Yes, that's right - in under two weeks we've managed to sell nearly 150 books (not counting contributors' copies, National Libary copies, and a few other sundries). Only one shop stocks it (as far as we know) - Parson's Bookshop in Wellesley Street - but I suspect that their copies have already been sold on to libraries and special collections by now.
So I'm sorry if any of you particularly wanted a copy and were just waiting for payday. That is the way the cookie crumbles, though. I mean, how often do you get a line-up of authors like that, with a hand-screenprinted, individually coloured dustjacket, all for the bargain price of $25?
Never, that's when.
You can find further details about the launch on the Pania website here.
We're very happy - and very grateful to everyone who's helped with the project: our contributors (of course), my parents for volunteering their garden for the launch, Bronwyn's parents for selling so many copies, and all the rest of our intrepid sales-team (Greg, Sheryl and Fiona, I mean you ...)
This is Culture-Power at its best, I think.
[Michele Leggott launching Orange Roughy]
[Bronwyn reading out a message from Therese]
[Bronwyn & me outside the bach]
[A few of the "Orange Roughians"(l-r):
Emma Smith, Greg Lloyd, Anna Tozer, Mike & Margot Lloyd ...]
[Michael Steven in festive mood - Raewyn Alexander & June Ross behind him ...]
[photographs 1, 3 & 4 by June Ross / 2 & 5 by Greg Lloyd]