Several inmates have commented on the above cover of the TONGARIRO SKULDUGGERY book – about the uncanny characterisation of the old man and asked who was the artist? The book is available in all units at TRM. SWMBO’s (She Who Must Be Obeyed is the manager of everything at TRM) scheme was that tourists would start reading it and then have to buy a copy to discover the surprise ending. She is such a schemer. It must be a fascinating plot as several books have, quite understandably, gone missing… That’s OK – we are confident they will return when the fisho returns for his next Tongariro fix.

The cartoon was sketched about 13 years ago by Bryony Walters from London. She sketched the cartoon, based on photos from TRM’s website, and presented it to SWMBO as a lovely surprise for her Christmas present. We had not met her previously. Bryony’s father was the famous JAK – cartoonist for the London Evening Standard for about 40 years. So it was perfect as a suitable cover for the fictional “mockumentary” TONGARIRO SKULDUGGERY.

Which brings up the next subject… So many have asked what happened to the skull? They could not believe they had not heard about it before… The conceptual basis was a “mockumentary” – a documentary style without dialogue to satirize some issues in Turangi and beyond. It is deliberately controversial and contentious which, so far, has been accepted as some licence is tolerated with comedy. It is all true except where I lied.

Thank you to many for their encouraging reviews. From their comments we know that it will appeal to readers who can associate with the Tongariro River, Turangi, trout fishing, and New Zealand’s revised updated history.

For those waiting for postal orders, TRM has just ordered another printing run. The book is still available from reception at $39 or can be posted for $45 in NZ. All proceeds go to worthy river conservation causes such as tourist information boards along the Tongariro River to explain the history, etc. Watch this space…