Samantha Oehley is a 20 year old undergraduate at the Wanganui School of Design in New Zealand. Her interests include the 1960s and 1910s, the Beatles, politics, reading, music and drawing. She has a thing for Priests and Authority figures, and has the habit of always exaggerating things to a more dramatic scale read more_
The 4 Power’s is finally out in New Zealand and Australia! Depending on its success it may appear in other countries. Who knows? But it deserves the chance for the world to know it. It’s such a great book. But as the author’s sister, I have to argue why it’s such a good book.
So I will!
Please bear in mind that it has been 7 years in the making, and this is the first time I am allowed to say anything about the story to the public. Which is weird!
REASONS WHY THE 4 POWERS DESERVES YOUR ATTENTION
The plot is original—Someone tell me a story of an advanced race of people stuck on a starship with no destination and no idea where they are from, and a boy who manages to travel back in time because of a strange jewel to an age where their race is still on their planet and have elemental powers? No?
The entire story is intriguing—the above comment was about the first book. (No more comment about that!) Nah, I like the world better than Harry Potter (which seems really unoriginal in comparison to be honest. Despite it being such an addictive series itself)
The characters are loveable—all stories should have this quality, and the 4 Powers nails it. You have to be able to want to be the main character, despite their failures and also you have to ‘love to hate’ the bad guy, not just hate him.
The back story is extensive—Michael has actually created this entire race of people, the world, the language and stories behind all the characters. It’s not a piece of fluff. He takes this story very seriously and most of it hasn’t even been shown … yet
It’s addictive—It actually is. I’m 20 years old and despite the level of reading, I love it.
It’s a smart and funny book—if the extensive amount of work behind the creation of the story’s world wasn’t enough for you, and least I can argue that the Robot Toy Superia the Magnificent is a hoot. And I suppose Sir Asutab in brain form too ha ha
The writing—I thought I should throw this in, despite my lack of knowledge on the subject. I think it’s well written. It has twists, unpredictable outcomes and a way of really making you wish you were from that world instead of Earth
Boron Delaxid—there I’ve said it. I love Boron Delaxid. Now the world knows. (Yes this counts as a point. You know it’s great when you have sad fangirls crushing on a ficticious character [the difference however, between me and say, a Twilight fangirl? I love the character platonically]).
I know I shouldn’t have been hinting about a sequel when there is no chance yet of it being published. But I just really want this series to run through (because Michael has barely told me 5% of what happens and I am dying to know!)
Oh yeah, and that thing called Semi-Permanent I went to? Amazing. I haven’t enough photos for a blog update yet, but one day! I particularly want to mention how I was in a STORM THORGERSON photo [called F*** Avatar]. For those who don’t know, Storm is a famous graphic designer known for the album cover design The Darker Side of the Moon (and other Pink Floyd album covers), Muse’s album designs and many more. It was an honourable experience.
Buuut…my bro’s book takes priority now anyway. For those interested in buying a copy but don’t have it at their local book dealer, visit Michael’s website.
I’m very busy getting into my final degree project [sneak peeks will be coming in over the next 10-12 weeks] and sorting out my 21st but this coming weekend is going to be pretty epic for me. Here’s why…
August 20 + 21st Aotea Center, Auckland
Semi-Permanent Design Conference 2010!
August 22nd, Aotea Center, Auckland (same location as above)
My brother’s first book launch at Storylines Festival!
Talk about coincidence. And I only found out this week that the design conference and book launch were on same weekend and same location! Bonus, because I could BE THERE for my brother, instead of being stuck 6 hours drive south, in a town that nobody cares about.
Anyway, it’s all very exciting—Semi Permanent is going to be AMAZING and if any NZ readers are going to be going, let me know! I’m also very very very excited for the release of The 4 Powers of Daren Saner, which is creeping up fast! It’s all still so surreal. I mean, I didn’t write the story, that’s all my brothers creation (although I like to claim that I helped in some small ways) but it’s been such a big part of my life and I’m so happy for him. He’s going to go far (not that he hasn’t already!). :)
My brother’s book, which I have mentioned about on this blog like, no fewer than 100 times, is available for order online. It’s not officially out yet, but you can pre-order it. This is the only option for overseas readers (outside New Zealand and Australia), so heck—why NOT do it.
There is a sample chapter available to read (check out www.MichaelOehley.com). You’ll be able to see what it’s like—kinda?
I’m so excited. Michael’s saved me one of the first edition copies, but frankly I want a few more copies. One is never enough.
PS: I’ve got the printed copy of the first draft manuscript of the sequel. My little secret. Michael hasn’t even thought of asking for it back. Don’t think I’ll give it to him. Heh heh heh
I should have posted this aaages ago. When I first saw these images (via Mugglenet) I was so excited I started squealing out loud. Actually.
