Justin Sheedy's Blog, page 2

A Fantastic Read: Engaging, Intelligent, Funny, Unsettling (!) Latest Review of “Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” by Justin Sheedy

Review by Karen Carpenter, Sydney, Australia.
The eighties was a difficult time to live in, let alone a time to launch on the journey of self discovery. Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer, Justin Sheedy’s sequel to Goodbye Crackernight, reads more like a counselling session with the reader as the counsellor. Here, young Sheedy is exorcising his teenage demons, ready to open up the next chapter of his life. It is, for the most part, an unsettling read.

Don’t get me wrong. This is not a bad thing. Again, Sheedy has managed to effortlessly transport us in to his world. The world of the 1980s, an uncomfortable decade wedged in between the safe seventies and the naughty nineties. The author is once again in front of you, talking to you alone, yet rather than on a comfortable bike ride, it’s in a noisy, overpopulated student bar.

Teenage angst hits you full blast and for those of us who were teenagers in the eighties, the memories and feelings which are evoked throughout Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer are bittersweet. I did find this book vaguely unsettling, but only in so much as, if I was a boy, this would certainly have been my life. The places mentioned, we could have crossed paths without even knowing it. A strangely familiar story, likes and dislikes, thoughts and feelings… all very familiar, but for me a fantastic read. As always an engaging, intelligent, funny, slightly self-effacing, warm and loving account of the more difficult years of late childhood and early adulthood. I would recommend this book to anyone, no matter where they grew up.

“GOODBYE CRACKRNIGHT” AND THE SEQUEL “MEMOIRS OF A GO-GO DANCER” NOW AVAILABLE IN KINDLE AND PAPERBACK AT AMAZON AND ORDERABLE VIA ALL GOOD BOOKSTORES ALONG WITH ALL JUSTIN SHEEDY’S BOOKS – IN AUSTRALIA VIA DYMOCKS, GLEEBOOKS, BERKELOUW BOOKS & YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE.
AMAZON LINK HERE...
http://www.amazon.com/Justin-Sheedy/e...
FULL BLOG CRACKERNIGHT.COM BLOG POST ON THIS REVIEW HERE.
http://crackernight.com/2015/07/06/a-...

Literary Giant, LES MURRAY, at my Dymock Sydney book-signing event Sat 27 June

LES MURRAY, iconic Australian poet, author, critic and National Treasure at my book-signing event on Saturday at Dymocks Sydney! Brain like a planet, a lovely bloke and my privilege to sign for him a copy of my book "Goodbye Crackernight", especially given the portrait of Australian society & culture that it is. A great day all-round, tons of books signed & sold, great meetings & chats. Was lovely, too, that more than one complete stranger informed me that they had already read & enjoyed "Goodbye Crackernight" (thru their book clubs etc so it's getting OUT there!) and were eager to pick up the sequel, "Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer", also available on the day. Reassuring as well that store customers let me know they'd recently seen & heard me on TV & Radio. Limited copies of both books still available at the store or orderable via your local bookstore, Amazon etc.

“A timeless book for all ages and all nationalities” – Latest Review of “Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” by Justin Sheedy

A TIMELESS BOOK FOR ALL AGES AND ALL NATIONALITIES

"Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer" by Justin Sheedy – Review by Camille Party

Being French and having lived in Sydney for only a few years, I did not have the slightest idea what it would have been like to grow up in Australia. There again, being in my mid-twenties, I could only imagine what it would have been like in the 1980s…

"Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer" by Justin Sheedy not only filled the gaps but also took me on a fascinating journey through time as though I had stepped into a time machine. Justin’s book in one hand and my iPhone in the other, I would listen to every song mentioned, down to watching the clip of "Sorry" by the Easybeats (A must watch if you haven’t seen it yet!).

Although the 1980s are considered as a cultural and historical blank, Justin surely makes them seem like exhilarating times, filled with romance and adventures. Imagine… People wrote letters and made audio tapes instead of sending e-mails and leaving voice mails. It was more common to catch the train from Sydney to Melbourne than to jump into a plane. And you could even hitch-hike safely and get a free ride with a bikie!

A lot has changed and even though I feel like high school has been over for an eternity, my teenage years are actually not that far away. I remember the feeling Justin describes: this feeling of immense freedom when you realise your whole life stretches in front of you, but that this immensity of possibilities might somehow swallow you…

"Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer" is a timeless book for all ages and all nationalities. From laughter to tears, it will bring a smile to your face and a feeling of warm nostalgia to your heart. A real delight!

Full Blog post at Crackernight.com HERE...
http://crackernight.com/2015/06/16/a-...

