Is there any stopping this NZ author/publisher ? I suspect not !

David McGill releases his book memoirs Kingfisher, Kingfisher, Take My Luck at the Paekakariki Station Museum during the Kapiti Arts Trail November 15-16, and talks about the memoirs in a public lecture at the Wellington Museum of City and Sea, November 23, 2pm. 

The Arts Trail displays original art work for author’s books by likes of Tom Scott, Roger Hart and Geoffrey Notman, and at Wellington Museum of City and Sea you can check out all 52 covers of author’s books, many celebrating the author’s long love affair with his adopted city.

As a reviewer I am fortunate to have an advance copy and I have to say I was so arrested by what is really a history of the author's writing and publishing life that I couldn't put it down and read it in one long sitting yesterday.

The fact that it is littered with people I know especially from publishing days - Graham Stewart, Ann Mallinson, Graeme Lay, Trevor Plaisted, Iain Sharp, Chris Bourke, Craig Sisterson, Roger Steele, Grant Tilly, Harry Seresin, Alister Taylor, Michael O'Leary and Roger Hall to mention but a few - and media folk such as Kim Hill, Bill Ralston,Lyn Freeman, Wayne Mowat, Jim Mora and Mark Sainsbury - made the already interesting account even more so. And I even got a mention myself !

The book records half a century writing and sometimes publishing Kiwi social histories, some fictional, some best-sellers, some footnotes, reviews from savage to sublime, and strong reactions:

·        Muldoon threatens prison

·        Helen Clark sends warm congratulations

·        Mike Hosking asks who is the clown in the kilt

·        Kim Hill supposes marriage

·        Carmen says thanks and Kiri no thanks

·        Jason Gunn enjoys a joke, John Clarke an imaginary quote

·        All Blacks duck for cover

Above pic - McGill's publishing/writing output. Pretty bloody impressive !

Well done David McGill, and I'll bet we haven't heard the last of you yet !

Below - some of his many covers.