eBook Listing

PTSD has been documented throughout history since man first began clubbing each other with rocks. Our understanding of this debilitation has only increased or become more visible in our digital age. In the past it was seen as a source of shame and embarrassment, not just for those suffering PTSD, but also their families and loved ones. The dark ages are gone we hope. We now strive to understand the effects of war on the minds of our men, women and families.

 

Garry Willmott, in his book, has highlighted those who have suffered similar and often the very same symptoms documented throughout the centuries. Garry's mix of documented research and fact, combined with a somewhat personal narrative of each story and sufferer, provides us with a better eye-opening experience of PTSD. The reader can now put two and two together and begin to understand their own experiences of their grandfather, father, brother or sister, and how they returned from war, conflict or trauma as 'damaged goods'.

 

Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of this project. Readers will not be disappointed.

 

- Craig Roach, Gallipoli artist and avid historian, Gallipoli, Turkey.

 

Money from book sales will be donated to the Webb family.

This book is about war, yet it's not a novel about enemies fighting to the death or examining the strategies of battles. This novel is about young boys some as young as eight, fighting, killing and being killed.

The first six chapters follow the lives of two normal happy teenagers attending school, playing sport and learning about girls. This creates a comparative scenario highlighting the difference between a modern teenager and the boys that carry guns and fight in horrendous conditions, their innocence lost forever.

Boy's Own War is a tightly woven, precise narrative that intertwines historical fact with both real and imagined characters. It is a novel that works on many levels, and it is impossible to locate it within any single genre; it is all the more impressive as it blends a considerable amount of informative research with elements of realistic human drama.

It is an important book. Not only does it remind us of the courage and sacrifice of boy warriors who lost their lives in wars but also it reminds us of the significance of those wars and the effect they have had on humankind. By showing the waste and futility of war, and how children become entrenched in horrendous battles losing limbs and lives, Boy's Own War also seeks a more general lasting peace for humankind.

This is an extraordinary story, one that provides insights into the dualities of human nature, especially against a background of war. Generally, parents nurture their children, educate them hoping they will become responsible adults. The parents of the boys in this book lost their children to the ultimate human evil... war.

We are confronted with the potential within all of us for both heroism and cowardice, honesty and deception, altruism and greed; there is, in the intensity of wartime, a heightened awareness of moral dilemmas, choices between good and evil which have eternally confronted humankind.

This is an extraordinary story, one which provides insights into the dualities of human nature, especially against a background of war. We are confronted with the potential within all of us for both heroism and cowardice, honesty and deception, altruism and greed; there is, in the intensity of war-time, a heightened awareness of moral dilemmas, choices between good and evil which have eternally confronted humankind.

Weaving an intriguing narrative, the author confronts his readers also with the question: where does truth lie? At what point can one depart from contextual history to enter the world of fiction and imagination?

Brothers in Arms provides a rare balance between well-researched historical fact and convincingly imagined events and characters; the plot, with its constant surprises and multiple twists, Is a tour de force and sustains tension and suspense until the final pages.

By creating the personal tragedy of an imagined family within the social, cultural and historical framework of three wars and three continents, Garry Wilmott provides illuminating facts, thought-provoking questions and a constantly engaging read.

A compelling story about the destiny of an Australian soldier in the Vietnam war. As a returned Vietnam veteran, it brought back many vivid memories of my time there. Beautifully written and well researched with thought to detail, captivating and difficult to put down, not knowing what was about to happen next. Thoroughly recommend this as an excellent read on the life of an amazing Aussie soldier. - David McQuaid.

"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

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.

 

Gangsters & Whores is a romp through some of the more colourful characters of Australian history.

G.S. Willmott tells their stories with his trademark mix of dramatisation and fact, embellishing them with the dialogue and vintage photos, facts, figures and a sly sense of humour. This is not Ned Kelly country - this is the stamping ground of notorious madam Tilly Devine, her violent husband Big Jim, her rival Kate Leigh and Squizzy Taylor. Around them racket the gangs of the 1920s and '30s, shooting, slashing, swearing, stealing and terrorising the locals. Feuds and vendettas, blood and sly grog - it's all here. Who got murdered in his bed during a bout of flu? Who went AWOL so often he was more out of the war than in it? Who stole a shop-load of clothing for his girlfriend? Don't know? Find out, in Gangsters & Whores.

