John and Anne Darwin v Harry Gordon

The apparent faked death of Englishman John Darwin is getting a lot of media attention around the world, but it isn’t the first time such a story has done the rounds.

Harry Gordon, a New Zealander turned Australian, has a very similar story. He faked his other death and lived under a fake identity for five years before being found out by his brother while on a remote bush walk in New Zealand.

Harry has been inundated by requests for interviews in the last few days because of the parallels with the story of the Darwins. In both cases there was an life insurance policy involved. In both cases they used the seas to disappear and in both cases they were officially ruled to be dead.

Harry served 18 months in jail for identity and insurance fraud. Time will tell what becomes of John and Anne Darwin after he turned up from his alleged canoe death and subsequent life in Panama.

Harry Gordon's story is in the book, The Harry Gordon Story, How I Faked My Own Death.

100 Years of Rugby League

One of the great milestones in Australian sport is being celebrated at New Holland Publishers with the release of 100 Years of Rugby League.

This leather-bound two volume set is the ultimate year-by-year guide to the history of the game, from its beginnings to the most recent NRL Premiership win by the Melbourne Storm.

100 Years of Rugby League - written by respected rugby league authors Ian Collis and Alan Whiticker (The History of Rugby League Clubs) - tracks each season’s most dramatic and memorable games and events, the final ladder and the finals series. There is also coverage of international matches as well as a variety of memorabilia and statistics.

With informative text and dazzling photos, 100 Years of Rugby will bring back many memories of lazy afternoons at the game as well as becoming a valuable reference book for all rugby league fans.

Volume I: 1907-1966
The first 60 years of the game.

Volume II: 1967-2007
The start of the ‘limited tackle’ era; the arrival of colour television and much more.

Stuart Dickinson's Rugby World Cup Diaries

It was Rugby heaven last night as much of the fraternity turned out to the launch of referee Stuart Dickinson’s new book, The Rugby World Cup Diaries, less than a month after the final where Stuart ruled against an English try (which cost them any hope of winning the cup). Stuart has recounted it all in his new book.

The launch took place at the Harlequin Hotel in the Sydney suburb of Pyrmont.

Among the one hundred or so attendees were senior people from the Rugby referee fraternity, former NSW Opposition Leader Kerry Chikarovski, cricket referee Simon Taufel and Wayne Erickson.

Wayne Erickson, soon to be the new principal of St Andrew’s College paid tribute to his years of working alongside Stuart as a referee with the ARU.

Stuart talked about the importance of getting decisions right and Wayne made the comment that ‘Stuart was the most conscientious person he new when it came to making accurate decisions on the rugby field’.

The book is a day by day account of Stuart's World Cup including every game and his experiences in France during his two-month referring campaign. There is the thrilling conclusion of Stuart's role in the final, but also the behind the scenes emotions of the refereeing fraternity during the selection process to determine who would be responsible for the various games.

The Rugby World Cup Diaries is available now.

Media Turn Out for Zemanek Book Launch

Last night more than one hundred of Sydney’s top media personalities and producers joined friends and family of Marcella Zemanek to pay tribute to Stan and launch the new book, My Way or the Highway.

The launch was held at the Astral Bar, Star City Casino in Sydney.

Among the attendees were Kerri-Anne Kennerley (Nine Network), Brian Walsh (Foxtel), Alan Jones (2GB), John Brennan (2GB), John Stanley (2UE), Glenn Wheeler (2UE) Simon Townsend, Ian Ross (Seven Network), Ray Chesterton (Daily Telegraph), Barry O’Farrell (NSW Opposition Leader) and former co-stars of Stan Zemanek's Beauty and the Beast, Prue Macsween, Ita Buttrose, Jan Murray, Jeannie Little, Carlotta and Susie Elelman - just to name a few.

Speaking to the audience, New Holland CEO Fiona Schultz said “that it was a privilege and pleasure to have worked with the Zemanek family and publish this book”.

Foxtel’s Brian Walsh introduced the “Beauties” from “Beauty and the Beast” to launch the book. Jeannie Little, Jan Murray, Ita Buttrose and Prue Macsween entertained the crowds with funny anecdotes about Stan. Jan even proclaimed that she “wished she married Stan, so she could divorce the bugger!!”.

Marcella gave a heart felt speech about those people who supported her and the family through Stan’s most difficult times.

Janise Beaumont, who helped Stan and Marcella bring the book together, was congratulated on her efforts in making it work.

Alan Jones and Marcella Zemanek

Tutankhamun and Cultural Treasures

The immense publicity over the recent public undressing of the mummy of pharaoh Tutankhamun in Egypt has reinforced the fascination there is with the mysteries of the ancient world.

In fact The Times has written an interesting piece on our continued fascination with ancient Egypt. Unfortunately, this fascination is destroying the very relics that are so interesting, leading to the Egyptian authorities placing new limits on the number of people that will be able to see the tomb of Tutankhamun .

There may come a time when the only access we have to precious relics is through literature – although for many of us the logistics and cost of travel may have always made this the case.

