Books
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RABBIT TOWN
Set against the backdrop of war and social upheaval, a family secret is buried, the damning consequences of which, are manifested in the generations that follow.
In 1932, during the dark days of the Great Depression, Charlie Davis, from the inner Sydney suburb of Newtown, is laid off from work. When he can no longer pay the rent, his family establishes a dwelling in a shanty town called Happy Valley, near Le Perouse on Sydney’s eastern fringe. To make ends meet, Charlie and his son, Tom, follow in the footsteps of the original ‘rabbitohs’ who had already earned a place in Sydney’s folklore, and they traipse the streets selling rabbits.
Tom befriends a young Irish girl, Hazel, and to the horror of her Catholic family, she becomes pregnant. With her infant, she joins Tom and his family at Happy Valley, but struggles in the dour conditions and flees Happy Valley, deserting her baby, Bill, knowing that she is now carrying another child.
Eight years later in 1940, both Tom and his father, Charlie, take their place in the theatre of war. When the war is over, Tom is reunited with his mother and young son, Bill. Tom begins his search for Hazel and finds her and his daughter, Nancy. Tom and Hazel reunite as friends, agreeing to hide their history from the two kids, not wanting their son to learn of his abandonment as a baby.
What follows are years of torment for all involved, which was all sparked by the lies of Tom and Hazel. Spanning three generations and ending in 2021, this is an extraordinary story of hardship and betrayal, that gives light to hope and forgiveness.
PAPERBACK - RRP: $24.95 - (usual cost $28.99)
Ebook - RRP: $13.95 (usual cost $14.99)
SPECIAL OFFER FOR BOOK CLUBS
1 copy $14-95 + p/h
5 copies $65 + p/h
10 copies $110 + p/h
SAME RATES FOR SCHOOLS
SCIS book number 5483808
Contact Kevin directly through the GET IN TOUCH PAGE to arrange
THUNDERSONG
Thundersong is a work of contemporary fiction, published in 2020. It is the story of Jonathon White, a retired lawyer who spent his working life defending the desperate and downtrodden. He befriends a young indigenous student, Jarrah, who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. The law comes down heavily upon him, compounded by misfortune and bigotry. In coming to Jarrah’s aid, Johnathon is faced with decisions that challenge the core of his worth as a person.
RRP: $19.99
Available also as an Ebook on Amazon
Teacher Fella
When a young teacher embarks upon his career, the realities of the classroom hit him like a bucket of cold water. ‘Teacher Fella’ is a memoir set against the backdrop of three western Sydney high schools: St Marys High, Richmond High, and Glenmore Park High, from 1986 until 2019, juxtaposed with the demands of a hectic family life.
In a deeply personal account, he rides the roller coaster of teaching and parenting. Some episodes are of uplifting joy and hilarity. Countering this are times of despair and gut-wrenching heartache. When he sees fragments of his own life in the kids he teaches, he is forced to suppress a dark figure from his own childhood. Can the power of forgiveness, be enough to pull him through?
‘Teacher Fella’ shines a light upon a complex profession. It is a fitting tribute to teachers everywhere, and to all those who play a role in nurturing our youth.
Available in paperback form for $22 and as an Ebook for $9.99 on Amazon.
Or if you would like to purchase through this website, its easy! Simply, contact me on the ‘Get In Touch’ page.
DISCLOSURES
The stories in this book are about the people we encounter in our everyday lives. Some we pass by, and our connection is little more than a brief encounter. Then there are those with whom we form a deeper attachment, some on a more intimate level than others. We plough on towards the next destination in our life journey, but when we grant ourselves the time to ponder the years so far, we each have a story and much to tell.
AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON
e-book $3.99
Paperback $10.99
COMING SOON!
Michael is one of six brothers under eight, longing for their mother’s affection. After her repeated admittances to a psychiatric ward, the boys are shifted to Burnside Presbyterian Home for Children in western Sydney. Michael needs hugs and reassurance, but what he receives are beltings and verbal abuse.
Over the next fourteen years, Michael is shunted through one institution after another. Some are under the guise of religious banners such as the Presbyterian Church and the Salvation Army, and others are run by the State.
Physical and sexual abuse are normalised by those in authority during this shameful part of Australia’s history. Michael is vulnerable as psychological weaponry destroys many of those around him. During dark periods of his life, it seems unlikely he will survive the horror.
Despite his fragility, Michael finds something deep within himself to fight through the terror. When his time comes to leave the system, he embarks upon a new journey. Michael is a damaged soul but vows to take a step forward each day towards a better life.
Decades later, as a husband and father, he takes on each new day with determination to stay ahead of the demons. He remains a work in progress.