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US Libraries and Fiction Preview

Angels Can Fly has begun to break into the American library market, with the first ten copies now in US Public Libraries. Check out your library to see if they have a copy, and if they don't, tell them they can get a copy from the US wholesale distributor, Ingram Library Supplies.

"Clown is a fascinating, diverse, complex and exciting art form, which has existed around the planet for thousands of years. Like any art form it has to evolve to stay relevant to the culture nurturing it, and at the same time, and by its very nature, clown teases and turns upside down the cultural patterns and boundaries around us."

This month we continue a series of excerpts from the book, with a preview of part of the fictional section from chapter one:

Easy's Pride and Joy

Easy arrived down at the street-theatre pitch early, his four year old son, Jasper, running at his heels. Sugar had already started a show however, so he took off his back-pack and sat down on the grass, to consider the options.

Jasper sat in his lap, his eyes on the show.

Sugar had a large crowd and, from where they were sitting, Easy and Jasper were just getting glimpses of her through gaps in the audience. Then a large group walked away, right in front of them, and they got a window into the show.

Sugar wiped the back of her hand across her mouth in a vulgar way, adjusted her trademark bustle which enlarged her backside, then smiled warmly at a man who stood in front of her in the audience.

"Hi, what's your name?" she asked him.

He made no reaction, fearful of where any response might lead, and immobilised by the attention of the crowd.

"The questions get harder," she teased him.

Easy saw the realisation dawn on him that it was easier to play along, than to resist.

"Mike," he admitted.

"Right answer!" she encouraged him.

He grinned.

"Now I want you to do exactly as I do," she told him.

"Okay Mike?"

He nodded. Even a nod was a daring move, and she turned to face the same direction as him, and imitated his reluctant stance, and the audience laughed.

Then she took a step forward, and waited in anticipation that he should do the same. After a moment, lush with humour from his indecision, he followed her lead, which brought him out of the crowd and onto the stage.

"She's good today," Jasper said.

Easy nodded, and cuddled the boy.

Sugar led Mike step by step, until they reached the centre of the circle, and with every step his reluctance was confronted and released. And a broad smile broke out on his face as she teased the courage from him.

Easy could see that she was going to do a long show, which was slowly gathering a bigger and bigger crowd.

"We'll have to go to the park and try a show," he told Jasper.

"Daddy, I want to watch her show," Jasper said.

"I've got to make some money."

"Do one here afterwards."

Easy looked over to the back of the pitch, where he could see Ginger was already waiting to go next. This meant he would be second in line, which would probably still be okay, he thought, and anyway he wanted to catch up with Ginger.

"Okay, you go and watch the show then," he told Jasper, "and I'll be at the back, with the others, okay?"

Jasper nodded, and scampered happily off, pushing through to the front of Sugar's crowd, to sit down on the pavement.

Easy took his gear over to the back of the pitch, and Ginger smiled as he approached.

"Hi," he greeted her.

They kissed one another on the cheek. Her green hair gave her an alien sort of feel, very beautiful in the sunlight, he thought...


Angels can Fly includes a mix of fiction which follows the adventures of ten clown characters, some personal clown anecdotes from clowns from around the world, a total of 50 practical clown exercises, and some theory on the nature of modern clown. The book is available on order through bookshops and online stores in Australia, America and England. Order your copy today. Find it on Amazon by following this link: http://tinyurl.com/9nrwj

Book Awards

Angels Can Fly has been nominated for both an Australian and a New Zealand writing Award, because of its distinctive blend of fiction, autobiography, biography, theory and exercises.

The book is a contestant in the Innovation in Writing category of the Festival Awards For Literature in South Australia, which is a national award recognising innovation in writing.

The award is open to published books which depart from conventional use of genre by borrowing elements from a number of genres such as fiction, non-fiction, biography, autobiography, poetry or cultural criticism.

Angels Can Fly has also been nominated for the Reference and Anthology section of the Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

"The purpose of this award is to reward excellence in reference of anthology books. Included in this category are books by a single author which bring together writings in more than one genre, and anthologies of work by two or more authors in any genre. Judges will look for a well written book with sound documentary research and/or creative insight."

The winners of the South Australian Award will be announced in March, and of the NZ Book Awards in July 2006.

Happy New Year

Happy new year and best wishes to all the readers and subscribers to this blog, and my apologies for the six months that have elapsed since my last post... I have been busy promoting Angels Can Fly in Australia and New Zealand, at launches, readings, and libraries.

Angels can Fly includes a mix of fiction which follows the adventures of ten clown characters, some personal clown anecdotes from clowns from around the world, a total of 50 practical clown exercises, and some theory on the nature of modern clown.

