Paperback out now!

The paperback edition of Cork and the Bottle has arrived and is available online here now!

Dates for Christmas Sending

The Christmas season is almost upon us and the old posty service gets pretty busy this time of year. So to ensure your friends and family receive their books in time for Christmas be sure to place your orders by:

Around New Zealand: 17 December 2009
Australia and South Pacific: 27 November 2009
Rest of the world: 20 November 2009

NEW! Listen to a reading

If a seahorse could talk what would it sound like? To hear Mark's take on it click here and listen to a passage from your favourite Cork story!

We are now on Facebook

By visiting our Facebook page and becoming a fan you'll see what's happening now at Sommerset Studio, including special fan-only offers, sneaky-peaks of other works in progress and more!

Cork takes to the stage

We were treated to an amazing night the other week when we were invited to see the Marlborough Primary School production of "Cork on the Ocean". It was a real buzz to see Cork's adventures bought to life as the whole school danced and sang in such a creative and uplifting way. We were really touched and inspired by the effort everyone made. Linden had a blast too - it was his first show!

Thanks so much Marlborough Primary for choosing our books, we will never forget such a special night.

For more pictures of this fabulous play visit our Facebook page

Book Mark for School Visits!

As part of the Writers in Schools Program you can now book Mark (ha-ha - bookmark) to visit your school! As well as hearing Cork's adventures from the (sea) horse's mouth, you'll be able to ask Mark lots of questions like: "Where do you get your ideas from?" or "Why is there a lollipop stuck to your shoe?" Just click on the following link to surf along to the NZ Book Council site and find out how you can have Mark visit your school!

http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz

A letter from Rototuna Primary School

Dear Mark and Rowan, the children in Room 19 at Rototuna Primary School absolutely loved your book. I told them you would be writing a third story and they decided they would like to have a go too. The children have each designed a page for your next book. We hope you enjoy looking at them. Maybe they might even give you a few ideas! Thank you - your books are awesome and Rowan's illustrations are amazing!! Tina Anderson, Hamilton

We got your artworks and they're fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing your creativity with us. Here's one of the pictures you sent for all our other visitors to enjoy...

A New Arrival

Rowan and I are now parents of a little boy! Linden Sommerset was born at home on Friday the 20th Feb, tipping the scales at 9lb 4 ounces - Not so little after all! He's sure to provide us with plenty of inspiration as we work on the final book in the cork trilogy. Now if only I could find the time to write!

Spiegeltent Storytime - Aotea Square

As part of the NZ Post Family Day at the Auckland Festival, Mark will be reading both Cork on the Ocean and Cork and the Bottle in the Spiegeltent, Aotea Square on Sunday 15th March. He will be onstage at 10am, so come on down - The Spiegeltent is an amazing venue and best of all it's free!

New Book out Now!

It's here! Cork and the Bottle, the second exciting adventure in the Cork Voyages trilogy, has arrived.

Having met on tropical shores, Cork and the bottle swirl out to sea into a world of dancing jellyfish, treacherous reefs, surly sea lions, and beautiful swallows. Told in rhythmic rhyme, with the same quirky illustrative style as Cork on the Ocean, Cork and the Bottle is a whole new ocean-bound adventure that explores love, loss, and the meaning of togetherness.

We now have online buying!

You can now get Cork Voyages books and things direct from us - the artists.

Cork sets sail for South Korea!

"I'm so excited!" says Cork, regarding the news that South East Asian publisher Haneon has translated and published Cork on the Ocean for the Korean market. "It's great to be invited to South Korea," says Cork, who is hopeful this will be the first of many international publishing deals. "There's so many wonderful countries to visit in this world and I'd like to travel to as many of them as I can!"

The day I met Cork

A poem by Jo - aged 11, Miramar North School

Once upon a time there was a cork
And a very happy cork was he
He loved to make friends and talk
He's coming to tell tales about the sea

This cork he was brown and delicate
This cork he looked ever so light
This cork he had the smallest of eyes
I wondered if he had partial sight

As we talked he was happy and friendly
As we talked he seemed ever so nice
As we talked he was bobbing up and down
He sure seemed full of life!

There were tales of meeting a catfish
Tales of meeting a sea horse
When I asked him if he met any storms
He chuckled and replied, "of course!"

This cork, he seemed determined,
He was adventurous and had a smart mind
This cork may be bobby and small
But he really was one of a kind!

NZ Heralds 2007 top pick!

Publishing picks for the Kiwi kid, By Camilla During

"Gratifyingly, New Zealand publishers continue to serve our children well. If you're looking to fill a few Christmas stockings, here are my picks of some of the best children's reads of the year. For the littlies there is Cork on the Ocean, written by Mark Sommerset and sparingly illustrated by Rowan. Like many successful books ostensibly aged at the younger generation, it works on more than one level. Parents will have great fun reading this adventure to their youngsters."

Cork on the Ocean now in paperback!

"I'm thrilled to have Random House New Zealand release Cork on the Ocean in paperback into the Australasian market" said Cork in a recent interview. "I feel like a surfer who has just landed his first pro-sponsor deal! Now I can focus on my next big adventure."

