Justin Sheedy's Blog - Posts Tagged "gleebooks"

My latest book “Nor the Years Condemn” was This Day accepted by the iconic Australian bookstore, GLEEBOOKS – Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, Sydney. Available In-Store now. And it’s HARD to get accepted by this store. As Every Author Wants To. And That’s the truth. It helped that I’m a local to this iconic store, also that I’ve had locals helping me with upcoming media coverage of the book. I suspect, and it’s just a Suspicion, mind, that I MAY be doing something Right… At least locally. REVIEWS OF “NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN” at the LINK.
http://crackernight.com/2012/01/17/gr...

http://crackernight.com/2013/02/05/no...

THE INNOCENT CASUALTIES OF WAR - An excerpt from “Nor the Years Condemn” by Justin Sheedy: The story’s main character, Daniel Quinn, having crossed the planet from Australia and having been in fighter combat already, is on London Leave, September 1942…
FULL Post and Pics at the link below...
http://crackernight.com/2013/02/19/th...

CHAPTER ELEVEN

He’d walked for blocks, hardly thinking, just walking, from cross-street to cross-street the bombed-out sites becoming more and more frequent, the people less and less. Most vehicles had followed detour signs way back, a soul shuffling along here and there, one pushing a child’s pram filled with what looked like rags.

By the time he was nearing St Paul’s Cathedral, the city’s bomb damage had grown to desolation. With the dome looming, he realised he was walking down a canyon of ruins, on each side of him windows framing only grey sky – skeletons of buildings where once people had lived, worked? Impossible to tell. Rounding a corner of high empty walls, ahead of him lay a city block.

Completely flattened.


Around its vast perimeter was a frayed pale red ribbon on sticks, fallen down in places.

Quinn looked out across the plain of rubble. About a hundred feet across it, he thought he caught sight of some small animal. Until it stood, and he saw the tattered cap – a small boy, dwarfed against the backdrop of the cathedral dome.

Quinn lit a cigarette. And trod carefully out over the broken bricks and masonry towards the child.

Still with around fifty feet to go and almost losing his footing over the foundation of a shattered wall, Quinn dropped his cigarette and called out.

‘You alright, son?’

A tiny face glanced up like a squirrel on its guard, only to turn slowly back away. No answer came.

Quinn continued towards the boy and, drawing closer, saw he was digging in the rubble at his knees. ‘Are you alright there, mate?’

The digging continued.

Drawing up to the child, Quinn saw his face was dirty, hair matted.

‘Yes…’ the child said.

Quinn noticed a toy to one side – a tin model car of some kind, its green paint chipped and faded. ‘Having a game, are we?’ Quinn put his age at about five, just a bit younger than Angie, at least, the last time he’d seen her. Yet the child at Quinn’s feet had an air wholly unlike his little sister – one of complete detachment… As if Quinn wasn’t even there.


‘No,’ came the answer finally. ‘…I find things sometimes.’

Quinn paused before asking. ‘What kind of things?’

‘My toys.’

Quinn saw the model car was rusted. ‘Well,’ he smiled cheerfully, ‘maybe you shouldn’t leave them out in the rain, eh?’

‘I didn’t.’

Quinn remembered it was a Monday. ‘Shouldn’t you be in school?’

The child didn’t answer.

‘Do your parents know you’re here?’

The child seemed to have to think about this.

‘I suppose so.’ He kept digging. ‘…The lady at the shelter said you can see everything from Heaven.’

Quinn paused again. ‘…I’m sorry, mate.’

The child extracted another sad little object from the rubble. ‘I used to cry… When I was four. But I don’t anymore.’

‘Do you live near here?’

‘…I used to.’

Quinn scanned the area – not a soul in sight, no sign of inhabited dwelling. ‘Do you have any brothers and sisters?’

‘Yes.’

‘Maybe you could tell me where they are?’

‘…Wiv my mum and dad.’

Quinn shook his head minutely. Jesus. Poor little thing.


He wished to his core there was something he could do, something to help the kid but what? Give him some money? Quinn realised he’d none on him – hadn’t stopped at Australia House to draw any. A thought struck him and he fished in his tunic breast pocket. No sooner had he handed the chocolate bar down to the boy than he’d snatched it, ripped the paper open and was devouring it hungrily. As he did so, for the first time since Quinn’s arrival, he cast furtive glances upwards.

After several eager mouthfuls, the child spoke with chocolate teeth. ‘Are you a soldier?’

‘…Yes.’

‘Have you killed many people?’

