THE HUNGRY HEART - Journeys with William Colenso by Peter Wells - author tickled pink!

Peter Wells says he’s tickled pink with the whole look and feel of his new book which updates of the story of nineteenth century maverick William Colenso. 

Julian Barnes, in accepting the 2011 Booker Prize, had this to say just the other day about book design. (As reported in the Guardian):  

 'Accepting the prize, Barnes offered some advice to publishers: "Those of you who have seen my book, whatever you think of its contents, will probably agree it is a beautiful object. And if the physical book, as we've come to call it, is to resist the challenge of the ebook, it has to look like something worth buying, worth keeping." 

From Peter Wells' blog....

'The Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery commissioned contemporary artist Gavin Hurley to do a new portrait of William Colenso, the subject of my book. The current image on the book cover was an early version. The moment I saw it I loved it and saw its potential. I was lucky in that I knew Gavin and admired his work. 

“The Hungry Heart’ published by Random House New Zealand in November is an updating of the story of maverick William Colenso. A completely contemporary fresh image messages this. 

 Alan Deare, from Area Design, has shaped the product. He created the very beautiful spine motif - which is actually from kowhaiwhai sketched in the 1840s by the Reverend William Cotton. It glistens like just-wet black ink. The colourings are pleasant, cool in both senses of the word. And the fact the book is a hardback gives the book-as-object gravitas. 

 I'm tickled pink".