A new collection of short stories & bush poems
Tell Me
a Story
A chocolate box of entertaining short stories — an eclectic mix of off-beat, imaginative, amusing and inspiring tales about nature, love, travel, corruption and the occasional murder, along with a swagful of light-hearted bush poems recalling adventures and misadventures of life on the road.
Formerly a professional scribe, tour operator, travel writer, public relations manager, company director and playboy bunny, author Jan Barrie has a love of the written word, a passion for seeing the world and a suitcase full of subject matter. Her stories, while fictional, are inspired by real people, places and events experienced during three decades of solo travelling and running award-winning tour company Global Gypsies with her partner, Jeremy Perks.
By Jan Barrie · Charcoal illustrations by West Australian artist
Tim Pearson · Photos by Global Gypsies Tours
About the book
Thought-provoking, sometimes funny, often worthy of a tissue or two
This colourful collection of eighteen mini-stories and twelve bush yarns skips off the page as it transports you around the world — thought-provoking, sometimes funny, and often worthy of a tissue or two.
Tell Me a Story is the ideal companion for discerning readers with limited time, a sense of humour, insomnia, a plane to catch or a self-confessed short attention span.
It will also bring back a heap of happy memories for loyal Global Gypsies clients. Enjoy!
Where the stories take you
- Australia
- Africa
- London
- Los Angeles
- India
- The Arctic
…with the occasional murder along the way.
A sneak preview
A peek inside the swag
Just a few of the short stories waiting between the covers.
ZambiaTree-Climbing Hippos of Zambia
Southwest AustraliaThe Scarlet Feather
The OutbackGhosts on the Canning
The ArcticFifty Different Words for Snow
LondonCotton Tail
The KimberleyStargazer
Hollywood & Vine
Belly Laugh
…plus ten more mini-stories, and a dozen light-hearted bush yarns recalling life on the road.
About the author
Fifty countries, a suitcase full of subject matter & a unique trans-Atlantic voice
Jan Barrie was born in London and grew up in the USA. Formerly a professional scribe, award-winning tour operator, travel writer, PR manager, co-founder and director of Global Gypsies Tours — and one-time playboy bunny — she has visited over fifty countries and now lives in Scarborough, Western Australia, with her long-time partner, Jeremy Perks.
Jan and Jeremy met in Nairobi, Kenya, while working in advertising and PR. Tired of the corporate world, they quit their jobs and spent two years exploring East Africa in an old Land Cruiser as photo-journalists, writing for numerous newspapers and magazines. They later moved to Perth and established Global Gypsies, an award-winning tour and training company that for over twenty-five years led self-drive 4x4 tag-along tours into the Australian outback and escorted expeditions to Africa, Antarctica, Asia, India and South America.
They are now enjoying life as jubilados — joyful retirees who still love travel, adventure and the great outdoors. Many of Jan's yarns, while fictional, are inspired by real people, events and experiences from her years on the road. You might even recognise some of them!
Tell Me a Story is her second book, having co-authored How to Be an Award-Winning Tour Guide with Jeremy in 2015.
Get your copy
Yes! I want to order a copy
Tell Me a Story will be released in time for Christmas and costs AUD$24.99, plus AUD$11.00 postage for posted copies. Pre-order now — you'll only pay once your book is printed and ready!
Collect from Jan
Live in the Perth area? Arrange to buy a copy direct from Jan and collect it in person — with a hello thrown in for free! (Cash or Visa/Mastercard accepted.) Save on postage and shipping costs!
Email JanJan will post it to you
Until the book is available through Amazon, you can pay by credit card and Jan will pop a copy in the post to you — postage is AUD$11.00, anywhere in Australia.
Email JanKindle edition
Read it on your Kindle, phone or tablet — the perfect fit for that plane to catch. Available from Amazon.
Coming a little laterFrom the publisher
The paperback, posted to your door anywhere in Australia, direct from the publisher's website.
Coming a little laterAn audio-book may follow down the track — please check back!
The fine print
Ordering, delivery & the important bits
Ordering & delivery
- Tell Me a Story is a paperback collection of eighteen short stories and twelve bush poems by Jan Barrie, with charcoal illustrations by Tim Pearson and tour photos from the Global Gypsies archives.
- All prices are in Australian dollars (AUD) and include any applicable taxes.
- The recommended retail price is AUD$24.99. For posted copies, postage and handling is AUD$11.00, and your total cost will be confirmed with you by email before any payment is taken.
- Until Print-on-Demand services become available in early 2027 through Amazon etc., copies can only be posted within Australia.
- If your order cannot be fulfilled within five business days of payment, Jan will contact you with the option of a revised delivery date or a full refund.
- Perth pick-up to be arranged by email at a time that suits.
Refunds & returns
If your copy arrives damaged, email Jan within 14 days of delivery and she'll replace it or refund you in full, including return postage.
Refunds are processed to your original payment method. Nothing in this policy limits your rights under Australian Consumer Law.
Privacy
When you place an order, we collect only what's needed to fulfil it — your name, contact details, delivery address and any dedication request. That information is used solely to process and deliver your order, is never sold or shared for marketing, and is disclosed only to Australia Post (for delivery) and our payment provider (to process your payment). Card details are handled entirely by the payment provider and never touch this website.
To ask about, correct or remove the details you've shared, email jan@globalgypsies.com.au.