Lonely Dog at London International Book Fair

Atlantic Books Editor-in - chief Ravi Mirchandani, and his team, have been representing the work "Alveridgea and the Lonely Dog" at the London International Book Fair over the last week. Articles have appeared in Book Trade, and The BookSeller Publications. Interest in sub publishing is strong, with two countries expressing immediate interest despite not having seen the test fully! The Atlantic press release reads, in part:-


Atlantic Acquires Alveridgea And The Legend Of Lonely Dog

Today, Atlantic Books announced that they had acquired world rights to the book that has Hollywood talking.
Ravi Mirchandani, Editor-in-Chief of Atlantic Books, has acquired world rights to Alveridgea and The Legend of the Lonely Dog by Ivan Clarke. The book first appeared in New Zealand as a limited edition book that in and of itself is a work of art, selling to collectors via the author's website and art gallery. Only 95 copies have been made, selling for NZ$60,000 (US$30,000). Retaining much of the beautiful and striking artwork of the original edition, this will be repackaged for general readers and published by Atlantic in Summer 2010. Warner Bros have acquired the screen rights for a seven figure sum, attaching Oscar-winner Akiva "Beautiful Mind" Goldsman as writer/producer.

Ravi Mirchandani says, "I am delighted to be publishing The Legend of the Lonely Dog. A children's fable for grown-ups, it is as striking a retelling of the Ugly Duckling story as, in their different ways, were Ratatouille and Billy Elliot, one of those unique works of the imagination that enchants the reader by taking him or her into a fully realized world, in this case one of street-wise dogs and cats that walk on their hind legs and play guitars. It is a book that I fell for in much the same way as I did for Jonathan Livingstone Seagull when I was a child and it's immensely exciting to be publishing a book like this as an adult."

Wellington Lonely Dog Exhibition Setting Records.

I've included the whole newsletter from the Exhibitions Gallery in Wellington. Ron has had more than doubled his previous record of visitors to his gallery in one month as hundreds upon hundreds have flocked to see the Exhibition.

Lonely Dog Heads off to the World!

Queenstown, Wellington ... what next?

Ron at Exhibitions Gallery in Wellington has been run off his feet! I got an excited call from him on the Monday after the Thursday opening. "Graham", he said, "I'm getting four times the usual number of people through the Gallery and the response is amazing! I'm loving this!" So are we! It is fantastic to see a new audience falling in love with the world of Lonely Dog and the town of Alveridgea. 

I have to say the Gallery looks awesome. As people walk past on the street they, slow, pause, point and look. Many come in. And the standard response - the slow smile moving across the face - takes place. Ron has done a magnificent job of hanging and displaying. If you are in - or near  - Wellington, please make a point of visiting. Ron would love to see you.

The exhibition has gone so well - and we are only two weeks in to its four weeks run - that Ron has said he will keep a Lonely Dog presence permanently installed. 

So where to next I hear you ask? Well ... stay tuned, but the answer is Australia. More details later.

Lonely Dog a raging success in Wellington.

The Exhibitions Gallery in Featherstone St was jammed. So many people that you could barely see the art! Speeches were made by Ron Eskamp the gallery owner, Ivan Clarke the artist, Richard Taylor from Weta Workshop and Graham Burt CEO Lonely Dog. 

Wine flowed, tales of Alveridgea were told, and art was purchased. 

Ron had done a fantastic job setting up this month long exhibition. The gallery looks exquisite. Ivan and Brent drove a truck load - literally - of art from Queenstown to Wellington, and the three of them hung the art Tuesday and Wednesday. I arrived Wednesday morning and got straight into organising the wall cards and price list to match the flow that the team had hung to.

All the while, the phone was ringing with those invited to the opening giving their rsvp's, and a huge flow of people walking in off the street, curious, and then surprised by the collection. You got the feeling that the opening was going to be a big night! You could feel it building. 

In a sense, it is unusual for a gallery like this to run an exhibition based only on limited edition collectible art. As opposed to original.  The response however, has been overwhelming! 

It was fascinating to sit and watch the responses as people walked into the gallery while we were setting up through the day prior. Have seen the paintings and sculptures in the window, the urge to walk inside was very strong. Many entered with a slight frown. Why this painting of hounds and cats? Who is this Lonely Dog anyway? On entering, you could literally see the "lights go on". Comprehension dawned. This is a whole world! The wall cards are read, with sections of the story. A smile breaks. Then a full on grin. 

And then it hits. "I know someone just like this hound!" "I have a neighbor just like this cat!"

Alveridgea and the world of the Lonely Dog is a happy place. People seem to love to visit there. We certainly do!

The night was a blur. Questions upon questions. High enthusiasm. Lots of compliments and congratulations - especially as many had heard about Warner Bros acquiring the screen rights to the limited edition collectible  book "Alveridgea and the Legend of the Lonely Dog." 

The gallery opened at 7pm. By 10.30 there were still a hard core group, enjoying the ambiance, and digging into the world of Lonely Dog. The sound system was playing selections of Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. It was warm inside, and decidedly cool outside. A happy glow diffused the group. 

A great night spent at Alveridge!