Artists of the Margaret River Region

Western Australia's Margaret River Region is an area famously blessed – rich in wine, photogenic landscapes at every turn, and human creativity in spades. To celebrate the artists who have made the region so well-regarded, M&P Publishing is proud to announce the publication of Artists of the Margaret River Region this spring.

Over 70 artists in the Margaret River Region are featured in this beautifully designed book, which is published in association with Margaret River Open Studios (MRROS), with specially commissioned portraits and photographs of their work by leading local photographers (Elements of Margaret River and Crib Creative).

With profiles written by award-winning writers Carmen Jenner and Gabi Mills, Artists of the Margaret River Region is a legacy publication designed to capture the incredible artistry that finds expression in a wide variety of mediums, thanks to the artists who live and work in the region. Featuring a diverse collection of artists including Leon Pericles, Fi Wilkie, Voytek Kozlowski and Christian Fletcher as well as emerging talents such as Alice Linford Forte and Rubi Hatton, the book reflects the deep connection the Margaret River region has with those who create within its borders. A collector's item, Artists of the Margaret River Region is a beautiful visual record of those who have been inspired by the region.

Inspired by Margaret River Region Open Studios, the book is intended to showcase the work of the many artists who have participated in this unique public art movement. MRROS has grown to become the biggest art event of its kind in Australia since its launch three years ago. From Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin in WA's south west, visitors are able to explore in an unprecedented way the art studios of over 100 established and emerging artists for up to 16 days every autumn (April 22 until May 7 in 2017), watching them create at the easel, drawing board or workshop. It's an innovative approach – and a hugely successful one at that - bringing art to the general public in a wholly new way in Australia. The photographic approach taken in the book reflects the 'behind the scenes' ethos of MRROS and the insightful profiles of each artist and, in part two, galleries, reveals fascinating details about what makes the creative process of the south west's most important artists so linked to the land they call home.

http://premiumpublishers.com.au/portfolio/artists-book

Struth! Aspiring young actor jailed for seducing woman.

Guess who's the mug in this shot?

IN his continuing search for the more weird and wondrous in this world, David Ellis asks do you know who is the person in this police mug shot taken at the Bergen County Sheriff's Office in New Jersey in November of 1938?

Here's a clue: he is 23 years of age at the time, an aspiring Hollywood actor, and has just been charged with the heinous crime under then New Jersey law "that on November 27 1938 under the promise of marriage, he did then and there seduce a single woman of then and there good repute."

However when it was discovered that the "single woman of then and there good repute" was in fact married, the charge was dropped and replaced with one of adultery (also an indictable offence in New Jersey in 1938)… but that too was dropped after the young actor had spent several days in jail.

And that young actor's name was Frank Sinatra, at the time engaged to Nancy Barbato who had been attacked in a nightclub by the woman with whom Sinatra was charged with being adulterous – that woman apparently furious that the man who had "promised her marriage" was in fact already engaged (even though she herself was married,) and going to the nightclub to confront Nancy.

Nancy, however, appeared little concerned about her fiancé's  fling, and went on to marry him the following year; they divorced in 1951 as a result of Sinatra's numerous affairs, he re-marrying three more times before dying in 1998 aged 82, while Nancy never remarried – and is still alive today aged 98.


[] NOT the publicity shot this rising young Hollywood star was hoping for back in 1938.

Harley-Davidson Launches All-New Milwaukee-Eight Engine

More Power. More Comfort. More Control. Today, Harley-Davidson unveils the all-new Milwaukee-Eight™ engine, the ninth Big Twin in its history, plus all-new front and rear suspension for its Model Year 2017 Touring motorcycle lineup.

"These are the most powerful, most responsive and most comfortable Touring motorcycles ever offered by Harley-Davidson," said Scott Miller , Harley-Davidson Vice President of Styling and Product Development Strategy. "You truly have to ride one to feel the difference -- so we're inviting all riders to visit a Harley-Davidson dealer and take a test ride."

