Month: June 2016

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Another good review for Brothers!

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And Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia just keeps collecting those great reviews!

Here’s a short extract from the latest, on The Great Raven blog:

Here is yet another beautiful picture story book from the wonderful Christmas Press. Christmas Press is a fine example of Australian small press publishing, springing up to fill a niche that the large publishing houses have left open. It only does a few books a year, but all of them are carefully and exquisitely produced, retelling folk and fairytales from various countries. 

You can read the full review here. 

Announcements, authors, celebrations, Events, Illustrators, New releases

Celebration of Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia

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Absolutely fantastic event last night at Walcha Gallery of Art, celebrating John Heffernan and Kate Durack’s gorgeous book with Christmas Press, Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia. The evening featured a great exhibition of Kate’s original art from the book and a fabulous talk by John about the experience of writing the book, and the extraordinary Epic of Gilgamesh, which is the source of the stories he retold. The big,enthusiastic crowd just loved it and all the stock of books went in a flash!

Fiona McDonald and Sophie Masson represented Christmas Press at the celebration, and had a lovely time!
Thank you to the Walcha Gallery of Art, Reader’s Companion, and everyone who helped make this such a great event. And congratulations to that fantastically creative duo, John Heffernan and Kate Durack.

authors, Books, celebrations, Illustrators, Launches, New releases

From a modern war zone comes an ancient tale..

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From the Advocate (Walcha):

John Heffernan has a new picture book out, illustrated by local artist Kate Durack. Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia tells two pivotal stories from the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest tales ever written. “These are stories of great warriors and grand battles from the mists of time,” says John Heffernan. “And yet they are set around an area that has recently seen some of the most brutal fighting in the Middle East, Syria and Iraq. To me there is something disturbingly timeless about that.”

The book has only been published a few weeks but has already had three glowing reviews, including a Highly Recommended from Reading Time, the magazine of the Children’s Book Council of Australia. “I can’t claim any credit for that,” John insists. “Gilgamesh is already a thumping good yarn, pumped with action; I’ve only had to re-tell it. Kate’s visuals are what lift this book to that special level. I hope everyone in Walcha will have a look at it.”

And everyone can have a look. The book will be launched at the Walcha Gallery of Art on Friday June 17th at 6.30pm, along with an exhibition of drawings and paintings by Kate. Author and publisher Sophie Masson will launch the book, Kate will say a few words, and John will give a short reading. Copies will be available for sale and signing.

As an added bonus, there will also be an exhibition of works by Stephen King: TO BIRDSVILLE AND BACK.

Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia is published by Christmas Press.

ISBN 978-0-99423-404-9  RRP $19.99launch brothers

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Great review for Brothers in Buzz Words

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Two Tales of Brothers cover higher resThere’s a fabulous review of John Heffernan and Kate Durack’s beautiful book, Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia, in Buzz Words Magazine. Here’s a short extract:

Durack’s rich illustrations and Heffernan’s tight and descriptive text combine to produce what is a great introduction to the epic sagas of ancient times that also include lessons about good versus evil and the ties of family.

A great read, highly recommended.

You can read the whole review here.