Campbell Newman Must Die

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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’

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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:

  • It will be available in early April
  • It will only be available as a Kindle and ePub book
  • It will retail for not much
  • It will have an accompanying U.S. edition titled Focus and The Freak

And, of course, you recall Concentrate was shortlisted in the prestigious Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing in 2009.  What’s that?  You don’t recall?!  Seriously, you call yourself a fan…

The ‘Never Dead’ Principle

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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.

‘Infinite Blue’ – The Teaser

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The Brothers Groth – Simon and Yours Truly – had an auspicious start to their collaboration with novel, Concentrate, being shortlisted in the 2009 Text Prize (although it still has yet to be contracted by a publisher…WTF).

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

Infinite Blue

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, Len, 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 in search of heroes.

Continue reading “‘Infinite Blue’ – The Teaser” →

Dare To Compare

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‘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.