Welcome to my 'Meet the Author 'post which today features Dick Mawson.
TAKE A GLANCE AT THIS CHRONOLOGY
Age 4: He survives a plane crash and being lost in the African bush
Age 11: He loses his right leg in a farm accident
Age 12: He becomes a powerboat champion in Rhodesia
Age 13: He represents his country and becomes an international champion
Age 16: He wins the International Gold Cup regatta at Victoria falls.
Age 16: At the same regatta he survives a 100 mph accident, resulting in serious injuries to his remaining leg and face
This determined and tenacious sixteen year old shakes off his injuries and takes up motor racing.
AND THAT'S JUST THE START OF HIS ASTOUNDING LIFE
In the 1940's the world had Douglas Bader, a Squadron Leader who had lost both legs in a plane crash
During the 1950's the world was not aware of another legless fighter living in Rhodesia, southern Africa. His name was Richard Mawson, an eleven year old boy who lost his right leg in a farm accident and this is his story!
I have lost a limb, sustained multiple injuries, looked death in the face and against all odds survived. As a child my family and I miraculously survive a plane crash in the wilds of Africa and to the natives who found us we were---- "Gods who fell from the sky"
A determined and unwavering fight as a young man, to fulfil the ambition burning within me to be the best at whatever the cost. Consequently the path I chose with the disabilities I had was responsible for who I became.
Welcome Dick and thanks for joining us today.
Hi Sarah Jane I will try to answer your questions as best I can.
What inspired the title of The Gods Who Fell From The Sky?
As you may know, in 1946 our chartered Avro Anson crash landed in the African bush, the natives who found us had never seen a white person up close and thought we were-- “Gods who had fallen from the sky.” --My mother wrote about the journey to Africa so her family had a record of the trip, her story is the start of my book and my book became “The Gods”.
"Nikanya looked up at the shiny silver bird spiralling out of the sky. It was the screeching of the bird that had attracted his attention, and as it fell lower and lower to earth, he ducked under a Mopani Tree, hoping it would offer him protection from the white gods who were certain to be in the bird’s belly. As it approached the ground at greater and greater speed and the wailing grew louder and louder, Nikanya became convinced that the bird had suffered a mortal wound.
As he watched this frightening spectacle being played out before his eyes and pounding heart, the boughs of the Mopani tree offered a measure of comfort. The bird was looking for somewhere to perch, and it seemed to Nikanya that the dry riverbed was where it was heading. As it disappeared from view, a huge cloud of dust and debris rose into the sky, and he knew the bird had finally fallen to earth. Silence reigned in the Luangwa valley once more. Since Nikanya was the local chief, it was his duty and obligation to greet any stranger to his part of the world. He stepped warily out from the protection of the tree and gathering his headmen around him, proceeding in the direction of the dissipating dust cloud to meet-- 'These Gods who had fallen from the sky'."
Who is your target audience for this book?
Being a true story I think it is a book that can be enjoyed by all. It is multi faceted, its a love story, its adventure, it's triumph over adversity, a story of a tenacious young Rhodesian and his exploits, its about his family along with the stupid things one does in life, its about living life to the full and crossing the boundaries of the norm.
What is the biggest source of inspiration in your writing life?
My wife Penny who was a Junior Miss Rhodesia had been on at me for years to write about my life.
How long did it take you to write with this book?
We started the book together in our Pub when it was quiet.
I wrote it purely as a record for any future family to read about the Mawsons arrival in Africa from mom's story, my accidents and successes along with subsequent life in Rhodesia, SA, Mozambique, and our return to the UK, never envisioning it as a published work.
TAKE A GLANCE AT THIS CHRONOLOGY
Age 4: He survives a plane crash and being lost in the African bush
Age 11: He loses his right leg in a farm accident
Age 12: He becomes a powerboat champion in Rhodesia
Age 13: He represents his country and becomes an international champion
Age 16: He wins the International Gold Cup regatta at Victoria falls.
Age 16: At the same regatta he survives a 100 mph accident, resulting in serious injuries to his remaining leg and face
This determined and tenacious sixteen year old shakes off his injuries and takes up motor racing.
