Love fantasy? An invitation to my Book Launch Event Sept 22 2018

An invitation to come to my book launch of Quest. Quest is a real celebration of the fantasy genre, so I decided the launch should be as well. With heaps of fun for all ages.

If you're on Facebook you might like to sign up to the event, or you can just come along, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone there.

A.J. Ponder 
PS if the blurb is hard to read  in the image...it's repeated below

If you like Terry Pratchett, The Princess Bride or Diana Wynne Jones' The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, you'll love the latest book by A.J. Ponder:

Sylvalla escapes Avondale castle and the life of a princess, in search of the adventure she’s always wanted.

Once found, adventure bites back.

Fortunately, she is not alone. Unfortunately, her new-found companions are less than heroic. Jonathan would rather make money. Dirk would rather live a long and happy life. And at 150, old Capro would rather stop gallivanting, and harangue unsuspecting wizard students about his glory days over a nice cup of tea.

Quest has everything: heroes, monsters, chases, escapes and a complete lack of true love.  To see more follow this link to my author website. 

Pre order your copy today because it's a great read, and a lot of fun from Wizard's Guide to Wellington author, A.J. Ponder. 

Poetically Incorrect Poetry: The Haiku

The Poetically Incorrect Haiku: Seventeen Syllables Plus One

Five, seven, five - right?
What's the bloody point of that?
It's dead before it...
breathes

A.J. Ponder

I was absolutely gutted with this poem-because I'd planned "Seventeen Syllables" to be part of the first line, only to realise those two words alone contained more syllables than I could use. That just goes to show how hard Haiku is, and how clever the people who write it are. Next week, I'm hoping to do something similar with the sonnet to make it's structure memorable, but in an irreverent manner.

I keep wanting to explain myself, about form and the breaking of form, and why I did it, but I think it's self-explanatory. Part of me would have loved to keep it pedantically correct, because I'm in awe of poets with effortlessly structured, perfect form, but sometimes such things really don't fit the poem.

Have a great week, everybody,
A.J.

Into the Mist

This is a little shout-out post to an amazing author, Lee Murray. 

I loved her latest book, the writing is impeccable, totally not what you expect when reading a genre some wag called a stomp in chomp. No, Into the Sounds is a not-to-be-missed epic adventure featuring New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park. An awe inspiring setting—beautiful and wild and slightly mysterious, just like this amazing new story. You’ll feel like you’ve been dropped right there, in the midst of a primordial setting…the perfect setting for cryptids.

Lee is one of those writers that can turn their hand to anything  Smugglers have come, and they will stop at nothing to get what they want.

I’ve been looking forward to this story coming out for a long time, because I loved Into the Mist, and of course all the characters in it. And it exceeded all expectations. NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna is still the type of hero that is both larger than life, and very real at the same time. Someone you could drink a beer with, or have your back when everyone else has ducked and rolled for cover. Trigger is back, and if anything he’s more likeable than ever, and a couple of other faves, like Temera also make appearances. But Jules is the best. As someone with a BSc hons it was nice to have a scientist written with a little accuracy-so many of them are just awful charicatures!

It's an enormously fun adventure, so if you like adventure, paramilitary, or cryptid stories then I think you'll love this.

I don't do this very often, but this is definitely an exception. Friend and fellow author, Lee Murray released a new novel today, called 'Into the Sounds'. It's a kick-ass military horror story which sees a New Zealand Army Sergeant... https://t.co/e7lqRUnDoo (Amazon link) 

— Keith McArdle (@KeithAuthor) August 10, 2018

Have fun, and hope you enjoy the reading tip,
A.J. Ponder

Congratulations to Craig Phillips

I know I've been very slow about posting lately, but I've been really busy with my latest book Quest, as well as a number of other projects. But I just wanted to do a shout out for my cover artist who not only was a finalist in the New Zealand Children's Book Awards this year, but he ran off with the coveted Russell Clark Award.

It was all very exciting and it was such a shame that I was working both days he was in Wellington, but I did get to see what was happening on award night over twitter. There's a link to his Radio New Zealand interview and a shot of his sketchbook-which I love. And it reminded me so much of when we first met at Armageddon and I saw one of his sketchbooks and knew he was the perfect illustrator for me. Enjoy!

Here's a link to an interview I did on Radio NZ's Standing Room Only. It was a great experience and we chatted about inspiration, process, fairy tales, kids books and the @nzcya book awards. https://t.co/xJNMQ1IW2U pic.twitter.com/FcRG9pNATe

— Craig Phillips (@CraigDPhillips) August 13, 2018

Craig Phillips and his daily sketch book #NZCYA #TePapa pic.twitter.com/WmVYLLRuY0

— thalia (@sacraparental) August 8, 2018

Have fun,
A.J. Ponder -

P.S. next week's blog is about Lee Murray's latest book "Into the Mist."
It's lovely to see so many friends doing so well! :)
And soon after that, no doubt, there will be some cover art revelations! :)