The Darren Groth Blog
January 17, 2018
News Brothers Groth, Coming Soon, Fables, Fabulism, Infinite Blue, New Books, New Releases, Orca, Orca Book Publishers, Sept 2018, YA, YA Lit Leave a comment
Behold the cover for Infinite Blue, a contemporary fable penned by Simon Groth and his dodgy older brother. It’s hitting North American shelves September 11, 2018.
All credit for this beauty goes to the brilliant pair responsible: artist Iveta Karpathyova and Orca Books designer Teresa Bubela. If you’d like a peek inside the creative process, Iveta has posted a couple of cool videos here and here.
Counting the days!
March 7, 2017
News August 2017, Book Covers, Books, Coming Soon, Exchange of Heart, New Book Covers, New Books, New YA, YA Leave a comment
A second round of cover goodness has arrived – this one, the Aussie front for my new YA novel out later this year, titled Exchange of Heart in Oz.
Fans of Are You Seeing Me? might be pleased to see the similarities in style, design and font. I’m pleased to see that I did indeed write Are You Seeing Me? and it wasn’t all just a lovely dream.
If you’re in Australia and wish to pre-order Exchange of Heart, you can do so here.
If you’re in Canada/US and wish to pre-order Munro vs. the Coyote, you can do so here.
January 31, 2017
News #WeNeedDiverseBooks, Assisted Living, Book Blurb, Coming Soon, Disability, Diversity, Exchange of Heart, Fair Go, Heart Problems, LoveOzYA, New Books, New YA Lit, Special Needs, Student Exchange, YA Leave a comment
Sometimes, Life takes on a life of its own…
Since the sudden death of his younger sister, Munro Maddux has been stuck. Flashbacks. Anger. Chest pains. And a voice – taunting, barking, biting – that his counsellor calls ‘the Coyote’. Munro knows a student exchange will not be the stuff of Disney movies. But in Australia he intends to move beyond his troubled past.
Forced by his new school to join a volunteer program, Munro discovers the Coyote is silenced in one place: Fair Go, an assisted living residence in Brisbane’s west, where Munro gets to know his team of residents: dogged designer Bernie; sleeping refugee Shah; would-be wedded couple Blake and Dale; comic creator Iggy; and self-defence tutor Florence. As this unlikely group shows Munro the sights, Munro’s notion of what it means to be a big brother begins to change.
But the burden Munro carries is not so easily cast aside, and unexpected developments at Fair Go prompt a devastating flashback that threatens to end the student exchange. Will the Coyote ultimately triumph? Or can Munro find the fortitude necessary to mend his heart?
‘Funny-sad, authentic and uplifting – Groth is a writer who can pivot from heartbreak to humour without missing a beat.’ Vikki Wakefield, author of All I Ever Wanted
January 26, 2017
News Books, Coming Soon, Munro vs. the Coyote, MvtC, New Books, New Releases, New YA Lit, October 2017, Orca, Orca Book Publishers, YA, YA Lit, Young Adults Leave a comment
My brand new YA novel is coming out this year. In North America, it’s titled Munro vs. the Coyote and the cover looks a little like the awesomeness above.
Not bad, eh?
Every image within the Coyote’s head speaks to moments, elements and characters in the story.
I can’t wait to see this jacket on the real deal come October.
August 17, 2015
News Are You Seeing Me?, Author Events, Book Launch, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Release, New Books, New YA Lit, YA Lit Leave a comment
Are You Seeing Me? is out and about in North America this week and, in accordance with the promotional deities, there is plenty of upcoming opportunity to catch me in a live or online AYSM experience.
Here’s a rundown of confirmed happenings:
August 18-25: Goodreads Giveaway (for CAN/US only)
August 24: Staff Meet n Greet, Kidsbooks on Broadway, 11.00am
September 9: Vancouver Book Launch, Book Warehouse on Main, 7.00pm
September 12: Delta Book Launch, Albany Books, 2.00pm
September 15: Vancouver Writers Fest Soft Launch, Indigo Broadway & Granville, 7.00pm
September 19-20: Word on the Street Lethbridge (see festival program for full details)
September 27: Word Vancouver (see festival program for full details)
October 2: PNBA Tradeshow in Portland, Nightcapper Author Event, 8.30-10.00pm
October 20-25: Vancouver Writers Fest (see festival program for full details)
November 4: Orca Group Launch in Victoria, Munro’s Books (time TBD)
Other events may be added to the docket, so stay tuned.
