NZ Outdoor magazine - Aug/Sept 2024 Finding Frank extracts - part two out now

 

giving a little can go a long way...

Deer Cullers at the end of the 1955-56 season.  Outside the Roadworkers Hut, Haast highway. Back row: Frank Erceg, Dave Stack (field officer) Garth McGrath, Ray Efford. Front row: Mike Palmer, John Reardon, George Erceg.

Exciting news. My new writing project will be on the history of the New Zealand Deer Cullers Inc. Society. 

My mission as part of the research phase, is to contact with the last of the original deer cullers and view their private  collections.  There's still treasures out there! And they need to be documented and recorded. This will involve travelling throughout New Zealand to get the job done. To meet and interview people also. 

I'm asking for your support to raise funds for this project. Please my givealittle page linked here, for a full statement, goals and what the donations will also be used for:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-preserve-the-history-of-the-nz-deercullers#

A bit about NZDC Inc.

The NZDC Inc. was founded in 1966 as a way for government shooters to keep in contact with each other through reunions and regular newsletters. The society represents a significant period in the history of deer hunting in New Zealand – and the era of the iconic government deer culler 1930-1987 when the Department of Conservation took over deer management. So, if you know of anyone who has something worth looking at, and or, I can interview. Leave a comment here. Or you can also email me via the contact page on my website:

https://www.louisemaich.com/contact

Remember . . . giving a little can go a long way. And thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog. 

Link to my website

Hi there,

I now have a website with ongoing news and a blog: https://www.louisemaich.com/

Have to say though, I have a soft spot for this olde bloggie. It's been a part of the book project since 2011 and has kept you all informed of the book's progress, from its early days to the publication of Finding Frank in 2023. It's helped keep me sane also! Having somewhere to share the journey and receive all your lovely messages of encouragement, and support throughout the years. Thank you.

So, I will continue to post here, after all this is the old campsite, not ready to kick dirt over the camp fire just yet : ) But please also visit the website for book reviews, in depth articles, some great messages from readers, upcoming book events and links to other social media including my Frank Erceg Project facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1310048239942000 

Off to boil the billy

Louise

 

    MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM FRANK

    Have a safe, joyous, roaring, rollicking, holiday time!

 

From the reading Room of Steve Braunais. And his accolade: One of the best books of the year.

The reading Room, full article here:

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/readingroom/the-best-selling-books-at-labour-weekend-1

Finding Frank article in NZ Geographic Nov-Dec 2023:

https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/finding-frank-the-life-of-frank-erceg-new-zealand-deer-hunter-mountaineer-photographer/

West Auckland's Titirangi Fringe magazine has done a piece with a FF book giveaway:

https://issuu.com/fringemedia8/docs/2311/6

Finding Frank number 8 on the best sellers list 8-14 October

 

Hope it creeps up the ladder a bit more, either way - this is fantastic news. Thanks so much to all those who have purchased a copy. 

https://www.ketebooks.co.nz/all-news-newsletters/bestsellers-14oct23

Weekend Herald

Frank's article in Canvas magazine. Great two page spread with some of my favourite photos of him taken by his good friend and professional photographer, Dave Osmers.

PaperPlus Taumarunui

 My first in sore signing will be at Taumarunui PaperPlus. The hometown of the Erceg family and where Frank was born in 1934. Looking forward to seeing everyone there. 

Finding Frank is finding its way out into the world

Visited my local Whitcoulls store this week to find Frank on the top shelf. Move over Elon! Frank has arrived. 

A very proud moment to walk into a book shop and see your book sitting there.  I introduced myself to the staff, they asked me to sign the stock and I had a fab time chatting to some customers who were inspired to hear a bit about the book and offered their congratulations. Such a buzz.

So the book is available at most bookshops including of course Whitcoulls, and Paper Plus have been very supportive also.

 

A visit to Bateman Books - my publisher

Here I am in Bateman's foyer. Frank will be on the shelf in October.

I visited Bateman Books this week. Mainly to sign a bunch of books for NZ Deer Stalkers Assn. NZDA have 48 branches throughout NZ and around 8000 members. I'll be visiting some of these lodges and doing talks. And so looking forward to signing bloody truckloads (thank you very much in advance.) I was armed with my pen and after signing a few - a little nervously, don't screw it up Louise! I was on my way and must say, it's a damn fine feeling.

Another book signed

Signing books for NZDA

A very happy author!

30 days to go until Frank hits the shelves! Exciting to see the listing on the Whitcoulls site.

 

1998 -2023 Twenty five years from inception to publication

 

1998 Christchurch and I meet Frank's good mates Brian Farrow on left, and Dave Osmers for the first time. That day Dave gave me the photo of Frank that I'm holding. We lunched in style at the Chateau Regency and talked about the book idea. The photo propped between the salt and pepper shakers. Sadly, both have now passed on, both contributed significantly to Finding Frank, and Dave's beautiful portraits of Frank, including the cover shot.

Finding Frank at Booksellers Conference

Finding Frank at the Rotorua Booksellers Conference in July. Happy to say there's been a lot of interest. In bookshops nationwide from Monday 9 October. Or pre order now at the link below.

https://www.batemanbooks.co.nz/product/finding-frank-preorder/

'Frank was my uncle, he died when I was a pre-schooler, and my one lasting memory is scant and hazy. I grew up knowing very little about his life, he always appeared as a handsome adventurous uncle who died tragically, and of course someone I wished I had known. He was part of my family history, someone that I was driven to uncover and write about.' – Louise Maich

Finding Frank preorder the book

Hello everyone, well its finally happening. The book titled Finding Frank will be out October in a bookshop near you. You can also preorder the book from Bateman Books, heres the link: 

https://www.batemanbooks.co.nz/product/finding-frank-preorder/

This wonderful endorsement from Geoff Spearpoint features on the back cover:

'Finding Frank is an evocative and fascinating book outlining the life of New Zealand hunting legend, Frank Erceg. Frank has featured peripherally in many hunting books, but this is the first time his story has been told. Frank is a major part of our hunting history and outdoor heritage, something that is reinforced by the stories on every page.'