Quinn considered his total. So far, three fighters, two bombers… So nine men. He couldn’t be sure precisely. ‘…A few.’

The child simply kept munching.


Then it came to Quinn: He’d quietly report the kid’s plight to someone at Australia House. Better still, he’d put a notice up on the board at the Boomerang Club: Maybe some of the blokes’d pop by now and then, bring him this and that. In fact, the more Quinn thought about it, it sounded like an idea that just might catch on at the Boomerang Club. It was something anyway. He couldn’t think what else – He was back on ops tomorrow, and a special op no less. He considered the boy a final time, and moved to go. ‘Well. You look after yourself, little mate.’

There came only more munching, and a vacant stare.

Quinn started to make his way back across the rubble, already considering what best to write for the club noticeboard, when, nearing the perimeter ribbon, he fairly stumbled on a plank of old wood. Dusting himself off, he noticed a sign at the end of the plank, his misstep having unearthed it from shattered bricks. Out of frustration more than anything, he flipped it over with his shoe.

RESTRICTED AREA. DANGER OF UNEXPLODED BOMBS.
BY ORDER. A.R.P. DEPT. HOME OFFICE. 1940.

Quinn spun around back to the child.

No Way… If I’m gonna get blown to bits let it be doing what I joined up for, not for some kid I never met playing with Death every day for two years already – Not on your Life.

Quinn knocked off his cap and started determinedly back out over the broken stone.

In his next moments, his mouth went completely dry – Maybe the kid had survived this long due to body-weight alone! Quinn knew his every next step could bring the blinding flash of an explosion he’d never hear. No. No sound. Only a pounding between his ears – his own heartbeat. Drawing ever closer to the child, he felt a droplet of sweat trickle down his brow. It plopped off his nose and landed on a mortar dust-covered brick by the child as Quinn hooked an arm down, scooped the child up by the waist, spun and reversed in a single motion.

On the way back across the ruined ground, Quinn became aware of another sound: Under his arm, the boy was howling – something about his home.

Quinn said nothing, to close the distance between them and the perimeter ribbon his only goal.

Reaching it, he slung the kid down on his feet to face him, gripping his shoulders as he bawled with tears.

‘You must never go back in there! Never! Don’t you know you could get killed?!’

Slipping Quinn’s grasp, the child was gone, his sobs echoing back off blasted walls. As they faded, Quinn bent slowly forward.

Placed a hand on each knee.

Vomited.

Spat.

And spat again.

NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN by Justin Sheedy is now available at GLEEBOOKS Glebe, Sydney, also at DYMOCKS Sydney, Chatswood, North Sydney, Broadway, Bondi Junction, Macquarie Centre, Rouse Hill and Camberwell (VIC), also at BERKELOUW BOOKS PADDINGTON and at THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, Canberra. Also as a Print-on-Demand Paperback at AMAZON and at THE BOOK DEPOSITORY (Free International Shipping!) also in all Ebook formats at SMASHWORDS and at ALL major Ebook sites.

To read further excerpts of NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN, click the link below.
http://crackernight.com/2010/09/15/gh...

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

http://crackernight.com/2013/04/23/an...

DON’T TELL EVERY PUBLISHING COMPANY IN AUSTRALIA…

Think of a publishing company in Australia. Go on, name one. Chances are they knocked back rising Australian author, Justin Sheedy. Name another one… Yes, they knocked him back too. They ALL did. Apparently they saw no commercial or literary merit in his writing.

Only one group of people in Australia have and do see merit in Sheedy’s writing: the thousands of Australian readers who have purchased and loved his (self-published) books over the past few years. This fact, though missed by every publishing company in Australia, wasn’t missed by a major Australian book distribution company, who offered Sheedy a major distribution contract for his books at the close of 2013. As a result, Sheedy’s books became available in bookstores across Australia in time for Christmas, including the great Dymocks Books chain, Gleebooks and Berkelouw Books.

This week Sheedy’s books have gone international with the announcement that his latest historical fiction, “Ghosts of the Empire”, is being stocked by the great English bookstore chain, Waterstone’s (with 288 stores across the UK and Europe) as well as by the legendary WHSmith chain (with an incredible 1264 outlets in the UK and Europe). As to the Australian publishing companies still unaware of his success, you would be right on the money if you said that author Justin Sheedy has ‘bypassed the gatekeeper’.

