Archive for the ‘Events’ Category
We interview another awesome kids author while on tour – DC Green
Welcome to Stop Eight of the DC Green Grat Siege Blog Blitz Tour!
Today’s topic: Surf journalism by Chad Kolcze…
ME: You were a surf journalist. How did that happen?
DC: When I was 17 years old and still in high school, I wrote a humorous surf story about a deranged surf alien called Lash Clone who ended up Emperor of the Universe. Tracks magazine ran that story – and 83 more Clone yarns! Amazingly, my alien creation was voted the most popular article in Tracks throughout the 1980s.
After completing my degree in Sydney, I set off on a surf trip through the wild outer islands of Indonesia. Surf magazines liked my adventure stories so much, they asked if they could send me on more trips. Except this time, they would pay for my airfares and expenses and I would travel with a pro photographer and famous surfers like Kelly Slater. I shouted, ‘WOO-HOO!’
I’ve since travelled free of charge all around the world and had hundreds of surf magazine articles published in over 40 counties. Then I became a dad!
Me: What were the highlights of being a surf journalist?
DC: Definitely the travel! I must be the best-travelled kook on the planet! I’ve pitted my stiff-legged surfing skills against many of the most famous waves in the world: Pipeline and Waimea Bay in Hawaii, Jeffey’s Bay in South Africa, Mundaka in Spain, Thurso East in Scotland; St Leu in Reunion; and most of Indonesia’s perfect reef gems, including G-Land, Desert Point and Scar Reef. I’ve also met many remarkable and groovy people – ranging from the famous to the mostly unfamous to the sometimes infamous!
Me: Why did you start writing children’s novels?
DC: Figuring I needed to stay closer to my home town to be a good dad, I wrote my first children’s novel: Erasmus James and the Galactic Zapp Machine. Many people told me I’d never get my book published, which made me all the more determined. So I made my story as polished, funny and exciting as I possibly could. I packed every page with jokes, action, mutant chooks and ninja horses and rewrote every line over and over until there were no mistakes or boring bits. When a publisher in Melbourne said they were keen to publish Erasmus as a three-book series, I danced like a kitten on red cordial!
Me: Have you had other children’s books published?
DC: I’ve since had four more children’s books published. My cheeky picture book, Three Little Surfer Pigs, helps raise money for CanTeen Australia. My novel, Stinky Squad, features the world’s grossest superheroes and is so action-packed that even boys who claim they hate reading can’t put it down! There have been two more Erasmus books, including the final one, Erasmus James and the Grat Siege, which I’m promoting at this very nano-second!
Meanwhile, my first Erasmus James novel has been turned into an e-book that can be downloaded free of charge at my website (www.dcgreenyarns.blogspot.com
Before I turn 100, I’m hoping to have 100 more books published!!!
Me: Which job do you prefer – surf journalism or children’s fiction writing?
DC: I definitely prefer writing children’s books. With a non-fiction article, what I can write is limited by what actually happened, by the answers to my interview questions or by who won the surf contest. With fiction writing, the only limit is my imagination! I can create my own worlds, where volcanoes extend into outer space, where characters fight imagination wars to the death and where chook-headed stock-brokers gamble entire planets! In other words, the kids’ book writing is a lot more fun! Oh, and all those things I just mentioned actually feature in Erasmus James and the Grat Siege!
Me: Is there much surfing in your children’s books?
DC: There is definitely a LOT of surfing in my picture book, Three Little Surfer Pigs. In my children’s novels, not so much. Although Erasmus James does ‘ride’ a sky river that loops kilometres through the air, and there is always plenty of adrenalin flowing! Plus I tend to use surf-related words like ‘stoked’ and ‘grommet’. Oh, and I still have my surf-based sense of humour, for better or worse! So surfers should feel right at home.
Me: Anything else you’d like to add?
DC: Yes, thanks everyone for reading this far, and thanks Chad, for hosting my visit! Please like my ‘DC Green Author’ page on facebook! You can read all about DC Green’s fifth novel, Erasmus James and the Grat Siege, and order copies atwww.barrelbooks.com.
AKB presents stOKed KIDs ART Challenge
Creative parents/ uncles/ aunts/ groms – checkout the stOKed KIDs ART Challenge this school holidays…LOVin iT
Any questions, comment to this thread.
Seasons Greetings!
Accomplished Children’s Book Illustrators
AKB supports & promotes the touring exhibition of original artworks from some of Australia’s most accomplished children’s book illustrators. The State Library of Queensland presents Look! The art of Australian picture books today…ON NOW
Bali – bloody bagus
The library at Uluwatu public school Bali, now have their very own copy of Skate Session & Surf Safari. The books were donated as a gesture of my thanks upon my visit to their wonderful surf crazed island. Also, a beggar boy on the streets of Kuta, and the Bali family i stayed with also received AKB pack.
AKB donate books to Bali schools…
Aloha good folk
AKB is taking the initiative to give the best gift we know, to the poor kids of Bali. Being the surfing epicentre of the world, we wish to stoke out some local kids with our new title Surf Safari.
WARNING – delay’s on your book order (12 days max/ 20-30th Sept 2011) can be expected, as surfing, practicing yoga and donating AKB to Balinese schools takes priority. I appreciate your support, patience and look forward to inspiring your child through AKB as soon as i arrive home.
New Zealand launch a rolling success…
Departure to New Zealand went smooth, just like the book launch itself.
The whole school came out to listen to me talk, it was such a warm reception and very happy kids. This may have been due to the skateboarding demonstration that was performed prior to the launch, by some local jnr. rippers and an older down hill racing legend from the area.
It is safe to say AKB New Zealand launch was a rolling success, even sales were through the roof. But the trip was not just business, it was always going to be about action adventure also.
Wanaka and Queenstown is a land full of great adventures. And as you can see by a sample of photos, the kids and i enjoyed some of what the area had to offer.
Guest Speaker during National Book Week
Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School invited myself out to talk with the Primary School about creating a good book. They seemed to have loved my animated expressions and informative tips, while enjoying AKB new title Surf Safari…
Is a good book worth the money?
I want to hear from you! IS A GOOD BOOK WORTH THE MONEY, if so how much?
Its my belief that a book (kids book especially) is worth its weight in gold. It can inspire, educate, entertain, stimulate, advocate, generate a love for reading, discriminate between right & wrong, motivate and infuriate a child if they don’t hear the ending before lights out!
But there are some cheap and nasty books out there, from what i’ve seen. And i find it hard to read them to my kids, even if they are drawn to them. A good book entertains the adult and child alike in my view and thats what i tried to do in AKB books. But there must be a tipping point where a good book is over priced and hard to justify buying.
Im taking this opportunity, during National Book Week, to hear from AKB audience on your thoughts?
Networking at Byron Bay Writers Festival
I (Author – Chad Kolcze), attended The Byron Bay Writers Festival on the weekend. Whilst circulating the new AKB title – Surf Safari to media prospects, I also helped celebrate, congratulate and featured in a book titled – One Got Past The Keeper. This book is a great read for expecting dads…