These book cover designs were designed for the Harry Potter movies. What got me so excited was how, instead of going for the cliched brown/tattered/boring text, they thought about the design and made it look amazing. Perhaps wizards can be designers too? I must say—in the days before computers, magic WOULD come in handy.
Advanced Potion Making This is VERY 50s. For a school text book, it’s rather fitting. Having one of those as a student would make me FEEL like I’ve stepped into a 50s boarding school story.
A History of Magic One of the most famous books in the Harry Potter series comes to life with a beautiful art deco design and detail. I wouldn’t have thought of using white for a magical book, but I suppose this works?
The Secrets of the Darkest Art This one is so beautiful. Whoever designed it should get an award. The texture! The moody colour! The patterns of the form AND typography!
The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbedore This made me laugh so so much. Look how elaborate the design is! It totally captures Rita Skeeter. With the foiling and crocodile-skin embossing, I sure wouldn’t mind having a copy myself—just for the jacket!
The Harry Potter films do design justice. The fantastic old school playbill-style newspaper designs—similar to the Azkaban Wanted posters… If only I could have had the chance to play a role in the designing of props in this movie! How much FUN would that have been? Forget costume design, PROP design should be the new design focus in cinema!
Can’t wait for the movie! I’ll probably be seeing it in America, actually!
Two worlds, thousands of years apart in time, are in crisis. The Starship Sūperia’s Master Computer is gone rogue, and young Daren Sāner is all that stands in the way of total destruction.
Flames and riots are devastating the ancient city of Periapōlī. Thrown back in time, Daren learns he has four strange powers and two destinies—to save the worlds of his future and past…
- Blurb for The 4 Powers
It’s funny, but I haven’t read this book for about 2 years now. I’m double the age of the target market, but I still love it. Despite it’s reading level, the story (the series, not just this book) is absolutely fantastic. I’d really be surprised if this isn’t a success. But at the end of the day, it’s the luck of the draw. There are so many great books out there that don’t get the credit they deserve. And even some that get credit they don’t deserve.
I’m so excited for the release of this book though. I’ve read the draft of the second novel and it is so good!
September! Hurry up! I want to FINALLY hold the book not the manuscript!
I’m currently designing a book jacket for my illustration class, and basing it mainly around illustrative type, so I thought it appropriate to post a blog on my long-time inspiration, Kate Forrester.
I’ve often gone to Kate’s website for inspiration, her illustration and type designs are bold and feminine. I’m usually for vintage and delicate, but her modern style is still appealing—it’s such a fresh breath from regularities.
You can visit Kate’s blog, while her website is under construction here.
Kate usually does magazine and book-based work, and is known for her paper-cut out designs. I’m thrilled to see some wedding invitation designs there too!
In a couple of weeks I’ll post my book jacket design, once it’s finished!
My favourite decade, as most people know, is the 1960s. But I think I’m also a 1910s girl at heart. The 1910s didn’t offer anything spectacular—WW1, the sinking of the Titanic, Silent films. Nothing great, obviously. BUT one of my all time favourite books comes from that decade—Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster. It is just such a sweet book, and the way they talk and think just makes me wish I could live in that day and be a real lady and write letters, have “suitors” and get excited about tea and theatre and bizarre fashions! Today, everyone’s so crude and unladylike/ungentlemanly. A lot of people today wouldn’t like Daddy-long-legs, but I wish I had a rich older man sweep me off my feet and treat me like a real gentleman would. Jervis Pendleton (from the book) is like, the ideal man for me. Anyway, here are some pictures from that decade.
I have an evening dress, pink mull over silk (I’m perfectly beautiful in that), and a blue church dress, and a dinner dress of red veiling with Oriental trimming (makes me look like a Gipsy), and another of rose-coloured challis, and a grey street suit, and an every-day dress for classes. That wouldn’t be an awfully big wardrobe for Julia Rutledge Pendleton, perhaps, but for Jerusha Abbott—Oh, my!
- Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster (1912)
That quote is a pretty shallow one—the book is more than just about a girl who gets excited about clothes. But it was a perfect example of how they write and think. So girly!
One thing I do know? Women from that decade are ..plain.. (asides from most of the actresses—as you can tell from my picture choices). Now I know you must think that’s a horrible thing to say and that I must be superficial and vain, but it’s true. It’s funny what people considered beautiful 100 years ago and how much difference a little makeup, smiling, and a good haircut does!
Let me introduce the first of what will be many Sundays worth of Portraiture Sundays, where I will post one or two inspirational photos with a theme. This week I’ve been reading the first draft of a sequel to my brother’s book coming out in September, and it’s really inspired me, so I thought I’d share my feelings about stories. So, without further ado…
Tell me a fact and I’ll learn. Tell me a truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.