To launch the Milwaukee-Eight™107 and Milwaukee-Eight™114 engines, Harley-Davidson -- in a brand first -- will take fans where they've never gone before: The floor of a Harley-Davidson factory in a virtual tour on Facebook Live to watch the making of its newest Big Twin engine today at 12:30 p.m. CST .

"We're excited to open our doors to allow the world to see our newest Big Twin engine come to life in our state-of-the-art factory," said Randy Christianson , General Manager of Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations in Menomonee Falls, Wis."With an all-new design, the new Milwaukee-Eight engine offers quicker throttle response, more passing power, purer sound, a smoother ride and more of the feeling riders want from a Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycle."

Power. Comfort. Control.
The new Milwaukee-Eight™ engine is a ground-up design that combines the classic look, sound and feel of Harley-Davidson® Big Twin engines with improvements in performance, comfort and control.

Retaining the classic 45-degree V-Twin cylinder angle, the Milwaukee-Eight™ engine produces 10 percent more torque and features four-valve cylinder heads that offer 50 percent more intake and exhaust flow capacity than previous year models.

The Milwaukee-Eight™ engine is counter-balanced to cancel 75 percent of primary vibration at idle, retaining the classic feel of a Harley® V-Twin engine while being very smooth at highway speeds. A new heat management strategy improves rider and passenger comfort.

New Engine and Much More for Model Year 2017
Along with the Milwaukee-Eight™ engine unveiling, Harley-Davidson also announced:

• New Touring Suspension: All-new front and rear suspension components enhance the comfort, control and performance of all 2017 Harley-Davidson® Touring models. New dual bending valve front suspension technology provides the performance of a racing-style cartridge fork with linear damping characteristics and reduced weight. New emulsion-technology rear shocks offer 15 to 30 percent more pre-load adjustment than previous standard Touring shocks, with a single, hand-adjustable knob to hydraulically dial in pre-load.
• Screamin' Eagle® Performance: Harley-Davidson® Screamin' Eagle® Performance will offer a full selection of street-legal performance components for the Milwaukee-Eight™ engines, including Screamin' Eagle ® Milwaukee-Eight™ engine Stage kits that deliver up to a 24-percent increase in torque over the stock engine (availability varies by market).
• Harley-Davidson® Custom Vehicle Operations™: Harley-Davidson® Custom Vehicle Operations™ (CVO™) models combine prestige and performance in three limited-edition factory-custom motorcycles for 2017. The CVO ™ Limited and CVO ™ Street Glide ® models feature the refined performance of the new Twin-Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight™ 114 engine, while the CVO ™ Pro Street Breakout ® motorcycle is powered by the Screamin' Eagle ® Twin Cam 110B™ air-cooled V-Twin engine.
• 2017 Harley-Davidson Street® 500/750 Motorcycles 2017 Harley-Davidson Street® motorcycles are now available with ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) and the Harley-Davidson® Smart Security System with hands-free, proximity-based security fob, each as a factory-installed option.
• Powerful Cruiser Lineup: With the High Output Twin Cam 103™ standard for all 2017 Softail® models and Dyna® models (U.S. models only) except the Street Bob® model and the S Series cruisers with the Screamin' Eagle® Twin Cam 110™ engine, Harley-Davidson continues to offer its most powerful cruisers ever.

"We want all riders to save the date of Sept. 23," said Dino Bernacchi, Director of U.S. Marketing at Harley-Davidson. "That weekend, Harley-Davidson dealers across the country will host open house events so riders can throw a leg over our Model Year 2017 touring motorcycles and feel the difference of the all-new Milwaukee-Eight engine for themselves."

To experience the transformation of the 2017 Harley-Davidson® models now, visit h-d.com/testride to schedule a test ride.

* All comparisons in this communication are drawn between Harley-Davidson 2017 Touring models and 2016 Touring models.

