Fanning The Flames: ‘Kindling’ Released in North America

On April 27, 2013April 27, 2013 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

Courtesy of the fine folk at Exciting Press, Kindling is available for the first time in the Home of the Brave and in the True North, Strong and Free.

Now, apart from continental accessibility, what’s different about this publication compared to the original Aussie release in 2010?

Exclusively e-book (Kindle for the first 90 days, then in other formats subsequent)
Hawt new cover
Cheap as chips ($4.99 in the US; $5.12 in CAN)
Much less ink
Zero chance of paper cuts
Author is slightly older (though still sexy)
Every single copy downloaded has a different ending
Nazi zombies
Vampire zombies
Zombie zombies

As you can see from this extensive list, the work is TOTALLY different, barely recognizable from before. So, grab the new and improved Kindling while internet stocks last!

(Warning: Some of the statements above may be the product of author hubris and/or inebriation…)

Kindling in Kindle format for North America – buy the US version here and the CAN version here.

Kindling Some Autism Awareness

On April 2, 2013 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

April is ‘World Autism Awareness Month’. April 2 is ‘World Autism Awareness Day‘.

And I am proud to announce Kindling has been officially selected as the ‘World Autism Awareness Novel of Awesomeness’.

To commemorate this prestigious achievement, I have pasted below an excerpt from the book, soon to be published in the US and Canada through Exciting Press. The scene describes an epiphany for a grandfather coming to grips with his “lost” grandson. It’s a moment of not just awareness, but of true understanding. It’s my favourite moment in the entire story.

I hope it stays with you throughout April, and beyond.

Continue reading “Kindling Some Autism Awareness” →

Fire Up The New ‘Kindling’ Cover!

On March 6, 2013 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

With the US/Canada ebook release of Kindling mere days away, here’s an insider’s view of the hot new cover (you see what I did there?). Two burning thumbs-up to Exciting Press Creative Director, Will Entrekin, for his fine work.

One thing about this confronting image – it ought to make fans concerned for Kieran’s safety very angry. I can imagine the hate-mail arriving already:

You sent your 10 year old, autism-diagnosed protagonist into this fiery maelstrom!? Really!? What sort of sicko author does that!? What sort of monster are you!?

(Note to self: send your next 10 year old, autism-diagnosed protagonist to a lovely inviting forest, full of marshmallows and rainbows and dolphins…and zombies.)

Exciting Backlist Deal

On January 22, 2013January 22, 2013 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

(Pic Source: James Hibberd)

Exciting Press figures my venn diagram is a little more adjacent than Snooki’s.

In a deal announced by Exciting’s Creative Director, Will Entrekin, the cutting edge US indie publisher and I have signed a four book deal, encompassing my backlist quartet of novels – Kindling, The Umbilical Word, Most Valuable Potential and The Procrastinator. The deal permits me to join a stable of wonderful writing talent that includes James Brown, Kurt Wenzel and Aussie literary icon, Nick Earls.

I’m really thrilled about the opportunities ahead with this partnership. It represents a new lease of life for all my once-upon-a-time-in-print works. Particularly gratifying is that, for the first time in any format, Kindling will be available in North America.

Stay tuned for release details and dates. And if you’re a fan of Snooki, I’m sorry this post was so long.

‘Kindling’ A 2012 Fave

On December 29, 2012December 29, 2012 By AdminIn News2 Comments

It may have been released 14 dog years ago, but Kindling has still found its way onto a ‘Best Of 2012’ list.

With the help of Santa and his Bob Dylan ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’-esque impression, the Casey-Cardinia Library Corp recently put together their best reads of the past year and a certain little story of heartbreak, healing and heroism made the grade (Thx, Deb!). Indeed, it was considered a shade better than The Light Between Oceans. Given what’s gone down with that novel over the past twelve months, it’s high praise indeed.

Mr Spielberg, let’s do lunch.

You Need To Concentrate

On April 21, 2012August 29, 2012 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

Yes. You do.

So, purchase the acclaimed Aussie YA novel from here. It’s only $3.99. It will do wonders for your book smarts.

And, as an added little bonus, why not get some insight into the collaborative process of the Brothers Groth via the younger BG, Simon. Here’s a snippet:

We have tried collaboration before a few times. We tried taking alternate chapters. We tried taking on different characters. Nothing really worked and I consigned the whole endeavour to the ‘revisit one of these days’ file. Little did I know Darren was hatching his own variation on the concept.

What we eventually hit on was taking alternate drafts. The result was similar to writer-editor only with the editor taking a far more active role adding character layers and additional narrative. Our model was less ’50 per cent text each’ and something more like what Joel and Ethan Coen do: share the writing credits where one or the other might take the lead on any individual project. Seems to work well for them. Why not us? We are already brothers after all.

Catch the rest of it at Simon’s fine online home.

Release The Freak

On April 14, 2012August 29, 2012 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

The North American Kindle edition of the acclaimed Brothers Groth novel Concentrate – titled The Focus and the Freak – is now available.

Quality young adult/crossover writing for the price of a cup of coffee…What reader could ask for more?

Smoking Jackets

On April 11, 2012April 11, 2012 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

Behold the covers for The Brothers Groth e-book, Concentrate and its North American edition, The Focus and the Freak.

Would you pay $3.99 each for these smoking jackets? Of course not (unless you have taken leave of your senses and become Premier of Queensland). So, to assuage your understandable frugality, we will very, very soon be attaching thousands of words to these jackets; words that, when read in sequence, form an exceptional story of loss, hope and heartfelt belief.

Until those words appear, feel free to stare at the pictures.

Campbell Newman Must Die

On April 4, 2012 By AdminIn News1 Comment

The Premier of my beloved home state of Queensland just killed the Literary Awards named after him. Murdered them. In cold blood. No motive. With extreme prejudice. And he didn’t even try to deny it. Didn’t ask for clemency. Didn’t plead insanity. I think most people would contend he probably enjoyed it.

So, what is the appropriate sentence? What does a man so lacking in remorse deserve for the untimely and unnecessary demise of an important institution?

Well, nothing short of the death penalty in my opinion. The sort of death penalty that can only be enforced by the state’s writing fraternity. Death by a thousand paper cuts.

Yes, Campbell Newman must be knocked off in as many future novels as possible.

And, for the good of our authorly sensibilities, in as many ways as possible. Stabbed on a poorly lit street corner. Drowned in a freak speedboat capsize. Attacked by a local legion of the ravenous undead. Just as long as he ends up as lifeless as the Awards he consigned to the grave.

And what will be the good of it? When the QPLA returns – rest assured, they will at some future date – those Can-Do RIP tomes will lift a few of the major gongs. The joyous writers will owe a debt of gratitude to the Premier who selflessly gave his life so that they could achieve their well-deserved recognition.

I’d die to see that.

Short Wait For ‘Concentrate’

On April 2, 2012April 3, 2012 By AdminIn NewsLeave a comment

As work continues on the keenly anticipated second Brothers Groth young adult novel Wake, the story that started it all – Concentrate – is nearing release.

“Details! Details!” I hear you cry. Well, here’s what I can tell you at this stage: