THREE NEW N.Z. NOVELS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27629, 9 April 1955, Page 3

THREE NEW N.Z. NOVELS

Launched a few months ago, a •cheme to foster New Zealand authorihip through simultaneous publication of novels in England and in New Zealand has already had promising results. Three New Zealand novels are to be issued this year under the arrangement.

A London publishing firm which received a New Zealand manuscript recently wrote to the Wellington firm stating that the writer was worth encouraging, but the book could not be accepted unless the New Zealand firm was associated in its publication. Our reason is based on the fact that! nrst novels with overseas settings are! difficult to sell in this country in suffi- i cient quantities to oreak the back of! the considerable first edition it is neceaaiy to nrint,” the publishers wrote. “Regrettably, this is one of the where the economics of producPlay as big a part in reaching a decision as does the merit of the w ork itself.” acceptance of this proby the New Zealand publishers, ■ and A. W. Reed, of Wellington, novel will reach the bookshops. I r we, it might never have been i published. Novels accepted under the be published in New Zeain the same format, at the same ffi£. and at the same time as the f?Shsh edition. The guaranteed sale ? a large number of copies in New not only makes publication Pypple, but also provides for a sub*7° «al increase in the royalty payments to the author over those which be available with an edition confined to England. w Jn e . first of these novels will be Turnage With Eve,” by Mrs Grace of Christchurch, who has writbut satisfying story of ™fly life in this city. The novel dad already been serialised in New and has now been accepted tor serialisation in England. The New edition of “Marriage With will be available shortly. . , come “Shadowed Journey,” Y Mrs Mavis Winder, also of Christ - church. This is a fast-moving tale, having for its focal point the railway disaster at the Tangiwai bridge on Christmas Eve. 1953. The third novel for the year will be Kaka,” by Mr J. F. Cody, of jelhneton. The central figure in this “tory of bold adventure is a young man is as hore in New Zealand, marooned, in the early r”® 8 ;. Cod y is the author of the biography of Sir Maui Pomare, /fiah of Two Worlds.” and the official history, “21 Battalion.” He is now the history of the Maori zFtahom as well as preparing aner New Zealand novel for pqblica-

, these novels are successful, and it « expected that they will be, New “*ajand novelists can look forward to nftiT .setter prospects for publication work than existed in the past, -dere the separate New Zealand and ryhsh markets were too difficult to acceptance, the combined ryket not only assures publication of rpthwhile manuscripts but provides royalty payment to their