Category: News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tara Takes ‘Sharp Turn’ To Twelfth Planet Press

Marianne Delacourt’s unorthodox PI Tara Sharp finds a new home at Twelfth Planet Press as the second novel in her award-winning series, ‘Sharp Turn’ gets a revamp

Cover design by Catherine Larsen

UK 12/12/16 – Award-winning author Marianne Delacourt has just unveiled the new look for her action-packed crime series Tara Sharp and a rewrite of the gripping second novel Sharp Turn. Under the crime imprint Deadlines, this version of Sharp Turn is published by Twelfth Planet Press, an advocate of women’s voices in science fiction, fantasy, horror and crime genres and a natural home for Delacourt. The re-release offers new and revised material for fans of Tara’s exploits, but retaining the humour, peril and paranormal flavour of the original release.

The latest in her series of ‘funny, sexy, smart crime novels for men and women’, Sharp Turn sees Tara’s unconventional PI business evolving, and she’s attracted some interesting customers.  With her dryly humorous take on the world, Tara is expected to both charm new audiences and delight old fans this winter, as she confronts a shady job in the high octane world of the motor cycle industry. Luckily, Tara is better equipped than most, with the uncanny ability to read people’s auras. Armed with a vanilla slice and backed up by her pet galah, Tara is about to come head-to-head with some very dangerous characters.

Book One in the Tara Sharp series, Sharp Shooter was the 2010 winner of the Davitt Award for Best Crime Novel and nominated for the Ned Kelly Award 2010 Best First Crime Novel. Expect the release of Book Three Too Sharp and Book Four Sharp Edge in early 2017.

Author MARIANNE DELACOURT says, “Tara is a protagonist who really grows with her readers. To begin with, she’s an outgoing Australian girl who’s never really taken responsibility for herself. Her unusual gift puts her in some risky situations and through her tenacity and resourcefulness she comes out on top. The series shows her learning how to find a meaningful way to use her gift, while trying to maintain normal relationships with the people around her. She’s just trying to make a living, stay alive, and keep her sense of humour.”

Praise for the Tara Sharp series:

“Australia’s Marianne Delacourt delivers the laughs and action with her sassy, unorthodox PI Tara Sharp…” The Herald Sun

“Tara Sharp is a gust of fresh air in the local crime fiction scene. While it is wonderful that our more literary crime writers are finally getting the attention they deserve, there’s still plenty of room for fast-paced commercial female-oriented Australian crime fiction. And Marianne Delacourt (aka sci-fi writer Marianne de Pierres) has certainly nailed that brief.” The Australian Bookseller and Publisher

“Delacourt has invented a Stephanie Plum character who is just as ballsy and loveable but this one lives in Perth and has two pet Galahs instead of a hamster. An easy read with multiple story layers, Sharp Turn will keep you guessing till the end, pick it up this summer if you like Janet Evanovich and Val McDermid’s Blue Genes.” She Said

Sharp Turn is available now from Twelfth Planet Press. Book One Sharp Shooter is available from Twelfth Planet Press and from Amazon.

Notes for Editors:

Author MARIANNE DELACOURT is the alter ego of award-winning, internationally published Science Fiction writer Marianne de Pierres. Renowned for dark satire in her Science Fiction, Marianne offers lighter, funnier writing under her Delacourt penname. As Delacourt, Marianne is also the author of Young Adult fiction series Night Creatures (Burn Bright, Angel Arias and Shine Light). She is a co-founder of the Vision Writers Group and ROR – wRiters on the Rise, a critiquing group for professional writers. Marianne lives in Brisbane with her husband and two galahs.

tarasharp.com.au      
@mdepierres

Australian Publisher TWELFTH PLANET PRESS is a Perth-based publisher, seeking to challenge the status quo with books that interrogate, commentate and inspire. While showcasing the depth and breadth of Australian fiction to a wider audience, Twelfth Planet Press aims to and provide opportunities for fiction written by female writers, raising awareness of women’s voices in science fiction, fantasy, horror and crime genres.

twelfthplanetpress.com
@12thPlanetPress
facebook.com/TwelfthPlanetPress

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Recently I’ve been in contact with Thea Boshoff who is completing her Dr of Literature and Philosophy at the University of South Africa. Thea’s topic is entitled Love’s True Friend: Representations of Intimacy and Gender in The Sentients of Orion.

Thea had this to say about her research:

As a student and a sci-fi fan, I believe that Marianne de Pierres’ Sentients of Orion series has deeply enriched the swashbuckling space opera genre by introducing the elements of gender fluidity and gender diversity throughout. It has been my privilege to spend the last couple of years dwelling in the pages of The Sentients of Orion, examining the lives, relationships and intimacies of the characters toward completion of my D Litt et Phil with The University of South Africa.  After having spent so much time with her creations, I am over the moon to finally ‘meet’ Marianne, and to be collaborating with her! 

Thea Boshoff 2016

Not only is it wonderful to meet Thea, another feminist SF reader, but I’m particularly delighted that of all my work, she chose the Sentients of Orion to analyse. I put my heart and soul into this series, and it devoured five years of my life. I hope, in some small way, it has contributed to the conversation around gender norms. Thanks Thea, can’t wait to read your thesis!

I’ve been working away on various stories and I decided to have some placeholder covers made for them by Austin Designworks. This gives you an idea of what’s coming, and helps me focus on the finish line.

Firstly, my PhD novel, A Once and Future Past, which is a feminist time travel novel set both in the future and in 1400’s France. The protagonist, Ella West, mingles with Christine de Pizan, Yolande of Aragon, and Joan of Arc.

This is followed by a family biography entitled The Lost American Prince: the splendid life of Colonel Herman Thorn. Fascinating, wonderful story.

And then The Season of Impossible Dreams a YA contemporary drama about three Australian high school students striving for basketball scholarships at US colleges.