By late 2003 my publications list included three books on the adventures of the Second New Zealand Division in the First World War: Battle for Crete, Desert Duel and Italian Odyssey. They sold well individually and by 2006 had gone out of print. The question then was what to do next with them; there was … More Book of the week: ‘The Division’ – putting it all together with another oxymoron

Back in 2001 my publishers of the day, Reed New Zealand, offered me an unheard-of deal: a multi-book contract. This was an absolute rarity in New Zealand, and I jumped at the chance. It involved writing three military histories in a series. I’ve covered the first two in earlier posts. The third was on New … More Book of the week: ‘Pacific War’ – sneaking an oxymoron into the title

I often envisage the difference between non-fiction and fiction writing as similar to the distinction between a photographer and a representational artist. Both have to produce something well-structured and appealing. The difference is that the photographer has to work with what is there, whereas the artist can, if needed, use license to achieve the same … More Book of the week: ‘Italian Odyssey’ – a drama in three acts

Back in 2001 my publishers of the day, Reed New Zealand, offered me something unheard of in local publishing – a multi-book contract. Of course I was keen. The contract involved three books: two follow-ups to A Near Run Affair, telling the story of the Second New Zealand Division through its North African and Italian … More Book of the week: ‘Desert Duel’ – a PUNishing title

Twenty years ago my publishers, Reed New Zealand, approached me with the suggestion that I might like to write a book on the battle for Crete, which was approaching its sixtieth anniversary at the time. The battle for Crete played out during late May 1941. Part of the defences were held by New Zealand forces … More Book of the week: ‘Battle for Crete’ – the 20th anniversary reissue

Nearly two decades ago, now, I was on interview on National Radio about a book I’d written: Quake – Hawke’s Bay 1931 (Reed, 2001). Why, oh why, the interviewer asked, in a fairly big build-up to what he imagined was the clincher of the interview, why had I written something about a tragedy of this … More Introducing the book of the week