** Not all models are available in all countries. Please contact your local Harley-Davidson dealer for more information.

Customised Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Inspired by Marvel Characters

#hdmarvelcustoms



Harley-Davidson (H-D) and Marvel unveil Super Hero Customs, a collection of custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles inspired by some of the most powerful and iconic Marvel characters.

The Punisher - Up Front (Sportster)

For over 110 years, H-D has championed personal freedom and individuality through customisation of its motorcycles. Today, it reignites that passion by unveiling 27 custom motorcycles, each one uniquely designed to reflect the personality and traits of a Marvel Super Hero.

Just like characters in the Marvel universe, no two customised Harley-Davidson motorcycles are the same; different powers, agilities and looks. The collaboration showcases some of the most popular Marvel characters and Harley-Davidson models - a Groot-inspired Street Glide Special from the Touring range, a Thor-inspired Breakout from the Softail family, and a Black Widow-inspired Iron 883 from the Sportster family to highlight just a few.

V-Rod Muscle based on "Ironman"

2016 also marks the 75th anniversary of Captain America’s first appearance in a Marvel comic. To celebrate this, and his Harley-Davidson riding history the highly anticipated Captain America custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle will be on display at Myer, Pitt Street Mall, Sydney from August 15 – September 5.

Harley-Davidson spokesperson, David Turney says, “The spirit of freedom is alive and thriving in the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special. Like Captain America, it leads from the front with strength, power and endurance, enabling you to venture to new worlds and beyond.”

“We customised the Captain America Street Glide Special to inspire Harley-Davidson dealers across Australia and New Zealand to create their own Marvel character inspired custom motorcycle using the wider H-D range. The results have been phenomenal. A true combination of super powers, with over 16 Marvel characters represented,” Turney says.

"Harley-Davidson and its dealers have done an amazing job with this Marvel inspired collection. It’s exciting to see such a rich legacy of iconic characters and their individual stories so creatively captured," said Gavin Ashcroft CMO of the Walt Disney Company AUNZ.

Harley-Davidson and Marvel fans can visit participating Harley-Davidson dealerships which will have their individual Super Hero Custom motorcycle on display or visit h-dmarvelcustoms.com to vote for their favourite character, trait or bike. Consumers will go in the draw for a chance to win the ultimate Harley-Davidson and Marvel holiday to Hollywood and Las Vegas.

Oz Comic Con Sydney (September 10 & 11, 2016) is the only event in the country where you’ll be able to get up close and personal with an assortment of this remarkable collection.

The Harley-Davidson and Marvel Super Hero Customs range includes the following characters and participating dealerships:

• Captain America, Street Glide Special (Touring) – Harley-Davidson Australia & New Zealand head office (NSW)
• Spider-man, Iron 883 (Sportster) – Phil’s Garage (NSW) and Canberra H-D (ACT)
• Iron Man - Muscle (V-Rod) – McIver & Veitch (NZ) & Adelaide Bike Works (SA)
• Thor, Breakout (Softail) – Harley-Heaven Western Sydney (NSW)
• Hulk, Fat Boy Lo (Softail) – Geelong H-D (VIC)
• Hulk, Breakout (Softail) - Sun City H-D (QLD)
• Spider-Gwen, Street 500 (Street) - Gasoline Alley Harley-Davidson (QLD) & Fraser Motorcycles Newcastle (NSW)
• Black Widow, Iron 883 (Sportster) – Harley-Heaven Melbourne (VIC) & Sy’s H-D (NSW)
• Wasp. Iron 883 (Sportster) – Fraser Motorcycles Perth (WA)
• Groot, Street Glide Special (Touring) – Fraser Motorcycles Wollongong (NSW) & Central Coast H-D (NSW)
• Ultron, Night Rod Special (V-Rod) - Horsham H-D (VIC) & Harley Central (VIC)
• Drax the Destroyer, Fat Bob (Dyna) - North Coast V-Twins (NSW) & Richardson’s Harley-Davidson (TAS)
• Black Panther, Breakout (Softail) – Fraser Motorcycles Concord (NSW) & Western Ranges (NSW)
• Ant-Man, Street Bob (Dyna) – Harley City (VIC) & Gold Coast Harley (QLD)
• The Punisher, Forty-Eight (Sportster) – SunShine Coast (QLD) & Rolling Thunder MC (NZ)
• Ghost Rider, Road Glide Special (Touring) – Morgan & Wacker Brisbane (QLD)
• Thanos, Street Glide Special (Touring) – Harley-Heaven Adelaide (SA)