“Ghosts of the Empire” (full description below) is currently available in paperback at WHSmith, from Waterstone’s in paperback and ebook. Sheedy’s other so warmly-received titles “Nor the Years Condemn” and “Goodbye Crackernight” are currently in ebook format at Waterstone’s and will very soon be available in paperback from both these mighty UK bookstore chains.

Author Justin Sheedy’s driving passion is to tell great Australian stories. His readers love reading them. As they will now across the UK and Europe. …Pssst… Just don’t tell every publishing company in Australia.

TO PURCHASE JUSTIN SHEEDY’S BOOKS AT WATERSTONE’S, CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstone...

AT WHSMITH, CLICK HERE: http://www.whsmith.co.uk/pws/ProductD...

IN AUSTRALIAN BOOKSTORES, CLICK HERE: http://www.dymocks.com.au/Search/resu...

GHOSTS OF THE EMPIRE

As the storm of World War II breaks, Mick O’Regan is a peaceful Sydney working-class boy. Yet he and the shining youth of his generation are cursed to enter a world of high-speed life and death. Like first-time Aussie backpackers they cross the planet to save the British Empire, their job on arrival the most dangerous of the War: flying for Royal Air Force Bomber Command.

Based on a true Australian war story only now being brought to life by author Justin Sheedy’s vivid historical fictions, Ghosts of the Empire is also a story of young people living life to the full while they can – in a blacked-out world where dance partners, sex and death flow in equal abundance.

Though standing on its own as the white-knuckle excitement saga that it is, Ghosts of the Empire is the much-anticipated sequel to Nor the Years Condemn, Sheedy’s highly acclaimed story of shining young men destined never to grow old. ‘Ghosts’, it is said, are the spirits of those who die violently, tragically, or when ripped from life too young. Ghosts of the Empire is their story.

Rising Australian author Justin Sheedy has recently seen his third book published. Hailed by iconic UK bookstore chain Waterstone’s as ‘Book 2 in Sheedy’s “Nor the Years Condemn” Series’ , Sheedy’s highly-anticipated “Ghosts of the Empire” has been warmly received by readers. An historical fiction bringing to life the stunning true saga of the shining Australian 20-somethings who crossed the planet to fly Spitfires and Mosquitos against Nazi tyranny in World War Two, this week latest readers of “Ghosts of the Empire” offered their ‘favourite bits’ of Sheedy’s gripping tale in a live Facebook event…

Colleen Dudley – Sydney, Australia: Bridie’s letters to Mick struck a chord with me – a fiery passionate 5 year old who is proud of her big brother but misses him, loves him to pieces and wants him back home. Very poignant.

Justin Sheedy – Author: Thank you, Colleen. I certainly intended the character of Bridie (5-year-old little sister of the story’s hero) to portray via her letters to him the simple, stark fact (as only seen via the undiluted honesty of extreme youth) that War is WRONG. That big brothers being absent because of it is a Crime. And Bridie so needs his help.

From Andrew Landström – Sweden: I think the bit when Mick was invited to tag along on a ferrying of a Mosquito was a bit that struck so many chords: flying, romance, the allure of a woman who showed Mick that she was at least at par with him as a pilot, the sadness of them both knowing that it was not to be, and it was a rather peaceful moment in the middle of a blazing war. This is just one of many nuggets strewn throughout the book. A book well written, a book worth reading.

Justin Sheedy: Andrew, a mighty thanks to you and that was one of my personal favourite bits to write in this book: Our male hero being flown in his first bomber by a lovely 20-something girl, completely his equal despite the reigning prejudice of the time (and indeed of Ours) that she wasn’t. Dear readers, THIS part of the story features the amazing girls of the Air Transport Auxiliary. As pictured above from many months back when I was writing the scene. (Full writing excerpt HERE.) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...

From Mark Bentley – Norfolk, United Kingdom: For me it has to be his solitary walk down the lanes at Marham (UK), not an action packed part, but strikes a chord with me as I walk those lanes regularly taking photos. If you have not read “Ghosts of the Empire” yet, you are missing out. Go buy a copy. If you have like me, then we shall just have to wait for the next book. Way to go, Justin.

Justin Sheedy: Mark, thank you for your response to the story. I loved writing that part: Mick O’Regan from Lewisham, Sydney, Australia, taking a peaceful walk between missions filled with death around the (as it turns out) ghost-filled countryside of Marham, Norfolk, UK, on the other side of the world from his home & family. And the seasoned local he meets reflecting that this young Australian is just the next in a long tradition of ‘ghosts’ in the local area. My book title being, after all, “Ghosts of the Empire”.

