will receive their very own ebook copy of A Tourist's Guide to OverLondon, written in imaginary collaboration with the OverLondon Guild of Rat Catchers.
It's got pictures and diagrams and everything! If you like #terrypratchett #sff #montypython or just plain oddness, this may be for you!
(And if it's not your cup of tea, that's perfectly fine! You can always have a cuppa and ruminate on the daftness of authors making things that aren't their actual books for sale because they decided to procrastinate for an entire week last month. Why? No one knows!)
https://www.overlondon.net/visitors-guide
Hello There! Welcome. 
I'm George Penney, a #sff #comedy #fantasy #mystery author who writes with my lovely partner, Tony Johnson (AKA the Kraken). I also sometimes write snort laugh #books under the name Evie Snow, which are in the process of being republished. I have a couple of podcasts too.
I'm a cultural omnivore and am interested in a ridiculously wide range of topics from #history to #art to #music #science #travel #plants #animals #cats and I love anything #weird and wonderful.
Until recently, I house sat globally full-time so people who've followed me for a bit would have seen me around recording the various sagas of my (mainly) feline overlords.
Lately I have settled in a delightful small city in Aotearoa New Zealand and I frequently share bits and pieces from my wanderings out and about.
I love meeting new people, so feel free to say hi!😊
I might take a little bit to reply because I'm usually a bit behind on a writing deadline but I do my best to get back to everyone.
#Spotted at the Beach on New Year's Day in Aotearoa New Zealand:
An entire huge family rushes en masse into a choppy sea. Shrieking, laughing, splashing, roaring. Half of them running straight back out again. Grins and goose bumps as they head for a big pile of towels and toys on the sand.
A man (20s?) has one hand wrapped around his partner's waist while he holds a metal detector in the other hand. Snuggling as they slowly walk down the beach, scanning for buried treasure.
A tiny human (1?) is being flipped upside down by his chuckling Mum. Mum's roaring, "Look at those little abs! I'M GONNA TICKLE 'EM!" While Tiny Human gurgles with laughter. Tickling is imminent!
Two men (teens?) are sitting side-by-side at a picnic table watching the surf. Boards on the grass nearby next to peeled off wetsuits. Bowls of cereal in front of them. It might be dinner time but they can have Coco Pops if they want to. The vibe is chill.
A weka* has spotted a MAGNIFICENT TREASURE! A picnic blanket unguarded! It's a bit ungainly, but this bird's determined to tug it back to its under-scrub lair, where there's already a snaffled cushion.
Maybe... just maybe... picnic blankets are edible. (Or at least cosy?)
Any typos spotted in this post are very relaxed apostrophes who had a delightful Christmas and New Year, punctuating all over the place. If typos spotted, please maybe politely enquire what they're planning on doing with the picnic blanket once they get it home.
(Continued below)
#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A small human (4?) is AGHAST.
Dad has called a dinosaur the WRONG NAME.
A stern dressing down and a detailed description of triceratops anatomy is being given.
Dad taking being schooled with a satisfying amount of humility.
A woman (60s?) in a cheerful floral dress is leaning towards her friend, telling her of the most wonderful discovery. She's been sorting her recently deceased Grandma's home and has found love letters!
From a strange man!
From the 1950s!
Laughter and new-old gossip over a big pot of tea.
A sturdy man (40s?) wearing moko kanohi* and a pink polo shirt is driving along in a lovingly restored vintage Holden ute*, windows down, cheerfully roaring along to a gospel song while a teen (14?) is sitting in the passenger seat covering her face and laughing.
Dad in his element.
A spritely man (60s?) trots out of a small gallery and inspects the front windows with his hands behind his back, his expression thoughtful.
He checks the water levels in the hanging baskets of flowering plants by the door and nods.
Everything's in order.
Satisfied, he heads back inside.
A small human (4?) marches up to the counter at a cafe, looks up at the owner and says with great importance: "I would like a fluffy please."
Cafe Owner takes this order down saying: "Chocolate sprinkles?"
"Yes please."
"Good manners."
"Thank you very much."
Mum in the background, grinning.