Bugatti enters collaboration with LUISAVIAROMA

Molsheim/Florence, 15 June 2016. French luxury car brand Bugatti and LuisaViaRoma, one of the biggest international concept stores, have just signed an exclusive collaboration deal. From June 2016 and for the next two years, the Ettore Bugatti collection will be available to local and international clientèle both in the LuisaViaRoma store and on the Luisaviaroma.com website. LuisaViaRoma becomes the first place in Italy where shoppers can buy the clothing and accessories ranges of the Ettore Bugatti Collection, a lifestyle brand extension born in 2013 reflecting the spirit of the supercar firm.

With their unique style, flamboyant attitude, skilled workmanship and exquisite materials that make every piece look and feel extraordinary, the clothing and accessories in the autumn/winter 2016 collection will be the first to appear at LuisaViaRoma.

The launch of this collaboration with LuisaViaRoma was celebrated with an exclusive special event on the installation "Bridge of Love" on the Arno during Pitti Uomo last night.

About Bugatti

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. is the manufacturer of the world's most powerful, fastest, most exclusive and most luxurious production super sports car. Since it was established in 1909, the French luxury brand has had its headquarters at Molsheim, Alsace, where 450 Veyrons were produced from 2005 to 2015 and the new Chiron, which is to appear in a series limited to 500 cars, is to be hand-crafted from the late summer of 2016.

As part of its brand extension strategy, Bugatti is running a dedicated Lifestyle Collection, named after Ettore Bugatti. It was launched in 2013 as a major step in Bugatti's brand extension strategy to demonstrate that Bugatti does not only stand for benchmark technology and breath-taking performance, but also for art, design and a sophisticated lifestyle.

Patrick Lindsay’s acclaimed book, Fromelles

"Fromelles may well be the most tragic battlefield of Australia's history"
- Leslie Allen "Les" Carlyon AC

One hundred years ago, on 19 July 1916, in the French village of Fromelles, Australia suffered its worst ever military defeat when a British officer ordered 15,000 of Australia's best and bravest to go 'over the top' and attack the German lines. Eight hours later more than 5500 Diggers lay dead or wounded – the equivalent of all Australian casualties from the Boer, Korean and Vietnam wars combined. Many of those who died disappeared from the official record, their fate remaining unknown for close to a century. In this evocative and enthralling retelling, Patrick Lindsay takes us back to the killing fields of northern France.

Fromelles is also the story of the quest to find the missing Diggers from the WWI battle. Covering the archaeological dig at Pheasant Wood which confirmed, at last, the final resting place of up to 400 missing Diggers and Tommies buried by the Germans after the battle. This discovery was the largest mass grave found since the Second World War. The recovery of the missing Diggers remains and the names of those who have been identified from their DNA, as well as the opening of the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetary are also included.

ISBN: 9781743792148

Les Parisiennes: How the Women of Paris Lived, Loved and Died in the 1940s

At the end of July, Hachette Australia are thrilled to be publishing the newest historical non-fiction title from renowned historian Anne Sebba, Les Parisiennes. An incredible look at the female perspective on a tumultuous part of history, Les Parisiennes examines women's lives through the Occupation and then the Liberation of 1940s Paris. It was the women of Paris who ultimately came face to face with the German conquerors on a daily basis, and Anne Sebba delves into what this meant for their day-to-day lives. Examining the experiences of everyone from collaborators to resisters, actresses and prostitutes to teachers and writers, Sebba's fascinating cast of characters includes both native Parisian women and those living there temporarily – American women and Nazi wives, spies, mothers, mistresses, and fashion and jewellery designers. These women made life-and-death decisions every day, and often did whatever they needed to survive.

