Thursday, October 24, 2013

A WineDark Sea and Salt Story

Okay, so I was shocked into a kind of euphoric, ditzy stupor yesterday when I discovered my book on the shelves a week before I expected them. Goodness! That was a moment. But I should probably now compose something more thoughtful, respectable and writerly than Wilbur Fucking Smith.

The last few weeks have been mad and there must be something in the water because everyone else around me seems to be infected too. It's got something to do with schedules, deadlines and all the planets converging on a meteoric November. Me? Oh, the thesis is due in by the end of the month and there is this small matter of a book launch:


Whoo! (sorry, slipped out).

For anyone who would like to make it to the deep south Salt Story book launch and hasn't received an email or proper hard copy invite from me, here are the details. It will be held at the Boat Shed on Princess Royal Drive at 5.30 pm on the 14th of November. As it is beginning to look like a rather big party, you must RSVP to the Albany Library on 98 419390. There be lots of wine and food. There may be dancing girls. If not, then Fisheries officers - in uniform.

The library staff have been awesome. The manager Paul will be MCing and Julia will read some pieces from Salt Story with me. In fact heaps of people and organisations have really stepped up for this book. Paperbark Books have worked hard and happily to create a weather system around Salt Story. They stacked my books beside Wilbur Smith in the window of their shop, among other touches of creative genius. The Albany Maritime Foundation have given me the Boat Shed on the sea shore for the launch. One of my mates is playing guitar, another is performing the Welcome to Country.

Anyway, back to the madness, I had a coffee with my friend J yesterday, after he'd walked down the street to deliver the master copy of his double CD to get pressed. The process of recording and producing his CD has been exciting, convoluted and slightly eccentric in its execution, true to the character of its creator. He is having his launch party the day after mine.

"I can't possibly go back to the office and answer emails yet," he said on the phone. "Come and have a coffee with me." So we jumped in his car. He put his brand new CD in the player, cranked it up and drove around the mountain on the marine drive where freighter ships loitered in the Sound and the wind blew white stripes across the water.

"People keep saying 'you must be so excited'," he shouted over some most excellent riffs by our mutual friend Irish. "But I'm not. I don't know what I feel. Kind of horrified? A bit manic? What have I forgotten? I know I've missed something. It's going to be huge. I don't know if it's any good ..."

On and on he went, his thoughts mirroring my own feelings over the last two weeks. "You must be so excited." I'm too spun out to be excited. I don't know what I feel. I do know that seeing that stack of books yesterday was one of the coolest things to happen for me, probably since my grand daughter was born.

I've been thinking about A WineDark Sea and internet publicity a bit lately. I set up the website of fishing images that you can see on my sidebar. I've managed to stay away from facebook but joined Goodreads and started a twitter account - something Tom Stephenson predicted I'd do when I became a published author. Tom you also predicted that I would reduce my blogging to 140 characters at about this point and turn into a publicity idiot if I remember rightly :~), but you know, twitter doesn't really work for me. I still don't understand its usefulness. Well I do, but it just does not interest me. I want to stay here, here on A WineDark Sea. I know it is a go-to destination and not exactly clickbait heaven but it's my place and I like it here.

And now for a completely gratuitous image of Wilbur Fucking Smith my beautiful, beautiful stack.






And another ... of my dog, who is immortalised in the book but alas no longer on this mortal coil.







21 comments:

  1. I ordered copies of Salt Story and Eyrie on Amazon earlier this week. The earliest delivery date, at present, is July 4th 2014. Think I'll take a different route.. I did go to the Frem Press pages and read the intro and the story taster they have for Salt Story up there and came away thinking you have nailed this. It is a big moment, I can feel it from here, but having been a part of these WineDarkSea pages for some time now I reckon the wonderful word world you inhabit here is going to win over just about everyone who gets a copy of the book. There's more to it than the glitz and anxiety of the launch and going public on a hard-copy retail scale, everything compelling about these pages is in those too. Salt Story is more than just a bit of South Coast tale telling; way, way more. Glad to know you Sarah and to have been privy to the WineDarkSea for so long..

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    1. Gorgeous Ciaran. Thanks. I'll send you a copy.

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  2. I am so, so pleased for you Sarah, and I can only guess as to how excited you must be right now. Now go out there and turn it into a best-seller, like Wilbur F Smith's, and if that means Twitter, then tweet!

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    1. Thanks for the twit and other encouragements Tom. I should give it a go, I guess. Apparently about six weeks after the launch is the time when I should get out there. At the moment the media are all over the book. I had a great article in yesterday's newspaper. Radio and other West Australian media outlets are on for the rest of the fortnight at least.

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    2. I meant what I said about actually wanting to PAY for a copy. It is important to me, but if you insist, I will graciously accept a signed one for postage.

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    3. I might have to resort to here:

      http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/179894014?selectedversion=NBD51869485

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    4. Oh! That is interesting ... my 'secret desire to snare a fisheries officer' is not so secret now.
      There is a copy winging its happy way to you tomorrow, Tom.

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  3. Wow, a convergence alright. I am friends with both you & J and on the very day you are having your book launch and about the time J is having his CD launch I will be in Perth at my post-grad exhibition having handed my thesis in for printing last Monday!! So I totally get these strange mixed feelings you are both experiencing. Much love to both XXX

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    1. Isn't it an amazing time Michelle. Last night I watched the Bogans play again and thought they sounded so tight, not like a shed band anymore. Pretty cool and talented circles around us. It's really exciting.

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  4. I picked up my copy from Avid Reader in Brisbane yesterday. Fremantle Press are very efficient. How did I get it the same day it was in your bookshop and before the launch? Don't know. Don't care. It looks great. Krissy Kneen promptly ordered another copy for her father and hopefully so it will continue.

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    1. Ooh Mr Hat. I am so impressed! I hope you and Krissy's Dad enjoy the read.

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  5. PS Glad Digger has been immortalised. Such a great dog. :(

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  6. Is this your first book? Sometimes I get that impression and sometimes not.

    In either case, congratulations, once again.

    Also, I'm glad I'm not the only person who doesn't get the appeal of Facebook & Twitter.

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    1. Is there (going to be) an ebook?

      Or possibly a large print version?

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    2. Hi Alex, I've had the word that any writer who sees their book in the shops and goes hysterical is probably a newbie :~) So yes it is my first ever.
      I don't know about large print but I'm pretty sure there will be an e book version. Not sure if it's out yet. (I'll have to check.)

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    3. Oh good; ebook is preferred anyway. It means I can blow things up as big as I like. The old eyes ain't what they used to be, y'know?

      You'll let us know when it does come out, hey?

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  7. Of course Alex! I will find out in the next few days.

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  8. Yippee! 'There may be dancing girls. If not, then Fisheries officers - in uniform.' -- hahaha. Thank you for the invite! I would be there with bells on if I lived nearby. Will they be sending you over east for launches or festivals etc.?

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  9. I have no idea what is happening next year Ms PoW. It would be fun though, yes?

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  11. Before I read this post I booked my ticket to your book launch.
    When I asked the chap who took my booking, (thankyou Ryan), what was on the agenda for the evening, he said that he was unsure what the program contained. When I mused that dancing girls would be suitable, Ryan agreed that this was a fine suggestion.
    Imagine my surprise when I read your post and saw that you are in agreement with me!
    May I offer the suggestion that the dancing girls wear Fisheries uniforms?
    I would find this rather titillating...

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