Justin Sheedy's Blog - Posts Tagged "anzac"

Last week I attended the Gloucester Writers’ Festival 2012 as a Guest Writer and I’m relieved to say that it went really, really well for me. I met some truly excellent writers – I swear, did me heart good: really nice people, great to talk to and full of good advice and support.

Standouts for me included: Author Lisa Heidke, a lovely person & genuine life-of-the-party. Aleesah Darlison (who had to get her pen out of her purse 5 times to write down leads for me re further speaking engagements on my book, a publishing lead re ABC Books plus similar). Festival key-note speaker Susanne Gervay OAM who really took me under her kind & supportive wing from the very first. Authors Michael Pryor and Stephen Measday were also just great to be with: Highly successful, excellent to talk with and both just very nice blokes.



My talk on my book, Nor the Years Condemn, was really well received, all the copies of the book SOLD, and I won 1st Prize in a competition at the end of the festival – Pitching your Book to Publishers. No new publishing deal from that as yet but we will See.

The weekend ended for me with a nice bloke from the ABC enthusing to me that my book should be a TV series, that he’s in personal contact with authors Peter Fitzsimons and Paul Hamm, and that he’ll be in touch. From my experience, one never knows what might eventuate from interactions like that, but, again, we will See.

I had a truly brilliant time signing copies of the book for people over the course of the weekend, talking to them about the true Australian history on which Nor the Years Condemn is based: So many people had family connections with it (grandfather a Spitfire pilot, great uncle in World War 2, a schoolkid massively into Australian history, things like that.) This was one of the best experiences for me of the festival – these really warm & enthusiastic conversations with tons of people re the stunning untold Australian Story which was my inspiration to write this book. (!)

Nor the Years Condemn is available as a Print-on-Demand Paperback at AMAZON with great reviews, also as an ebook at SMASHWORDS in all ebook formats plus at all major ebook websites. Click here for REVIEWS of Nor the Years Condemn.

My massive thanks to Lindy Dupree, Director of the Gloucester Writers’ Festival, for inviting me to this excellent event, also to all at the Festival, and to the authors and festival-goers whom it was my privilege to meet. — Justin Sheedy, May 2012.

SEE PICS OF FESTIVAL HERE: http://crackernight.com/2012/05/13/ju...

Thanks to Dymocks book-buyer, Ben Garland (praise his name!), Nor the Years Condemn by Justin Sheedy is now available on the bookstore shelves of Dymocks, George Street, Sydney. More stores to follow! Author Justin Sheedy will be appearing in-store over the next few weeks to talk to Dymocks customers about his latest historical fiction, Nor the Years Condemn, and the stunning (untold!) chapter of Australian history on which it is based. Justin would like to express his most profound thanks to all at Dymocks, especially book-buyer, Ben Garland, who, holding a copy of Nor the Years Condemn, pronounced, “I’ve got a really good feeling about this…” The book is available in the store’s Australian Fiction section.

The book was a major success at the recent Gloucester Writers’ Festival 2012, to which Justin was invited as a guest author, and where he won a prize for it. (Woo Hoo.) READ MORE BELOW...

Justin recently commented on the book: “The really rewarding thing about this book is that when I’m talking about it to people – at the recent festival, speaking & book-signing engagements over the last few weeks – I find myself talking to them not about the book itself but about the amazing true Australian history on which it’s based. People so engage with it as it’s their history, and a largely untold one. In a way, they really do ‘own’ this story. As Australians, we’re all richly aware of our Gallipoli story as it’s so central to our sense of national identity: At Gallipoli in 1915, such a very nation, we discovered who we are as a nation – a people who look after each other in the worst situation imaginable – in the midst of a heroic defeat whilst fighting for our imperial masters. “Nor the Years Condemn” tells JUST this kind of story, and one of iconic ‘Gallipoli’ magnitude yet one which, by contrast to our Gallipoli story, is unknown by many Australians. And it’s a story which is so exciting, so tragic, in a word, so dramatic as to defy belief. And all true. Plus, not a story of heroic defeat but one of stunning victory, albeit at a tragic cost.”