Having read History at King's College London Anne Sebba has written eight works of non-fiction, mostly about iconic women, presented BBC radio documentaries, and is an accredited NADFAS (National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies) lecturer. Her biography of the Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson, That Woman, was a Sunday Times bestseller, and Sebba is perfectly placed to tug apart the threads of female experience throughout history and reveal to readers an unseen side of this significant time in Parisian history.

www.hachette.com.au

How to Avoid Online Scams at Rio Olympics

NordVPN explains security protocols and VPN service benefits to travelers using public Wi-Fi networks 

Rio Olympics, taking place from August 5 to 21, will draw more than 10,000 athletes from around the world and hundreds of thousands of fans and spectators.

While Rio is preparing, it is important that everyone who travels to see the Olympics prepares to stay safe.  One of the most important things for travelers who go to crowded public events is not only protecting their wallets and other belongings from pickpockets, but also protecting their online privacy, especially when using public Wi-Fi - whether at a stadium, on the street, at a hotel, a restaurant or the airport.

Free wireless networks, enjoyed by almost every Olympics participant or spectator, provide us with easy access to the Internet service, but are not able to offer security in most cases, since public Wi-Fi can be hacked-into very easily. 

For example, hackers are now using sophisticated technology, such as sniffers - a software designed to intercept and decode data when it is transmitted over a network. Wireless sniffers are specifically created for capturing data on wireless networks. A full stadium of people who are using free Wi-Fi is a goldmine of stolen identities for a hacker.

The most common threat, however, is a hacker positioning himself as a hotspot. When that happens, a Wi-Fi user will be sending their information to a hacker, and that could include credit card information, all emails, and any other sensitive information they might be transmitting. This is extremely easy for a hacker to do, as Wi-Fi spots rarely require authentication to establish a connection.

The best and most effective way for any traveler to protect their data is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN service encrypts all the traffic flow between the Internet and a device thus hiding user¹s IP address.

How to choose a VPN?

Choose a VPN that is easy to use. For example, NordVPN has recently launched its first Mac and Android apps geared towards everyday Internet user, who cares about privacy and security online. How does it work? Log in (the first time only) and press the ON button. The app will then choose the fastest server to connect to, in a country of your choice. That¹s all it takes to hide your IP address and to start safe browsing.

Also, beware of free VPN service providers. Free VPN providers do not necessarily provide highest quality security measures. A VPN service needs to pay for the server maintenance, staffing and operational costs and in itself cannot be free. ŒFree VPNs¹ typically rely on third party advertisers to cover the costs. Often they are free proxy services, marketed as a VPN service, when in fact proxies are not encrypted (they just change your IP address, but do not hide/encrypt it).

Besides protecting your safety and security when you are traveling, a VPN can also help you access geo-blocked sites. For example, social media sites such as Whatsapp occasionally get blocked in Brazil. Using a VPN would allow you to bypass these blocks by setting your connection to another country and appearing to be in the U.S., for example. In addition, you can stream as if you were in USA or UK: with a VPN, you can access most streaming services just as if you were in the U.S. - and that includes Netflix, Spotify, Pandora, Hulu, YouTube with local restrictions and so on.

VPNs are quickly gaining popularity in the world of tightening online security, and soon using a VPN will be as common as going online. Besides using a VPN, travelers should use antivirus and anti-spyware and automatically update their software.

To find out more, visit www.nordvpn.com

Cripes! $11 million for a secondhand Jaguar

HISTORIC RACING JAG'S WAY OUT PRICE

IN his continuing search for the more weird and wondrous in this world, David Ellis says that a 64 year old C-Type Jaguar sports car that was once a racing favourite of British co-drivers Stirling Moss and Peter Walker, has sold at auction in Monte Carlo for a mind-blowing 7,245,000 Euros – which is around 11,270,000 in Aussie dollars.

