Aussie Readers discussion

Devil In The Wind is my 2nd poetry collection. This book deals with the voices of the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. Publication date is April 14, 2019, and on-sale date is June 1st, 2019.

The collection is free verse poetry, episodic and progressive through the bushfire experience.

At present, I am still inviting and seeking ARC readers and reviewers.

An early ARC review (posted here at Goodreads) is as follows:

.....This book is absolutely awesome. It’s vivid depictions of first-hand wildfire evacuations and fights is unreal. It is as if the reader is experiencing these horrors first hand.
.....A short but gripping read.


Anyone interested?

Cheers,


Frank

I think you might need to add ten years to your publication and sales dates Frank ;)

Thanks Brenda.

You see? This demonstrates my earlier comment to you! LOL

LOL!!!

I'm receiving some early feedback from ARC readers. I'll share here:

This one is from a reader in the US:

Wow! I could not stop reading once I read the first few lines. I thought I would read The Devil in the Wind slowly, savoring the details of each experience that you so richly paint. But, I had to quickly move on to the next, pacing just as the fire did to know what happened next, as the flame advanced.

You’ve chronicled a horrific tragedy with a series of human feeling. The poem format made it easy to take in the horror, without getting overwhelmed.

I’ll be reading this again, more slowly, but wanted to let you know how moved I was by your wonderfully written collection! I felt that each of the survivors was speaking directly to me and their human lament of decision, indecision, regret, terror, fear... every emotion was very real. I can only imagine what writing these poems has meant to you, reliving those days so vividly as you penned each piece.

Congrats Frank! They are wonderful words :)

Frank wrote: "I'm receiving some early feedback from ARC readers. I'll share here:

This one is from a reader in the US:

Wow! I could not stop reading once I read the first few lines. I thought I would read The..."

They are, aren't they? Gives me pause to hope for some success for the book.

The lovely Sue Vincent over at her Daily Echo blog has been kind enough to feature a recording of me reading a few of my Small Town Kid poems on her site: https://scvincent.com/2019/03/29/gues...

Next week she will feature a reading from Devil In The Wind

New Review from Jade:

“Devil in the Wind: Voices from the 2009 Black Saturday Bush Fires,” is a book of poetry by Australian poet, Frank Prem, about horrific wildfires across the Australian state of Victoria in 2009. The preface includes descriptions of the physical and trauma effects in the victims' own words. As the book moves along, the poems describe in graphic and statistical detail the scope of the damage to people, places, and things during the fires.

Much of the format of Frank's poetry is stream of consciousness, as expressed from various perspectives, including rescue personnel, those manning the fire watch towers, those who outwitted death, the loved ones of those who didn't survive, and witnesses of horrific pain and suffering. Frank effectively captures the angst and dread of being trapped in what amounts to a living hell for every living thing trapped in a million acres burning.

About twenty percent at the end of the book relates the lingering affects of the trauma after the fires were gone. It talks about survivors returning to their properties, cities existing only as coordinates on a map, and children struggling to get beyond what they experienced during the fires. It is difficult to read what the fire investigation reveals.

Although the book is finished, Frank continues to learn of others' stories in connection with the fires. He says, “and perhaps it [capturing the stories] must go on to ensure we remember to ensure survivors can still tell their tales and to ensure there is a place of safekeeping a refuge for these stories forged in hell.” --Frank Prem. Devil in the Wind (Kindle Locations 1677-1683). Wild Arancini Press.

Standout poems for me were, “like a duck on a lake,” “portraits in green and gold,” “the strength of a truckie,” ”kinglake still,” and “old man roo returns.”

Final impressions: While, and after, reading Frank's poems, the many haunting images contained within the poems add up to a profound impact on me as the reader. What Frank says about “ensur[ing] there is a place of safekeeping... for these stories forged in hell” is both noble and vital. The scribes preserve precious realities that link us to what it means to be sentient creatures on planet earth. It's important for humans, now and in the future, to remember these stories.

Meet the Author of Small Town Kid and (soon to be released ) Devil In The Wind) at Wangaratta Library tonight (1830 hours)

Frank will read and discuss his work with participants and will be available to personally inscribe books, as requested.

Want to hear his work? Check this out: https://frankprem.wordpress.com/2019/...