AND THAT'S JUST THE START OF HIS ASTOUNDING LIFE
In the 1940's the world had Douglas Bader, a Squadron Leader who had lost both legs in a plane crash
During the 1950's the world was not aware of another legless fighter living in Rhodesia, southern Africa. His name was Richard Mawson, an eleven year old boy who lost his right leg in a farm accident and this is his story!
I have lost a limb, sustained multiple injuries, looked death in the face and against all odds survived. As a child my family and I miraculously survive a plane crash in the wilds of Africa and to the natives who found us we were---- "Gods who fell from the sky"
A determined and unwavering fight as a young man, to fulfil the ambition burning within me to be the best at whatever the cost. Consequently the path I chose with the disabilities I had was responsible for who I became.
Welcome Dick and thanks for joining us today.
Hi Sarah Jane I will try to answer your questions as best I can.
What inspired the title of The Gods Who Fell From The Sky?
As you may know, in 1946 our chartered Avro Anson crash landed in the African bush, the natives who found us had never seen a white person up close and thought we were-- “Gods who had fallen from the sky.” --My mother wrote about the journey to Africa so her family had a record of the trip, her story is the start of my book and my book became “The Gods”.
"Nikanya looked up at the shiny silver bird spiralling out of the sky. It was the screeching of the bird that had attracted his attention, and as it fell lower and lower to earth, he ducked under a Mopani Tree, hoping it would offer him protection from the white gods who were certain to be in the bird’s belly. As it approached the ground at greater and greater speed and the wailing grew louder and louder, Nikanya became convinced that the bird had suffered a mortal wound.
As he watched this frightening spectacle being played out before his eyes and pounding heart, the boughs of the Mopani tree offered a measure of comfort. The bird was looking for somewhere to perch, and it seemed to Nikanya that the dry riverbed was where it was heading. As it disappeared from view, a huge cloud of dust and debris rose into the sky, and he knew the bird had finally fallen to earth. Silence reigned in the Luangwa valley once more. Since Nikanya was the local chief, it was his duty and obligation to greet any stranger to his part of the world. He stepped warily out from the protection of the tree and gathering his headmen around him, proceeding in the direction of the dissipating dust cloud to meet-- 'These Gods who had fallen from the sky'."
Who is your target audience for this book?
Being a true story I think it is a book that can be enjoyed by all. It is multi faceted, its a love story, its adventure, it's triumph over adversity, a story of a tenacious young Rhodesian and his exploits, its about his family along with the stupid things one does in life, its about living life to the full and crossing the boundaries of the norm.
What is the biggest source of inspiration in your writing life?
My wife Penny who was a Junior Miss Rhodesia had been on at me for years to write about my life.
How long did it take you to write with this book?
We started the book together in our Pub when it was quiet.
I wrote it purely as a record for any future family to read about the Mawsons arrival in Africa from mom's story, my accidents and successes along with subsequent life in Rhodesia, SA, Mozambique, and our return to the UK, never envisioning it as a published work.
Penny
In 2008 Penny went to Africa on holiday and was found dead in bed four days later. My life stopped in its tract and the manuscript was a forgotten entity, I sold the Pub and locked myself away from the world for a period of 2 years ,I was heartbroken and devastated.
Gradually picking up the pieces of my shattered life as a normality returned to me I endeavoured to face the future hesitantly without my beloved Penny.
I was shaving one morning about 18 months later,I could fell Penny's presence strongly around me.
Every time I looked in the mirror the thoughts in my head turned to the manuscript, once I had finished shaving this thought played on my mind with a nagging persistence. I found the manuscript later that afternoon and started writing. I finished two years later and I sent it to a friend of mine to crit and check tenses and punctuation before I copied it for the family archives. She phoned me about 10 days later and commented that my story was a fantastic read and it needs to go to a publisher.---- I thought about it. When it was returned and after a number of inquiries, I sent it off for appraisal .
A couple of months down the road I had positive replies from many publishers, their only crit being that it was too long and even with editing it would be an epic. We decided that the book needed to be shortened, but then a lot of the story would be lost. So we decided that there was enough story for two books and I started rewriting and formatting the manuscript into two books.
I finished the first book in 2012, and sent it off for editing, formatting, proofreading, etc. etc. etc., and by the time we had done all that another year had passed but book 1 of "The Gods "was published earlier this year .
