Welcome to the May newsletter from Escalator Press. In this issue:
A Line of Sight book launch
Upcoming books
Behind The Pages with Adrienne Jansen
Escalator books in the media: Kate Carty, Janet Colson
A Line of Sight book launch
Escalator Press warmly invites you to the launch of
A LINE OF SIGHT
by Adrienne Jansen
Upcoming Books
We have two Escalator Books set to release in October this year: Open Your Eyes, Jackson Ryderby Rudy Castañeda López and Waitapu, a collection of short stories by Helen Waaka.
In Waitapu, Helen Waaka’s first publication, short stories interact with one another and characters reappear unexpectedly in a warm and engaging reflection of a small fictitious town.
Open Your Eyes, Jackson Ryder by Rudy Castañeda López tells the story of sixteen-year-old Jackson, after the sudden death of his mother. Set in 1960s America, this coming-of-age story explores themes of art, race, civil unrest, friendship, loss and love.
Behind The Pages
An interview with Adrienne Jansen on A Line Of Sight
What was the inspiration behind writing this novel?
It came from an actual incident several years ago when a farmer shot a cannabis grower by accident, on this father’s farm.
How did you hear this story?
The incident was told to me by a neighbour of the farmer, who was extremely affected by it. I asked him to send me all the newspaper cuttings about it, of which there were a lot. Of course, the story in the novel is now very different from that original incident, but that accident for a family and community, was the catalyst.
Do you think gun usage is a conversation New Zealand is sufficiently engaged with?
Every year in New Zealand hunters shoot and kill other hunters. It’s always topical, and it’s a problem that never seems to be adequately solved.
A Line of Sight is an interesting title. Is there a story behind this?
We tried a lot of titles but this one managed to cover all the bases. It has the reference to shooting, but also conveys sightlessness and coming to see things differently.
What you say is the heart of this novel?
I realised in the writing of it – which was a very long, slow convoluted process – that the story wasn’t just about an individual. It was also about a family, and that family’s history, as well as their community. And how history in a family can repeat itself, even if indirect ways.
Escalator books in the media
Kate Carty and Janet Colson have been busy with ongoing talks and interviews for Run Thomas Run and The Shark Party.
Recently, both featured in interviews on Radio New Zealand and Plains FM. Kate Carty spoke about the many influences for Run Thomas Run, and touched on wanting “to tell the story of migration,” and the difficulties migrants faces. Janet Spoke about The Shark Party, praised as “a fast-paced thriller” where you weren’t “sure what was going to happen to the last page.” She talked about her writing process and extensive arts background, which she drew on for the novel.
In March Kate Carty discussed the plight of the Assyrians with Assyrian Sargo Warde, at the Kilbirnie Public Library to mark Race Relations Day. On May 31, 3.00pm, Janet Colson spoke at an event at The Dowse Gallery, Lower Hutt, on the art of collage in relation to writing her novel.
Our books
Available in bookstores from our website.
The Shark Party by Janet Colson
ISBN 978-0-473-29514, RRP $30
Run Thomas Run by Kate Carty
ISBN 978-0473-29524-0, RRP $32
The Score by Adrienne Jansen
ISBN 978-0-473-25328-0, RRP $28
