It’s almost as if Blue just got up from an afternoon snooze and ambled across the page.
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Gunnedah’s George Man has brought the cattle dog to life in his new book Blue, but said the dog just about invented himself.
George was challenged to write the life story of himself and his wife Jöelze to detail their journey from Germany and France to Australia, and all the detours in between.
“I couldn’t do it,” he said.
“I could not write the story.”
But while he found his own journey hard to capture, he did sit down one night while Joelze was visiting Europe and found himself writing the story of Blue.
Mr Man has never owned a blue cattle dog, although he said his canine friends have included kelpies, German shepherds and boxers.
But somehow, the story of the young Dutch girl Sandra who moves to outback Australia and makes an unlikely friend in Blue came to life.
In fact, while Blue was first “born” 15 years ago, he became such a reality to Mr Man that he is now the star of five books.
Blue, to be launched on December 12 at Gunnedah Newsagenc, with Mr Man on hand to sign copies between 8.30am and 12pm, is the first in the series.
The book was originally written in Dutch, but Mr Man said his Dutch grammar is “atrocious” and he translanted the story into English.
He has had a small print run published by Tell Me a Story Books, and they will be available for $15 from the newsagency and from the Second Edition bookshop.
He is also investigating sales in Sydney.
“I’m not in it to make big money,” Mr Man said.
“I just enjoy writing and I enjoy getting into a book.
“When you are writing a good book, it is almost as if you are just reading one. It just about writes itself.”
The five books in the Blue series, including the four that will be published at a later date, follow the adventures of Blue and Sandra both in and out of Australia.
The distinctly Australian dog travels to Sandra’s home country of Holland and beyond.
But Blue is not the only project Mr Man has in the making.
He is keen to get started on a new series about a girl who is born in Papua New Guinea and who travels around the world.
The series, he said, is likely to be called Tumbleweed, and could take a few years to write.
In the meantime, Mr Man is hoping Blue captures the heart of Gunnedah and beyond.
There’s something in the book, he said, for ages nine to 92 and beyond.
You can win your own signed copy of Blue and read first-hand the adventures of the cheeky dog.
To win, let us know the best names you’ve ever had for a pet.
Send your entries to marie.hobson@fairfaxmedia.com.au before Tuesday, December 15, or drop them in to the Namoi Valley Independent office in Conadilly Street marked “Blue competition”.
The winner will be able to pick up their copy of Blue from the NVI office from Wednesday morning.