(Continued Below)
Out Now! Tiny Moments of Joy: #Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand
Hello lovely people,
Today's the launch day for Tiny Moments of Joy and we couldn't be happier to share the news with you.
You can get your copy here:
https://www.swashbucklerpress.com/tiny-moments-of-joy
It's available in print worldwide from our small publishing company, Swashbuckler Press* - with a special version for Kiwis and Australians.
You can also get it in ebook form in all stores (Follow the above link for all details)
Spoil yourself or gift someone you love with a little slice of Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Inside, you'll find 240 of the best market day moments from 2024/25, selected for how much our readers enjoyed them.
You'll also find a glossary at the back of common Kiwi terms and days just in case you're not familiar.
Huge, huge thanks for all your valuable support and positivity this year.
Sending a very big and maybe a bit emotional smile from the living room of a little wooden cottage in Aotearoa New Zealand.
xxx George
(Continued below)
#Bookstodon #books
#Spotted On a Mini Road Trip in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A jersey cow and a sturdy black pony are nestled up next to each other in a paddock in a picturesque valley. Pony's eyes are closed and he's snoozing. Jersey Cow sedately giving Pony's coat a good grooming. Firm friends enjoying a sunny day.
A Kiwi man (20s?) and a German woman (20s?) have sparked up an animated conversation while waiting for coffee in a tiny country cafe. He optimistically says: "Hey, d'ya wanna drink your coffee with me under that nice tree over there? It's really pretty eh."
She says yes.
A sheepdog is a streak of black and white as she belts across a paddock, headed for a flock of sheep. She's on a mission! Nothing can stop her...
Except the two puppies hot on her heels, goofing off, stopping to playfight, chasing their own tails. Tumbling over each other with daft doggy grins.
A woman (40s?) walks out of a small real estate office in a sleepy town, holding a porcelain bowl of steaming hot food and a glass of water. She crosses a road, cheerfully greeting friends, and takes up a seat in a little park. Soaking up the winter sunshine, eating her lunch.
A woman (60s?) has the entirety of a small country town skate park to herself. She's decked out in cargo shorts, a hoodie and sparkly blue sneakers. Her skate board is battered and well loved. Zooming along, her long silver hair streaming behind her, a faint smile on her face.
(Continued Below)
If anyone needs something to take their blood pressure down just a little bit. I am currently chilling out while working to this set by a wonderful, but oh so serious German DJ. I love this guy's stuff. Old school and SO good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH4_e4uM9mI
#music
#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A warmly dressed couple (30s?) are sitting at an outdoor cafe table snuggled up under a bright red blanket on a sunny winter's day. Writing in worn looking notebooks. Heavy looking backpacks resting at their feet. The vibe is cosy chill.
A man (40s?) reaches the front of a queue for coffee at a cafe and notices that there aren't any cakes left! (Oh no!) The server sees his disappointment and gives him an apologetic look. "No cake left! Everyone swarmed in before ten and caked up!"
A woman (70s?) and a small human (4?) are undertaking a TOP SECRET MISSION.
They're huddled together over a cafe table while Gran shows Small Human how to make a spy kit! (Ohhh ahh.)
Small Human is vibrating with glee.
He's going to be the BEST. SPY. EVER.
A tiny human (2?) is rolling along in her pram. She's had a big day and looks like she's feeling a bit emotional but it's okay. She's got her plushie horse to munch on. Plushie Horse makes everything better.
A bewitching woman (60s?) wearing a sequinned turquoise bomber jacket has just spotted her granddaughter.
Arms outstretched, she roars: "Come to Nanny!" Only to scoop up a tiny human (2?) dressed as a fairy moments later.
Two fae creatures having a cuddle.
Any typos spotted in this post are on a top secret mission to tyypo as much as posssible. If sputted, please confuscate their super sekrit spy kit and maybe save some caaake for them. They love caaake.
#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A tubby corgi has decided that while his human is keen to go for a walk, he's having none of it. Steadfastly refusing to move off of the porch, his bottom is firmly planted.
His laughing human tugging his leash, calling him a stubborn sausage.
A stern looking woman (50s?) is striding down the street. She's wearing a severe business suit.
