"... in a word: astonishing." - V. Scipione, US Literary Agent
"The writing is superb ... If there is any writer that Hoskins reminds me of it would be John Steinbeck. But instead of Northern California and the Salinas Valley, we get to explore Australia and New Zealand." - R. Simmons, Readers' Favorite
"... The result is a road tale that takes interpersonal connections and discoveries and elevates them to a new level of introspection and growth, making 'East - A Novel' highly recommended for readers who like their stories introspective as well as adventurous, and who look at the road trip experience as one example of growth-inducing decisions." - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
"At first I thought – oh hell, another one of “those books” where it just goes nowhere, but how wrong I was. This is a book that ended up even questioning my own life and where I was heading – how I could change the mundane into something a lot more exciting. As Vince discovers, dreams aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be." - Christine Frayling, New Zealand Booksellers' Association
"What an amazing capture of unadulterated raw humanity, in all its shades of light and darkness. I read it over a few days. Couldn't put it down ... Really, really enjoyed it." - Teresa Herleth
Lead a tidy life. Work hard. Pay taxes. Mow your lawn. Be a good citizen. Vince Osbourne has lived a tidy life for thirty years.
Time to hit the road.
In front of him is the vast continent of Australia, an uncertain future and an unresolved past.
As he drives across the huge changing landscapes of the country, Vince learns to appreciate its beauty, its dangers and most of all, its people.
Encounters with young lovers, old friends, beautiful women, Aboriginals, a desert-drifting fisherman and a battered ex-jockey all combine to create a colourful human tapestry. Vince learns from every one.
One man’s journey, without and within, taps into the spiritual realm binding us to our planet and to each other. 'East' is poignant, gritty, funny, sad and thoughtful, leaving the reader with greater insight and a yearning for adventure ...