Boasting of being in "wonderfully original condition" the sleek 2-seater had made its debut on England's Silverstone Racing Circuit in 1952, and had never been either restored or modified since ending its racing career just three years later. And during that short career it had set countless new records on such famous tracks as France's Le Mans, the Isle of Man, in Sicily and in Belgium, and was officially recognised as the most-raced of all C-Types on the British racing club circuit.

One of only fifty-three of the type built by Jaguar in the early 1950s, it was amongst some forty rare and historic vehicles that English auctioneers Bonhams sold just recently in Monte Carlo, and which fetched an almost breath-taking E15.3m in bids, or AU$24m.

The English family that sold the C-Type had owned it for 52 years, racing it for a short while after it's purchase, and later registering it for road use and participation in vintage car events, rallies and touring in the UK and Europe.

The new owners are keeping mum about the latest future for the historic C-type.

                                                         ………………….

PHOTO CAPTION:

[] ONE-time racing favourite of famous English drivers Stirling Moss and Peter Walker, this 64 year old C-Type Jaguar sports car has just sold at auction in Monaco for the equivalent of AU$11,270,000. (Image: Bonhams Auction House)

Automobili Lamborghini fully restores Miura SV 1971 Geneva Motor Show car

Lamborghini PoloStorico celebrates Miura 50 anniversary at Amelia Island with restored Miura SV 1971 Geneva show car

Sant’Agata Bolognese, 9 March 2016 – The original Lamborghini Miura SV shown at Geneva motor show in 1971 has been the subject of more than a year’s restoration by Lamborghini PoloStorico, and is presented as a finished project at the Amelia Island concours event (USA) from 10 to 13 March.

The Lamborghini Miura SV (Super Veloce), chassis #4846, was the pre-production model for subsequent Miura SV production. Unveiled at the 1971 Geneva motor show on Bertone’s stand (while Lamborghini showed its new Countach), the car was truly a one-off, carrying over parts from the previous Miura S and introducing new features that would be seen on later SVs.

Lamborghini PoloStorico was appointed a year ago to fully restore chassis #4846 to its perfect original state. The subject of exhaustive research, each detail of the Geneva show car has been respected rather than adopting later production SV parts.

Shown in metallic green Verde Metallizata with tan leather, the restoration of #4846 by PoloStorico has included a complete restrip of the chassis and engine. Using photos and other archived historic documentation, every panel on the Miura has been returned to its original lines and angles and, following the original production sheet and records held by Automobili Lamborghini, every component restored or replaced. Expert Lamborghini craftsmanship and original Lamborghini parts have been used throughout, from bodywork to repainting the car in its original color, refurbishing the interior and overhauling the engine.

“This is a very important car, not only for its place in history as the Geneva show car and the forerunner of future Miura SV models built, but as the first completed project of Lamborghini PoloStorico,” said Enrico Maffeo, Head of PoloStorico. “We are delighted to be able, with the consent of the owner, to show this car for the first time in its perfectly restored state, at the important Amelia Island event.

“This is the year in which the Lamborghini Miura celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. This car not only illustrates the iconic appeal of the Miura, widely acknowledged as the forerunner of modern super sports models, but is also a perfect example of the expertise available in Lamborghini PoloStorico in providing the most authentic Lamborghini restorations.”

Lamborghini PoloStorico officially opened in spring 2015, supporting historic models and Lamborghini’s heritage through four main areas: restoration of historic Lamborghini models; archive management; original Lamborghini spare parts for which around 70% of the historic car parc is covered; and official certification of Lamborghini historic cars.

Can you imagine booking a holiday here?

When Count Gustav von Grabenstein went on holidays to Southeast Asia, he wanted privacy, security, the comforts of Europe and somewhere to go fishing.

Gus Grabenstein, 15th Century visionary

He built this quaint weekender in 1436 on the little spot he found in a real estate scroll enticingly labelled “get away from it all on this remote private island.”

