2024 Week 8: Not the post I promised.

Posted on February 27, 2024 by mgbauer

So last week my blog was Dedicated to the Dedicatees – PART 1 where I looked at the people and stories behind the Dedications in my OLDER READERS books and this week was going to be PART 2 where I continued on and covered the YOUNGER READERS and PICTURE BOOK dedications.

CHANGE OF PLAN!

For two reasons. ONE – I forgot one of my Older Readers books that should have been included in PART 1 and TWO – we’ve been away most of the week up in Port Douglas in Far North Queensland and I didn’t have my laptop with me or much time to write.

So what I’ve decided to do is complete the PART1 Dedications and then briefly recap our Pt Douglas trip.

Ok, so the YOUNG ADULT book I left out last week was my most recent one. This one:

THE THINGS THAT WILL NOT STAND -2018

Of all my Dedications this is the only one not directed at anyone in particular. The ‘Dudeists’ is a reference to the one of my favourite films The Big Lebowski which stars Jeff Bridges as The Dude. The film itself is mentioned in the story and quite central to it and the title of my book is taken from a line in the movie where the Dude character says, ‘This aggression will not stand man.’

I always say that every story has to find its ‘tribe’. I like to think that this story’s tribe is filled with hopeless (and hopeful) romantics like me and quiet heroes with good hearts. This novel is also a personal favourite. It is a love letter to my University days and the hopes and possibilities that lurked around every corner.

There, that’s done. Now briefly, our five days in Port Douglas, 66 km north of CAIRNS.

We took the SKYRAIL up to KURANDA and back on a damp and misty day.

We saw beautiful beaches (Four Mile Beach) and amazing rainforests (Mossman Gorge).

Back at the resort we relaxed, went swimming and my wife beat me at table tennis and darts. I was going to try billiards but decided against it, because you know, it’s not a competition.

We got up close and personal with lots of wildlife (Wildlife Habitat Pt Douglas).

I even spotted a couple of RODNEYS in the wild at Cairns airport lounge!

And there was much more. All in all a great 5 days.

Next week DEDICATED TO THE DEDICATEES – PART 2. I promise.

Cheers
Michael

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2024 Week 7: Dedicated to the Dedicatees – PART 1.

Posted on February 19, 2024 by mgbauer

One of the things you have to think about when a new book is coming out is to whom, if anyone, are you going to dedicate it. Sometimes the answer is obvious and easy. Sometimes it takes a bit more consideration.

So I thought I’d have a look back on the people I’ve dedicated my books to over the years, starting in this blog with just the books for OLDER READERS.

THE RUNNING MAN – 2004:

This one was pretty easy. My first book. There might not be another one. So I wanted to get all the most important people down – my immediate family. The Running Man reference was mainly about those often hidden things we all carry inside ourselves – our dreams, secrets, fears, hopes, desires, pains – whatever they might be.

DON’T CALL ME ISHMAEL – 2006:

Family with the first book, friends with the second. The ‘threats’ mentioned were the joking ones (I think!) that came from my friends after The Running Man was published and they didn’t get a mention in that dedication. That ‘friendship, love and laughter’ continues to this day. Just this week in fact we had a laughter-filled get together and amongst the group present were all of the people mentioned in the dedication.

ISHMAEL AND THE RETURN OF THE DUGONGS – 2007:

My wife’s father Ben (with our daughter Megan in the photo) passed away before this book was released. He was a big man with a big personality and a big heart. He was all of the things mentioned in the dedication and much more. Everything he did, whether it was artwork or house painting or carpentry or building, he did to perfection. He constructed the study where I wrote the first four books and the magnificent bar where many happy times were spent. He taught Meg and Joe how to draw and along with his wife Betty, he came to our family’s rescue on many occasions. I don’t think Ben possessed the ’embarrassment gene’ so no situation was inappropriate for pushing his son-in-law’s books. Ben was born in Rotterdam so it was fantastic that my first ever overseas sale was the Dutch translation of The Running Man

DINOSAUR KNIGHTS – 2009:

Mum passed away before this fourth book was released. She was so proud and supportive of my writing. She had a writing dream herself but didn’t get the same opportunities that I did. In 1960 Mum won the Courier Mail “My Mother” writing competition with the grand prize of an open shopping order worth 20 pound. We all got our photo in the paper along with Mum’s mum Kate. Mum’s winning entry began with: ‘A good mother is the most precious and priceless gift that anyone can have. She may not have university degrees but she needs ‘degrees’ far more exacting: she needs patience, understanding, love, affection, a sense of humour and, above all, she must be unselfish.’ She was describing her own mother, but it’s a description and tribute that applies equally to her.

ISHMAEL AND THE HOOPS OF STEEL – 2011:

I’m lucky to have to two brilliant, talented and creative children on whom I can call when I need help. Joe and Meg have always supported and encouraged (and inspired) my writing. Because Joe was living at home at the time he read through the Hoops of Steel manuscript and provided many valuable corrections, suggestions and changes. Fortunately for me Joe is a bit of a comic (and other) genius and knows what he’s talking about. That’s why he and his wife Rita have over 3 MILLION subscribers on their ARTSPEAR ENTERTAINMENT YouTube channel. So when Joe gives anything I do his tick of approval, it means a lot.