I have been very happy with the response to the book over the past six months. It has already sold better than any of my other books, and sold in markets like England, which I have not previously reached.

Now Stocked in Libraries in Australia and New Zealand

Around 70 copies of Angels Can Fly are now in libraries in Australia and New Zealand, including 16 copies in West Australian libraries, my first books to make it into Western Australia. Check with your library to see if they have a copy. Some libraries also have copies of the Angels Can Fly DVD .

There will also be copies of the book on display at the American Library Association Midwinter Conference later this month, so there may well be copies in American libraries soon. Check with your library in the US to see if they are sending someone to the conference and, if they are, tell them to check out Angels Can Fly on the Combined Book stand.

Reviews of the book

Angels Can Fly!, October 31, 2005
Reviewer:
Michael C. Getlan "caring clown" (New Rochelle, NY) - This is a terrific book, and should be read and used frequently. The stories about the real clowns are inspiring and the exercises are practical and important, especially if you are serious about exploring the clown in you.

Angels Can Fly, August 2, 2005
Reviewer:
Julie A. Wright "Jewls" - This unusual book has a lot of good character development, audience interaction exercises. It is also a novel about street performers and includes several entertainers biographies all mixed together. For a vary enjoyable educational read.

Excerpts

Last month we commenced publishing a series of excerpts from the book in the Artmedia Physical Theatre Newsletter, and I intend to also post these on this blog as they are published in the newsletter.

We started last month with one of the 50 exercises included in the book, the Play with Objects exercise, which was published on this blog in September 2004. You can find this exercise here.


"Clown is a fascinating, diverse, complex and exciting art form, which has existed around the planet for thousands of years. Like any art form it has to evolve to stay relevant to the culture nurturing it, and at the same time, and by its very nature, clown teases and turns upside down the cultural patterns and boundaries around us."


The book is available on order through bookshops and online stores in New Zealand, Australia, America and England. Order your copy today. Find it on Amazon by following this link: http://tinyurl.com/9nrwj

You can also still get a free e-Book version to read on your computer.

Brisbane Writers Festival

Initial feedback on Angels Can Fly is good and I have been invited to launch the book at the Brisbane Writers Festival at the beginning October.

"Have been getting totally inspired by your book. Just dipped for a while but started to read through from the beginning and am really enjoying how it jumps between all the different elements. The structure really works and makes for an interesting read!"

"The book is fantastic - I am just loving it. Well done - it really is an amazing effort to tie everything in together."

Sales have also been good in America and England in the last few weeks.

And we can now announce the:

Angels Can Fly DVD.

Also available in this series is the Angels Can Fly DVD, which includes two hours of documentary footage of the work of some of the clowns in the book. DVD ISBN: 0957884435.

The Angels Can Fly DVD is available free when you purchase the Australian Edition of the paperback, which costs Aus$49.95 plus Aus$22 international postage or $10 in Australia. The Australian edition includes colour pictures.

To get the paperback and a free Angels Can Fly DVD, simply send a bank cheque in Australian dollars to: Artmedia, PO Box 152, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia.

And we can also announce the:

Angels Can Fly Workshop Tour

Sydney Clown Masterclass
(3 day) September 14 to 16 ( Wed - Fri ) 10am - 4pm
Aus$400 earlybird (before August 29) Aus$500 (full)
Enrollments: clown@artmedia.com.au

Brisbane Clown Masterclass
(3 day) September 21 to 23 ( Wed - Fri ) 10am - 4pm
Aus$400 earlybird (before August 29) Aus$500 (full)
Enrollments: clown@artmedia.com.au

And finally the:

Brisbane Writers Festival

Alan has been invited to launch Angels Can Fly at the Brisbane Writers Festival on Sunday, October 2nd, at 1pm.

"The 2005 festival program is shaping up to be one of the best yet. Over two hundred writers from across Australia and overseas will join us for over 160 events jam packed into 4 days."

Information on buying this book is on the Angels Can Fly page, and you can also still get a free e-Book copy of the book in the Microsoft Reader format to read on your computer.

Paperback Now Available Worldwide

Angels Can Fly, a Modern Clown User Guide, is now available in paperback, ( ISBN: 0957884419 ) on order from bookshops in Australia, New Zealand, America and England, and also available online.

Amazon.com is currently offering a special 34% launch discount, and selling the paperback for an amazing US$16.47.

Those who have signed up for the eBook will be receiving them this week. The eBook is released under the Creative Commons License, that allows the unlimited, noncommercial redistribution.

"Clown is a fascinating, diverse, complex and exciting art form, which has existed around the planet for thousands of years. Like any art form it has to evolve to stay relevant to the culture nurturing it, and at the same time, and by its very nature clown teases and turns upside down the cultural patterns and boundaries around us."

