A Stranger’s Tale.
“A time long ago, when the Moon and Sun were friends and shared the same sky, a strange man wandered down and even stranger path.”
In this folkloric tale, a man known only as the Stranger finds his way to another world and embarks on a journey to take back what he has lost. Watched with growing interest by ancient celestial beings, he faces a different challenge at every turn and each one more tempting than the last. Can he resist the temptations, or will the Four Winds sway his heart with bribes cloaked as gifts? This is a world of shadow and light, where the winds follow no particular direction and where even time has a will of its own.
Deeply rooted in dark, traditional storytelling and enriched with stunning olde worlde illustrations by Adam Oehlers, A Stranger’s Tale introduces familiar characters in an unfamiliar world. Rich in imagery and a nostalgic charm, Nataša Xerri brings a fresh new voice to age-old themes, as she weaves a story that has readers of all ages spellbound from beginning to end.
Meet the Author.
Nataša grew up in a pub where, as a little girl, she would dance to the jukebox with the locals who were like family. She always had a book in her hand wherever she went, and nothing has changed in that regard. Books are her passion and her greatest joy. Growing up, all she ever wanted to do was to own bookstore and write her own book. She has now done both. Owning a bookstore in Hurstbridge was one of her greatest achievements. Through The Vintage Rose Bookshop, she supported and encouraged many independent writers, artists and musicians and was even nominated for the Nillumbik Young Business Achiever Award 2013, where she even shook hands with the Mayor! Sadly, she had to close the doors of The Vintage Rose Bookshop, however she hopes to work with books again one day.
Nataša now works as an Emergency Services Clerk in a busy hospital in Melbourne. She is surrounded by many highly intelligent and caring humans who have saved countless lives. Her clerical family are the highlight of her workday, and she is proud to be a part of such a great team.
Nataša has three dogs and a husband, whom she loves just a little more than her canine companions. He is her rock; words cannot begin to describe what they mean to each other. She has a mother who has always worked too hard to make her children’s dreams come true, and whom she loves more than life itself; a sister who owns the other half of her soul, and who is her best friend; and a brother who is way too smart, and loves to spend their time together debating world issues and the state of his bookcase.
She has travelled to Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Nataša’s dream is to visit Scotland and Ireland because that is where magic still exists. Her heart is torn though between two homes: the one in Australia and the one in Serbia, where her parents were born and where most of her family still live.
Nataša has always been a great supporter of writers, artists, thinkers and creators as well as independent bookstores. When asked why she replied, “Because I feel that this world needs them. We need them and the beauty they create.” She is also a Winter person, who has an ongoing love-affair with the Moon. “I see her each night, and each night she takes my breath away.”
A Stranger’s Tale is Nataša’s first book.
Meet the Illustrator.
The book is illustrated by the incredible Adam Oehlers, a UK artist who shares the same love of fairy tales/folktales as i do. With 17 stunning illustrations, Adam has helped immensely in bringing this world of mine alive. From the very beginning, we saw eye to eye and knew exactly what we wanted the reader to see and to feel with the turn of each page.
Born in England in 1980, Adam lived in County Cork until the age of 8yrs, after which he moved with his family to Australia. After finishing school, he focussed entirely on illustration, graduating from university with an Honours degree in illustration.
He returned to the UK in 2002 and set out to begin his career in illustration. Adam has exhibited across the world, including in Australia, UK, Europe and United States. His published works include his ghost story graphic novel ‘Dear Little Emmie’ his interpretation of the classic text ‘The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner’, his children’s book ‘A Babble of Words’, a book of dark nursery rhymes ‘Cinderella Jumprope Rhymes’, and the fantasy series ‘The Errand’.
He has also dipped his toes into the world of animation and concept art, working with Owl House Studios and Partizan Production House as the concept artist and character designer on the animation ‘Routine’ and ‘People who eat Darkness’ for Steven Wilson, Metallica’s ‘Here Comes Revenge’ and Passengers ‘Beautiful Birds’. He has also worked as concept artist, character designer and writer for the PS4 Game ‘The Last Day of June’, Along with various production companies for television programs such as ‘Gentleman Jack’, ‘Humans series 3’ and the newly released ‘Sanditon’.
One of Adam’s pieces won the Young Lions award for an advertising campaign in 2015, and he was also a finalist for ‘British Illustrator of the Year’ in the same year.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I have always found a great deal of inspiration from the classic Illustrations of Arthur Rackham, Edward Gorey and any intricate classic pen illustrations and print work. I have a great love of old stories and fairy tales and aim to tell a story through every illustration. In my work I strive to create a sense of nostalgia to take the viewer back to a forgotten memory, with the goal of reminding them of the soft magic that surrounds us.
A book for all ages.
It’s true. While A Stranger’s Tale is an illustrated book whose audience is predominantly for children, this book tells a story for all ages. In the past, stories were revered by all. Tales told by passing strangers at pubs, children sitting by the fire, waiting eagerly to hear a new tale, a tale of warning, of morals to be learnt, one that would undoubtedly scare them or leave them dreaming of the day they would encounter an adventure of their own. An adventure that would be incredible enough to pass on to one person, then another, until the story took on many different forms, each one shaped by the teller.
As a child, i always had a book in my hand. I loved reading more than dolls and toys, more than t.v and friends. As i grew older my love for books did not change and neither did my sense of wonder for all things magical. I love fairy tales. They have a sense of foreboding, an eerie darkness to them and layers of hidden meaning and a moral to be learnt. I’m drawn to them, to these old, strange, passed down tales that frightened me as a child but made me want to read more and more.
But most of all, i wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to be a storyteller. I wanted children to read my tales but i also wanted adults to read them and too. I want to sit by the fire and tell my story to my children and their children. To have it passed down and down until one day i fade. I become unknown. Just a storyteller who spun tales of warning and enchantment, tales to darken hallways and above all, tales that would never be forgotten and characters who are immortal.
I have tried to invoke this very feeling with my tale. I have endeavoured to stick to the traditional telling of a story. I hope i have done this, I hope you enjoy it.
My humble thanks.
By making a pledge and purchasing a pre-order of this book you have helped me turn this dream into a reality. Because of you, i am an author. I cannot thank you all enough. For all the love and support that you have sent my way and for believing in me. For believing in this book. This tale. Thank you. From the very bottom of my heart, i thank you.
The release date is set for mid-November. We are doing everything in our power to ensure this happens however, there is always the risk of minor delays. We will notify you immediately if we do experience any sort of delay.