I look forward to seeing you somewhere on this fun ride!
June 23, 2015
Uncategorized Are You Seeing Me?, AYSM, Can Lit, Google Maps, New Books, New Release, New YA Lit, Okanagan, Orca Book Publishers, Road Trip, Seattle, Vancouver, Whistler, YA Lit Leave a comment
Are You Seeing Me? has conquered Australia and will soon be starting its journey to find readers in Canada and the US of A. Prior to the August 18 release with Orca Book Publishers, it’s worth noting that the stars of AYSM – Justine and Perry – had to travel a few hard yards of their own.
Want proof?
Below is the Google map of the twins’ two week road trip in the story (click to enlarge), taking in a good chunk of the mighty Pacific Northwest including Vancouver, Seattle, Whistler and Ogopogo’s home, Okanagan Lake.
In all, Justine and Perry covered almost 1,500 kilometres and occupied their rented Chevy Cobalt for just over seventeen hours!
And for those wondering about their Aussie driving tendencies, they did so entirely on the right (and right) side of the road.
August 18, 2014
Navel Gazing Advice, Are You Seeing Me?, ASD, Autism, Autism Fiction, Autism Writing, AYSM, AYSM Quotes, Books, Difference, Disability, Good Life, New Books, New YA Lit, No Lie, Novels, Perry, Perry Quotes, Perry Richter, Random House Australia, Wisdom, YA Lit, Young Adults 2 Comments
Are You Seeing Me? is on the shelves and the initial response has been terrific. Readers have shared their experiences of laughing and crying and wishing earnestly and thinking differently and, when all was said and done, not wanting to let go.
A major reason for this response has been Perry Richter. The young man with the “brain condition” seems to be touching hearts and souls in a big way. I’m delighted by this – in the character’s simple eloquence and careful observance, there are lessons for all of us, his author included.
So, as both an early thank you to AYSM’s readers and a brief foray into the beautiful mind of a special person, here is Perry’s “No Lie” guide to living a good life in an unstable world:
July 17, 2014
News Are You Seeing Me?, ASD, Authors, Autism, Autism Fiction, Autism Writing, AYSM, Books, Brothers, Daughters, Disability, Fathers, Fiction, Inspiration, New Books, New Release, New Work, New YA Lit, Random House, Random House Australia, Random House New Zealand, Siblings, Sisters, Sons, Twins, Writing, Writing Books, YA Lit, Young Adults 2 Comments
With Are You Seeing Me? having just hit the shelves in Australia, I’d like to share with you some insight into what inspired me to write the novel.
Anyone who’s spent any time with me knows I am Dad to a set of twins: one girl, one boy. My daughter is ‘neurotypical’, which is how people in the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community sometimes refer to regular, everyday kids who do not have autism. She is amazing. She plays trumpet, creates short animated films and adores The Hunger Games. My son, who is three minutes younger than my daughter, is diagnosed with autism. He is amazing, too. He is awesome at Minecraft, swims like a champ and enjoys Pixar films. They will officially be teenagers in 2014.
Are You Seeing Me? is a gift to my daughter. She was due a book – my previous novel, Kindling, was a gift to my son. (By the way, all of my books are gifts for my beautiful
wife). When I first started considering what to write, I kept coming back to a message I held dear for my daughter: ‘You should never feel like you must be your brother’s keeper. Love him, as he loves you, but live your own life to the full.’
April 6, 2014
News August 2014, Authors, Book Covers, Books, Coming Soon, Earthquakes, Fiction, Jackie Chan, New Books, New Work, New YA Lit, Novels, Publishing Deal, Random House Australia, Sea Monsters, YA Lit, Young Adults Leave a comment
Behold the cover for Are You Seeing Me?, formerly Master Disaster, formerly Finding Fault, formerly The Mantle. How did a novel with this much schizophrenia finally make it across the line? I’ll let you know in a little while…
In the meantime, dream of earthquakes, sea monsters and Jackie Chan.
Are You Seeing Me? will be published by Random House Australia in August 2014.
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.
Myperbole 