Angels can Fly includes a mix of fiction, following the adventures of ten clowns, some personal clown anecdotes from 19 clowns from around the world, a total of 50 practical clown exercises for use both individually and in workshop groups, and some theory on the nature of modern clown.

For those interested, I am posting the contents page of the book below, so you can browse the chapter headings, the exercises, and the contributors. Some of the exercises and the anecdotes have also been posted in full over the past few months, and you can find them in the archival section of this blog.

Contents

1. Go Your Own Path: 7
Exercise: Ball Circle: 15
Anecdote: Classic Clown, Martin Ewen & Alan Clay, NZ: 16

2. When to Start: 21
Exercise: Slapping Balance: 28
Anecdote: Not My First Book, Alan Clay, NZ: 30

3. Bliss: 33
Exercise: Accepting Attention: 41
Anecdote: Amelia in Bliss, Amelia Cadwallader, Australia: 43

4. Breath: 47
Exercise: Breathing - Voice: 51
Anecdote: Asthma Blessing, Alan Clay, New Zealand: 53

5. Play: 55
Exercise: Regression Play: 60
Anecdote: Weird People, Playspace Theatre, NZ: 62

6. Explore: 65
Exercise: Play with Objects: 70
Anecdote: Female Clown, Sue Broadway, Australia: 71

7. Observe: 79
Exercise: Atmospheres: 84
Anecdote: Avignon Festival, Alan Clay, New Zealand: 85

8. Interact: 89
Exercise: Normal Question: 94
Anecdote: The Untouchables, Amanda Burgess & Alan Clay, Aust: 95

9. Learning: 101
Exercise: Juggling: 106
Anecdote: Realisation of my Clowning Kirk Marsh, USA: 108

10. Trust: 111
Exercise: Running Blind: 116
Anecdote: Imperial Trunk Fools Co, Jonathon Acorn, NZ: 118

11. Growth: 123
Exercise: Mimicry: 128
Anecdote: Snap and Crackle, Alan & Michael Clay, Aust: 130

12. Laughter: 133
Exercise: Ha Ha: 138
Anecdote: Rumpel's Foolosophy, Kangaroo Jester of Oz: 139

13. Emotions: 143
Exercise: Hand / Emotions: 148
Anecdote: Warmth of India, Shobhana Schwebke, USA: 150

14. Body: 155
Exercise: Pair Statues: 159
Anecdote: My Yoga Practice, Alan Clay, Australia: 162

15. Mind: 165
Exercise: Mime Isolation: 170
Anecdote: Mime & Madness, Alan & Kerstin Clay, Sweden/NZ: 172

16. Mistakes: 175
Exercise: Dropping the Ball: 180
Anecdote: Lady Margo, Claire Coleman, England: 181

17. Games: 185
Exercise: Finding a Game: 190
Anecdote: David MacMurray Smith, Training My Clown, Canada: 192

18. Fool: 197
Exercise: Death in a Minute: 202
Anecdote: The Imperial Trunk Fools, Alan Clay, New Zealand: 202

19. Self: 207
Exercise: Wave Characters: 211
Anecdote: Like Herself, Hilary Chaplain, USA: 213

20. Others: 217
Exercise: Mimicry Street: 222
Anecdote: I Don't Juggle, I Stalk Plates, Bill Coleman, USA: 224

21. Expression: 229
Exercise: Emotion Speech: 233
Anecdote: Undercover Clown, Alan and Teresa Clay, New Zealand: 234

22. Communication: 237
Exercise: Comfortable Chair: 243
Anecdote: Philosophy, David MacMurray Smith, Canada: 245

23. Audience: 249
Exercise: Attracting a Crowd: 253
Anecdote: Love and Chaos, Alan Clay, NZ/Australia: 254

24. Rapport: 259
Exercise: Excite the Baby: 264
Anecdote: Fijian Resort, Alan & Kerstin Clay, NZ/Sweden: 265

25. Vulnerability: 269
Exercise: Body / Emotions: 274
Anecdote: Lurkue du Soleil - Part 1, Martin Ewen, NZ/USA: 275

26. Spontaneity: 281
Exercise: Role-play: 285
Anecdote: Celebrate Abandonment, Andrew Cory, Australia: 287

27. Process: 291
Exercise: Swapping Emotions: 296
Anecdote: Seizing the Moment, Shobhana Schwebke, USA: 297

28. Practice: 301
Exercise: Yoga: 304
Anecdote: Playspace Studio, Alan Clay, NZ/Australia: 306

29. Teaching: 311
Exercise: Feedback Session: 316
Anecdote: Clown Classes, Alan Clay, NZ/Aust/Europe/USA: 319

30. Theatre: 323
Exercise: Invisible Theatre: 328
Anecdote: Lurkue du Soleil - Part 2, Martin Ewen, NZ/USA: 330

31. Story: 335
Exercise: Role / Situation Impro: 341
Anecdote: The Weird People Tour, Alan Clay, NZ: 343

32. Character: 345
Exercise: Mimicry Character: 351