From Martin Zitek – Sydney, Australia: Yes! When we see the full and horrible effects of war on a suppressed and invaded populace, how their lives are turned upside down and so many are left to starve and die. This is brought home by beautiful French teenager Jacqueline Orval on her last legs, returning to her family farm house with no other option but to whither away and lament on what could have been had she flown off with the story’s hero, Mick O’Regan, a rescued pilot she had known for the briefest time. He can only return after avenging the death of her father at the hands of a brutal sadist and thus repaying the debt of the sacrifices she made to save him… The conclusion is beautiful and poignant…

Justin Sheedy: Thank You, Martin. That this key relationship in my story resonates for you is music to my ears; this book (and Book 1, “Nor the Years Condemn”) being a portrait of shining young people whose shining young lives are HIJACKED by the evil or incompetent old men who lead us. The ancient tragedy still with us. Apparently it still needs to be written about until such evil/incompetent men are put away yet my story remains a portrait of eternally shining Youth. Dear readers, Martin’s review HERE… http://crackernight.com/2014/02/04/mo...

Ian Iam – Canada: Justin, I have to say that the realism in how you write this book is something that is close to me. It feels like I’m reading an actual historical document. The training in the Empire Air Training Scheme, the ship voyage to England, the interaction of the air crew… Everything in the book makes it feel so real. Dare I say almost as if I was watching a movie!!!

Justin Sheedy: Ian, just brilliant to know the book & its detail are working for you the way it seems to be. A movie? WOW, I like the sound of that & SO glad the writing seems cinematic to you.

Tim Bean (Australian Arts Veteran): My favourite bit?… The six pages that make up the Whitehall scene. I think that is one of the best scenes I have ever read in ANY novel. Memorable, for a lot of good reasons.

Justin Sheedy: Thank YOU, Tim. Wonderful for me to know that key near-conclusion scene of the story so resonated for you. My intent with that section was to symbolise the whole deadly corrupt injustice of the war in my portrait of one excellent young man speaking out articulately and damningly against it.

From Mark Bentley: Next time at Marham, I will take some shots of the lanes, surrounding countryside: Hopefully readers will see what I see then, just bringing the story to life even more!

TO PURCHASE JUSTIN SHEEDY’S “GHOSTS OF THE EMPIRE” AT WATERSTONE’S BOOKSTORES (UK) CLICK HERE http://www.waterstones.com/waterstone...

AT WH SMITH STORES CLICK HERE http://www.whsmith.co.uk/pws/ProductD...

IN AUSTRALIA AT DYMOCKS BOOKSTORES CLICK HERE http://www.dymocks.com.au/Search/resu...

FROM GLEEBOOKS, HERE http://www.gleebooks.com.au/Catalogue...

FROM BERKELOUW BOOKS, HERE http://berkelouw.com.au/searches?utf8...

FROM ABBEY’S BOOKS, HERE http://www.abbeys.com.au/book/ghosts-...

To order internationally from AMAZON in paperback & Kindle formats click HERE http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Empire-J...

“Ghosts of the Empire” & “Nor the Years Condemn” by Justin Sheedy are now proudly stocked by the AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL http://www.awm.gov.au/shop/search/?q=....

FOR RAVE READER REVIEWS OF “GHOSTS OF THE EMPIRE” CLICK HERE http://crackernight.com/reviews-of-sh...

FOR ALL LATEST NEWS ON SHEEDY’S BOOKS CLICK HERE http://crackernight.com/latest-news-r...

Despite being knocked back by every publishing company in Australia (the story of EVERY now high-flying Australian author), Sydney independent author Justin Sheedy is delighted to see his latest warmly-received book on the shelves of ABBEY’S BOOKS – iconic independent bookstore and ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ for book-lovers right in the heart of Central Sydney.

Abbey’s Books have been an ardent supporter of Sheedy’s works since his first in 2009, GOODBYE CRACKERNIGHT, his comic & tearful true tale of growing up in 1970s Australia – back in a long-lost time when a child’s proudest possession was not a PlayStation but a second-hand bike, the book being so well received by Australian (and international) readers that it saw Sheedy invited to the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival 2010.

In 2012 Sheedy broke Australian in-store sales records with NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN, Book 1 in his ‘Nor the Years Condemn’ historical fiction trilogy bringing to life the stunning true story of the young Australians who, in World War II, flew Spitfires against the might of Nazi tyranny.