From the turbulent times in Australia, the story moves to the US and then to Britain, piling more facts, figures and local colour onto the foundation.

More fun than a run through the gauntlet but similarly buffeting... Gangsters & Whores is an unforgettable visit to the days of yore (and a quick glimpse into the equally lively resent as the author brings us up to date.)

- Sally Odgers, Editor

"Global Warming is a complex thriller with Garry Willmott's trademark mix of fact, fiction and projection. From the death of one man, pilot Ericson, the story builds to a tsunami of blackmail, terrorism, compromise and revenge... and that's before the Russian mafia gets in on the act!

If you've enjoyed Garry's other novels, you'll love Global Warming. Just hold on to your hats and watch out for AK47s."

- Sally Odgers, author.

 

"Garry Willmott's latest book Global Warming is a ripping yarn of espionage and high adventure that stretches from one side of the globe to another.

It is a David and Goliath story in every sense and highlights the vulnerability of the world's smaller more independent countries to the impacts of environmental change.

It is Mr Willmott's obsession with detail which provides so much interest and authenticity in his writings.

Not unlike the Da Vinci Code, underpinning the sometimes-frenetic pace, there are twists and turns, shocks, surprises and mishaps."

- Cenred Harmsworth, recording artist.

 

"Based on a plausible premise Garry has interspersed the drama with well-researched and poignant facts making the story quite thought provoking.

The story continues to build well with many twists and turns and a few surprises along the way.

I found the book highly entertaining the plot easy to follow and an all-round good read. This story is a must-read for any fan of the thriller/drama genre.

Although a work of fiction, this should be read by the world's major polluters (listed within the book); there is a warning here that is not entirely implausible given the current political upheavals and voter shifts seen throughout the globe."

- Martin Humphries

 

"Global Warming, a book of intrigue, thought provoking facts and ideas, with many twists and turns. For the author, Garry Willmott, this is a totally new subject matter, one which encourages much debate and thought about human tragedy.

It is exciting, thought-provoking and imaginative, with a killer ending.

I totally recommend."

- Ian Jones

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 Simpson

I 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 Jones

I 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 Krarup

Garry 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 Pittard

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

In a series of four books based on war, each with a different focus, G.S. Willmott has extensively researched war 'histories' and from them, has created 'his stories'.

This, the fourth and most compelling, recreates a multitude of experiences of the young men caught up in the frenzy and futility of World War 1.

Sex and death, eternal themes, bind together these individual stories; the shared experiences of love and death are the strong bonds which link these young Australian and British soldiers across France, Egypt, Flanders, even Syria. Their suffering is what makes us think deeply about ongoing conflicts which eternally destroy human lives and from which we seem to have learned nothing.

In Red Lights on the Somme, Willmott unearths surprising and positive aspects of war; man's inhumanity to man is counter-pointed by mateship between soldiers, tenderness between lovers, and trust and inter-dependence between humans and animals. The contrast between the nobility and loyaty of non-humans (including dogs, pigeons, horses) forms a stark contrast against the brutality and treachery of mankind.

'This book tells the stories of young men far from home in the battle of their lives, fighting ultimately for their survival. Evocative, gruelling and often brutal the book touches on most aspects of life as an infantryman on the western front and the harshness, sadness and realities of life for those who participated in the first world war. Historically accurate, factual and graphic this well written book is a must read for anyone with an interest in Australians in World War One.' - Christine McLean-McIntyre

'Garry Willmott asked me to be a preview reader of Serendipity: A Gallipoli Love Story. Having read five of his previous books I agreed immediately. I thought I would read it in a month however once I began reading I couldn't put it down, I completed the manuscript in two days. The story begins in Tasmania and follows the main character to Gallipoli and onto his life in Turkey and beyond. I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys an absorbing story based on historical fact.' - Ian Macintosh