There is a link here to the author reading 3 poems from Devil In The Wind, posted on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo blog, here:

https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/2251...

Article in the Border Mail Newspaper today. Very nice.

In addition, they recorded me reading the closing poem from Devil In The Wind.

https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/6...

Have a listen. I'd love to hear what you think.

Eloquent and moving new review of Devil In The Wind from UK based Goodreads Author, Mick Canning. Thank you, Mick:

Like Frank’s previous book, Small Town Kid, this collection of poems tells a story of rural and small town Australia. But the similarities between the two books end there.
Whereas the previous collection was a celebration of boyhood in Frank’s hometown, this is an account of the dreadful bushfires of February 2009 that swept through parts of Southern Australia, the area that is home to the author, killing 173 people and leaving a huge area a fire-blackened moonscape.
The poems are a mixture of first-hand accounts, from those who ran desperately from the flames, saving what they could and suddenly terrified at the unbelievable size of the fire and the terrible speed the flames moved at, from firefighters who fought the flames like small companies of soldiers attempting to halt the progress of an overwhelmingly large army, until they literally dropped from exhaustion, from the fire-spotters, and from the frightened friends and relatives trying to raise loved ones down unresponsive phonelines.
In many ways, this is a very difficult book to read, although it is important to do so, especially for those of us fortunate enough to have never had to live through events as terrifying as those described in its poems. It is full of raw emotion and naked detail, traumatised victims and quiet heroes.
At times, I found it essential to look away and take a breather, much as the firefighters had to do, as the emotion became just too much for me.
Poetry is an immensely personal art form. Even when the subject is neither the poet nor the reader, intense emotions come through. Presented in this form, these accounts are shocking. I cannot tell whether they would have felt as shocking had they been prose, but the sparse brevity of the language confronts you almost aggressively, defying you to ignore what they say. Each one seems to scream ‘Listen to me! Don’t you dare turn away until I have finished!’
It is extremely rarely that I would suggest a book should be required reading, but I genuinely think Devil in the Wind should be and is unquestionably a five star read.

I received this book as an ARC with no obligation to leave a review.

Great review Frank!

Here is the link to my first video reading.

This was done for the Border Morning Mail newspaper and appeared in their online edition a week ago. The poem is the last piece in the Devil In The Wind collection.

https://frankprem.com/in-the-media/

Brenda wrote: "Great review Frank!"

Thanks Brenda. Sorry I lost myself for replies for a little while, there.

Happy Easter to you and yours.

Thanks Frank, and to you :)

Another quite wonderful review of Devil In The WInd. The author, this time, lives in South Africa.

It is remarkable to think that the manuscript that was nothing more than papers on my dining room table is now being read and contemplated across the globe. Quite humbling.

Check out Joy's thoughts:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

An exceptional review Frank!

Thanks Brenda.

These reviews are really quite humbling.

And obviously well deserved!

:) It's pretty nice that folk seem to think so.

:)

New review of Devil In The Wind by Goodreads author Sally Cronin:-

Having enjoyed Small Town Kid and Frank Prem's unique way of using verse to convey a story, I was eagerly anticipating this new collection.

The title is apt, as it is not just the frightening power of fire that strikes terror into the hearts of those in its path, but the knowledge that the direction of the flames and your fate is dependent on the fickle winds.
Frank Prem captures the growing concern of the communities in the area as they listen to the radio for the latest reports. So many factors to consider, including should they go or should they stay. Some leave it too late, caught in flight on the roads, families packed into a car trying to outrun the flames leaving everything they own to the mercy of the fire. Whole towns are engulfed in what seems to be minutes, and you can sense the growing terror as the author shares stories of families and individuals waiting desperately for information.

This is a true story, a devastating time of human loss and also of people's way of life and their work, with livestock and wildlife consumed along with property. There are survival stories and moments of hope, particularly when an old Kangaroo, a frequent visitor to town, turns up in the aftermath by a water tank and people rally around to find some food for him.

This is not an easy read as far as the subject matter is concerned, but the author writes so well, that you are carried along in the flow, engaging with the men, women and children attempting to survive and also those brave men and women on the front line desperately trying to save them.In the aftermath everyone wants answers... and justice for those who have perished... because nature was only the accomplice.