BOOK DESCRIPTION…

At the beginning of World War 2, Britain was in the deepest trouble imaginable. 5 minutes flying time away crouched a monster. Alone against it, Britain called out to her Empire. For pilots. From all corners of that Empire, they volunteered. Only the best & brightest were chosen. Daniel Quinn was one of these young men who came to fly against the monster. They had a 1-in-3 chance of survival.

Nor the Years Condemn is based on the true story of the youths who flew against the to-date unstoppable might of Nazi Germany. In their early-20s, they were out of necessity for the job at hand the most intelligent young souls, rendering the death of so many of them doubly heart-rending for the reader. Australian Daniel Quinn, flanked by the often hilarious young men of his elite ilk, leaves his peacetime life behind to fight tyranny in this portrait of doomed, brilliant youth.

SAMPLE READER RESPONSES…

Nor the Years Condemn – Five Stars
Review by Michael High, Colorado Springs, USA.

“Nor the Years Condemn”: Where to start? The writing. Excellent. Everything flowed and, from the first chapter to the end, was fluid. Hints here and there as to what may happen in the future were freely dropped along the way. This kept me engrossed, kept me reading. The story. Again, excellent. The history behind these young men (and women), the planes they used, the circumstances surrounding this time frame, et cetera – all well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the “story” of each character and how they interacted with each other. There were some shockers in there; war is hell, no? I also liked the hint of “espionage” involved. “Nor the Years Condemn”, to me, was a fantastic read. I can but recommend this book to others and impatiently await Justin’s next work.

Should be a Movie
Review by Rochell Lancaster, Melbourne, Australia.

Not only for the boys, everyone will take something away from this. Could definitely see this made into a mini-series or movie. The author sucks you in from the start, it is very hard to put down. You can tell that the author did a lot of research when writing this book and is passionate about the story and characters. Hoping there will be a sequel.

In Appreciation of Nor The Years Condemn
Review by Martin Zitek, Sydney, Australia.

“Nor the Years Condemn” recounts the horrors of war as seen by one elite and effective unit of WWII. The author puts us there, in that time, by depicting: language, description of locations, the attitudes of the people and the spirit of the nation that would see it prevail through its darkest period of history. The reader is shown in clear, flowing narrative how war can touch us all, from the other side of the world, to the heights of the clouds. The characters feel so real, we are sure they must have existed. The flying is portrayed so brilliantly, we feel an ace fighter pilot must have possessed Justin’s head while he wrote this. The planes themselves become characters, even though mere machines, they became tools of victory and a symbol of ingenuity, technology and bloody determination. This is a testament to the research undertaken by the author and his wordsmithing we see as the end result.

From Andrew Landström, Sweden…
I really think it was good. I think a lot of social aspects go missing in a lot of novels about war like family, love and the main characters’ own feelings. Some authors seem not to be able to get the balance right. I think you did. I laughed out loud in some parts of the book as well as being moved almost to tears.

From Celia Byrnes, Iowa, USA…
Meticulously researched, our fictional character’s story is wholly believable, from descriptions of military training, learning to fly, airborne dog fights, war torn London, relationships formed and lost. A gripping story of war, love, loss and survival.

From Justin Osborne, Georgia, USA…
I give this book 10 stars.


NORTHERN DISTRICT TIMES FEATURE...
http://northern-district-times.wherei...
NORTH SHORE TIMES ANZAC DAY EDITION FEATURE...
http://crackernight.com/2012/04/25/an...
MORE HERE...
http://crackernight.com/2012/02/18/a-...
RADIO INTERVIEW...
http://crackernight.com/2012/04/19/ju...
Radio Presenter writes: “It is an amazing story of heroes, Spitfires and much much more, hear it directly from the author! You will be quite spellbound!”