“Wow just wow!” Another 5 Star Goodreads Review of “Nor the Years Condemn” by Justin Sheedy

“WOW JUST WOW!” FIVE STARS AT GOODREADS
"Nor the Years Condemn" by Justin Sheedy – Review by Sarah Clifton
You’re a very talented author, Justin Sheedy… Wow just wow! Spitfires, Typhoons & Focke-Wulfs… Before reading this novel I didn’t even know about the different types of aircraft used in war. At first I found it a bit confusing keeping up with the air force lingo but the more I kept reading the more I understood and learnt from it.

It was very interesting to read of the different stages of one’s journey from Pilot Officer to Squadron Leader. You depicted the characters in a way that allowed the audience to connect with them, especially the main character, Quinn. I liked how this novel showed us from various angles how war affects people in different ways and their personal views. Various emotions from the characters (and yes us readers) were experienced such as courage, fear, admiration, pride, loss/grief, love and more.

It was very interesting to read of the different stages of one’s journey from Pilot Officer to Squadron Leader. You depicted the characters in a way that allowed the audience to connect with them, especially the main character, Quinn. I liked how this novel showed us from various angles how war affects people in different ways and their personal views. Various emotions from the characters (and yes us readers) were experienced such as courage, fear, admiration, pride, loss/grief, love and more."

Full Blog Post at Crackernight.com here...
http://crackernight.com/2015/06/15/wo...

Big Week Ahead for Author Justin Sheedy

A BIG week ahead for me, this week of the 100th Anniversary of Anzac Day, with 2 radio interviews & 2 book events! It kicks off for me tomorrow morning at 7:15am with an ABC Radio interview to promote my Thursday Anzac book talk event at Nowra Library re my books "Nor the Years Condemn" & "Ghosts of the Empire". Then a (2 HOUR!) radio interview Tuesday morning from 10am on Sydney's 2RRR-FM to promote my Friday Anzac Day Eve book-signing event at Dymocks George Street Sydney. (I'll even be interviewed in-store by newspaper journalist, Helene Courtney, for a story she's doing on me.) So listen in LIVE ONLINE tomorrow morning at 7:15 Sydney time at the following LINK. http://www.abc.net.au/illawarra/progr...

ANZAC Book Signing Event for Author Justin Sheedy at Dymocks George Street Sydney

On Friday 24th of April, the eve of Anzac Day 2015, Sydney author Justin Sheedy will be signing copies of his warmly-received Anzac tradition historical fictions "Nor the Years Condemn" and "Ghosts of the Empire" at a special Anzac in-store event at Dymocks George Street Sydney all day from 11am.



Sheedy’s stories are of special poignance in this 100th anniversary year of Anzac Day as in "Nor the Years Condemn" and "Ghosts of the Empire" he brings to life a staggeringly exciting, tragic and true story of young Australians at war with even LESS chance of survival than if they had been in the trenches of Gallipoli.

"Nor the Years Condemn" tells the story of Sydney Uni Rugby Union player, Daniel Quinn, who leaves his peace time life behind to fly Spitfires against Nazi tyranny in Sheedy’s portrait of doomed, brilliant youth. "Ghosts of the Empire" is the saga of Sydney tradie, Mick O’Regan, who takes on the most dangerous job of World War II: flying for RAF Bomber Command.

These are stories in our great ANZAC tradition though not of heroic defeat but of stunning victory at staggering cost. Stories until now untold.

Date: Friday, 24 April, 2015
Time: From 11am
Venue: Dymocks Sydney, 424-430 George St, Sydney
Cost: Free (no bookings required)

DON’T MISS Justin Sheedy’s SPECIAL 2 HOUR RADIO EVENT WITH 2RRR-FM’S MAGGIE MASON TALKING ALL ABOUT HIS BOOKS & ANZAC BOOK SIGNING – RADIO SPECIAL AIRS LIVE ONLINE FROM 10AM TUESDAY 21 APRIL SYDNEY TIME – INCLUDING MARVELOUS MUSIC FROM THE WWII ERA. LISTENABLE LIVE ONLINE AT THE BELOW LINK.
http://2rrr.org.au/


For Full Blog Post WITH PICS at Crackernight.com, click the below link!
http://crackernight.com/2015/04/14/an...

“Swept away by a time-machine rollercoaster” – 4th Rave Review of ‘Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer’ by Justin Sheedy

EVERY PAGE A CAUSE TO CHUCKLE AND SMILE AND LAUGH AND CRY

Review by Andrew Landström, Sweden

From page one of Justin’s book “Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” I was swept away by a time machine rollercoaster that took me back to an age past re-discovered. It seemed as if I had lived in parallel universe to Justin, yet on the other side of earth, simultaneously, going through versions of the same kind of events. I have to admit that I myself was not a nostalgic of too much music from the past, but was swept up into the synth-pop era of the ’80s.



