If there’s one thing I’ve learned as an author – and let’s face it, this might be the only thing I’ve learned – it’s the ‘never dead’ principle.  A manuscript, a short story, a book that for all intents and purposes appears to have been pine-boxed can rise up out of the ground and zombie along into new momentum.

I’ve experienced this with pretty much all my work, most notably my second published book, Most Valuable Potential (I won’t go into the gory details – suffice to say I believed it deader than a canary in a toxic mine the day it was shortlisted for the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards).  And just this week, Kindling joined the resuscitated ranks of its predecessors.

What gave it the kiss of life?  Nothing so dramatic as a major award shortlisting; just a very kind, very affecting, very passionate review from someone who read Kindling for the first time, eighteen months after its joyous birth and twelve months after its doleful passing.  It demonstrated to me once again that work out in the world makes its own way, in it’s own time.  It assured me there is an immortality to words an author commits to the page; an unceasing story pulse that may vary between frenetic and faint, but ultimately won’t ever fail.

It was a timely reminder of the ‘never dead’ principle.

A Cartoon by Tom Gauld

2012 is here!  And before the Mayan calendar ticks over to its ‘Have a Jolly Apocalypse’ day, I thought I’d add my published shorts to darrengroth.com:

Sunday Matinee
Sleeping With Lionel Richie
True Patriot Love
Sympathy Via Satellite

In the coming weeks, I’ll spotlight each of the stories, giving you a little background to their inspiration and execution.  For now, read and enjoy.  Oh, and feel free to let me know your favourite.

The draft of the second B-Gro work, Wake, is underway and promises more YA lit of the highest order.  Here’s a blurb:

Wake

The Brothers Groth

Skye Sandalford’s boyfriend, Clayton Drummond, is earmarked for greatness.  Nineteen years old and propelled by size eighteen feet, he is the prototype of a swimming prodigy.  But his destiny won’t only be defined by world records.  Powered by ‘Team Drum’ – comprising career-plotting mother, Blythe, God-fearing father, Ray, and an entourage of consultants – this good looking, articulate Aussie dubbed ‘Wake’ can transcend the boundaries of sport and fire the imagination of a world paralyzed by economic and environmental gloom.

Skye, herself a gifted visual artist, is in awe of Clayton’s talent.  But their relationship stands apart from the vagaries of fame and fortune.  She adores the gentle, unaffected, grounded soul that resides within the star.  She appreciates that he’s more comfortable in the pool than in the public eye.  She delights in capturing his oneness of spirit when he’s immersed in water.  She loves him and senses they’ll be together forever.  And, though Clayton’s meteoric rise puts physical distance between them, though outsiders question the maturity and motive of their bond, she knows he feels the same way.

Unlike true love, sameness of feeling is never guaranteed in life.  A terrifying car accident, caused by a speeding drunk-driver, leaves Clayton a paraplegic; without feeling below the waist, bereft of the limbs that assured his glorious future.  Amidst the devastation and disbelief, Skye is by his side – caring, comforting, constant.  As rehab ensues and a return home initiates the pretense of moving forward, Clayton’s silent sadness remains palpable – a state Blythe attributes to the heartbreak of shattered potential.  Skye, though, understands the truth: it is not a lost career for which her soulmate grieves, it is a lost connection.  The knowledge that he can never be whole again in his beloved medium of water.

And that knowledge looms large as ‘Team Drum’ attempts to resuscitate its charge’s focus and hunger through a record-breaking, ‘Wake The World’ charity swim from Cuba to the United States.  Skye is fearful, both of Clayton’s resurgent eagerness for the challenge, and of the mysterious physical changes that seem to be pervading his broken body.  She is hounded by the devastating thought that this will be her man’s final swim, that one way or another he will choose the water over life.  And as the support vessel hauls anchor from Havana, and Clayton, surrounded by the shark-proof cage, commences the one hundred and twelve mile swim that will see him remembered forever, Skye is faced with a choice:

Do I hold on to my one true love?

Or do I set him free?

Wake is an elemental story of unconditional love.  Combining the best aspects of magic realism and literary fiction in a young adult work, it contends that life’s riptides are no match for a resilient heart.

‘Authors Compare’ is a terrific new initiative created by the Australian Literature Review that gathers writers from across the globe into one cyber-room to provide their thoughts on technique, best practice and the publishing game experience.

To discover my gospel on story, narrative style and the debut novelist’s lot, click here.  And, if reading my ramblings isn’t enough for you, keep an eye out for the site’s analysis essay contest in future days.

My hometown’s literary soiree – the Brisbane Writers Festival – has rolled around once more.  It’s been five years since my move to Canada and, hence, five years since I was a part of this most excellent authorly gabfest.  I’m a little sad about that.  But rather than wallow in self-flagellation, I’ve decided to hold my own festival here in my Vancouver townhouse.

Welcome to the ‘Exiled Brisbane Writer’s Festival’!

Featuring the tag-line of ’Let The Pages Take You…Where?’, my jam-packed, week-long program will be shot on home-video and available for your viewing pleasure at darrengroth.com.  The bevy of highlights includes:

- A tour of my bookshelves

- A reading from my 2010 novel, Kindling, whilst my ten year old son plays ’MegaJump’ on an iPad

- A debate with my ten year old daughter on ‘Who’s a better writer: Darren Groth or Geronimo Stilton?’

- A one-on-one with my beautiful wife on the ideosyncrasies of being married to and living with a writer

- A begging session with my work-mate that she should do Kindling for her book club

First fest video clip hits cyberspace September 1…