Tsunami nominated for two awards at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults!

 

We are thrilled that our latest publication Tsunami by Ned Wenlock has been nominated for two awards at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2024! It is nominated for the Young Adult Fiction Award and Best First Book.

You can see the full shortlist of nominated titles HERE. 

The winners will be announced on Wednesday 14th of August at a ceremony at Pipitea Marae in Wellington. Congratulations to Ned and all the nominated authors!

Reviews are in for Tsunami!

It’s been a whirlwind of activity since Tsunami was sent to bookstores at the start of August, and the feedback has been fantastic! Here’s a quick sample:

'A powerfully human coming-of-age story, and one of the best representations of New Zealand life I’ve seen in comics. Highly recommended.'

- EDDIE MONOTOME, Review for The Sapling

'An important book. It is both brutal and beautiful. An examination of bullying, a bullseye description of the New Zealand that never quite makes it to the brochure, but is far more indicative of the country we are than any of the marketing would ever allow to slip out.'

- SIMON SWEETMAN, Sounds Good! Substack

Tsunami is a cautionary tale that reminded me, chillingly, of the song Jeremy by Pearl Jam: cyclical abuse and misconstruction of actions and intentions that lead to dark, sad consequences. There is so much more going on than I’ve mentioned – it’s a psychological portrait of human behaviour condensed into an intense read. It was absolutely compelling.

- LOUISE WARD, Wardini Books review for Hawkes Bay Today/NZ Herald

You can read the full reviews here:

The Sapling, August 10, 2023. Reviewed by Eddie Monotone

Review by Simon Sweetman from his Sounds Good! Substack

Review by Louise Ward from Wardini Books for Hawkes Bay Today/NZ Herald

Aotearoa New Zealand Review of Books,review by Ant Sang

We’ve also got some interviews with author Ned Wenlock that you can check out:

The Spinoff, Interview with Toby Morris

Ratworld online magazine, interview with Jennifer Cheuk

Author interviewed on bFM’s art show

Author interview on Paekākāriki 88.2FM (with extract on website)

Announcing Tsunami

 

Earth’s End Publishing is pleased to announce the release of our first book since 2019, Tsunami by Ned Wenlock.

Tsunami is a 278-page graphic novel about Peter, a self-righteous 12-year-old boy, and his fraught last six weeks at primary school.

Told in Ned’s unique and beautifully pared down style, Tsunami is a taunt page turner, a coming-of-age story, and nuanced examination of teenage alienation and the unpredictable consequences of our actions. 

Tsunami will be available August 2023 at all good bookshops, comics shops, online retailers, or direct from Earth’s End Publishing HERE

Stay tuned for preview images, review links and media interviews.

Ordering Information:

Retailers can order Tsunami from David Bateman Ltd, info@batemanbooks.co.nz, (09)4157664

Earth's End Publishing can be contacted at earthsendpublishing@gmail.com

Publishing Details:

Tsunami 

Ned Wenlock

Synopsis: At school, being right isn’t always the right answer. Peter’s bull-headed commitment to the truth has already picked him out as a target for the school bullies. The misfit new girl is a complete badass, but seems as interested in his nemesis, Gus, as she is in Peter, and his parents are too busy bickering to care about any of it.

It all feels overwhelming to Peter ─ like a tsunami is coming and he isn’t sure he can stop it.

Tsunami is a coming-of-age story, a nuanced examination of teenage alienation and the unpredictable consequences of our actions.

RRP: $34.99

ISBN: 9780473655679

Format: 216x170mm portrait, paperback, 276 pages, black & white illustrations

Ages: 15+ mild violence, offensive language

Publishing date: August 2023

Ross Murray brings Rufus Marigold to ComicFest!

Above: Ross Murray.

Photo by David Thomsen. Copyright David Thomsen 2019. 

Recently Rufus Marigold creator Ross Murray was a guest at ComicFest, a comics festival held in Wellington on May 2nd – 4th, at the National Library. 

Held to coincide with Free Comic Book Day, a host of local comic guests descended on Wellington for the event including:  Katie O'Neill, Roger Langridge, Dylan Horrocks, Ant Sang, Sarah Laing, Jesse Barrett, Giselle Clarkson, Michel Mulipola, Jem Yoshioka, Paul Diamond, Alex Cara, and Sharon Murdoch! Free comics and a stall of local graphic novels were provided by Wellington's long-time premiere comic shop, GRAPHIC.

From left: Ross Murray, Jem Yoshioka, Alex Cara and Hannah Benbow.

Photo by David Thomsen. Copyright David Thomsen 2019. 

 

Murray took part in a panel discussion 'Stories from Aotearoa/New Zealand' with Jem Yoshioka, Paul Diamond (not pictured), Alex Cara and discussion chair Hannah Benbow. "I had so much fun at ComicFest in Wellington this past weekend," said Murray. 

"There were so many great workshops, presentations and panels which over 2,300 people attended in total. Well done to Monty Masseurs from Wellington City Libraries, Hannah Benbow from the National Library and everyone else who helped organise it. And thanks to GRAPHIC for feeding so many comics to the hungry masses and for hosting me at their store on Friday. Finally, a huge thank you to the National Library for inviting me to speak. You might not be able to tell from this photo but I even came close to enjoying myself."  

Above: The GRAPHIC store at ComicFest.

Photo by David Thomsen. Copyright David Thomsen 2019. 

Rufus Marigold by Ross Murray is available at all good bookstores and comic shops now.

Listen up: Ross Murray talks to RNZ Nine to Noon!

Mount Maunganui based illustrator Ross Murray has produced a graphic novel broaching the subject of social anxiety, a story he tells from his own tough experience. Rufus Marigold is Ross' first book, featuring a self-loathing nervous wreck of a man-monkey chimpanzee, who works in an office brimming with apparently socially competent people.  In comic form we see the eponymous hero of the book, Rufus Marigold continuously facing awkward social situations, enduring sleepless nights, battling with his negative interior voice and struggling with small talk.

As Ross tells Kathryn Ryan, Rufus Marigold is both funny and dark. You can listen to the Nine to Noon show HERE.

Rufus Marigold Book Launch and Exhibition!

Above: Author and Artist Ross Murray at The Tuesday Club Art Gallery.

Our book launch and art exhibition for Rufus Marigold will be held at The Tuesday Club last Thursday and was a huge success! A big thank you to Nick Worthington at The Tuesday Club for all his generosity and support. Also to Garage Project who sponsored our refreshments; Unity Books Auckland - for looking after sales on the night, and to Creative New Zealand for their vital support in this publication. Also for Chris Leskovsek, for the beautiful photography on launch night, some of which we are sharing here:

Above: Author with the Earth's End Publishing team (from left): Damon Keen, Ross Murray, Kelly Sheehan and Adrian Kinnaird.

All photography copyright Chris Leskovsek 2019. 

EVENT: Rufus Marigold Book Launch and Art Exhibition!

Join Earth's End Publishing for the launch of our latest graphic novel, Rufus Marigold by Ross Murray.

The launch will be held at The Tuesday Club, 42 Airedale Street in Auckland Central, along with an exhibition of original art by Ross Murray, featuring his eponymous character and an exploration of related themes from his book.

Kindly sponsored by Garage Project with refreshments provided. Copies of Rufus Marigold will be available for sale on the night courtesy of Unity Books Auckland.

The Rufus Marigold Art Exhibition will continue after the book launch at The Tuesday Club from Friday 1st of March to Sunday 3rd of March.

You can RSVP at our Facebook event HERE.

So come pick up a copy of the book, meet the author, and view some amazing artwork!