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Book covers and Aussie colours

Okay – I’ve blogged about Bronwyn Parry’s As Darkness Falls before. I love so much about this novel. I especially love the cover. There is nothing better than what I call the colours of Australia. Forget green and gold. Australia to me is sunburnt orange and blue. When I travelled around Australia at 24 years of age (yikes, that’s 24 years ago as well) – just me and my girlfriend in a big old F100 and tent – it is these colours of Australia that I remember the most. Magical mornings camped on bright orange/red earth under the crisp blue sky of a desert dawn and awe-inspiring sunsets, like a dusky blue blanket covered in glowing embers of orange, pink and red.

Now what does any of this have to do with Bronwyn Parry’s book?

Well…As Darkness Falls is releasing in the UK and the Brits have changed the cover. When I heard (even before I looked at the cover) I thought – damn, I hope it doesn’t change too much.

Well it has……..and it’s great. Very different – they’ve really hooked onto the thriller aspect of the story. It is quite mesmerising and definitley grabs your attention. I’ve only seen it on the web (of course) but I think it will be a real attention grabber on the shelevs. Take a look for yourself on http://bronwynparry.com/blog/

This has been a bit of an eye-opener for ‘lil old unpubbed me with big dreams. I mean, I know you’re not supposed to get attached to your titles (as publishers are bound to change them) but I didn’t stop to think the book might undergo a transformation with a new cover and new tag line. I think this might have horrified me once (I can be soooooo precious). Now it’s sort of exciting. To think, your novel could have a whole new look and readership. I, of course, can only even dream of having a book published at this stage (let alone an o/s release). But it adds yet another exciting dimension to this business we are in.

PS I thought I’d add a pic form my travels to show the colours, but after blowing the dust off the album cover, I saw the colour from the photos had faded terribly. Luckily for me my memory hasn’t (not yet anyway LOL)
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Hey Paperback Writers

For all you writers out there….

June 10 is the anniversay of The Beatles 1966 UK release of the song “Paperback Writer”.
So sing along – with harmonies (and echo) – after three.
One….two….three

Paper back writer (paperback writer)

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?
It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear
And I need a job, so I want to be a paperback writer, Paperback writer.

It’s a thousand pages, give or take a few,
I’ll be writing more in a week or two.
I can make it longer if you like the style,
I can change it round and I want to be a paperback writer, Paperback writer.

If you really like it you can have the rights,
It could make a million for you overnight.
If you must return it, you can send it here
But I need a break and I want to be a paperback writer, Paperback writer.

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My D-Day

Today is the anniversary of D-Day. In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, Americans received word that three years of concerted war efforts had finally culminated in D-day–military jargon for the undisclosed time of a planned British, American, and Canadian action. During the night, over 5,300 ships and 11,000 planes had crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy. The goal of every soldier and civilian involved in that effort was to drive the German military back to Berlin by opening a western front in Europe.

It got me thinking and I figured if there was ever a day to DO IT – today is it – my D-Day. (Especially given the opening line in the prologue of my ms:

Positano, Italy 1943
It arrived with a stream of local children in tow,
the bearer dressed in full military regalia.

Yes, I actually hit the send button on that agent submission that has been sitting in my draft email box staring at me, laughing at me, goading me. So it is done – fired across to the other side of the world via cyberspace. Whether or not is hits the mark, I’ll have to wait and see.

Now…a moments silence in memory of all those really brave – the soldiers, the sailors, and the airmen.