More fun times at Storylines Festival

Back at the Auckland Storylines family day for a second time. This year we teamed up with Tanya Batt's Imagined Worlds for another eventful day of story telling, drawing and a giant corkboard to pin the days artworks on!

Cork goes potty in Raglan!

By Sarah Steed (Artist and Workshop Coordinator)

Cork on the Ocean sailed into Raglan last month, setting the local children's smiles and giggles afloat. Gathered in the community pottery, all playful hands went to work creating the fabulous characters of the book. Clay was squeezed, rolled, pinched, textured into these wonderful, imaginative creatures, and in no time the children had created a roomful of artistic wonderment, with beautiful butterflies, magical flying fish and leaping dolphins springing up before our very eyes. We at Raglan community pottery would like to say a big thank you to Cork on the Ocean - we all had heaps of fun and the children absolutely loved it!

For information about future workshops visit: www.raglanartscentre.co.nz or phone: (07) 825 0023

A Corker Christmas for Tessa

From Jala - Waiheke, NZ,

"It all started at the Ostend Market on Waiheke Island. My daughter, Tessa (9 years) trotted off to find Chrissy Pressies for her family armed with $30 to buy for Mum, Dad, brother Luke, sister Shannon and everyone else! Cruising the market she came across the book "Cork on the Ocean" and after serious consideration decided to buy the book as a gift to the whole family. She carefully brought it home and wrapped it 50 times in newspaper before placing it in a HUGE box for all the family to spend two weeks anticipating its contents! Xmas day finally arrived and we all opened the big box with great excitement. Once 'discovered', Tessa proceeded to read this very special book to her entire family. This story means so much to us because Tessa took a huge leap that day and jumped over her fear of reading. She read with passion and expression, and brought tears to the eyes of all her family. What a wonderful gift we had! Thank you."

Cork comes to life on Waiheke Island

Pencils scratched, scissors snipped and paint flew. Friday 26th January saw the Once Upon an Island Story Centre turn blue and gold as kids from on and off Waiheke Island went cork crazy. The Occasion? A Cork on the Ocean workshop and performance!

Special thanks to Tanya, Jude, Kelly and all the other helpers for such a fun day. To discover more about Tanya Batt's fabulous Once Upon an Island Story centre visit www.imagined-worlds.net

Cork gets 5 Stars!

Reviewed by Sarah Moore, Herald on Sunday

"5 Stars - I was immediately drawn to the cover of Cork - a brilliant turquoise sea sweeping across a background of beige stands out against the usual gaudy selection of children's books. But this is much more than a book for little people.... Rich with metaphor, Cork is a touching tale camaraderie, taking the good with the bad, and about the voyage one makes before finding one's soul-mate. Told in clever rhyming verse (somewhat Seuss-like), this is a beautifully produced New Zealand book with unique illustrations and an utterly charming storyline: certainly a book to be treasured.

Fun times at Storylines Festival

For five hours the Aotea Centre at The Edge was transformed into a super-sized playground for excited young book-worms and their families. The Cork on the Ocean stand couldn't be missed, and its reading area (filled with turquoise rugs and super-comfee cushions!), proved a popular destination. Mums, dads and kids alike all took a load off to read the adventures of Cork or have the story read to them. Some kids were so taken by the little Cork's encounters with sharks, seahorses and butterflies that they came along to as many as three of the five reading sessions!

We got some really nice letters and drawings on the day. A young girl called Alex drew us as a really great picture of Cork riding a wave and a butterfly on an octopus tentacle. She wrote..."I think the story you read to me was really neat. It made me feel like I was floating out on the sea... love Alex".

Well known kiwi's share their thoughts on Cork

Richard Taylor, Weta Workshop - "With delightful rhyme and enchanted drawings, this journey of discovery takes the reader on a lovely trip across the oceans as the Cork meets new friends and in turn finds out about itself. Rowan and Mark Sommerset have delivered a truly memorable and beautiful children's story that will enchant kids and adults alike."

Cork on the Ocean launches from Takapuna Boat Club

On the beach at the Takapuna Boat Club was the perfect spot to celebrate the launch of 'Cork on the Ocean', the first tale in the Cork Voayges trilogy. A glass of teal-blue bubbles awaited the adults, while the kids each received a paper bag of Cork-related goodies. In a flash, little bodies were scattered everywhere, over tables and on the floor, scribbling up a storm with their freshly acquired Cork pads and pencils. After a great afternoon with a slice of a corky cake, we said 'cheers' to everyone for coming along and helping to make the launch such a memorable event.

Cork on the Ocean out Now!

It's here! Cork on the Ocean, the first exciting adventure in the Cork Voyages trilogy, is out now.

Set sail on an ocean of adventure as Cork surfs the high seas. After riding a sea horse, evading a shark and befriending an exhausted butterfly, Cork meets a wise old whale who shares the secret of staying afloat. Sparingly illustrated and awash with colourful rhyme, Cork on the Ocean is an uplifting tale of courage, friendship and the joy of positive thought.