Editorial
Daily Telegraph (Central Coast Extra - Sydney - Australia) 7 August 2004
For accessibility, below is the text from the above newspaper clipping
Vivid life story is a dream debut
By ELOISE KING
It is every author's dream to be told that a reader could not put his or her book down.
But after numerous attempts to complete a book, John Leonard Spencer (pen name) from Budgewoi had the pleasure of hearing these words from one reader volunteering feedback to his published debut Waving Goodbye to a Thousand Flies.
Launched by Trafford Publishing in Canada last month, "Mr Spencer" desribes his first book as a pseudo autobiography that is just plain "interesting".
It is collection of stories from his own rich 78 years of life that he said had involved poverty, institutions, sadness, happiness, love and romance, plenty of humour and travel with the British Royal Navy.
"The journey starts in London and continues to other parts of England and on to the Mediterranean, Sri Lanka, Japan and Sydney, Singapore, West Indies, the USA, Canada, Africa, Hong Kong and Australia." he said.
"Mr Spencer" said he had spent an average of six to seven hours a week for the past three years to produce the book, which includes 56 chapters and 243 pages.
He then developed it into a 20-page summary before his first draft of 29,000 words developed into a 35,000 word draft.
"Then I ripped it all to pieces because I was told it was too bland," he said. "I then exercised the right to put the truth in there and alter all the names. I decided to change it from a steady plodder and rewrote the whole issue adding in my colourful love life which then increased it to 78,000 and became the final draft.
You should never write it as it actually happened - that can be boring. You have to extend the truth. My book is basically as it did happen with a few extensions.
"I enjoyed every moment of it. It was very laborious but every night I went to bed and read it and thought, 'now I'll slot that in there'. Everything fitted in just right at the end".
Waving Goodbye to a Thousand Flies by John Leonard Spencer can be ordered direct from Trafford Publishing or on the Amazon or Barnes and Noble website.
But if you recognise this Budgewoi author's face, resist the urge to search for his book using his real name - Leslie John Bowyer.
A gripping read: Les Bowyer (aka John Leonard Spencer) with his first published book.
Picture: TODD MARTYN-JONES