Böcker utgivna av Garry Willmott

"Colour Blind tells the story of two wars affecting Australia a hundred years ago: World War I that everyone knows about, and the lesser known one, the battles that past generations of Aboriginal Australians faced. Not the British Invasion, but the struggle more than a century later when Aboriginal men who were willing to serve alongside non-Aboriginal Australians, their mates, were not seen as worthy of doing so. And the battle for ordinary citizen rights - such as joining the local RSL, of all things - went on long after the war ended. Discrimination such as this, on top of the horrors of war, could easily make this book a depressing read. But what eclipses the negativity and meanness of the way our First Australians were treated is their loyalty, their mateship and their guts, making this book a most enjoyable read from cover to cover. This book reminds us all of their marvelous contributions to Australia - lest we forget. As an Aussie who is equally grateful for my non-Aboriginal and my Aboriginal ancestry, reading of the lows as well as the highs of this nation's history gives me a better appreciation of what my Aboriginal forebears endured - and, more essentially, how they triumphed. Mr Willmott, I now eagerly await for the next book in this series." - Dr. Anthony Dillon, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, MTrainDev, Mpsych (Clin), BSc(Hons), PhD"Australian Aboriginals fighting a war for a country that didn't recognise them. Educating and entertaining are the two words I would use to describe the latesd book Colour Blind by GS Willmott. Mr Willmott has the knack to deliver interesting information about the battles of World War I as well as getting you involved in the human side of it. I enjoyed travelling on the journeys of our diggers and learning just how difficult it was for the indigenous people of Australia to not just fight but to enlist to fight for our country and get the recognition for their efforts that they so rightly deserved." - Kim Krarup, preview reader"Thank you for sending Colour Blind to me. Michael Bell our Indigenous Liaison Officer from our Military History Section read the book for me and did indicate that he is supportive of the story of Colour Blind." - Dr Brendon Nelson, Director Australian War Memorial"If you like your novels laced with a good dose of historical information and peopled with engaging characters who sound and behave like people of their time, you'll enjoy Colour Blind by Garry Willmott. Colour Blind follows several young men on their momentous journey through the Great War. There are horrors and discomforts galore, but the khaki-clad boys get by with courage, quips and a solid culture of mateship. We follow them every step of the way through the gruelling war years, and through the immediate aftermath. What makes Colour Blind unique in my reading is the inclusion of some indigenous boys who just want to do their bit like their mates. The difficulties they face are all down to red tape and the peculiar laws that deny them equal rights. Once they join up, they more than prove their mettle. So if courage and mateship and the quintessential true-blue character is your preference, read Colour Blind. If it doesn't bring a glow of equal parts indignation and pride to your heard... well you know what I mean." - Sally Odgers, author

Grand Deceptions is a historical novel centred predominantly around Melbourne and Ballarat in Victoria Australia. England, Scotland and San Marino also play a part of this captivating story.The timeline begins in the 1850s and ends in the 1960s. Three well to do young men immigrate to Victoria; their reasons are all different but their ambitions are the same - make their fortune in the antipodes.The circumstances that drove their futures were deception. Two of the three men became victims of fraud and lost their fortunes. They hatched a plan to recover their newly developed wealth by becoming bushrangers. They disguised themselves in women's clothing, calling themselves "The Banshees".Grand Deceptions follows the lives of the three men all of whom experience exciting and sometimes dangerous lives.I found this book a great read, I was impressed by the author's knowledge of early Victorian history and his introduction of characters from English settlers of the day. Given the ending, one would guess there might be a sequel in the wind! - Bill SimpsonI think this is Garry's best book so far. I would have no hesitation in recommending this read to anybody who loves history, thrilling storylines and a book you can't put down. - Ian JonesI wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. What I got was a page turning great read. I won't spoil the ending for those of you yet to read Grand Deceptions, I will just say be sure to put aside a few hours as you won't want to put it down until you see how it ends. - Kim KrarupGarry has outdone himself with this story. He has blended a great mix of fact and fiction and I found myself enthralled. I read Grand Deceptions in an afternoon which I very rarely manage to do with a book. I cannot recommend this book highly enough - do yourself a favour and get a copy, I guarantee you will not be disappointed - Tony PittardAs with Garry Willmott's Serendipity - A Gallipoli Love Story, which I read a while ago, Grand Deceptions is a fascinating blend of fact and fiction. I enjoyed the deft way the author weaves the men's stories, bringing in other characters and sometimes bringing the reader up to date on what happened to someone I assumed had been forgotten. For example, Anna's friend Jane was mentioned in passing... and then her story is revealed later in the book.Grand Deceptions is a fine historical tapestry giving a picture of a hundred years of turbulent history as a backdrop for the stories of some remarkable people. - Sally Odgers, author/editor

This sequence of authentic and audacious war-time escapes keeps the reader spell-bound from start to finish. Garry Willmott has unearthed a series of escapes which would be the envy of Houdini. From the chilling history of escapes from Colditz, escapes from comparatively humane British POW camps and from a Prisoner-of-War camp in Australia, these are all carefully selected to enthral us with the ingenuity and brazen boldness of the escapees. Each story is totally unique and each forms a contrast to the one before: several stories stand out as memorable. The Great Escape and Love Conquers the Wall are breath-taking in their audacity, while the escapes of William Leefe Robinson and Gunther Pluschow, two of the longer stories in the collection, are examples of human ingenuity and raw courage. Each escape is based on well-researched evidence and there are many fascinating photographs to enliven each narrative; the author brings the stories to life, re-enacting exchanges of dialogue in dramatic sequences and setting each escape in a convincing authentic setting. This well-written collection gives us a fresh perspective on experiences of Prisoners-of War... an informative and entertaining read.