In another incarnation, Verity Marshall writes short stories, poetry, articles and web content. Nice little animal stories, with innocent, happy-endings. Hard Money is a major departure from her well-worn and familiar genre. Growing up in the quintessential, middle class Australian family, without the trials, and tribulations of many writers, Verity had no issue to examine, or translate into her work. Having been privately educated, and marring at a young age, Verity lived a somewhat protected, and insular life. Conversations with a friend, who was living a diametrically opposite lifestyle, stirred her imagination. Thus began a curiosity with all dysfunctional behaviours, fortunately our society abounds with dysfunction! Therefore, it was only a matter of paying attention, and keeping a record of the activities of others, to find inspiration.