The Darren Groth Blog
May 15, 2014
Arguwrite #WeNeedDiverseBooks, Another, Are You Seeing Me?, Authors, Autism, Autism Fiction, Autism Writing, BookCon, Books, Children's Books, Difference, Disability, Diverse Books, Diversity, Fiction, Kindling, New Work, Novels, Other, We Need Diverse Books, Writing, Writing Books, YA Lit, Young Adult Books 1 Comment
First, the good news:
The recent #WeNeedDiverseBooks Twitter coup was an admirable rebuff of the longstanding hegemonies in children’s and young adult fiction. It doesn’t look like a flash in the pan either, so that’s good too.
Now, the bad news:
The whole exercise has further illustrated – dare I say, reinforced – the pecking order of minorities in both the book debate and the wider society looking on.
May 26, 2013
News Amazon, Authors, Books, ebooks, Exciting Press, Free Books, Free Downloads, Kindle, Kindling, Monica Bloom, Nick Earls, Novels Leave a comment
As I write this, people all across North America are scrambling (yes, SCRAMBLING) to download a free e-copy of my novel, Kindling. At the same time, they are resisting the temptation to repeat the dose with noted public brainwasher, Nick Earls, and his work, Monica Bloom.
Why so?
Because no one wants to live under the tyranny that will ensue if Earls is victorious. Sure, Nick presents as a humble Australian artisan; a benevolent genius who authors stories as luminous as his work to aid humanity. Don’t be fooled: if, at the conclusion of May 28, the man known in closed literary circles as “The Cocked Fist” (see picture above) has more freebies shared to his name than mine, the entire world will go to Hell. Your children, and your children’s children, will suffer under an oppressive regime of eminently likeable characters and delightfully crafted narratives. This is Hunger Games, people. Minus the hunger. And without the games.
So do the right thing. Get your complimentary copy of Kindling and play your part in ensuring the stable, loving, entirely problem-free world we all love and cherish is maintained.
And be careful with any retort Earls may have to this missive.
This is a man who wrote The Fix.
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.
April 2, 2013
News Acceptance, Authors, Autism, Autism Awareness Day, Autism Awareness Month, Autism Fiction, Autism Writing, Awareness, Books, Exciting Press, Kindling, Novel Excerpts, Understanding Leave 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.
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.)
February 9, 2013
Navel Gazing ASD, Autism, Autism Fiction, Autism Spectrum, Autism Writing, Children, Dick Hoyt, Disability, Disabled Child, Fatherhood, Fireflies, Inspiration, Kindling, Parenthood, Rick Hoyt, Team Hoyt 3 Comments
(Pic Source: luxirare.com)
The inspirational tale of Team Hoyt came past me again recently. For those disinclined to click the link, it shares the incredible story of father, Dick, disabled son, Rick, and the thousand plus marathons / triathlons they have performed as one, dad towing and wheeling and pushing his paralyzed boy all the way. Their thirty-five year odyssey is replete with details to make the heart swell and the eyes tear up, but this one provided particular pause for me:
With $5,000 in 1972 and a skilled group of engineers at Tufts University, an interactive computer was built for Rick. This computer consisted of a cursor being used to highlight every letter of the alphabet. Once the letter Rick wanted was highlighted, he was able to select it by just a simple tap with his head against a head piece attached to his wheelchair. When the computer was originally first brought home, Rick surprised everyone with his first words. Instead of saying, “Hi, Mom,” or “Hi, Dad,” Rick’s first “spoken” words were: “Go, Bruins!” The Boston Bruins were in the Stanley Cup finals that season. It was clear from that moment on, that Rick loved sports and followed the game just like anyone else.
That pivotal moment of communication breakthrough must have been like a glorious dawn; the perennial night finally receding as the sun climbs over the horizon, never to set again on the Hoyt family. I can only imagine how good it felt to see that light.
I can only imagine.
January 22, 2013
News Authors, Backlist, Book Deal, Books, Digital Publishers, Exciting Press, Fiction Novels, Indie Publishers, Kindling, Most Valuable Potential, Nick Earls, Novels, Publishing Contract, The Procrastinator, The Umbilical Word, Will Entrekin, Writing, Writing Books Leave 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.
February 9, 2012
News Authors, Book Reviews, Books, Hachette, Kindling, Literary Awards, Most Valuable Potential, Never Dead, Writing, Writing Books Leave a comment
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.
Myperbole 