Selection of Members’ Books
At Port Writers, we celebrate our members’ achievements, whether they’ve written their first line, their first book, or a new book.
Here is a sample of works available to please everyone. Purchase details are noted with each publication.
An Official Killing
Hester Garner
An Official Killing is a tale of ordinary people acting inhumanely, of the underdog showing compassion, of love and empathy flourishing despite the wickedness of the Anglo Boer War (1899 – 1902) in South Africa. A recount from a young Afrikaner woman’s perspective.
“Hester masterfully transports us to a dark period in the history of South Africa through the eyes of a Boer family. It is a deeply moving and disturbing account of the trials and tribulations this family had to endure.” – Lindie Kolver.
Available from Hester Garner or via email.
The Youngest Son
John Byrnes
Against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the Second World War, The Youngest Son chronicles one family’s mesmerising fate in a grand saga and a masterclass in epic storytelling.
Character, pace and sense of place makes this a captivating read.
“Start The Youngest Son at bedtime and say so long to sleep. Start is on Saturday and kiss your weekend goodbye.” – Richard Cotter.
Available from Booktopia
A Good Boy: Outliving the Legion of Christ
Kevin O’Sullivan
Kevin O’Sullivan spent seven years inside the most secretive Catholic organisation in living memory, The Legionaires of Christ. He thought he was gong to spread love and compassion, he ended up among disinformation and lies. He fled to save his sanity.
This is the story of how Kevin found, and then lost, his religion, and how he lost, and then found, his sexuality.
“This book will appeal to a very wide audience… it will speak to the many who continue to search for the truth. It may well become a classic.” – Padraic Murray.
Available from Amazon
Headland
John Byrnes
A gripping crime story.
A flooded town is evacuated. Three young Police Officers are left behind with a killer who wants them dead.
“Taut, compelling and visceral, John Byrnes’ Headland announces a major new voice in Australian crim fiction.”
Available from Booktopia
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The Loaded Doggerel 2
John Walker
After publishing “The Loaded Doggerel” John Walker continued writing, joining up with Port Writers Inc. John wins prizes from time to time for his attempts to put stories into verse – or worse! John’s latest book of poetry follows his life with over 70 humorous poems from the “mewling, puking” stage all the way to his current stage of dotage.
$20/copy or $22 posted.
Living Lines Are Never Straight
Barbara Orlowska-Westwood
Cover by joorart.com
If you love poetry then you’ll enjoy this collection.
Barbara partners her pen with delightful artwork to appeal to the senses. In Barbara’s typical lyrical form she creates beauty from words and her engagement with the world around her. Barbara is an accomplished and published poet.
“These are poems of very thoughtful observation. Glimpses of the natural world…” – Brian Edwards
Books available from BookPod Publishing (ISBN 978-0-6489700-0-2).
Saving Hollow Woods
Wendy Haynes
Audience: 8-12 year-olds.
Why is there a door in a tree trunk?
Twelve-year-old orphans Gertrude and Tristan find themselves on a train heading for the countryside to live on a farm where they discover a hidden door deep in the woods – life on the farm soon takes a twist. Once through the door, they find themselves in Hollow Woods the land of the Elves. Strange things start to happen which threaten the very existence of Hollow Woods. Can Gertrude and Tristan help save Hollow Woods from the Evil High Elf Folmar?
Join Gertrude and Tristan and unusual friends on a journey of new beginnings, discovery, believing anything is possible.
Available from Wendy Haynes via email
Hayden’s Bedtime
Wendy Haynes
Illustrated by Brett Curzon
Audience: 3-6 year olds
Hayden begs his dad to check not just under his bed but behind his door, inside his cupboard and in his drawer to allay his fears about the legendary ‘monster under the bed’.
Available from Wendy Haynes via email
The Loaded Doggerel
John Walker
Illustrations by Monica Conaghan
John Walker migrated to Australia in 1973 as one of the last of the Ten Pound Poms. Never very interested in “proper” English poetry, he came to enjoy the ‘improper’ style of Aussie bush ballads. The supposedly impossible challenge to rhyme with ‘orange’ led to a four-verse “poem” – his first – with, perhaps, a typically Aussie disregard for the usual norms of rhyme.
“The Loaded Doggerel” is his first book of poetry, published in 2014 with over 50 poems, some of which won a prize at the Cooma “Festival of Poetry”. The poems deal with issues like becoming and being Australian, science and philosophy, politics and society, sport and recreation, together with observations on music and rhyme itself.
Available at Echo Books