The effortless journey that kept me going up and down and throwing me sideways made every page a cause to chuckle and smile and laugh and cry. Justin, you created a very effective mirror that made me look back at my own ’80s adventures with crystal clarity. For that I am not sure if I should thank you or give you an outright bollicking but… a joy to read regardless.

I have to add that it is not every book that I bother to read every single word between its cover. With this book I did and wished it would continue. Here’s to you Justin, hat’s off, eight gun salute and thank you.

Warmest thanks to Andrew Landström – Justin Sheedy

“MEMOIRS OF A GO-GO DANCER” NOW AVAILABLE IN KINDLE AND PAPERBACK AT AMAZON AND ORDERABLE VIA ALL GOOD BOOKSTORES ALONG WITH ALL JUSTIN SHEEDY’S BOOKS – IN AUSTRALIA VIA DYMOCKS, GLEEBOOKS, BERKELOUW BOOKS & YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE

Full Blog Post WITH PICS at Crackernight.com at the below link.
http://crackernight.com/2015/04/15/sw...

Local Boy Makes Good – Author Justin Sheedy signs his latest at Gleebooks Sat 7 March

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…

“Comedic Brilliance” – Another Rave Review of “Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” by Justin Sheedy

MOMENTS OF COMEDIC BRILLIANCE – FOR ANYONE WHO IS YOUNG AT HEART
Review by Suzy Lee, Sydney, Australia.

“Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” by Justin Sheedy is an autobiography written as a light-hearted yet intelligent account of the author’s adolescent years in the 1980s in Sydney, Australia. Sequel to Justin’s childhood story, “Goodbye Crackernight”, “Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” has something for the teenager in all of us! Justin writes with clarity and unique metaphor, providing the reader with moments of comedic brilliance. A sense of warm nostalgia is never far away.

Justin takes us on a candid and intimate journey through his education and his creative and exciting extracurricular endeavours, also his relationships with family, teachers, close friends and early romantic liaisons, always told with integrity, respect and sensitivity. Justin’s eloquent description of his beautiful and loving mother, for example, is heart-warming.

Justin shares many wonderful anecdotes: from his role as a singer in Sydney bands, Go-Go dancing in Melbourne with beautiful girls, his hitch hiking adventures, roller skating as a means of transportation and presenting a radio program. All of this is set on a backdrop of iconic places distinctive to 1980s Australia such as “The Oxford Tavern”, Newtown, and “The Groove Tube Cafe” in Melbourne. The scene is set to the soundtrack of the likes of then Sydney band “The Psychotic Turnbuckles” and Justin’s own band, “The Voodoo Rockets”.

The tumultuous world of the teenage Justin involves many triumphs, disappointments, joy and the occasional heartbreak, with Justin always reflecting with intelligence and that marvellous wisdom of hindsight.

Growing up as a teenager in 1980s Sydney myself, I could relate easily to many aspects of Justin’s story and am happy to say that I loved reading this book. By the final chapter, I felt as though Justin and I were old friends. I recommend this book to anyone who is young at heart.

Heartfelt cheers to Suzy Lee, a most excellent lady – Justin Sheedy

ALL REVIEWS OF “MEMOIRS OF A GO-GO DANCER” HERE... http://crackernight.com/reviews-of-ju...

Justin Sheedy’s Latest Book – “Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” NOW LAUNCHED!

Justin Sheedy was delighted to see his latest book, “MEMOIRS OF A GO-GO DANCER”, launched on the eve of Christmas 2014 & now being read & loved by book-lovers everywhere. Its maiden 5-Star Amazon review begins & ends thus: "100% Unputdownable... I cannot recommend this book highly enough." - Yasmine Wick Kopita, Texas.

Sheedy’s 4th book, “Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” is the long-awaited sequel to his first, “Goodbye Crackernight” (2009), Sheedy’s warmly-received comic memoir of growing up in 1970s Australia when a child’s proudest possession was not a smart phone but a second-hand bike.

“Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” is Sheedy's portrait of teenage in the 1980s: of manic adolescence under the threat of nuclear destruction and ‘the Grim Reaper’, a time of ‘Perfect Match’, of hideous 1980s fashions and much, much more. A true portrait of the era, Sheedy’s story features his own experience of the iconic events that shaped the decade such as the fall of the Berlin Wall. He captures the spirit of his 1980s personal hero figures such as Clive James and Bob Hawke including Hawke’s great ‘America’s Cup moment’. Political, social and cultural issues of the 1980s are richly covered and, yes, as readers of “Memoirs of a Go-Go Dancer” will discover, 19-year-old Justin Sheedy turned out to have a rare talent indeed…

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…

MEMOIRS OF A GO-GO DANCER is freshly available via bookstores everywhere (if not on shelves so soon since its launch then orderable-in across the counter), also via Amazon & all leading online book retailers in paperback & ebook formats.