Toni Jordan’s new novel, Tenderfoot, pads through Brisbane’s suburbs on four nimble paws, following the world of greyhounds and the humans who love – and sometimes fail – them. Set against river breezes, trackside shadows and leafy streets, it’s a warm, witty, and quietly suspenseful story about rescue and responsibility, loyalty and second chances, and the unexpected ways a dog can reroute a life.
To mark the release, Toni answers nine questions about the inspiration behind Tenderfoot, the research that took her into the greyhound community, why Brisbane was the perfect backdrop, and what she hopes readers will carry with them long after the final page.
SA60: Tenderfoot is deeply rooted in 1970s Queensland and the greyhound racing world. What was it about this era and setting that inspired you to tell Andie’s story now, and how much did your own childhood shape the novel?
TJ: Tenderfoot is certainly inspired by my own childhood. I am a little younger than Andie, but I remember the 70s very clearly and will fight anyone who suggests that it was fifty years ago. My parents were greyhound trainers when I was a small child and my first job was at a TAB, just like Andie’s. I love writing different types of books but have never tried a coming-of-age before – I wanted to try it!
SA60: Many reviewers have praised the wit, honesty and vivid sense of place within Tenderfoot. How did you approach capturing those authentic details of time and culture, especially the subtleties of everyday life and language?
TJ: That’s so kind, thank you! I think I’m naturally an observant person, and I find other people so interesting. We can only ever live one life. The only way we can experience life from someone else’s perspective is by reading fiction – novels really allow us to walk around in another person’s shoes. Thinking about what makes people tick, and they trying to capture it on the page is my idea of fun.
SA60: Greyhound racing and gambling play a central role in the book. Having grown up with the soundtrack of races and odds every Saturday, do you still enjoy a flutter? How do you see gambling shaping our culture and your own family’s experience?
TJ: I’m very much an ex-gambler. As a child, I was a very keen gambler, as was my whole family. It was a philosophy as much as a pastime and I saw it as an expression of optimism and open-heartedness and courage. Now I see it as a con. It’s a way for rich people to steal money from working people.
SA60: Tenderfoot doesn’t shy away from difficult truths – including the realities of greyhound racing and childhood disillusionment. Were there moments where writing about these topics was emotionally challenging for you as an author? How did you process and balance these confronting themes?
TJ: The balance here was because I was telling the story from Andie’s point of view, and she’s only twelve. So I needed to convey everything she loved about greyhound racing. She wants to be a trainer when she grows up. (So did I!) But I hope I’ve made it clear she’s an unreliable narrator in a lot of ways, so that the reader knows that Andie isn’t seeing the full picture.
SA60: Can you talk about Andie as a narrator? She’s strong and resourceful, yet the adult world lets her down in unexpected ways. How did you develop her voice, and does she reflect parts of your own experience or perspective?
TJ: I’d be flattered to think I’m anything like Andie. I love that you’ve seen how strong and resourceful she is. I wanted to write a girl who was lacking in self-pity and self-consciousness, someone who was brave. She’s wrong about a lot of things but she’s always trying. She’s like the dogs in that way: not completely clear what she’s striving for, but giving it everything. With characters, I always start with dialogue first. Once I can hear how they sound, I’m well on the way to working out who they are.
SA60: Your work often explores family dynamics and the complexities of forgiveness. In Tenderfoot, what message or feeling do you hope readers carry away about the ways children interpret (and sometimes outgrow) their parents’ actions?
TJ: Parents have never done it before! And they were usually inadequately parented themselves. Certainly there are many parents who act with bad intent but there are at least an equal number who are trying their best – even if their best isn’t always good enough. I do hope readers can see the context of other people’s motivations because everyone is making it up as they go along. But the most important person to forgive is yourself.
SA60: After finishing a book like Tenderfoot, do you feel relief, joy, sadness – or a mix of all three? Can you share a bit about what that moment is like for you, and what you do to unwind or reflect after handing in the final manuscript?
TJ: I was mainly worried when I finished the book! I feel like nothing very exciting happens in my plots; they’re usually more about people’s emotional journey rather than serial killers or aliens or nuclear devices. I always think: will anyone be interested in this? Maybe I should be writing crime?
SA60: Your first book Addition has been made into a movie and is scheduled to come out in January 2026. Have you seen it yet? Did you like it? And do you think Tenderfoot could go the same way?
TJ: I love it! I was lucky enough to go to the Toronto International Film Festival last year, for the world premiere. Teresa Palmer is wonderful as Grace. I couldn’t be happier. And I’d love to see Tenderfoot as a film! Fingers crossed.
SA60: Do you still have a pet greyhound?
TJ: I’d love to! They are the best dogs in the world. But I’m in an apartment with three flights of stairs so it’s not very practical. I lost my gorgeous whippet a few years ago and haven’t had the heart to replace him yet.
Toni Jordan is currently touring Australia promoting her book. You can see her at Riverbend Books (Brisbane) on September 8; Victoria Point Library (Redlands) on September 9; Redcliffe Library on September 9; Rosetta Books in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland on September 10; Gleebooks In-conversation (Sydney) on September 11; Bannisters Long Table Lunch in Mollymook on September 12; and Books at the Brewery (Castlemaine) on September 23.
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