In the run up to the release of my new novel "Gifts of the Peramangk" I sat down with Jason McNamara of The D-Head Factor radio show out of Canberra, Australia to talk about the novel, the journey I took to publication and what drives me as a writer.
Don't let the name of the show fool you. The D-Head Factor is a weekly radio show that tears down the news of the week in a comical way but it also features many up and coming musicians and bands and artists, giving them an opportunity to show case their work to a wide audience. DOWNLOAD THE INTERVIEW. (Right Click and Choose "Save Link...") Connect with Jason and the team here. Tweet the D-Head Factor here. Facebook the D-Head Factor here. DFA.
MUSIC & RACE: EXPLORING A DARK TIME IN AUSTRALIA’S HISTORY.
Dean Mayes’ landmark new novel, Gifts of the Peramangk, delves into the far reaching effects of the White Australia Policy and the ramifications for one family. Delta, BC – Central Avenue Publishing is extremely pleased to present the second novel by Adelaide author Dean Mayes. Gifts of the Peramangk is both heart wrenching and heart warming - exploring the effects of the White Australia Policy on the generations of one family.
The protagonist of the story is Virginia Crammond, a young girl taken from her happy home at the height of the Policy in the 1950s. Set to work on a remote outback station, she suffers through back-breaking work and abuse. Her only solace is the violin, taught to her by the station owner’s kind hearted wife. But her talent cannot save her from a lifetime of hardship. Decades later, amidst poverty and dysfunction, Virginia’s granddaughter Ruby plays the violin with the same passion that Virginia once possessed, only now, Ruby’s given a unique chance to escape her circumstance.
Set in and amongst several popular Adelaide locales and landmarks, Gifts of the Peramangk is an exploration of race relations and the dysfunction caused by one of the darkest times in Australia’s history. “Dean Mayes has been a pivotal writer for our press,” says Michelle Halket, Creative Director of Central Avenue Publishing. “His first book was one of our early bestsellers. Dean has an uncanny ability to capture the essence of music, blend it with resonant characters and wrap it all up in a unique and ethereal literary style. Readers respond passionately to his writing.”
Gifts of the Peramangk is available in both print and digital editions and is available worldwide today - October 26, 2012. Purchase Gifts of the Peramangk now fromDean from Australia, Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble and iTunes. Central Avenue Publishing is also the publisher of the internationally acclaimed and widely followed I WROTE THIS FOR YOU project - a poetry and photography blog with tens of thousands of followers. About Central Avenue Publishing: Central Avenue is an independent press based in Delta, Canada, featuring writers of original fiction, poetry and selected non fiction across several genres. ### If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with either Dean Mayes or Central Avenue Publishing, please contact Michelle Halket at +1 604.765.8194 michelle@centralavenuepublishing.com or Dean Mayes at +61 8 7200 1165 banistersmind@gmail.com DFA.
Nichole Chase is an author whom I've featured here a couple of times now and there is a good reason for that - she is seriously good.
Nichole has proved herself to be an author of considerable talent and savviness as she has carved out a prominent name for herself in the world of YA fiction over the past couple of years - most notably with her highly popular Dark Betrayal series. But not content to sit idle, Nichole has opened a new door upon her verdant imagination with the release of an entirely new and equally exciting series that begins with the debut - "Flukes" which hits shelves on October 8th. Already, from the buzz I've observed across the internet, Nichole Chase will deliver another engaging mold-breaking fantasy that will hook readers in and won't let them go. The guff on "Flukes" is thus: Meena has a secret guarded closely by her family—a secret as dangerous as the sea, and buried just as deep. When court appointed community service workers are assigned to Flukes, the family-owned animal sanctuary, everyone is on high alert. It doesn't help that Meena finds herself attracted to sexy-as-sin Blake Weathering, one of the new workers. If he wasn't so distracting, she might be able to land Flukes a much-needed cruise line contract. Blake Weathering, the first in his family to attend public school, has developed a tough image. Unfortunately it lands him in trouble. Now banned from his high school graduation ceremony, getting his diploma is dependent upon a community service gig cleaning fish crap. No diploma, no trust fund fortune—and no way to escape his overbearing father. The last thing he needs is the distraction of a mysterious girl with teal eyes who pulls at his heart strings. When Blake discovers Meena’s secret, they are both thrown into a desperate search for information about her past. Two worlds pull them in opposite directions, and they will have to fight to hold onto all that really matters.
Already, I am hooked by the few lines that describe the novel and my inquiring mind was immediately hungry for more. So what better way to satisfy that hunger than to approach the woman herself. I had the pleasure to meet up with Nichole just this week and, over some coffee and poppy seed muffins, Nichole revealed a little about the origins of "Flukes". I've been working on the Dark Betrayal Trilogy for over two years. It's been a long, intense process. I needed a break. Something a little lighter and fun. Something that could stand alone. I had no idea what it would be. Then while giving my daughter a bath, she was trying to learn how to float on her back. She put her legs together and said, "Look! I'm a mermaid!" She was so happy, I couldn't help but laugh. Then a thought hit me. How adorable would a real mermaid baby or toddler be? Unbelievable adorable! No where near as precious as my cutie, but still, pretty darn lovable!" Lovable indeed and it's apparent that, the idea was not going to leave you alone. The thought stayed with me. It haunted me. My thoughts drifted to how I would care for a little mermaid. What type of people would be good parents for a mythical creature. If humans were to raise a mermaid, how would she learn about her mer-side. And then... then it really started to get interesting. What if there were important things about mermaid heritage that a mermaid raised by humans wouldn't know? As all good ideas do, this one grabbed me and didn't let go. Meena came to life, as did Blake, her tempting bad boy. I fell in love with these characters. Head over heels in love and I hope that the readers will, too.
The characters and indeed the mermaid angle sounds really fascinating and, given you've so skilfully created a convincing world with the Dark Betrayal Series, I gotta say you're well placed to make this new book a huge success. I gather that "Flukes" is shaping up to be a series in its own right. Is that indeed the case and how will "Flukes" differ from the Dark Betrayal Trilogy? Flukes will be a series, with every book revolving around a different couple. They will be linked, but can each stand on it's own. It's quite different from the Dark Betrayal Trilogy. They are not Young Adult novels, but rather New Adult. They center around college aged individuals, which means the reader should expect mature themes and material. They are also Paranormal Romance, instead of Urban fantasy, which means the story focuses more on the couple than on an outside plot.
Awesome stuff. Nichole and I chatted for a little bit longer about the novel but I don't want to give it all away here and spoil it for you. Rest assurred, however, that my early tip for "Flukes" is that it will make a big splash and Nichole Chase will have a serious success on her hands.
Flukes releases in eBook on October 8th and shortly thereafter in paperback.
Nichole Chase continues to describe herself as a daydreamer. She lives in South Georgia with her husband, energetic toddler, two dogs, and two cats. For years she has had story lines and characters begging for attention, but she resolutely pushed them aside to focus on more normal (read, boring) jobs but she has thrown caution to the wind and now heeds the voices in her head and frantically writing their stories. When not devouring novels by the dozens, you may find her writing, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.
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