C200/08
11 July 2008
Beneath the Bloodwood Tree, the second novel by Vogel winning author and Curtin University of Technology lecturer Dr Julienne van Loon, was officially launched recently.
Published by Allen and Unwin Beneath the Bloodwood Tree is described as a tale of love, dislocation and unsettled ghosts against the backdrop of the Pilbara’s oppressive heat and dazzling colours.
According to Allen and Unwin’s Renée Senogles this is a powerful, tightly-woven desert tale.
“In Beneath the Bloodwood Tree, Vogel winner Julienne van Loon brings to life three very different characters Pia Ricci, Joachim Kalma and the widow Maureen Barnes and succeeds in allowing us to see the world through their eyes,” Ms Senogles said.
“Pia Ricci has come to Port Hedland to free her life of complications and distractions. But when Pia discovers a bundle of money and men’s clothing buried on the outskirts of town, she has an uncomfortable feeling that things are about to change.”
New South Wales born Julienne van Loon is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Curtin.
Her first novel Road Story – the winner of the prestigious 2004 The Australian/Vogel Literary Award – was launched at Curtin in 2005. She wrote the novel as part of her PhD at the University of Queensland.
Dr van Loon said the interest for setting her second novel in the Pilbara region of WA stemmed from her experience of living and working in Port Hedland in 1995-96.
“The remote, rugged Pilbara landscape and the extraordinary people who inhabit it ultimately formed the starting point for this book,” Dr van Loon said.
“So in 2005 I took study leave from Curtin to work on my book and I am really happy with the final outcome,” she said.
Born in 1970, Dr van Loon moved to WA with her partner in the mid 1990s and now lives in a bush environment in the Perth hills. She has also been the recipient of an Australia Council Grant from the Literature Board for New Work (2006) and an ArtsWA Grant for Writing (2007). She has more than 10 years experience in teaching writing at university level having previously taught at the University of Queensland, the University of Western Sydney and Griffith University.
Attention Editor/COS: For more information on the book contact Allen and Unwin Renée Senogles on tel: (02) 8425 0143 or email: renees@allenandunwin.com Download 300dpi cover images from their website: www.allenandunwin.com/mediacentre
Modified: 11 July 2008