With in-the-cockpit flying sequences that readers have described as cinematic, Nor the Years Condemn is also a story of the mothers cursed to relinquish their sons to war, of first love, of strategic deception and betrayal, of brotherhood and once-in-a-lifetime friendship on a knife’s edge. As per the title, it’s a story of shining young men destined never to grow old, and of those who do: the survivors ‘condemned by the years’, and to their memory of friends who remain forever young. The product of a decade’s research plus Australian WWII air-war veteran interviews, it’s based on an iconic (yet relatively unknown) Australian story in our great ANZAC tradition. It’s a book which, when Australians do read it, will make them even prouder of who they are.
http://crackernight.com/2012/05/19/no...

Veteran Film, TV and Theatre Writer & Performer, Tim Bean, who ordered Justin Sheedy’s latest book Nor the Years Condemn from AMAZON, has just penned the following Review of the book…

WOULD MAKE A VERY GOOD MOVIE.

“NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN, by Justin Sheedy, is an engrossing war novel set amid Britain’s fighter squadrons during WWII. In 1939, Daniel Quinn, 20, Sydney University 1ST XV Rugby star, applies to join the RAAF almost on a whim. It’s a whim which will have him flying a Spitfire over Nazi Germany with a one in three chance of survival. Told mostly from Daniel’s viewpoint, NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN details the misfortunes of war experienced by a generation of young pilots, the best of the best, most of whom will die young. Daniel faces his first flight, first kill, first love, first loss and first meeting with a young colleague old before his time. It’s a tense, well told story, gripping, from prologue to epilogue. (To those readers in the habit of skipping prologues, a word of advice: Don’t skip this one.) Justin Sheedy’s no-nonsense style of writing fits perfectly with his subject matter. The detailed research is obvious, yet there are no glaring information dumps. Instead, the exposition is so well integrated that it becomes part of the drama. In all, NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN is a very good read which, incidentally, would also make a very good movie.”


(Pictured, Author Justin Sheedy in Sydney's North Shore Times)

My huge thanks to Tim Bean. Please see Tim’s veritably iconic contribution to Australian Film, TV, Theatre and Cultural Scene at the link below.
http://www.timbeanproductions.com/
Tim’s incomparable insight recently provided me, as the author and cover-designer of the book, with a true ‘light-bulb-going-on’ moment re a potential improvement to the back cover of Nor the Years Condemn. Tim’s suggestion has resulted in an enrichment of the all-important experience for the bookstore browser of the book in being ‘drawn into’ the Key Character of the book, an experience richly promised by the front cover and which has now been made a reality, and to wide public approval.

Nor the Years Condemn is available as a Print-on-Demand Paperback at AMAZON, as an Ebook at SMASHWORDS and now at DYMOCKS BOOKSTORES.

JUSTIN SHEEDY, May 2012.
http://crackernight.com/2012/06/04/la...
NEW BACK COVER FOR NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN

I just sent the following to all Major Australian Publishers who rejected my book. "Just a quick note to let you know that my latest book (which with fair consideration you opted not to publish in 2012) BROKE DYMOCKS IN-STORE SALES RECORDS IN 2012 and still doesn’t have a major publishing contract. With the book’s now proven commercial success, you may at this time consider giving it one. (You know you want to…) Please see the below breaking press release for my upcoming Australia Day in-store event for the book – the public can’t get enough of this great Australian story, plus Rave Reviews, Latest News, John Laws Show, Writers’ Festival, Media Coverage, it’s all there with Sparklers. Thanks for reading – Justin Sheedy, Author ‘Goodbye Crackernight’ and ‘Nor the Years Condemn’"

http://crackernight.com/2013/01/14/au...