I was given an ARC copy of the book by the author without an expectation of a review

I've just started a YouTube channel with a video of myself reading 'callignee butterflies', from Devil In The Wind, which is formally released online as of 31st May, 2019.

I'd be delighted to get some feedback.

Find it here: https://youtu.be/ldwIV8hdXDw

Devil In The Wind goes live online today (May 31st).

To mark the occasion, I've scheduled, not one but two new videos of myself reading. One poem from Devil In The Wind (the warning) and one from Small Town Kid (sweet maureen).

They'll be available later this morning.

Meanwhile, have a look and listen to callignee buterflies here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvfW...

Over a hundred views of my readings on YouTube so far.

I'm delighted.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvfW...

strength of a truckie - video reading on YouTube

My YouTube channel will premiere a new video reading from the Devil In The Wind collection today (June 06) at 14:30 hours (GMT + 10).

This poem is a piece that moves me incredibly each time I read it, almost to tears. Even with the familiarity that I have with the piece. Strange business, but there we are.

This piece is called 'the strength of a truckie' and it is set in the aftermath of the fires.

Find the video here. 

Don't forget, the book is available in e-book and paperback. If you've read it already (thank you), I'd love to see a review on Amazon or Goodreads if you feel inclined to comment.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q9YLD8

A new online interview today: https://nothingintherulebook.com/2019...

A wonderful new review for Devil In The Wind prepared by Goodreads author Robbie Cheadle. Robbie lives in South Africa and they know a little bit about wildfires over there, I believe.

Check it outL https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

An excellent review Frank!

Brenda wrote: "An excellent review Frank!"

Thanks Brenda, I liked it, too. I'm especially interested in the way folk from other countries might react to my Australian focused wor.

Yes it's interesting isn't it. I think many countries experience the same problem, so people can associate with it... unfortunate though that is.

Brenda wrote: "Yes it's interesting isn't it. I think many countries experience the same problem, so people can associate with it... unfortunate though that is."

That's what I'd noticed, Brenda. The wildfires, the storms and cyclones, rainfall events. They're all becoming more common and more severe. Not to mention drought and flood.

Hard to get it in proper perspective but it seems a lot worse than once upon a time.

Completely agree unfortunately...

A new review for Devil In The Wind posted by Goodreads author M.J. Mallon. Thank you, Marjorie.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A new interview of myself by Richard Dee, including his review of Devil In The Wind.

Check it out. Richard is a diverse and prolific writer and his Indie Showcase is a great introduction to many Indie writers.

Also, he's a great cook.

https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/the-ind...

#1 New release: Devil In The Wind

Well, how about that! The Devil gets to be #1 new release in its category.

I’m delighted.

Have you got your copy yet? It’s worth it. Seriously.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q9YLD8V

Congratulations Frank!!

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Frank!!"

Thanks Brenda. It looks very nice, to my eye!

I've had plenty of help with this one and feel very grateful for it.

The next MS - my psychiatry memoir has gone off to get externally edited and the layout and cover happening, just yesterday, and I'm beginning a program of library visits around different regions in Victoria soon.

A wonderful exhaustion.

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Frank!!"
I have to laugh, Brenda. Th book is also ranked #1 new release in 'Natural Disasters' at Amazon.com. I mentioned it to my wife and she just said 'I know'!

#2 in Australian Poetry for the moment. Won't last, but I like it.

It's all happening for you :)

Brenda wrote: "It's all happening for you :)"
Truthfully it's hard to know what to make of it, but there's a lot to get my head around, Brenda.

Frighteningly exciting, in a way.

Go with the flow Frank :)

Brenda wrote: "Go with the flow Frank :)"

Yep. And push the river a bit if I get the chance!

:)

Another wonderful review of Devil In The Wind by Goodreads member, Claire Tennant.

Thank you, Claire.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank you to Goodreads author, Christine Goodnough for a wonderful review of Devil In The Wind. I am delighted and very grateful.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A big thank you to UK based Goodreads author Tom Williams, for his wonderful review of Devil In The Wind.

Check it out, and take a look at his work and website:

http://tomwilliamsauthor.co.uk/anothe...

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to give a quite in-depth online interview to (Goodreads author) Jean Lee of Jean Lee's World blog, recently.

Jean has posted the interview here: https://jeanleesworld.com/2019/07/25/...