“Imagine your grandfather, when he was 21, was a real-life superhero who crossed the planet to fight against the worst evil imaginable in the most exciting way possible and won,” said Sheedy. “Though despite his victory he ends up an old man surrounded by the ghosts of all his friends who remain 21. It’s a story impossibly exciting, dramatic and tragic and it’s all true. One of shining young men cursed never to grow old.”

2012 saw Sheedy invited to the Gloucester Writers’ Festival where the book not only sold out but won a key Festival prize.

Sheedy’s latest release, GHOSTS OF THE EMPIRE, Book 2 in his ‘Nor the Years Condemn’ saga, is now on the shelves of ABBEY’S BOOKS. Sheedy would like to thank ALL at ABBEY’S for their past & present support and looks forward to near-future book-signing events at the store. GHOSTS OF THE EMPIRE full story description below.

GHOSTS OF THE EMPIRE

As the storm of World War II breaks, Mick O’Regan is a peaceful Sydney working-class boy. Yet he and the shining youth of his generation are cursed to enter a world of high-speed life and death. Like first-time Aussie backpackers they cross the planet to save the British Empire, their job on arrival the most dangerous of the War: flying for Royal Air Force Bomber Command.

Based on a true Australian war story only now being brought to life by author Justin Sheedy’s vivid historical fictions, “Ghosts of the Empire” is also a story of young people living life to the full while they can – in a blacked-out world where dance partners, sex and death flow in equal abundance.

Though standing on its own as the white-knuckle excitement saga that it is, “Ghosts of the Empire” is the much-anticipated sequel to “Nor the Years Condemn”, Sheedy’s highly acclaimed story of shining young men destined never to grow old. ‘Ghosts’, it is said, are the spirits of those who die violently, tragically, or when ripped from life too young. “Ghosts of the Empire” is their story.

Sydney author Justin Sheedy has just been featured for the second time in as many months in The Australia Times Magazine. This time for his latest book, “Ghosts of the Empire”. Click the Link Below & see Page 18.
http://www.theaustraliatimes.com/maga...



GHOSTS OF THE EMPIRE – by Justin Sheedy
As the storm of World War II breaks, Mick O’Regan is a peaceful Sydney working-class boy. Yet he and the shining youth of his generation are cursed to enter a world of high-speed life and death. Like first-time Aussie backpackers they cross the planet to save the British Empire, their job on arrival the most dangerous of the War: flying for Royal Air Force Bomber Command.

Based on a true Australian war story only now being brought to life by author Justin Sheedy’s vivid historical fictions, “Ghosts of the Empire” is also a story of young people living life to the full while they can – in a blacked-out world where dance partners, sex and death flow in equal abundance. Though standing on its own as the white-knuckle excitement saga that it is, “Ghosts of the Empire” is the much-anticipated sequel to “Nor the Years Condemn,” Sheedy’s highly acclaimed story of shining young men destined never to grow old.

‘Ghosts’, it is said, are the spirits of those who die violently, tragically, or when ripped from life too young. “Ghosts of the Empire” is their story.

JUSTIN’S LATEST BOOKS, “GHOSTS OF THE EMPIRE” & “NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN”, NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK & KINDLE FORMATS AT AMAZON, AT DYMOCKS BOOKSTORES, AT ABBEY’S BOOKS, GLEEBOOKS, BERKELOUW BOOKS, THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL & THRU ALL BOOKSTORES INCLUDING WATERSTONES & WH SMITH & FOYLES BOOKSHOPS (UK)

Author Justin Sheedy is delighted to have been invited to sign copies of his 4th and latest book, “Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” , at his local bookstore, Gleebooks, inner-city literary mecca of Sheedy’s home town, Sydney, on Saturday 7th of March.

In a literary nutshell, it’s a local event for a local boy telling a local story and he couldn’t be prouder. Particularly as this, his latest book released last Christmas, has already received rave reviews and they keep flooding in. Sheedy will be signing copies from 10am at Gleebooks, directly across Glebe Point Road from the iconic Glebe Markets, so it should be a bustling event full of local character. And characters! Including young Sheeds.

MEMOIRS OF A GO-GO DANCER – Justin Sheedy’s first job out of school was a symbol of his rebellion against the 1980s – a decade so lame it cried out for any other. Crackernight, the annual fireworks festival of his childhood, was gone. So was childhood. Justin’s teenage would be a search for new fireworks. He would find them. In his legendary schoolteachers, in questioning his elders, in playing rock and roll, in marching against nuclear madness, and in that scariest of all things known to Man: GIRLS. And all that was before he became a Go-Go Dancer! Then the fun REALLY started…