He neglected to read the bit, written in a fine nib, “a challenging project for someone with flair”

Not to be outdone, Gus set about constructing his dream fishing cottage complete with waterfront access and somewhere to tie up his dingy. He called it “Friedenplatz”

Now this delightful location can be your dream escape too.

Book this wonderful cottage on Luftkoje today.

Art Deco Airports - the world’s first airports in the 1920s and 1930s

Art Deco Airports

By Terry Moyle

Art Deco Airports delves into the design and role of the world’s first airports in the 1920s and 1930s. With original images, comprehensive and dandy illustration by international aviation artist Rosie Louise and text by author Terry Moyle, the book explores the relationship between airports, aviation and Art Deco.



These first airports were not only concerned with commercial air transport but were also an important social venue. Millions of spectators flocked to airports each year and helped define aviation’s ‘Golden Age’. The airport architects also celebrated the achievement of flight in designs that were regional, as well as modern and functional. Art Deco Airports recreates this period with detailed and atmospheric depictions of the buildings, aircraft and fashions to create a beautiful and essential aviation book.

With profiles on 33 different airports in Great Britain, Europe and the United States, Art Deco Airports provides both specialist and armchair passengers with a window on an exotic lost world.

Published NOV 2015

PRINT RRP $45.00

FORMAT: HARDBACK


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terry Moyle has a keen interest in 1920s and 1930s commercial aviation.

A professional artist and writer, Terry collaborates with artist Rosie Louise as Contour Creative Studio and has an MA (Hons) in English.

Rosie Louise Dip. GD, BFA (Aus) is an illustrator specialising in vector graphics. Her designs are represented in a wide range of art applications. Rosie is an international aviation artist; her art has appeared on the covers of award-winning books and she has designed hundreds of aviation postcards and many paper aircraft models from the Golden Age of Aviation.

From Pulitzer Prize winner comes Afghanistan's Romeo and Juliet, the true story of how they defied their families and escaped an honour killing.

Publishing in February, THE LOVERS by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Rod Nordland, tells the true story of a young Afghan couple from different ethnic backgrounds who are willing to risk everything for love — struggling to stay together in the face of danger and the threat of death that their relationship poses.

This is a riveting, real-life equivalent of The Kite Runner and an astonishingly powerful and profoundly moving portrayal that puts a human face on the ongoing debate about women's rights in the Muslim world.

The book grew out of a series of articles Rod Nordland wrote for The New York Times in which he described the star crossed lovers as a modern day Romeo and Juliet. Zakia is a Sunni, her lover Mohammad Ali a Shia, and although as children growing up in the same village they would play together, as they grew older contact was strictly forbidden. By that point they were deeply in love.

When the author first encountered the couple, Zakia was locked up in a shelter and Mohammad was forbidden to see her. They escaped and were hiding in the mountains of Afghanistan where Nordland tracked them down as they continued to evade capture. They had no money and no food and relied on the kindness of strangers to give them shelter a day at a time as they remained on the run.

Rod says: 'This is both a great love story, and a great way to look at the difficulties faced by women in Afghanistan, which is really on the frontlines of the struggle for women's rights in conservative Islamic countries. The most rewarding thing about working on this book, for me, was to discover how the lovers' appreciation for poetry and for the great Persian love stories that preceded them informed and motivated much of what they did, even though they themselves are unlettered and uneducated. It is a real triumph for the heart in a society that officially outlaws love, and bans young people from choosing their own mates.'

Rod Nordland is currently a correspondent-at-large for The New York Times, working throughout the Middle East and South Asia; he spent more than three years as the paper's bureau chief in Kabul. He shared a Pulitzer Prize for reporting in the US, was a Pulitzer Finalist for International Reporting, studied as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard, and has received many honours including two George Polk awards and half a dozen Overseas Press Club awards. Nordland has worked for three decades as a foreign correspondent in over 150 countries. When not in Kabul, his second home is London.

Published by Hachette Australia in February 2016,

Paperback, RRP $35.00, Ebook RRP $16.99