 

'Serendipity had me intrigued from the first page. The story line drifted from 1960s Tasmania, back to 1915 Gallipoli and through the years in between. The story follows the life of an ANZAC Gallipoli veteran, from his landing at ANZAC Cove and subsequent capture and escape. The fall of the Ottoman Empire, the post-WWI rise of Mustafa Kemal Attaturk and the building of the nation of Turkey, and the rise and fall of Hitler and the Third Reich and the genocide during WW2. All interestingly woven together with the backline story of family and the loss of loved ones. This book is a wonderfully interesting history lesson with a personal and heartwarming story of survival and love. I read this draft in five days, which for me is very fast, but such was the grip I was under from Serendipity.' - Ash Hind, Amateur Military Historian

 

'This novel is a poignant blend of Love and War. Garry S. Willmott captures it all in his immensely enjoyable book Serendipity: A Gallipoli Love Story. The Gallipoli campaign, an unlikely love story, Turkish history and politics. This book has it all plus an informative background on Attaturk and the last caliphate. One of those 'hard to put down' books after you have opened the front cover.' - Gary McKay, Battlefield Guide Canada

Yet another great read from Garry Willmott. Small Farm Warriors is filled with lives and stories of men who contributed, in a special way, to the Australia we all know today. From the war-torn streets of France to emus in the Outback, from Kokoda to sheep farms - Garry tells us how these fellas fought and then worked to create a life for themselves and their new families. In some cases, this appears not to have worked so well and in others ... well, where would we be without their efforts on the land? I enjoyed this book and I learnt stuff I didn't know. Thanks, Garry. - Guy Walton, Singer-Songwriter

 

For those with an interest in Australian Military History, this book not only draws one's interest to the life in the trenches of WW1 and to their sons in WW2 that occurred twenty years later but also the 'larrikinism' of the Aussie digger abroad during these periods in history. This book held my interest for its full length with just the right amount of all the emotions depicted. The ups and downs of the men both when serving and on their return to Australia. A well researched and written book which does not disguise the author's interest in the Soldier Settlers of Australia and Commonwealth countries. Definitely a good read. - G & F Threlfall

"Another great 'read-all-in-one-go' book from natural-born storyteller Garry Willmott. Soul Survivor picks up the story of Lara, last remaining survivor of the Doherty family. The last sentence in Survival reads 'The Dohertys had survived the war, the POW camps and the Titanic. Now they were all gone, except for Lara.'

Masterful storyteller Garry Willmott takes the reader on a wild ride through the orphaned Lara's life from her childhood and privileged upbringing in England to her political career. Along the way, she follows the family tradition of becoming a doctor and is involved in the Hippie movement and the music of the 60s, and the Vietnam War protests. A lot of this story will be familiar territory for the baby-boomer readers.

Lara's character is shaped by some cruel blows that life deals out to her but despite all these she retains her positive and loving nature.

Garry Willmott weaves his story through the turbulence of mid-20th century history. The story encompasses post-war England, international investments and shady deals, kidnapping and ransom, flower power and the swinging 60s, popular music, the waning power of the English class system and the political upheaval of the 70s. A brilliant read and a wonderful history lesson." - Sheelagh Wegman, editor.

'A compelling read, this is the story of one family's journey through wars, tragedies and triumphs. A story of love, family, unity and resilience. Another great story from Australian author G. S. Willmott. Very difficult to put this one down.' - Christine

 

'Historical thriller of how one family beat the odds to survive WWI and WWII... The ending leaves the reader astonished.' - David

 

'A masterful book written in the most powerful way, about two families and their struggle with business, two world wars and the loss of the family and friends held dearest to them.

 

From the very first page you are held in suspense, through the absorbingly vivid descriptions of the most horrific and colourful situations, that were the period during and between the two great wars.

 

The spellbinding finale leaves the reader wanting answers to the vexed questions of life, and its true meaning.' - Ian