Publisher's synopsis
A haunting fable-like story by the well-known musician and author, Eddie Ayres, about the power of music and a young girl in Kabul set during the occupation of the Taliban.
In Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, Sonam’s world is dark and silent. Then one day, she follows a magical melodious sound to a walled garden, and her world is silent no more. The sound is music, and it lifts her up amongst the stars and takes her deeper than the tree roots in the earth. How can she hold on to this feeling in a world where music is forbidden?
A lyrical fable-like story by the well-known musician, author and broadcaster Eddie Ayres, about the irrepressible power of music.
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Ed Le Brocq is a writer, musician and broadcaster. He was born on the White Cliffs of Dover and began playing music when he was six years old. He studied music in Manchester, Berlin and London, played professionally in the UK and Hong Kong, and moved to Australia in 2003. Ed is the presenter of ABC Classic’s Weekend Breakfast.
Ed is also the author (under the name Emma Ayres) of Cadence, about his journey by bicycle from England to Hong Kong with only a violin for company; and (under the name Eddie Ayres) of Danger Music, describing his year teaching music in Afghanistan, as well as the children’s book Sonam and the Silence; and (under the name Ed Ayres) of Whole Notes: Life Lessons through Music. His books have been shortlisted for several prestigious awards, including the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.
Ed, who lives in Brisbane, was born Emma and transitioned just before his fiftieth birthday. Better late than never.
Bio: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
Photo: Russell Shakespeare, courtesy of Allen & Unwin
Ronak Taher is an Iranian-Australian artist born in 1984. She finished her bachelor of Graphic Design at the University of Tehran, also holds a Master of Illustration and Animation from the Azad University of Tehran. In 2013 she was celebrated as one of the 300 upcoming world talents in film industry at the Berlin Film Festival. Ronak also works in the fields of graphic design, illustration and sculpture. She has had over six solo and group visual art exhibitions and has illustrated more than eight books for children and young adults.
Bio and photo: Allen & Unwin
