The Darren Groth Blog
December 6, 2021
News Authors, Books, Boy in the Blue Hammock, Coming Soon, Crossover Fiction, Darren Groth, Guide Dog Training, Guide Dogs, Labrador Dogs, Literary Fiction, Literary Novels, Service Dog Training, Service Dogs, Spring 2022, Tao, Taoism, Writing, YA Fiction, YA Lit Leave a comment
Tao: In Confucianism, the way, or the path to be followed.
For anyone who knows me and has read the teaser for Boy in the Blue Hammock, it will be no surprise to you that my son was the inspiration for the character of Kasper. What might be a surprise is that failed service dog, Tao, is also grounded in real-life. For over a decade, a goofy, gold-coated Labrador was part of our family due to ‘incomplete training’ with the BC Guide Dogs.
And, yes, his name was Tao.
September 18, 2021
News Ableism, ASD, Authors, Autism, Books, Boy in the Blue Hammock, CanLit, Crossover Novel, Darren Groth, Fiction Novels, Intellectual Disability, Literary Fiction, Literary Novels, Neurodiversity, New Fiction, New Novels, New YA, Nightwood Editions, Novels, Service Dogs, Spring2022, Suspense, Thrillers, YA, YA Lit, Young Adult Books 1 Comment
In a time of isolation and scarcity, a regressive regime rules with absolute power, turning neighbour against neighbour, and crushing dissidence with deadly force. A microcosm of this monstrous time: the tiny Pacific Northwest town of Gilder.
In a house on the fringes of the decimated hamlet, Tao – a failed service dog turned pet – wakes to find his leash tied to the stair, his hind leg broken and his family killed. With the world he knows shattered, there is one course of action: lay with his slain masters and wait for the enemy – the “hounds” – to return and end his life.
But it is not the hounds that find him – it is Kasper, fifteen years old, disabled, limited ability to speak, sole survivor of the family. With the discovery of Boy, Tao understands he now has a duty: guide the last living member of his pack through the ravaged streets of Gilder to safety. The destination? The only refuge he can conceive of in a world gone mad?
The site of his training five years before.
Boy in the Blue Hammock is an epic tale of loss and loyalty, of dissent and destruction, of assumption and ableism. With a powerful narrative and evocative prose, the novel poses one of the important questions of our time: when evil silences the people, who will protect those without a voice?
COMING SPRING 2022
April 27, 2013
News Amazon, Aussie Fiction, Aussie Literature, Aussie Writers, Authors, Autism, Autism Fiction, Autism Writing, Books, Darren Groth, ebooks, Exciting Press, Kindle, Kindling, Literary Fiction, Literature, Nazis, New Books, New Novels, Novels, Published, Suspense, Thrillers, Vampires, Writing, Writing Books, YA Lit, Young Adult Literature, Zombies Leave 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?
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.
March 6, 2013
News Authors, Autism, Autism Fiction, Autism Writing, Book Covers, Books, Darren Groth, ebooks, Exciting Press, Fiction, Kindle, Kindling, Novels, Will Entrekin Leave 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.)
April 21, 2012
News Authors, Books, Coen Brothers, Concentrate, Darren Groth, Magic Realism, New YA Lit, Simon Groth, The Brothers Groth, The Text Prize, Writing, Writing Books, Writing Collaboration, YA Lit, Young Adults Leave 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.
October 3, 2011
News Australian Literature Review, Authors, Authors Compare, Books, Darren Groth, Debut Novelist, Narrative, Story, Writing, Writing Books Leave a comment
‘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.
Myperbole 