Saturday, July 7, 2012

Award Winning book : Gunnedah Hero by Clancy Tucker


Ebook : GUNNEDAH HERO 
Awards: Won two awards in the Australian National Literary Awards
Genre : Fiction, Young adult , Action -Adventure, Coming of Age
Author : Clancy Tucker
Author Website-buy this book at : http://clancytucker.com.au/buy.php
Amazon Author page : http://www.amazon.com/Clancy-Tucker/e/B005MLO7QA
Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13447986-gunnedah-hero
Amazon Store: http://www.amazon.com/Gunnedah-Hero-ebook/dp/B0076E8URI
Smashwords Store :  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/114638
Other bookstores : http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com/gunnedah-hero.html
ISBN :  978 0 646 56847 8 (Ebook) and 976 0 646 55733 5 (Paperback)
Reviews :  Multiple quality reviews


BLURB : Fourteen-year-old Gunnedah ‘Gunnie’ Danson has a 500-word assignment on drought. His late grandfather has left him a box containing a manuscript. It’s been written by Gunnie’s great-great-grandfather, Smokey ‘Gun’ Danson after his journey up the long paddock during a harsh drought as a fourteen-year-old drover in 1910. 

At the back of the manuscript is an envelope. It’s NOT to be opened until Gunnie has read the entire story. Gunnie spends the weekend at Wiralee Station; a cattle station that’s been in the family since 1848. There, he reads the awesome manuscript and learns of Smokey’s adventurous journey.
 

Gunnie overhears several secretive conversations. His snobby Aunty Kate wants to divorce his uncle and sell Wiralee Station. He finishes the manuscript and opens the mysterious envelope. Will it legally prevent his aunt from selling Wiralee Station? 

Links  to ‘GUNNEDAH HERO’ – REVIEWS

*** BUZZ WORDS MAGAZINE *** Top book review http://buzzwordsmagazine.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/gunnedah-hero.html

“I loved It! I couldn’t put it down and it is full of wonderful characters; stories and sub-stories that are so interesting it’s like reading the Arabian nights. One story leads to another then another and it goes on, linking to something else just as extraordinary. The peripheral happenings are as magnetic as the main goings on. Fantastic! You’re on a winner. Good luck. It deserves to be noticed.”
“Gunnedah Hero is a book that will be remembered long after its reading. This is a perfectly crafted, exceptionally well-written book which has been self-published. It comes highly recommended by the reviewer.”  
Anastasia Gonis - Book Reviewer for ‘Buzz Words’ – January 2012.

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Other top rated ‘GUNNEDAH HERO’ – REVIEWS

“There is much to learn and appreciate in this novel. There are references to bush lore, bush tucker and medicines, the wild life, the value of the Bulletin, the postal services, the country courts, all windows into life one hundred years ago. Though most names and some places are fictional, quite a few places are not and can be found via the Internet, including Gunnedah which still has its memorial to the murdered miners. There is a glossary of terms, a family tree in this absorbing family history, and a website for reader interaction. This is a valuable read for ages 10 and over, in fact for all ages. JDA” 
Book review in CBCA magazine, ‘Reading Time’, February 2012 Vol 56, No 1. John Adams – Book reviewer – CBCA - 
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‘Clancy, what a great book. So typically Australian, a great bush story, of mateship, overcoming hardship, courage, love, and triumph. Never a dull moment, and makes you want to read on with every chapter. Full of compassion, and warm hearted moments, the reader is not infrequently in tears filled with real emotion.’  
Doctor Judith O’Malley-Ford, MBBS (Qld), MPH, JP (Qual), FRACGP, Author of ‘The Australian Medical Dictionary’.
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 “Wow! What a story. I loved it. It wasn’t a book I would normally pick up to read, but it was a book I couldn’t put down. Smokey was my fave, I found that I didn’t keep reading to see what was in the envelope, I kept reading because loved being on the journey with Smokey. I want the sequel now haha. Fntastic, really. I came to work with bleary eyes on numerous occasions because I stayed up late to read, unable to put it down. Thanks so much for giving me a copy.’
Tammy Lovett, Editor, Alexandra Standard, Yea Chronicle.

