An Epic Quest

 While I've been out having an epic fantasy quest of my own (pictures below - including sword fighting!) , there's been a so much happening in the world of poetry, book releases and more.

While I've been distracted, Tim Jones has released his latest book New Sea Land available from Makaro Press and so has Keith Westwater, releasing No One Home: A Boyhood Memoir in Letters and Poems .  And that's not even including Bonsai : Best Small Stories From Aotearoa New Zealand,which has some great little stories and prose poems by a range of literary authors. It was fun to see so many familiar and new faces at the launch, I was almost sad not to have subbed, but authors have to choose their projects, and I choose fun. Take a look at the pictures of my launch of Quest and say I chose wrong!

It was lovely to see so many wonderful friends, fans and fellow writers at my book launch for Quest. It was epic, so thank you all, and here are some pictures from the launch. I'm looking forward to seeing even more authors next month when Eileen Mueller launches her book Ezaara, because it won't clash with the biggest NZSA event of the year (oops!)

Have fun,
A.J. Ponder

And if you like fantasy and having fun check out the article It's a World of Fantasy on Scoop or buy a copy of my book Quest, it's at a low opening price that is unlikely to be repeated so get one now - before checking out the last two pictures of the Company of the Dragons sword fighting during the launch of Quest. :) 

 (Available to buy on Rona Gallery, Children's Bookshop or Arty Bees, Wardini with personalised signed copies available from Rona Gallery if you ask. To find out more follow this link to "Quest" on my author website.

Officially, officially, Lost in the Museum is Launched and Online

Lillian Hetet signing Lost in the Museum

I'm excited to say Lost In The Museum is now officially, officially launched. There's even a picture from our amazingly successful launch at the New Zealand Science Fiction Convention (even though Dave Freer isn't a contributor, it's the only picture I have of Lyn McConchie, & besides, Dave Freer was amazing, he's said he may contribute to another anthology, so looking forward to that!)

Phoenix Authors and artist Geoff Popham

So I'm kinda sad because it's the end of an era, but mostly excited, because so many new projects are now on the horizon. Looking forward to the excitement of creating more worlds, Lilly Lionheart, another Wizard's Guide, Twisty Christmas Tales and more... :)

Eileen Mueller, A.J. Ponder, Dave Freer, Lyn McConchie at the National

Lost in the Museum is available on Amazon and all good NZ bookshops including Children's Bookshop Miramar.
Retrospace in Auckland and should soon be available from Unity Books as well. The ISBN is 978-0-473-28320-9.

Check out the review by Lee Murray up on Beattie's Book Blog



Phoenix Authors from left to right are Vic Scott, A.J. Ponder (Sir Julius Vogel Best Short Story), Lillian Hetet, Lorraine Williams (who has published more short stories than I've had hot dinners, and has definitely won awards but is too shy to say so), John Homes, Jenny Hammond, Rob Campbell, Eileen Mueller, and artist Geoff Popham.Missing authors are Tim Jones (NZSA Janet Frame Memorial Award for Literature in 2010), Phillip Mann (Nominated for the Arthur C. Clark Award 2014) Glynne McLean (second prize in the 2013 Ashton Wylie Awards & Sir Julius Vogel Best New Talent), Jean Stevens, Tracie McBride
(Sir Julius Vogel Best New Talent) & Lyn McConchie with awards too numerous to count including multiple Sir Julius Vogel Awards and the Australian SF Foundation’s award for Best Short Fiction

Geoff Popham artist

Eileen Mueller

Vic Scott

A.J. Ponder
Author of Quest, Prophecy, Omens, Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death, Wizard's Guide to Wellington, Attack of the Giant Bugs - a You Choose Science Adventure, and The Frankie Files

Pick up some of these books, and support my new poetry book on ko-fi

 

If you drop into ko-fi, tell me what would you'd prefer, a fantasy poetry book, a science poetry book, or another theme?

Did you hear the Fanfare? Fill your holiday with magic (and a copy of my new book!)

Wizard's Guide to Wellington

Yes that right - it's all very exciting some time last week my book "Wizard's Guide to Wellington" hit the bookshelves in Wellington, and for that mighty effort I would love to thank my distributors Greene Phoenix, and my dad, they both managed to get the ball rolling without me so the books are now available in many of the independent bookstores in Wellington and online.  Hooray!

So where have I been?  And when is the launch.  Due to extenuating circumstances there is not going to be a launch as such.  What will happen is Rona Gallery is going to be putting on an art competition with the theme "The Magic of Wellington" 6.30, 14 February 2013.  There will also be signed and numbered copies available as soon as I can organize my way out of a paper bag. Still, now my daughter is out of hospital, and things seem to be on the mend, I'm still expecting to make a come back to the Tuesday Poem blog for the New Year.

Until then Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and best wishes to you all, cheers,


A.J.

A.J. Ponder's books are available through Rona Gallery, Amazon, Paper Plus, Arty Bees and good Wellington bookstores.

(paid link)