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?
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.
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.)
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.
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.
‘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 intellectually disabled ASD son would like to tell you that his dad’s Spring 2022 novel ‘Boy in the Blue Hammock… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…4 days ago