Is there one book or author that has inspired you more than any other?
Having lost a leg at eleven and badly damaging my good leg at sixteen I have not found many people to follow who were in the same predicament, I had to get on with my disability and find out how to do things my way. I have for obvious reasons felt a special affinity with Douglas Bader. He has been a constant inspiration in my struggles to overcome – or at least to try to ignore – my disabilities.
Rather than dwelling on life’s mistakes I believe I am a man of strength and determination who has used those mistakes to lift himself and family to new highs and adventures. My outlook on life and its challenges I hope stimulates people to make the most of their lives, just as I have done.
What are 3 of your favourite lines/quotes from your book?
Grief is the price we pay for love, forgiveness is love in its purist form, when love is absolute between two people “Sorry” is not a word that is needed, just an explanation “Why”.
You have never really lived, until you have done something for someone,somewhere, who can never repay you.
"As the darkness of the night descends close your eyes and let your spirit soar.
A silence devoid of all sound washes over you inciting peace and tranquillity
Opening the path to your conscience and its persistent echo of memory.
Within this solitude you will have the space to dream."
Do you have a favorite time of day for writing and why?
I write at any time of the day or night whenever the mood takes me. It is easy for me as I have already lived the story and it is just a case of editing out what is not of interest to you the readers, and for that I listen to a man who has far more experience than I in that, my publisher.
Do you have a current writing project that you would like to share with us?
I am at present writing the sequel of “The Gods who fell from the sky” which is the completion of my story or book two, which I intend calling---“The quiet ghost of the Gods”
My Quiet Ghost Penny Mawson
Nostalgia sweeps my heart and soul away from the present and into the past as I look out across the Salisbury plain.
It was here that the very existence of you evolved.
The sinking sun impregnates the evening air with an autumn chill ,heralding the onset of an early winter as I think back on what was.
Mist rises from within mother earth herself, like a ghost silently billowing up the hills and into her valleys.
Wandering aimlessly amongst trees and shrubs, cloaking the landscape in its cloying white shroud.
This quiet ghost of nature envelopes me in her shroud as I reflect on our life together, a longing for you penetrates my being.
Tears blur my vision as memories of the seasons of our life are interspersed within the mists of time.
Faith in my own abilities made all things possible your companionship and love made these easy
I weep openly realising the desolation I face in life without you.
You slipped from this world without fuss one morning, giving me no time for a goodbye, Penny your demise left me devastated and heartbroken.
You were so much a part of my life I am comforted knowing I was your love.
As you were my soul mate, my lover and friend.
As before faith in my ability to succeed will prevail, but without your love to make it easy.
A longing to be with you saturates me.
My grief hidden from all and yet contained within.
I know that to grieve thus, allowing no release from the pain is grieving in its most pernicious form, with no escape from the perpetual hurt.
An awareness of my loss builds liken to a volcano before its eruption,
It was so with my Britt as it is now with you my Penny you are my quiet ghosts living within the confine of my heart
I cannot bring myself to say goodbye to you my darling wife although I know it to be the right thing to do.
If I had to choose between telling you I love you and breathing
I would use my last breath to tell you: "I love you!"
Dick Mawson
Who is your biggest source of inspiration in your writing life?
Any inspiration I have to write comes from Penny and our family it is not only my story it is theirs as well, as we (Penny and I) started writing it for them and it will always be theirs to share with the world.
If you could share one thing about yourself that you would like readers to know what would it be?
I always have something on the go, at present we are building a “Chev Can Am” to race in the world historic group two series,in 1973 this car was the fastest saloon car in the world and as its driver I hope to prove that point again, I was one of only two works drivers back in 1973 and won over 80 races in the car.
Throughout the passage of time I have surprised myself at the determination I have found from within to succeed in my endeavours having broken through the boundaries of the considered norm. I don’t think I was ever conscious of this determination, being well hidden deep inside and thus I always viewed any accomplishment “as old hat”.
Thank you Dick this has been an eye opening experience and I wish you well with your future endeavours.
Thank you Sarah Jane
Please take a look at Dick's author page and book links.
Author and book details:
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dick-Mawson/e/B00MBIPK5Y/
Authoramp - http://www.authoramp.com/#clients
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JJ5NSFQ/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JJ5NSFQ/