- Indian Proverb
It’s wonderful. I’ve had such a busy week, with so many issues going through my head—ie, all my school work was lost due to my pendrive not reading on any computer, family and friend issues, and due dates and stress stress stress…. then I get a first draft manuscript of my brother’s second novel in the mail. I read it.. and then I’m lost in this magical world where even their problems are better than mine because it’s not in this dull, predictable (yet unpredictable) world. I’m glad I have God to trust in that things will be OK, but I’m glad I have my brother’s stories to get lost in as well.
My dears, I am so sorry for the absence. My course has started again, I have moved *twice* (I am in a much prettier flat this time round, I shall post photos eventually) and with so many things happening in my life I haven’t even had time to touch personal projects, let alone projects I’ve promised to do for my friends. In a time where everyone does everything so fast and with the use of technology, it’s a puzzle how we still have no time to do everything.
Anyway, here’s a photo of my new hair cut, and in the next photo are Iona and Stef, two classmates of mine who have an amazing fashion sense. Iona—green hair? Only these two could putt it off I’m sure! They’re identical twins too but clearly they’re different in many ways.
Do you know what I’m obsessed with at the moment? Anne of Green Gables. This summer I discovered the (movie) sequel, and one of my friends down here had a DVD of it, so I’ve been watching it over and over. It’s not true to the books, but I actually like it more. After the first one, the rest weren’t good, and it felt like everything was rushed. There’s a 3rd movie that’s apparently completely unlike the books, but I’m sure it’d be good anyway. The cast are a lot older in that one, yet still amazingly talented. If anything, that Jonathan Crombie guy is much better looking when he’s older.
Anyway, here’s the trailer of the first and second Anne o. G. G. movies! Nostalgia anyone?
Hopefully I’ll be back soon! Just waiting for internet at my flat!
I’ve been wanting to get serious about my artwork, and I have. I’ve been working on some art as of late, and I’ve produced two pieces (so far) for a new series I am calling We are not ‘Mused—a pun on Queen Victoria’s famous quotation. It’ll be a series of drawings of girls and women in my life who I have found visually interesting in some way. My first two, however, I only know via the blogging world. Some of you may know them. Let me introduce them:
Emily
About a month ago I was blog surfing, as one does, and I came across a blog of Emily, a sixteen-year-old fashionista. When I saw a photo of her showcasing an outfit, I immediately fell in love with her. She was just so beautiful—and her hair! I love, love, love auburn hair. So naturally, I asked her if I could draw her and surprisingly, despite my paedophilic and lesbian tendencies towards her, she said yes, thus For Emily, wherever I may find her was created. (The title of this piece is taken from the Simon & Garfunkel song). Mind you, I am not 100% happy with this piece. I may draw her again in the future :)
Louise
Louise was totally the perfect muse. She is so beautiful and classy, and it’s not hard to like her. It’s not hard to draw her either—she was so painless to draw, I think even my pencil was in love with her. I stumbled upon her blog not long after Emily’s actually. For me, what stood out about Louise was how photogenic she was. The way she held herself flattered her best features while still looking sassy. Actually, what I loved the most about Louise was her nose and her lips. Somebody should sculpture her, I swear. Anyway, this piece is called Ah, Louise!.
Unfortunately, RGB format is not as beautiful as CMYK. One day I shall set up a service to sell prints. Perhaps on Etsy for now. I’ll get more art done first though.
In other news…
Some of you may remember my news last April about my brother’s book, a adventure novel for kids aged 9-13, being accepted for publication by Scholastic. Currently it’s finally going through the editing stage and today it was finally given an official name! (The editors chose to change the original title to appeal more to boys): The Four Powers of Daren Saner will be released in New Zealand on the 1st of September this year (although I assume it’s available to be sold online too). Depending on it’s success, it may be released in Australia, if Scholastic picks it up there too. Although I’m not illustrating it (they offered me a chance to showcase some work but in the end they wanted someone with experience in the feild), they’re in the process of choosing cover artists and it seems like they’re going to pick a good company to do this.
Honestly, this book is amazing. I hope it sells enough to have it’s sequels published, because the first story is nothing compared… I think I’ll hush up now
Anyway, it’s the end of the week lovelies. Hope you are all feeling swell. Please feel free to leave feedback on my art… And I totally appreciate everyone who comes by my blog. You are all awesome!!
Samantha Oehley is a 20 year old undergraduate at the Wanganui School of Design in New Zealand. Her interests include the 1960s and 1910s, the Beatles, politics, reading, music and drawing. She has a thing for Priests and Authority figures, and has the habit of always exaggerating things to a more dramatic scale 
