by David Scott
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GENRE: Autobiography
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BLURB:
For thousands of years, stars have held our attention and imagination. They influence our life—we wish upon them, sing songs about them, navigate by them, write about them, follow them, and even give their name to the actors we love. My memories have revealed a lifetime of navigating by the stars, and moving beyond the fear and anxiety that self-doubt so insidiously cloaks us in. Yes, as Jiminy Cricket sang for us in Walt Disney's Pinocchio, "when you wish upon a star . . . fate steps in and sees you through."
Memories and influences have a profound effect on our lives. I look back on my childhood years—the 1940s to mid-'50s—and I can recall the people who were inspirational to me. Mostly it was my family, but there was also Jiminy Cricket. You no doubt recollect the song "When You Wish Upon a Star," with its lyrics that lift the spirit and let you believe anything is possible. I didn't doubt Jiminy for a minute.
The early years of my life were a time of innocence, security, adventure, and family love. How quickly my situation changed—one decision by my parents, made with my best interests foremost in their thoughts, shattered the world I had known. Through the fear, torment, isolation, and loss of my own identity, my memories and influences would come to have an overwhelming power on the choices I was to make.
My transition from teenager to adult seemed to happen overnight, but my unflappable outward appearance belied the struggles of a boy coming to terms with his guilt, and an irresistible need for his parents to be proud of him. My future was being shaped from the past, but it took me a long time to realise it. I chose the road less travelled, steeped in the wonder of the cinema and accompanied by my beloved animal companions, and it has been intriguing, daunting, rewarding, and, at times, solitary, but I always felt it was the path I was meant to take.
Like so many people, I let the emotions attached to memories hold me captive, and I missed opportunities to choose with more clarity. A near-death experience helped me to live a simpler life. Participating in a creative writing course inspired me to engage in script writing, stage work, and novel writing. This is my third book, an autobiography that has revealed more of me than I ever intended to share, and fate has led you to it.
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EXCERPT:
Talking about one’s conception with a parent sounds bizarre, but it happened quite innocently while Mum was staying at a thoroughbred horse stud I ran in the eighties.
My house was on a hilltop surrounded by paddocks, a brilliant location for observing mares about to foal but physically draining as it entailed walking up and down sloping ground. Mum had called out that afternoon tea was ready, and by the time I had trudged up the hill for the umpteenth time that day I was whinging about its steepness.
“It’s odd you don’t like hills,” she murmured, immediately busying herself with pouring tea.
Now, I wasn’t going to let an intriguing comment like that pass without explanation, so I pestered her until I had dragged out a sanitised version of what she’d referred to.
My parents had gone rabbiting by themselves while my siblings were at school, choosing Nine Mile Hill for the venture—an ingenious name the locals came up with because it is nine miles out from the town of Wodonga in south-eastern Australia.
The ferret Dad had sent down a burrow refused to come out, so while he decided whether to dig or smoke it out, he joined Mum on the picnic blanket. I imagine with his ferret loose an amorous glint appeared in his eye.
The rest is history—mine.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
David Scott is a playwright, director and novelist – among other things. His career included forty years as a film exhibitor; establishing a horse stud; managing a motel; working in the hospitality industry, and a few other experiences along the way. David’s latest book, Stargazer, is an autobiography highlighting the value of family, ingenuity, bravado, old-fashioned common sense, colourful characters and unfailing good humour. From rural towns in Victoria and New South Wales, to the mountain life in Queensland, the constant has been faithful canine companions, perseverance and a joy for living.
CONNECT WITH DAVID SCOTT
WEBSITE http://davidscottbooks.com/
GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20324821.David_Scott
INSTAGRAM @davidscottstargazer
PURCHASE LINKS for STARGAZER
AMAZON.COM https://amazon.com/dp/0228824036
AMAZON AU https://amazon.com.au/dp/0228824036
AMAZON.CA https://amazon.ca/dp/0228824036
BOOKSHOP https://bookshop.org/books/stargazer-9780228824039/9780228824039
BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stargazer-david-scott/1136261174
BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/Stargazer-David-Scott/9780228824039
APPLE BOOKS https://books.apple.com/us/book/stargazer/id1496449313
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
David Scott will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteI love the interesting artwork on the cover. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a Great read.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete"For thousands of years, stars have held our attention and imagination."
ReplyDeleteYes, they have. I miss living in the country where I could see them at night.
Thank you for hosting!
ReplyDeleteDavid's book truly is remarkable. IndieReader gave Stargazer 4.4/5 stars, saying "STARGAZER is a book worth reading about a dear bloke worth knowing, and a treasure chest of an autobiography for insights into 20th Century Australian culture and movie industry history.” – Alicia Rudnicki, IndieReader Review.
David's a true joy of a character, and we think you'll love reading through his life story.