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 ‘I loved the story. I found the plot believable and the characters authentic. The structure of parallel narrators works well, particularly because both boys are a similar age and have the same standards or principles. You have the very successful formula of the kids showing just how capable they are in the absence of adults, plus a few “baddies” to test or push them a little further.’ 
Geri Coughlan – Head Librarian, Trinity College, Melbourne.
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‘Clancy Tucker is a great writer and has produced a magnificent yarn for everyone to enjoy. A delightful story that had me hooked right from the start. Clancy’s way of writing takes you right into the pages of the book, making you feel very much part of it ... you will find that once you start reading, you will want to continue, without interruption, until you’ve reached the end. This is a heart warming, well written story that will transport you to another era and back again, bringing with it lessons you can use in your own life today. You won’t be disappointed ... it would make a great film. I would strongly recommend this book, it will leave an impression.’
Deb Cullen – UK author – book reviewer

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‘Read Gunnedah Hero while I was away. I really appreciated the realism and the mammoth amount of research that must’ve gone into it. I also liked the way the book alternates between current day and 1910. Using naming the foal as a common thread throughout the current-day story was a master stroke. As Gunnie would say, love ya work. Thank you so much for sharing it with me. Wishing you every success with it.’
Vicki Tyley – author.
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‘I’ve finished your book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found the story very believable. Have done a lot of bush camping over the years so could relate to the life. As to what was in the envelope? Well – proof that the property could not be sold as long as a family member was living on the property – BRILLIANT! Congratulations – it is a really good read.’
Jean Laws – editor ‘Eyes and Ears’.
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‘It’s a beautiful story, Clancy, filled with likeable, enduring characters. It deserves to be in print. I loved the finish and how you wrapped it up. It all came together beautifully – and that goes for both periods. You’re an excellent storyteller so there was never any need to slash and burn. I LOVE the back and forth of the Gunnie / Smokey timeframes. I reckon it works really well and adds a truly original element to the story. It also works for the suspense – especially now Gunnie has the dilemma of his aunt’s phone call. It’s good to keep readers on edge and there’s no shortage of action and drama in your writing.’ 
Julie Jay, ‘Rebus Press’ – Editor & author.
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“When I read this Gunnedah Hero, I think of you. I have a feeling that I read something so personal, so precious to the heart, so sentimental ... I haven't finished reading your story yet, but I want to tell you that I love this story and it should be read by the Australian in schools, and the citizen of the world like me and other young adults. You are a very proud Aussie. I love this.” 
Anchansiri Sriyananda – Bangkok, Thailand – former senior Thai diplomat.
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‘This is a brilliant book in the ilk of ‘Diary of a Welsh Swagman’, a book my grandmother gave me as a girl, about a man walking the district I grew up in. This book showed, as does Smokey’s story, how tough life could be, and just how much could be achieved with very little.’
Jill Smith – Author ‘Dual Visions’ – book reviewer.

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‘My local librarian complained to me that there are not enough books for boys. She said the libraries are always looking for a great adventure story that will appeal to the young male members. Well, she can’t go past this one. This is a wonderful coming of age story for boys ... it is cleverly written and is a heart warming and enjoyable read that will appeal to more than the child and young adult audience it is targeting. I became totally lost in the bush settings and the lives of the two main protagonists and felt like I was there with them. It has been favourably acclaimed by many notable people. You and your children will love this book. What makes a great historical novel for kids? This man has the key to that genre.’
Elaine Ouston – Author, editor and publisher – Morris Publishing Australia.

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I have received and read your book! I liked it and was touched. I will tell my publishers about it. The content is of course very Australian, but you never know.
Geri Brandjes, senior editor, The Netherlands, May 2012.

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Thank you for your patience while I had your manuscript assessed. I really enjoyed the read, and was captivated by the characters you had created. It is a great story.  I have no doubt you will have success in placing this book outside of Australia. It’s a great story, and it’s written well. I personally enjoyed it.
Tina Chou, Peony Literary Agency, Shanghai, China
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Links to the Author's Interviews, Reviews and Magazines where GUNNEDAH HERO has been featured and discussed:

Morris Publishing Australia - eBook publisher :  http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com/clancy-tucker---author.html

Writers Web : http://writersweb.com.au/authors/clancy-tucker/


LinkedIn : http://www.linkedin.com/pub/clancy-tucker/42/72/156


The Write Life - interview : http://carolwarner.wordpress.com/tag/clancy-tucker/

Helen Ross Writes - interview : http://misshelenwrites.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/interview-with-clancy-tucker

Authors Australia :  http://www.authorsaustralia.org/our-members#clancy-tucker

Buzz Wordshttp://buzzwordsmagazine.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/writing-historical-fiction-gunnedah.html

New South Wales Writers' Centre book review - Australia : 
http://clancytucker.com.au/book-reviews.php 


Sheryl Gwyther - interview : http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/blog-tour-australian-author-clancy-tucker/

Creative Kids Tales - review : http://www.creativekidstales.com.au/authors/emerging-authors/clancy-tucker/clancy-tucker.html

Kids Book Review :  http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2012/01/blog-tour-gunnedah-hero-by-clancy.html

Kids Book Capers - interview :  http://content.boomerangbooks.com.au/kids-book-capers-blog/tag/clancy-tucker

 









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