In the lead-up to ANZAC Day 2013, rising Australian author Justin Sheedy will be signing copies of his latest book, “Nor the Years Condemn” , at Dymocks Chatswood. Based on a true Australian war story of Gallipoli magnitude yet one unknown by most Australians, “Nor the Years Condemn” is a ripping historical novel bringing to life the untold saga of the young Australians who flew Spitfires against Nazi Germany in World War II. “Nor the Years Condemn” is also a story of the mothers cursed to relinquish their wonderful sons to war, of first love, of strategic deception and betrayal, of brotherhood and once-in-a-lifetime friendship on a knife’s edge. It is a story of shining young men destined never to grow old, and of those who do: the survivors ‘condemned by the years’, and to their memory of friends who remain forever young. (Read More below…)

http://crackernight.com/2013/03/14/ju...
In 2012 Sheedy broke Dymocks in-store event sales records with this, his latest book, perhaps as he tells a Great Australian Story. Come and meet him at Dymocks Chatswood on Saturday 20 April. He’ll be in-store all day from 10am and would love to sign you a copy of his book, and share with you his passion for the true story on which it is based, a story in our great ANZAC tradition.

Dymocks Chatswood are MASSIVELY supporting me, a still-struggling author. See the Link for their Facebook page & Like to help me THANK them. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dymocks...

Thomas Keneally & Me side-by-side. Well on the Dymocks Literary Events website we are anyway. Actually, I'm sort of Under... Anyway a Once in a lifetime event for Me so I'm showing ya. See the link & scroll down. http://www.dymocks.com.au/LiteraryEve...
http://crackernight.com/2013/04/01/au...

Author Justin Sheedy was delighted today to receive the following Reader Review of his latest book, “Nor the Years Condemn”, in the lead up to his latest in-store book-signing event on the eve of ANZAC Day 2013. “Nor the Years Condemn” is an historical fiction bringing to life an amazing (untold) chapter in Australia’s great ANZAC tradition – the saga of the (very) young Australians who flew Spitfires against Nazi tyranny in World War II.

I CANNOT PRAISE THIS BOOK ENOUGH! – From Ms Glen Knight, UK.
“I cannot praise this book enough, it is written with a real understanding of people, aviation and era… A superb depiction of life, love and war in the 1940′s. The research for it must have been thorough and extensive, but that leaves even more credit to the author who writes in a way that makes you believe you are actually there… his characters are friends. Anyone who thinks this is just another “War Book” is in for a pleasant surprise.” – Glen Knight.

The author expressed his most sincere thanks to Ms Knight. His response to her as follows…

“Dear Glen, thanks from the bottom of my heart for your so very kind words. I am truly touched that you’ve engaged with Nor the Years Condemn in the way you describe. You are Spot On, too: My greatest hope for the story is that it should be a homage to the People who made the history and to the Era, and also that it might educate people even now learning about this stunning period of our history by putting them RIGHT IN that history – especially by engaging them with the Characters who made it, and ‘characters’ they were: in order to become fighter pilots, the best & brightest of a generation, their loss so tragic. And that was indeed my inspiration to write this story. To write an Anti-War Story.” – Justin Sheedy 2013
For full blog post on this Review, click the following Link.
http://crackernight.com/2013/04/12/be...

Sheedy will be signing copies of “Nor the Years Condemn” on the eve of ANZAC Day 2013 at Dymocks Chatswood on Saturday 20th of April. This will be Sheedy’s 10th Dymocks in-store book signing event since the book was published. For more REVIEWS of “Nor the Years Condemn”, click the following Link.
http://crackernight.com/2012/01/17/gr...


NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN IS NOW AVAILABLE AT DYMOCKS GEORGE ST SYDNEY, DYMOCKS MACQUARIE CENTRE, CHATSWOOD, NORTH SYDNEY, BROADWAY, BONDI JUNCTION, ROUSE HILL & CAMBERWELL (VIC) stores.