Her hair is in a tight bun.
She has a sensible handbag.
She has... hot pink Converse sneakers.
Hmm... Maybe not so stern after all?
A sneaky splash of fun.
A man (70s?) has waded out into the sea on a sunny winter's day.
His expression is determined. He looks ahead of him.
He raises his hands as if he's about to dive in...
And no... no... no... not today.
He pauses mid action, thinks twice and wades back to shore, ruefully chuckling to himself.
Two teens (14 & 16?) are playing a game of basketball in their driveway. This is a one-on-one game and it's getting heated.
BUT WAIT! What's this?!
A third player enters the scene!
Dad runs in, grabs the ball and SLAM DUNKS.
And now it's a wrestling match!
WHO WILL WIN?!
A woman (80s?) is having a little trouble with her grocery bags as she leaves a supermarket. A nearby teen (14?) hurries up and deftly catches one of the bags as it falls to the ground. A carton of eggs is saved! A tiny victory.
(Continued below)
As always with pop culture stuff, I'm years late to the party BUT.
A lovely metalhead friend of mine, living in Botswana and totally plugged into their massive metal scene, sent me this tonight. Such a wonderful documentary. (I can't believe I didn't know about it until now!)
Even if metal isn't your genre, I'd suggest a watch. It's an absolute love letter to the hope music can bring. And just happens to feature a bunch of really kickass bands.
The festival they're kicking off in this doco is still apparently running, which makes it even better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ4fVHCEYDo
#metal #music
#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A man (40s?) greets a woman (20s?) and says: "You're looking so chill and happy. So good to see!"
She gives him a radiant smile: "I've been spending time with my dawg today. She's like furry therapy."
A small human (5?) has just realised that his shoelace is undone (oh no!)
But never fear! He knows how to tie shoelaces!
He sits on a curb and very carefully sings a song with all the steps to tying a bow for Nana as she does the work.
A couple (30s?) are sharing a hotdog. One bite for him, one bite for her. Grinning as they sit on a bench people watching. Four optimistic seagulls nonchalantly wandering by, just in case there're any left overs for them. (You never know.)
A man (50s?) is striding along on a winter's day. He's got places to go and things to do.
But wait! What's this?
A cherry tree in blossom?
He skids to a halt, changes mental gears and--hands clasped behind his back--pauses to admire it.
Some things must be appreciated.
Two women are walking home late in the evening. One is huddled from the cold, the other takes off her coat and drapes it over her shoulders. They briefly touch their foreheads together and keep walking. A tiny moment of warmth.
Any typos spotted in this post definitely know how to tie up their shoelaces, they just might need their Nana to do the actual work. If spotted please admire the magnificent blossoms on the trees around them and maybe offer them your coat if they're chilly.
#Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A small human (4?) is waiting for a cheese toastie to be made while roaring what can only be an ancient summoning spell.
It goes: "Melted CHEEEESE! Melted CHEEESE. CHEEESE! In. My. TUMMMYYY! CHEESE!"
A toastie appears.
Her work here is done.
A couple (70s?) are inspecting bread rolls at a bakery truck.
As they're talking, one slides her freezing hand under her partner's jumper, pressing it into the small of his back.
He yelps and gives her a scowl: "You're lucky I love ya."
She grins.
A small human (3?) is helping Dad buy vegetables.
He brandishes a toy Batmobile and says with absolute gravity: "Dad. My Batmobile can help. It can't fly but it does other things."
Dad is impressed and accepts his offer.
(It turns out Batmobiles know a thing or two about choosing carrots.)
A family walk by a cheese stall with some stinky cheese on sale.
Dad wrinkles his nose and says: "Whoa. Pongs a bit here, doesn't it?"
Young Human (8?) says with absolute authority: "Oh, I know that smell! Someone's eaten an avocado and they DEFINITELY farted."
Mum bursts out laughing.
A young human (10?) has just seen his French teacher in the wild. (Oh no!) Now she's greeting him in French. And now she's talking to Mum! And they're now laughing! What is happening here?! Teachers aren't meant to live outside school! How did she escape?! Is this even allowed?!
(Continued Below)
George Penney