|
My co-author Bruce Davies (The Men Who Persevered) and I have now released our huge tome on Australia's involvement in the Viet Nam War entitled Vietnam - The complete story of the Australian war. The book is selling very well and now hopefully we have set the record straight given some recent attempts by authors who simply have got the Australian perspective and involvement wrong in quite a few places. Some heartening reviews are shown below:
"As the opening quote in this book points out, history is important. As I turned the pages this became more and more evident. The book traces the history of Vietnam and how this history cannot be separated from the now-familiar outcome." Simon Willis AM, CSC, Major General (Retd)
"I have just this morning finished your most recent book and I wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. It pricked many long inflated balloons in Australian military mythology and I am gratified that some objectivity is at last appearing. I was especially impressed with your attention to enemy documents and your discussion re enemy tactics." Peter Stokes, Colonel (Retd)
" I have totally enjoyed the book and consider it to be the best of the best that I have read since Vietnam, on Vietnam." Kevin Lunny, Major (Retd)
" Thank you for telling the story. Although you approached it from an Australian perspective, you did justice to all of us who fought in the war and to the Vietnamese people." Jim Coolican, Colonel USMC (Retd)
"It was so pleasing to me to read the chapters In the Beginning and Difficult Decisions, which hammered out and portrayed those involved in our less than adequate, dealings with SE Asia and Indo China." John McFadden, Vietnam Veteran.
My second life after the military and being an author and freelance historian seems to now revolve around my battlefield tours to Viet Nam. In April 2011 I led the NSW Premiers' Anzac Scolarship tour with eight students on a study tour and enjoyed the company of the young academics immensely. In 2012 I led two tours with Mat McLachlan's tours to Viet Nam each side of Easter and another Anzac Scholarship tour in September. I did a tour in March/April 2013 and then found myself leading a scholars' tour that had been scheduled for South Korea and I led that group of 16 to Singapore for the battle of Singapore and then 10 days in Viet Nam. I am hoping to expand our tours into Secondary Schools in the near future.
When not doing that I am busy doing manuscript appraisals, conducting seminars and workshops and hopefully selling books through this website. With Healing Hands has done well and drew some very nice reviews.
My publishers Allen and Unwin have created an ebook of On Patrol with the SAS, for sale through the retail site www.Ebooks.com. The RRP for the ebook edition is US$20.95. There is now a dedicated page on the Ebooks.com website that has details of this and some of my other books in ebook format. The address is: www.ebooks.com/ebooks/book_display.asp?IID=305839
Recent releases
I self-published a book for Garry Chad in 2010 entitled Kangaroo Creek and that has sold very well amongst the veteran community. I hold copies for those who want to read a very personal account of one soldier's experiences in South Viet Nam.
Going Back has been well received around the country and the demand has led the publishers to release this book as an ebook edition. Go to the website www.Ebooks.com and follow the prompts. The RRP for this book is US$ 17.45.
Ebooks
Ebooks are now becoming more popular and if you go to www.Ebooks.com you will see that Allen & Unwin have created an ebook edition of Jungle Tracks, for sale through the retail site. Simply type in Gary McKay in the search box under 'Author' and away we go. The RRP for the ebook edition is US$20.95. I have also recently been informed by Allen & Unwin that Delta Four will no longer be printed in hard copy and should soon be released as an Ebook. More details to follow when they come to hand.
It is nice to know that books that are no longer in print can still be accessed through this exciting new medium of literature.
Battlefield Tours
For information on the battlefield tours Google Mat McLachlan battletours and follow the prompts, or send me an email and I can send you a flyer with the tour details. The feedback has been very positive with many of the tour groups recommending our tour to their friends. I personally believe it is very good value for money and we take in the entire country as well as visit some of our more famous battle sites from the American War.
Writers' Workshops in Ulladulla
On Saturday 21 June 2014 I will be conducting a writers' workshops in Ulladulla. The one -day workshop will be held between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm. The emphasis is on writing and self-publishing your book. Whether it is an autobiography, novel or children’s book does not matter; the basic principles remain the same. I also cover the production and editing process, hints for indexing, manuscript preparation, marketing, launching and sales. To get the know-how on writing a book from the author of 12 best-sellers, reserve your place on (02) or e-mail admin@eaec.edu.au The cost for the seven-hour workshop is $106.00 per person (incl GST), and extensive handout notes are provided.
There are only three places left for the June workshop, so get in quick as I only take a maximum of 10 people to ensure you get your say and the attention from me to impart the knowledge.
My clients' latest releases
Shown below are some books released by some of my clients who have broken through the barrier and finally got their books into print. All are self-published efforts.
Journey of Hope is the inspiring story of Dr. J. Michael Davey. Fostered as a baby and placed in four state-run institutions, Michael experienced significant abuse. Kidnapped by his father, he eventually came home only to discover his mother was a violent and crazed schizophrenic who hated him. Author: Dr Michael Davey, Autobiography, RRP $ 22.95 Arkhouse Press
The Happiness Jar is a story about how tightly you hold on to what you believe in; how one person’s beliefs can affect a family and tear at the already fragile folds where love hides. It’s about faith, and what can endure despite the burdens we place on ourselves and each other. Author: Samantha Tidy, fiction, RRP $24.95 Storytorch Press
Zeron is a science fiction thriller by Vindal Vandakoff. Zeron is the death planet that constantly evolves through a terrifying pattern. First released as an Ebook and now available in hard copy. Go to www.amazon.com to download your copy for $2.99 or $14.99 in paperback
'The Happiness Jar' by Samantha Tidy has just been released and is affine read and highly recommended.
Gary
|