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The Age

Saturday September 30, 2006

Jason Steger

Many publishers shunned it but a hilarious illustrated book for children will hit the shelves this weekend, writes Jason Steger.

Rhyme and reason

ONE SUNDAY NIGHT ON the festival club stage at last month's Age Melbourne Writers' Festival, Tony Wilson unveiled his latest creation, The Thirsty Flowers. No, not a band but a hilarious rhyming children's book with illustrations by Julie Knoblock, reminiscent of Dr Seuss and full of Wilson's idiosyncratic humour. He read the whole book - how many authors can read their whole book at a festival reading? - and it went down a treat.

Although the book is published only this weekend (by Hardie Grant Egmont), it is actually the first book he wrote. Mind you, it had little joy with the publishers when he first sent it round.

"I got rejections from everyone," he says, "but two or three suggested meetings." That led to his first picture book, Grannysaurus Rex, being published in 2004. "It was the standard Aussie picture book in terms of success."

But the illustrator, David Cornish, went on to win a $1 million advance for his own fantasy series, Blood Monster Tattoo.

"Keep your eye on Julie Knoblock," Wilson says. "It would be good if I could catch the wave." But he does have something looming. Next month Geoff Slattery Publishing will unleash Australia United on the reading public, an account of Wilson's adventures in Germany during this year's World Cup finals. (Favourite moment for Wilson? Spotting some Australian fans laying out a blow-up kangaroo and using an Australian flag as a mock shroud in a heartfelt death scene following Australia's defeat by Italy.) And his mind is turning to another satire about the sports world along the lines of his novel Players.

Hannibal's first course

I suppose you could call Thomas Harris' new book an appetiser. That's because Hannibal Rising tells the story of the early life of that most famous fictional cannibal, Hannibal Lecter. The book will be published in Australia, and elsewhere, on December 5 and examines the life of the hungry young Lecter between the ages of six and 20. According to Random House, the book goes back to the deaths of Lecter's family in World War II and focuses on the relationship between Lecter and his sister, Maria. And, yes, there will be a film, but of course Anthony Hopkins will too old to play Lecter. So the part will be taken by a French actor, Gaspard Ulliel. You've got a couple of months to digest the book before the film is out next February.

Potter by any name

You'll have a bit longer to wait for that other teenager who whets readers' appetites, Harry Potter. Apparently J. K. Rowling has a long way to go with the final instalment of the boy wizard's adventures and hasn't even made up her mind what to call it. According to her website, she did have one title in mind but then, while she was in the shower during a visit to New York for the premiere of Driving Lessons, the film that stars Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley in the Potter films, another potential name struck her.

She said she wasn't close to finishing the untitled book. "You might think that I'd have got used to that idea during the 16 years I've been planning seven books, but it still keeps hitting me - no more Harry after this - and then I bury myself in book seven again and tell myself I've still got plenty to write."

Making waves

Where do you go when you've been in the clouds? In to the sea, of course. Gavin Pretor-Pinney's delightful The Cloudspotter's Guide was a surprise success and now he is examining a phenomenon of a lower altitude with Waves, no doubt to be subtitled a wave-spotter's guide. Apparently the book starts with him learning to surf the whoppers in Hawaii. He's only just sold the idea to Bloomsbury so is no doubt looking for some creative swell.

Loyalty is no crime

It's nice to see that hard work gets its reward. Orion, the British publisher that specialises in crime fiction with the likes of James Lee Burke and Lawrence Block, has long been distributed by Allen & Unwin in Australia. But in December that role will taken on by Hachette. But one of the biggest Orion names, Michael Connelly, has insisted that his books stay with Allen & Unwin. Indeed, his next book, Echo Park, featuring his long-time hero, Harry Bosch, will carry the A&U imprint. "He understands the way the book industry works," an A&U spokesman told Bookmarks, "and appreciates what we've done for him in Australia."

Short story gets longer

If you want to enter The Age short story competition you should know that the deadline for entries has been extended to October 20. So get writing. The maximum length is 3000 words and the winner will receive $3000, plus the delight of seeing his or her story published in The Age. As will the second and third place-getters, but they will win only $2000 and $1000 respectively. Send your entries to: Prue Healey, Age Short Story Competition, 250 Spencer Street, 250 Spencer Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 or email: shortstory@theage.com.au.

POEM

Ode to the Eastern Suburbs

Out of the view, out of the sidereal

bringing into alignment a window

and a typewriter, this is our blue sky scenario

skewed bars a thirsty airconditioner

and the murmur of a pigeon lifting its delicate

red claw. Then through the bus window

the sun scrubs a humpback of grass, cyclists pass

like a blanket of mechanical birds

bright as lures. Eight hours later leaving work

is like walking out of a multiplex, the hours

scooped out of the day like a brain.

We drone towards Coogee as dumb

white planes ski the bright university sky.

-- Tim Wright

EVENTS

TOMORROW

Crime-writing workshop with Lindy Cameron followed by a crime-writing panel with Tara Moss and Carmel Shute. Workshop 1pm, panel 4pm. Gasworks Arts Park, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park. Bookings 8606 4200. Cost: $25/$12.

TUESDAY

Kerry Greenwood will discuss and sign copies of her new Phryne Fisher mystery, Murder in the Dark, 6pm, Dymocks Melbourne Cafe, 234 Collins Street, city. Bookings 9660 8500. Cost: $8.

? Tara Moss will discuss and sign copies of her new murder mystery Hit, 6.30pm, Readings Hawthorn, 701 Glenferrie Road. Bookings 9819 1917. Free.

WEDNESDAY

The Age Dymocks Literary Lunch with Margaret Whitlam in conversation with her biographer, Susan Mitchell (below). Victorian Arts Centre, 12pm. Bookings essential: 9660 8500. Cost: $59.

? Alice Garner will discuss and sign copies of The Student Chronicles. 6.30pm. Readings Carlton, 309 Lygon Street. Bookings on: 9347 6633. Free.

THURSDAY

Michael Gurr will discuss and sign copies of his memoir, Days Like These. 6.30pm. Readings Carlton, 309 Lygon Street. Bookings on: 9347 6633. Free.

? Jenny Kee will discuss and sign copies of her autobiography A Big Life, 6.30pm, Readings Hawthorn, 701 Glenferrie Road. Free.? Jacki Hartnell will discuss and sign copies of No Fixed Address, 6pm, Dymocks Melbourne Cafe, 234 Collins Street, city. Bookings 9660 8500. Free.

© 2006 The Age

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