Frank Erceg book to be published in 2023

 

Dave Barton on left, and Frank Erceg outside the Arawhata log cabin, early 1960s.

Fantastic! Awesome! Exciting news to share!!! The book that has been in the making for many years, now has a publisher, and will be out October 2023. So folks, not long now and it will be on your bookshelf! Closer to the book's launch, I'll share more news and where to buy the book! Cheers to everyone for your support of the blog and the book project. 

Gordon Roberts & Angus Thompson

In this 1990 New Zealand National Geographic documentary, (see link below) Gordon Roberts talks about his wildlife photography, of his working in the wilderness and backcountry of NZ as a deer hunter and then moving in to his years as a professional photographer. Alongside Gordon, his mate Angus Thompson reminisces about their deer culling days and reflects on some of those times also.

I like the comment Angus makes when asked about: how did the government shooters cope when heading into town? During the off season or for a weekend of fun. Did they feel different from the city folk. His reply included that one most harrowing things was: crossing the road in traffic - more terrifying than hanging off a bluff, he quips.

In the film Gordon obviously still very fit, trots up the steep mountainside completely in his element, you can tell he's done this for years. the young journalist is keeping up with him, but  is ungainly and struggling a little. There's a stunning sequence of footage a bit further on has Gordon careenes down the mountainside,  flying over the scree, hardly touching the ground, he looks like a human chamois, incredibly fit and agile. It really is a magnificent sequence and for me, encapsulates in one flowing carefree movement all that he puts into words.

I've interviewed both Gordon and Angus, and I'm really honoured to have had that opportunity and their content contributes to other's stories of those times in the Frank book. The book which is how in its final stages of editing and soon on its way to being published. I' ll post updates on progress with publishing here. BUT for now, enjoy this great bit of NZ history. 

NZ National Geographic: A Thing of the Past:

https://www.nzgeo.com/video/a-thing-of-the-past/ 

Angus and Dave Drangsholt's tribute to Gordon Roberts from June 2018 NZ Deer Cullers news letter. And two of Gordon's books.

Gordon recalls a conversation with Frank and Wattie Cameron. From Gordon's book Game Animals of New Zealand. 

Paradise Valley Springs Rotorua

Frank Erceg and Barry Crump feature together on this sign at Paradise Valley Springs, Rotorua

 

Love this sign. Yep they were tough buggers; clever, resilient and a breed unto their own. 

Hi all, it's been awhile, but I've been very busy!  I sent the Frank Erceg manuscript out last year to a group of fellow writers and received some great feedback from: Geoff Spearpoint, Julia Bradshaw, Kevin Whitelaw and Gary Johnson. And I thank them all for taking the time to read the draft and give their suggestions and some good feedback. It was a valuable exercise. I made a few changes and decided before going to final edit to have it professionally assessed. 

An assessment is a valuable part of the process. My assessor gave the book much praise, she also noted some areas that needed a bit more attention to clearly put Frank and his life into context. She also suggested adding extra content around family and his Croatian heritage. So now just finishing off some of this, and getting it ready for submissions to potential publishers.

What a journey this book has been, what a huge part of my life for many years. And the many people met along the way. One being Stuart Hamlett from Paradise Valley Springs and his idea to have some deer cullers history at the park. He got in touch with me and I sent him some photos.  I enjoy these encounters and the passion other people have for keeping the stories and history alive, it makes it all worthwhile. 

Take care everyone. And there's some links to Paradise Springs and for any writers out there some info on NZ manuscript assessors, this info is available on the New Zealand Society of Authors website, the NZSA also supports writers with funded mentoring and assessment programmes and advice on publishing. 

https://www.paradisev.co.nz

https://authors.org.nz

Spring bulbs for Frank

 

Kevin Whitelaw is in Wanaka today. Fresh Spring flowers for Frank, and a beautiful message on a stone that reads:

To my uncle Frank with love Louise. " Beyond the Skyline"

Thank you Kevin, looks like a beaut day down there... enjoy!

55th Anniversary Frank and Johnny

June 01 1965

Frank Erceg

John Cumming

Gone most definitely not forgotten. 

Frank loved wild flowers, he tied rata blooms to the grill of his Land Rover, and always had a jar of fresh flowers in his cabin on the Arawhata. Managed to find these, but slim pickings this time of year out the in west Auckland bush. 

Johnny Cumming

Frank Erceg

Bro's n Arrows

A morning session at Full Draw Archery in Christchurch. Carl's there most Sunday mornings practising with Frank's 1960 Ben Pearson hunting bow. I always go when I'm down and really enjoy it. This time we managed to get Peter along for a try out on the range.

For more on Frank's bow, and how we got it from Bill Henderson, read the post from 29 May 2017,  it's a great story. 

Please visit:

fulldrawarchery.co.nz

for more info on the club.

My target chart

Carl bombing my photo

Peter with Frank's bow

Carl, Peter and me, at Full Draw Archery in Heathcote, Christchurch.