Anecdote: Personal Journey, Alan Clay, NZ/Australia: 353

33. Structure: 355
Exercise: Red Nose Entrance: 360
Anecdote: Aussie Clown Tradition, Alan Clay, Australia: 361

34. Tension: 363
Exercise: Nonviolence: 367
Anecdote: Dancing in the Moonlight, Alan Clay, NZ: 368

35. Patterns: 371
Exercise: Expert Double Figures: 375
Anecdote: Take Another Look, Alan Clay, Sweden/NZ: 377

36. Expectations: 381
Exercise: Waiting Impro: 386
Anecdote: Casino Gig, Alan Clay & Amanda Burgess, Aust: 387

37. Risk: 391
Exercise: Games Street: 394
Anecdote: One Foolish Idea, Drew Richardson, USA: 397

38. Release: 399
Exercise: Falling Circle: 402
Anecdote: Clown is the Greatest Actor, Jango Edwards, Holland: 403

39. Failure: 409
Exercise: Slow-motion: 414
Anecdote: Rumpel's Nose, Jolly Goodfellow, Australia: 417

40. Perception: 419
Exercise: Observing Silence: 424
Anecdote: Basque Flowers, Johnny Melville, Scotland/Holland: 425

41. Normal: 429
Exercise: Character Development: 436
Anecdote: Clown Bluey, John Brattle, United Kingdom: 437

42. Taboos: 441
Exercise: Moreno's Chairs: 446
Anecdote: Hey Clown, Daniel Oldaker, Australia: 447

43. Freedom: 451
Exercise: Comfortable Couch Impro: 455
Anecdote: Auckland Fringe Festival, Alan & Teresa Clay, NZ: 456

44. Acceptance: 459
Exercise: Endowments Impro: 463
Anecdote: Rumpel - Jester Of Oz, Jolly Goodfellow, Aust: 465

45. Change: 469
Exercise: Meanwhile Impro: 473
Anecdote: MotionFest, the Finale Alan Clay, NZ/Aust/USA: 474

46. Creativity: 477
Exercise: Devising: 482
Anecdote: Centaurs & Chiron Return, Alan Clay, Planet Earth: 483

47. Art: 487
Exercise: Video Feedback: 491
Anecdote: State Library Collection, Alan Clay, Australia: 492

48. Love: 495
Exercise: Accepting Applause: 501
Anecdote: I Love You Wollie, Jackie Garner, USA: 502

49. Spirit: 507
Exercise: Guided Relaxation: 511
Anecdote: Audience with Dalai Lama, Richard Hughson, USA: 512

50. Faith: 517
Exercise: Two-person Relaxation: 523
Anecdote: Believers in Love, Alan Clay, Australia: 524

Angels Can Fly - Now Published in Australia

Angels Can Fly , a Modern Clown User Guide, (ISBN 0957884419) has now been published in Australia and New Zealand, and the book was well received at the recent Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Conference, and at library events in New Zealand.

The Australian Edition is now available in paperback, on order from bookshops in Australia and New Zealand. This edition sells for Aus$49.95 and includes colour pictures.

The US and UK editions will be published later this month, when they can be ordered online, and through bookshops, in the USA and England.

The American and UK editions will include only black and white pictures, but will be cheaper as a result. The US edition will sell for US$24.95 and the UK edition for 18.95 pounds. These are the editions you will get through Amazon and online stores later this month.

Because I want to co-ordinate the release of the free eBook with the availability of the paperback, I will be e-mailing the eBook to those on the eBook list later this month. The eBook will include no photos, to keep the file size small enough to email.

The eBook will be released under the Creative Commons license, which, like open source software, means that you are free to copy and forward the eBook to your friends, to post it on newsgroups, and to give it away to as many people as you wish.

I hope that you, and all your friends, will like the eBook so much, (and find reading 540 pages on your computer too limiting), so you will want to buy the paperback. That way you can also support the work I have done in producing the book.

Those in Sydney can also purchase the Australian edition at a discount at a Launch Event at the new Customs House Library, 31 Alfred Street, Sydney, on Tues 21 June, at 12.30pm.

Look out for more launch events in Australia in September, and in USA and Canada in October/November.