Author Pamela Bradley has delved into those mysteries with her new book, Cultural Treasures of the Ancient World. By looking at 55 artefacts from a range of ancient civilisations - including Egyptian, Greek, Roman and those of Asia and the Americas – we gain a great insight into how people lived as far back as the 7th millennium B.C.E.

Ancient relics are more than just objects of beauty, but also of cultural significance. For example they can show us, through innovation and inscriptions, how the Roman Empire changed from pagan to Christian, or how the birth of modern democracy occurred in ancient Greece.

The treasures of Tutankhamun, including the life-sized death mask of the young king, are just one of the many glorious photographs and stories contained in Cultural Treasures of the Ancient World.

The book is available through New Holland Publishers.

Marcella Zemanek appears on Today on the Nine Network

Marcella Zemanek has continued her publicity tour to promote My Way or the Highway with appearances on the Nine Network's Today Show.

Marcella was interviewed by Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson just after 8am.

My Way or the Highway is the autobiography of Australian radio and television personality, Stan Zemanek, who died in July, 14 months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. The finishing touches to the book we completed by his wife Marcella and author Janise Beaumont after Stan's death.

The interview from the Today Show is available for viewing online.

Daily Telegraph Publishes Zemanek Extracts

The story of Stan and Marcella Zemanek is continuing to touch Australians with intense media scrutiny of My Way or the Highway.

The book is about the life of Australian radio and television personality Stan Zemanek, who began the project after being diagnosed with a brain tumor last year, and was completed by his wife Marcella and Janise Beaumont after Stan's death in July, 2007.

The story is both that of a truly love lasting almost 30 years between Stan and Marcella, plus an insight into the succes of Stan's career, his bulldog presentation style (hence the title of the book) and the numerous run-ins with other major Australian media personalities including Mike Carlton and Ernie Sigley.

Extracts of from the book first appeared in New Idea, but a new set of extracts also appeared in The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, November 3.

Marcella's interview are appealing to all ages.. This week she has appeared on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on 2DAY-FM in Sydney. She will also be soon appearing on the Alan Jones Show on 2GB, 9am on Network TEN and the Today Show on the Nine Network.

A Current Affair on the Nine Network has covered extensively Stan's fight with cancer, so it was very appropriate Marcella made her first television appearance to promote My Way or the Highway on that program. Many of the segments they have produced about Stan are available for viewing online.

Also touching was that Marcella's first radio interview about the book was on Stan's old radio timeslot on 2UE in Sydney, now hosted by Stuart Bocking. Marcella appeared again on 2UE at the weekend, this time and the George and Paul breakfast show. That interview is available online.

Stan Zemanek - My Way or the Highway

Stan Zemanek's biography My Way or the Highway is creating a storm, particularly because of the often-controversial relationships Stan had with fellow talk radio personalities in Australia.

Written with his wife, Marcella, and journalist Janise Beaumont, the book is a reflection of the two sides of Stan Zemanek's life, his strong devotion to his family and the bulldog styled media personality known through 2UE, 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and a string of other station across Australia, plus his role as the longest serving host of the television show, Beauty and the Beast.

Stan died of cancer in July 2007, after being diagnosed with a brain tumor 14 months earlier

New Idea magazine has focused on Marcella Zemanek's life without stan in the article My Stan Lives On .

However, it is the rifts between Stan and other media personalities, including Mike Carlton, Steve Price and Ernie Sigley that has been the focus of other media articles. The NINE network's A Current Affair , called its story Radio Wars. The Daily Telegraph wrote its story on Stan Speaks from the Grave

My Way or the Highway is now available in stores for $29.95

Silverchair and Richard and Famous

The feat of Australian rock band Silverchair in becoming the most successful band at their own country’s music awards (The ARIAS) proves these three musicians from Newcastle have matured from childhood stars to, at least for Daniel Johns, being on the verge of becoming music legends.

It isn’t just the music that has matured, and in particular the award winning latest album, Young Modern and the hit Straight Lines, but the men themselves.

Looking at a young Silverchair, circa 1997, in Richard Simpkins new book Richard and Famous, gives an insight into the way the public persona of the group has changed – or more to the point how they deal with their fame.

Richard Simpkin has been hunting photographs of himself with celebrities for over 20 years and the book contains about 200 shots of everyone from Royalty to greats of film and music.

His 1997 shot of Silverchair has the three members of the band agreeing to a photo with Richard, although already at that stage Daniel Johns showed his reclusive side, lingering at the back.

By 2005 when Richard Simpkin next asked Daniel Johns for a photo while he was doing a charity gig at the Sydney Opera House, he was refused. According to Richard, Johns said every time he posed for a photo part of his soul died.

Well, it is the soul of a musical genius.. Congratulations Silvershair!!!

Crazy John Ilham's Death and Heart Disease

The sudden death of Australian mobile phone entrepreneur John Ilhan at just 42 years of age from a heart attack has brought the issue of cardiac disease firmly into focus.

Ilham became an Australian icon of success at a young age, accumulating wealth estimated at $300 million through his business, Crazy Johns.

