While I was housekeeping some files tonight I revisited the beautiful images Anna Repp created for my collection of interlocked stories, Glitter Rose, published by Twelfth Planet Press. I though it would be nice to share with you some of the pictures she sketched that didn’t make it into the book (only because we couldn’t afford all the colour). I love them!

The first two show the main character, Tinashi, on the verandah of her beach shack, sipping pink champagne. In the third she is absent but her glass is there.

Below is the cover we eventually chose, and you can see the glittering colour in the sand.

If you’re not familiar with the collection, here are some review snippets that will give you an idea.

Domestic Extremist reflects on Glitter Rose.  ”Marianne de Pierres, Glitter Rose, 2010
I picked this up in Sydney’s Galaxy Bookshop and spent a very relaxed 50th birthday reading it. There are four linked short stories about a small, imaginary Australian island which has been colonised by strange spores from the ocean deeps, organisms that can bathe the beach in a pink light, create giant sandcastles that are impervious to water and subtly alter the bodies and minds of the infected island residents. There’s a small ensemble cast of characters (reminding me often of The Last Tobacco Shop in the World) in which a new arrival to the island is constantly out of her depth and learning the hard way, plus there are deaths and strange goings on of a mystical and earthy nature. De Pierres was clearly inspired by J.G. Ballard’s Vermillion Sands and these tales share a Ballardian atmosphere of languorous decay; undoubtedly the best story is ‘Mama Ailon’, a deftly composed tale about a strangely cathartic birth which brings the stories to a kind of conclusion – in her notes De Pierres says this story cycle is probably complete, but no – she absolutely must write more of these, and I must read more from her.”

“Strange, deep, haunting … the stories in Glitter Rose will challenge you, and you may find some of the remarkable and vivid imagery creeping into your subconscious. I definitely recommend this worthwhile collection. Just be aware that these may look simple, but they’re not casual reading. You’ll need to bring something to the table, too.” Geek Speak Magazine

Glitter Rose has its own website. You can explore more about it there.

Some nice news bits this week beginning with the announcement that Glitter Rose will be in the World Fantasy Con bags in San Diego this month. Twelfth Planet Press have sent them across as their calling card! This is extremely cool.

Also, today is release day for Angel Arias. We’ve been doing giveaways on FB all week and its been fun. Thanks to those who joined in. Some reviews have popped up around the place, including Laine’s Fiction Books Corner, Tassie Book Reviews, In The Good Books, ALPHA Reader and The Book Gryffin.

Around the Net, there are some bits and pieces as well. Brigitte Sutherland and I talked to Geek Speak Magazine about Peacemaker. Aura from Aura’s Book Box has been our wonderful guest vlogger at Burn Bright talking about how she fell in love with reading. Like Priscilla from The Readables, Aura is eloquent and vibrant.

I’m heading down to Melbourne on Frdiay for SheKilda where I’ll be on several panels and catching up with friends and bloggers. I’m also having a interview with Nalini from Dark Matter Fanzine – should be a great weekend.

So excited to be sent this by Sean Wright who is a great advocate of Aussie writers. The brochure is in South Australian libraries helping promote the National Year of Reading 2012.

Sean supports Aussie writers in a very real way – buy buying their work and talking to others about them.

One of his favourites and mine is Twelfth Planet Press (publisher of my Glitter Rose collection) who have recently made the step into publishing novels. You can read all about it here. TPP will be one of our major independents in years to come. If you have a masterpiece you’ve been working on then I recommend you send it to them.