Stories from the heart
My four non-fiction books contain true stories of some incredible New Zealanders – many who were born here, and others, who ended up here through circumstances beyond their control. It was a great privilege to be trusted to write these stories.
Never Forget
Never Forget is a collection of six true World War II stories – two featuring New Zealand servicemen, and four stories about children of war from Poland, the UK, the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies, who grew up under the Russian, German and Japanese occupation of these countries. All of the children later ended up in New Zealand as evacuees or migrants, after their lives were turned upside down by the conflict. These stories remind us of the impact of war on ordinary citizens, and highlight inspiring courage and a will to survive in the face of harrowing wartime conditions.
Read more about the people in Never Forget and order your print copy from Jo
The Long Way Home
The Long Way Home is the story of Ronnie Sabin, who at the age of 11 was part of a street gang, living in the slums of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the UK. He and his brothers were rounded up by the authorities, made wards of the court, and sent to Australia as child migrants. It would be 55 years before Ronnie would finally return to the UK. This book tells the positive side of the children migrant story, with Ronnie crediting his upbringing at the farm school in Australia for turning his life around.
Read more here
Other books
My other two books are From Rag Trade to Mag Trade, the business story and biography of fashion designer Annah Stretton; and When the Doors Go Up, the 50 year history of the Woodend Volunteer Fire Brigade.