AND NOW AT GLEEBOOKS, BERKELOUW BOOKS PADDINGTON & THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

ALSO AT THE BOOK DEPOSITORY, AMAZON, AMAZON UK (where reviewer Ms Glen Knight purchased & posted her review), as an Ebook at SMASHWORDS and via all Ebook sites and via ALL good bookstores.

Glebe novelist Justin Sheedy’s new book
Vanessa Witton recently interviewed Justin Sheedy at his local, the Toxteth Hotel on Glebe Point Rd.

The first thing that strikes you on meeting Glebe author Justin Sheedy is that he’s a man of passion. It’s a trait which shines through in his writing and is one reason – combined with the fact that he tells a great Australian story – that his latest book has been so warmly received. Nor the Years Condemn is a tale of shining young men destined never to grow old, an historical fiction based on the stunning true and untold story of the young Australians who flew Spitfires against Nazi tyranny in WWII.

VW: What was your inspiration to write this story?

JS: First of all I wanted to tell a truly great Australian war story of which, by contrast to our Gallipoli story, most Australians are unaware. Gallipoli is so important to us, as there we discovered who we were as nation: a young people looking after each other in the midst of the worst situation imaginable, all while fighting a heroic defeat for our imperial masters. Nor the Years Condemn is based on a true story of Gallipoli magnitude; not one of heroic defeat but of stunning victory, albeit at tragic cost.

VW: These Australian Spitfire pilots – how young were they exactly?

JS: In their late teens and early 20s. Hadn’t had a girlfriend yet. 1939, England, alone against Nazi Germany, calls out to its British Empire, “HELP. Send us pilots”. Every young Australian male says “Pick ME!” yet to fly a Spitfire, only the “best and brightest” could be picked. With staggering irony, this “best and brightest” had volunteered for one of the fastest ways to die of the War. First time on a ship, if they survived being torpedoed they got to England where they flew Spitfires against young German gentlemen; when they should all have been Olympians against each other, Formula 1 drivers; for this was the kind of young men they were – because they had to be.

VW: Riveting stuff…

JS: Precisely! It’s a saga so exciting, so tragic, so dramatic as to seem the stuff of science fiction, and yet it’s true! And it’s just so rewarding for me that readers are engaging with my story as the anti-war portrait I intended; one of young people doing with such brilliance, style and world-beating heroism what they should never have been asked to do: end a war. Which they did.

VW: Who do you see as your readership for this book?

JS: It’s been to my delight and relief that I’ve had grandmothers vowing, “I laughed and cried, didn’t want it to end, I was right in the cockpit with the main character!” Also, it’s very much a mothers’ story too, as for every shining young man who flew a Spitfire, there was the poor mother cursed to let him go.

Vanessa Witton – (Full issue of The Glebe Society Bulletin April 2013 Issue at the Link below)
http://bulletin.glebesociety.org.au/2...

Justin Sheedy will be signing copies of “Nor the Years Condemn” at Dymocks Chatswood on Saturday 20th April from 10am, an ANZAC Day 2013 lead-up event. The book is available at GLEEBOOKS, BERKELOUW BOOKS PADDINGTON & THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, also at DYMOCKS GEORGE ST SYDNEY, DYMOCKS MACQUARIE CENTRE, CHATSWOOD, NORTH SYDNEY, BROADWAY, BONDI JUNCTION, ROUSE HILL & CAMBERWELL (VIC) stores. ALSO AT THE BOOK DEPOSITORY, AMAZON, AMAZON UK, as an Ebook at SMASHWORDS and via all Ebook sites and via ALL good bookstores. REVIEWS at the below Link!
http://crackernight.com/2012/01/17/gr...
http://crackernight.com/2013/04/14/au...

GLEEBOOKS have invited me to sign copies of my book latest book "Nor the Years Condemn" in-store on ANZAC DAY! From 11am All Day. Gleebooks is at 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, Sydney. I'd love to share with you my passion for the great Untold Story in our Anzac Tradition on which my latest book is based. -- Justin Sheedy

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