THE PAIN, MY MOTHER, SIR TIFFY, CYBER BOY AND ME – 2016.

The dedication is to my publisher Dyan Blacklock and my editor Celia Jellett. Dyan pulled the ms of The Running Man off the slush pile and is the reason I’m a published author. Celia made my manuscripts more than they were and helped me become a better writing. Because of dramatic changes at Scholastic in 2016 this would be the last of my books that both Celia and Dyan would be involved with. All in all I worked with them on 14 books. They were, and will always be, more to me than a publisher and an editor. They were teachers, protectors, supporters and friends. I owe my writing career to them and I never wanted our partnership to end. The quotes in the dedication are taken from the quote that appears at the beginning of The Running Man – the book that started it all.

What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when we bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen.

Those two ladies definitely made miracles happen for me.

Next week in PART 2 I’ll look at the Dedications found inside the covers of my Younger Reader and Picture Books.

Cheers
Michael

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2024 Week 6: It’s not what you think.

Posted on February 14, 2024 by mgbauer

You’re probably thinking because I’m a couple of days late with this week’s blog that I must have forgotten all about it. Wrong! I wrote it on time but then the dog ate it. Yes, that’s right.

Here’s a picture of him just to prove it. Bad dog Rover! Bad dog Llama Rover!

Anyway, now that we’ve got that misunderstanding cleared up, I can get on with telling you what happened in the last week. AGAIN.

The main thing that happened was that my editor at Scholastic Australia sent me the illustrator’s draft storyboard of my next picture book which is due to be released next year.

It’s looking good and it’s exciting finally seeing the words and images start to come together. After feedback and suggestions from me and from the editor, the illustrator will now work on an updated version. Can’t wait to see it.

The book itself is about a frog who has big dreams. Maybe too big.

I also finished Book 5 in my ’24 in 24′ Reading Challenge.

It was the biography of NBA Basketball superstar LeBron James by Jeff Benedict. Really enjoyed it. An incredible athlete and a fascinating man with an amazing life journey.

Actually LeBron and I have quite a lot in common. Way back when I played soccer, I used to were a headband too

Apart from that, things have been pretty quiet. My wife and I did spend a lovely day and night out in the countryside at beautiful Dayboro … but we definitely didn’t see any llamas!

Cheers
Michael

PS: And a very Happy Valentine’s Day to this cutie!

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2024 Week 5: I thought you’d never ask!

Posted on February 5, 2024 by mgbauer

As a published author people are constantly sending me emails asking a mountain of questions on a huge range of topics. In fact, it was only in November – the year before last year … or possibly the one before that – that I was inundated with one. And my answer on that particular occasion was:

“No. You can’t deposit 3 million US dollars from Nigeria into my bank account! What if all your money got all mixed up with all my money? How confusing would that be?’

Anyway … to prevent another inevitable flood of emails into my inbox I thought I’d try to get ahead of the game and pre-empt some of the questions I could be bombarded with this year if anybody cared a hoot about what I think or even knew who I was.

So …

Q1. Dear Michael Gerard Bauer I’m suffering from writer’s block? What do you do when you just can’t seem to find the words to say what you want to say?

A: Ummmmmm … aaaaah … pass.

Q2. Hi there author dude! I’ve noticed that in every single one of your books all you ever do is use exactly the same 26 letters over and over and over again, but you just arrange them into a lot of little groups and combinations and then string them together in a different order. Don’t you think you should be more original and creative and try something different? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!

A: Sips fof!

Q3. Dear Mr Bauer. Recently I read your book Don’t Call Me Ishmael. It’s the best book in the history of the Universe! But … I was just wondering if you think that one of the Central Themes could be the ‘Power of Language’ and if you do, then the other thing I was wondering, was how you think that theme might be revealed through the novel’s plot and characters. I would love to hear your thoughts. And if it’s not too much trouble could you send your reply as a double-spaced 600-800 word document by May 2nd at the latest.

A: Sure. What’s your teacher’s name so that I can include it on the cover sheet?

Q4. Hi Michael. If you weren’t a full-time writer, what would you do?

A: Probably I’d return to my highly successful modelling career. 

Q5. How old are you?

A: Well you know, personally I think age is really just a state of mind and you’re only as old as you feel. So in answer to your question, I’d say I’m probably around 126.

Q6. Hey there. What is your favourite book by another author?

A: Other people write books? Why do they bother?!?

Q7. Hi MGB. When I get a new book I always read the ending first to see if I’m going to like it. Do you think this is wrong?

A: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggggh!

Q8. How long is a piece of string?

A: It depends. Am I measuring it from the short end or the long end?

Q9. How do you deal with a bad review?

A: Well I like to think that there’s no such thing as a bad review. Just some people who are too stupid to realise how great my book really is.

10. When you write Picture Books for really little kids, how do you manage to get your thoughts and feelings and words down to their level?

A: Down?

Well I hope that clears up a few things. But if you have any other burning issues that you’d like answers to, I want you to know that I have what is widely regarded as a ‘dangerous’ level of knowledge on a vast range of topics – and I’m not afraid to use it! So ask away.

Cheers
Michael

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