Back in 2024 I received the happy news that the sequels to Don’t Call Me Ishmael were going to be reprinted.

I was really glad to hear this because although the first book in the series has always been available (now up to its 27th reprint and still being used in schools here and in Germany) the two sequels have only had a few reprints each and haven’t been in stock for quite a long time.

Recently I received my copies of the new editions of both sequels. They look terrific and will be in stores and online from MAY.

I’m very proud of Don’t Call Me Ishmael. It has been published in seven overseas countries and is by far my biggest selling book.

But as I have said before, I personally think both the sequels are better because they delve deeper into the characters and themes like the power of words and the importance of friendship. They also contain many of my favourite moments – both funny and moving. And I’m really proud of the way the Ishmael’s story ends. I like to think that I sent him and the series off in the way they both deserved.

So what’s Ishmael and the Return of the Dugongs about?

THE RETURN OF THE DUGONGS follows Ishmael Leseur, Orazio (Razz) Zorzotto, James Scobie, Ignatius Prindabel and Bill Kingsley though YEAR TEN at St Daniel’s Boys College.

And what a crazy year it is. Here’s just a taste:

~ At a party Ishmael discovers that the love-of-his-life Kelly Faulkner already has a boyfriend, a Brad Pitt look-alike called … Brad. And he just happens to be perfect. To make matters worse Ishmael then suffers a devastating and humiliating experience in the pool. Almost as bad as being discovered taking a peek into Kelly’s personal diary.

~ Back at school (much to Ignatius Prindabel’s horror) Miss Tarango is teaching the boys Love Poetry – and love is definitely in the air. Ishmael, Razz and their homeroom teacher Mr Guthrie all fall victim to the ‘allure of l’amour’. And even James Scobie, the school’s best orator and future dux, meets someone who ‘turns his brain to mush’.

~ A second debating season starts for the boys but things don’t go well. Due to an ongoing feud over a poetry critique, Razz and Ignatius are more concerned about scoring points off each other than debating the opposition. A recipe for debating disaster.

~ Meanwhile Ishmael continues to be harassed by Barry Bagsley and friends until a stray comment leads to his face having a very close encounter with a ‘big pink comet’ in the form of Barry’s fist. But what has sparked Barry’s anger and what will Ishmael do when he finds out?

~ Back at home, Ishmael’s dad’s cult band The Dugongs is planning a one-night-only reunion 20 years after the tragic death of their original drummer caused them to break-up. But disaster strikes TWICE and the reunion is thrown into total jeopardy. What is needed is an unexpected hero (and secret Dugong’s fanatic) to step in and save the day. Maybe even two.

~ And of course despite the hopelessness of the quest, Razz has a ‘wicked plan’ for Ishmael to win Kelly’s heart – with love poetry! But is poetry that powerful? Could Razz’s own subtle poem Hot or What? really do the job? And could Prindabel’s mathematics-inspired love sonnet One Plus One help put an end to his bitter feud with Orazio? Is it just possible that Ishmael will find the words that match his feelings for Kelly Faulkner?

All these questions and more will be answered on one chaotic and tumultuous night – the night that the Dugongs finally return.

If you want to learn more about the writing and background to THE RETURN OF THE DUGONGS you can check out these previous BLOGS.

2024 Week 47: The return of the Return of the Dugongs. – how the original Australian cover of DUGONGS was created by my son Joe.

blog 91: In which I travel to the Nation’s Capital to be there when the Dugongs returned. – a trip to Canberra to watch a school theatre production of The Return of the Dugongs.

blog 40: In which I reveal further shocking secrets from the Ishmael Trilogy! – Ten things you might not know about the story.

A brief musical (?) interlude – Video from the Dugong’s concert in Munich Germany 2010.

Until I return,

Cheers
Michael