Channel 7’s Today Tonight has featured Robert E Kowalski’s Take the Pressure of Your Heart in the wake of John Ilhan’s death. The tragedy just goes to show that people from all walks of life, irrespective of their means, can fall victims to heart disease.

Robert E Kowalski’s is a highly respected US Medical Journalist regularly featured on CNN and says that a few simple changes to lifestyle can make a big difference.

NEW HOLLAND - CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER AND 6 SUMMER IDEAS!

CELEBRATION!

“Where’s Bin Laden” and the just-released “Mini Where’s Bin Laden” have just become international best sellers, with over 300,000 copies being sold!! These cartoon books, drawn by Australian cartoonist Daniel Lalic, require the reader to find Bin Laden in a sea of characters. Says Lalic, “The book is primarily a bit of fun, but if there were to be a serious message to this book, it would be that despite all the money and resources being spent, Bin Laden is still at large. It is a timely reminder for people to think about what our goals are in Afghanistan and Iraq”. Given the success of the books we thought we’d celebrate with a tongue and cheek game to play in your own spare time. Have fun and send it on! Click - Where's Bin Laden

Our current TOP 6 titles….

Barbecue Seafood – Peter Howard. Peter is an award winning and best selling author. He is highly respected around Australia and represents us internationally as a senior official for promotions including the “G’Day USA” campaign. Barbecue Seafood is his latest book and is about healthy and contemporary seafood dishes. It is a celebration of the unique variety of Australian seafood and offers preparation, serving and cooking tips. Peter explores the range of fresh produce available to the Australian consumer and gives tips on storage and food selection at the store. The recipes include starters, canopes, light meals and main courses. It is one of the most comprehensive seafood cookbooks on the market.

Richard and Famous – Richard Simpkin. This new release is proving to be a hit. Simpkin photographs celebrities for a living. This book takes the professional life of Richard one step further. With this book, Simpkin wants to show that most people who photograph celebrities, develop a good relationship with those celebrities. With this book Richard chooses photographs where the celebrities pose with him (normally the photographer). More than this, Simpkin tells the story of how he came to get the photograph. Richard will also be getting some attention in the coming weeks. He is selling his celebrity autograph collection off through a Melbourne auctioneer on the 11th of November. It is recognised as one of the better collections in Australia. Autographs include some of Hollywood’s greatest such as Audrey Hepburn. Get insights into the personalities – or perhaps tips for the would be celebrity spotter!!

Great Inventions of Our Time – David Ellyard. The ultimate reference book for people wanting to know the origins of technology. Ellyard is a well known Scientist who has been a policy adviser for Government and a respected media commentator. He has won many prestigious awards for his books, including the Eureka Science Book Prize in 2004. This book starts around 1500 and traces scientific developments through until today. He divides the book into four basic parts – the development of energy and fuels, the development of information technologies, the development of transport and the medicine revolution. This is a hardback quality book suited for any lover of history and technological development.

What’s on a Man’s Mind – Geoff Barker. With the dating scene back in full swing…we want to remind you that best selling author Geoff Barker is available to talk about men….and for the ladies, how to catch one!! Geoff’s book divides men into several categories and simplifies male personalities. Use his book to know what you’re getting yourself into….and avoid that relationship disaster!! Candid and even scientific….Barker’s approach uses research to explain and demonstrate what’s going on in the male mind. Geoff Barker is living proof of a relationship success story, with his ten year happy marriage to celebrity, Bessie Bardot. Finally, and to quote leading relationships expert, Allan Pease, “Geoff, you leave the ‘men are from Mars’ stuff in the dust….This book really stands out”. Now there’s a wrap!!

Disasters, Events and Moments that Changed the World – Richard Whitaker. Respected Meteorologist and author of the best-selling ‘Australia’s Natural Disasters’ has taken this concept one step further and categorised disasters and events – both natural and man made – that have impacted on society. This is an amazing collation of disasters and events – the normal suspects are there – but so too are the stories behind Agent Orange, the Suffragette movement, the development of the plastic bag, Mad Cow disease, Waco – and the list goes on. In fact, around 150 events are detailed in this book. The book is illustrated throughout and list events in chronological date order.

The George W Bush Years – Nicolas Vadot. I think the cartoon says it all…..

With almost 130 pages of full colour cartoons, ‘The George W Bush Years’ details the victories, the decisiveness, the ineptitude and the hypocrisy from the
international community while President Bush has been in power.

AND FINALLY – ONE FOR THE CHILDREN!!

New from our Young Reed series where titles have taken out prestigious Whitley Awards – Space, Stars and Planets. Author and leading pioneer in Video Astronomy, Steve Massey has just put together this new title our Young Reed series, explaining the universe around us! Great pictures and simple explanations, this book showcases the cosmos in a simple and exciting way!! I must say, as a schoolboy of the 70’s, I was a touch saddened to see my beloved “Pluto” denigrated to a Dwarf Planet for this new generation of school kids!! Reasons for this are all detailed in Massey’s new book.

The George W Bush Years