Latest positive review comes in the just-published issue of Magpies magazine. “The Physician’s Gun is a lively yarn, with plenty of jeopardies and hair’s-breadth escapes, which will appeal strongly to young males.” – Trevor Agnew
Excited (and amused!) to announce that my book The Physician’s Gun features in Amazon’s best seller lists this week – in the Top 10 Children’s Western Historical Fiction list. American readers have told me The Physician’s Gun has struck a chord with them. Henry Appleton, the hero of the book which is set in Nelson, is a young man who dreams of being a cowboy. Charles Cumming’s sketch from the book shows Henry as he would like to be seen – as a swashbuckling Western hero. (See The Physician’s Gun Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/johnevanharris
The Physician’s Gun is ‘more than an action-packed western,’ says a review in the latest Kete magazine. ‘It has grit, wild spirit and a uniquely compelling story ripped out of Aotearoa’s colonial past,’ says reviewer Cullen Wilson.
PICTURED: Henry Appleton’s fanciful sketch of himself as a Western hero. (Illustration by Charles Cumming, from the book.)
The Physician’s Gun is now available in good bookstores, and also via Amazon, Mighty Ape and Fishpond.
The Auckland launch of The Physician’s Gun attracted 65 booklovers and supporters to the Mt Eden Village Hall on Thursday evening. Author John Evan Harris said he was thrilled with the enthusiastic reception for his book – a story set against the backdrop of the infamous Maungatapu Murders of 1866.
Time Out attended to sell copies of the book. “I’d like to say we sold hundreds,” said John, “but it was possibly more like 30. And I’d like to say The Physician’s Gun is SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOVIE, but I haven’t been approached for the film rights just yet.”
PICTURED: Fellow author Mike Ansari (left) and a bearded visitor from Hawkes Bay pose with the author in front of a blowup of Nelson township in the 1860s.
The Physicians Gun was officially launched on Tuesday at the Page and Blackmore bookshop in Nelson. Pictured with author John Evan Harris, hamming it up in historical hats are Nelson Historical Society members Heather Thomas (President) on the left, and historical researcher-writer Karen Stade.
On Tuesday 15 November, The Physician’s Gun will be officially launched at Page and Blackmore’s Booksellers in Nelson – the town which was the scene of the notorious Maungatapu Murders, which form the factual backdrop to the book. Author John Evan Harris, in town to promote the launch, has been interviewed by Blair Kiddey on The Breeze, and Catherine Hubbard for the Nelson Mail.
The launch is at 5.15pm in the Page and Blackmore shop, 254 Trafalgar Street.
“I’ve had lots of positive comments about Minky Stapleton’s cover design,” says John Evan Harris, author of The Physician’s Gun. The design pays homage to the cowboy movie posters of the 1950s. “I was worried people might think it was too old-fashioned, but its retro feel seems to appeal to readers.”
Although it won’t be officially launched till next month, The Physician’s Gun is already in some bookstores. It is being distributed by the highly-regarded Nationwide Book Distributors.
John Evan Harris’ first book, The Physician’s Gun, is in bookstores now. Inspired by the notorious Maungatapu Murders of 1866, this action-packed novel is the story of a young man who dreams of having his own rifle and becoming a gunslinger like Wild Bill Hickok. But his daydreaming becomes a terrifying reality when he is kidnapped by a ruthless gang of highwaymen. (Illustrations by Charles Cumming, cover by Minky Stapleton, internal design by Martin Taylor, published by Roiall Emerald.)
“I think I’ll write a book. How hard can that be?” Well, actually, VERY hard! But having written and rewritten, listened to the advice of editors and assessors, and rewritten again, I am nearly ready to publish The Physician’s Gun. I have sought the advice and assistance of self-publisher Martin Taylor, and we will shortly begin working together to get the book ready to launch as a hard copy, print-on-demand and e-book. – John Evan Harris
Auckland artist Charles Cumming has been commissioned to provide 30 sketches for The Physician’s Gun.
The illustration shows Henry Appleton, the book’s young hero, on one of his regular visits to the grave of his adoptive father.
Author John Harris says: “Charles has done a great job of capturing the spirit of the book, using the style of line drawings of the day. His pictures will make the book so much more interesting and accessible for young readers.”
Charles works mainly in 3-D animation. “I’ve always loved art and did art classes at school,” he says. “I was one of those kids that was constantly drawing. I never stopped. I ended up going to design school and currently work as a 3-D artist, making things in the computer that get rendered and placed into film and TV.”
His assignment for The Physician’s Gun is his first of this type. “Drawing has always been part of the design process, a way to quickly solve problems and brainstorm – but I’ve never done drawing as anything more than a hobby until this project.
“It’s been great collaborating, and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.”
Award-winning artist Minky Stapleton has designed the cover for The Physician’s Gun. Minky, who is based in Auckland, has had exhibitions in South Africa and Australia, designed costumes for a rock opera, created book covers for best-selling authors, illustrated picture books, designed a T-shirt for Hilary Clinton, “and done a whole lot of other stuff in between”. Her finished artwork for The Physician’s Gun will be revealed closer to the time of publication.