A Provost, A President and a Big Smile...

The last week has been one of surprise and more surprise...

I have been amazed at the way the 'machine' of 209 A Story has taken on a life of it's own. The several members of staff, namely the Personal Assistant, Renee and the Public Relations Person, Katie, have both been busy with email and letters, and phone calls. All to make the launch of the novel at Balmoral Castle a success.

It was one acceptance that made me smile.

More about this later...

At the ripe old age of 18, I was in the UK for school; as an exchange student. I was in Hampshire at one of the old schools in the country. It was certainly different to school in Australia and it is where I learned all the words to 'I Vow to Thee My Country'!

Like school in Australia, life revolved around the sound of bells. To commence the day, to go to breakfast, to start school, for lunch, to finish school, to commence sport, for showers, for dinner, for prep and finally for lights out.

I was in England on the Gap Scheme. At that stage it was organised by the Australia-Britain Society and one of the patons was Sir Zelman Cowen. He was Provost of Oriel College at Oxford. I received an invitation to visit the College and meet with the Provost. Sir Zelman had been the former Governor-General of Australia.

I found Oxford to be one of the most incredible places in the world. It is beautiful (see picture above of a very young me!) Although I was impressionable at the time, the College and the town left the most amazing mark on me. Two of my prized processions are gifts I was given while there. One was a navy blue and white flannel scraf by Eden and Ravenscroft. It was an Oriel College scarf. The other was a pewter ink-well with the the motto of the University on the lid.

When I finally met with Sir Zelman, I found him to be a very charming man and at the time, I really did not realise what a true gentleman he was. We discussed various things and my time in the United Kingdom. I met up with him in Melbourne a few years back and although now into his 90's, that same charm is still evident. I feel very honoured to have met him.

Surprise #1 A supporter of the 209 A Story in the United States sent to me an email to let me know that he had done some research on the ISBN number of my novel. He informed me that 209 A Story is the first novel in print to make reference to the new American President. A copy of the novel is being sent to the archives of the White House. I was proud.

Surprise #2 Like the Australia-Britain Society, there is also an American-Australian Association. During the 'invitation period' when invites are being extended to various VIP's to attend the launch, an email arrived into the office. Renee called me in a fluster. The American-Australian Association were asking me if I would be interested in attending a Writer's Forum in Los Angeles in May. I was proud.

Surprise #3 In 209 A Story, I have based one of the characters (Aberton Chartres-Hume) on the Oxford students I met at Oriel College- one in particular. This week I had word that Sir Derek Morris, the current Provost of Oriel College, Oxford had accepted the invitation to attend the launch at Balmoral. I was really proud... and I smiled.

Have a nice week everyone.

Steven

Three Angels and a Koala named Sam... what a week!

Sometimes, when stress levels run high, you actually don’t have to look too hard to find something to make one smile. I thought of three friends of mine. I once was their boss and we have tried over the years to remain in contact. They are a bit like Charlie’s Angels (or I should I call them ‘Steven’s Angels’?). We caught up for dinner at Docklands in Melbourne. The meal was fabulous and the conversation flowed easily. We each took turns at telling one another of our last few months and there was much talk about 209 A Story and how many people know about the novel.

It was after dinner when something occurred that made me laugh like I had not laughed in a long, long time. I drove the ‘Angels’ out to Moonee Ponds to collect their individual vehicles and I stopped at the service station to put fuel in the car. For 11pm, I was surprised at how the place was packed – with cars on every pump.

More about this later…

The bushfires here in Victoria have been nothing less then horrific. The hundreds of email I have received from all over the world and the many text messages that buzzed my new iphone at silly o’clock (and at other times during the night and day) were a constant reminder to me that people do care. The images that went around the world were of tired fire fighters, desperate people who had lost everything, individuals who recounted amazing stories of survival and thousands of ‘spots’ where houses (and towns) once stood.

Looking beyond this – there were other things that happened this week that put a different slant on the situation.

As most of you would be aware, my love for the City of Melbourne is beyond my love for any other place on the planet. After being fortunate enough to have travelled extensively (over many years), I made the decision to settle here ten years ago. It is now my home town. During this week it was so easy to see what was on everyone’s mind and why I am so proud of the place. People who were once strangers openly talked to one another... on trams and at coffee shops and in the street. Everything I overheard was based around ‘the situation’ and generally it turned to ways in which they were able to help those affected.

It made me very happy and I was proud to call myself a Melbournian.

After the initial shock of the bushfires there were glimmers of goodness trying to make its way through the sense of despair. Firstly, there was the photograph of Sam the Koala. Like many others to recieve the image via email... I just cried! Secondly, on Thursday night the sky across Melbourne was so thick with smoke that it was quite difficult to walk home. I got to the Prince’s Bridge crossing the Yarra and stood for a while and tried to make out the MCG and the Royal Botanic Garden. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew and there before me, in the sky, was the most amazing sight. It was the moon. No ordinary moon. It was a full moon. It was a moon that appeared like one enormous, luminous ruby. It was magical. I know I was not the only person who saw it. It was like a gift to the people of Victoria because we would have been the only ones to have seen it like this. It was a hard week for all.

It was quite ironic that the week of the greatest natural disaster in the history of Australia was the same week as www.209astory.com coming on-line. I am sure the sense of helplessness of those who remained behind or those who had survived the disaster of RMS Titanic in 1912 was similar to the thoughts of many Melbourians this past week.

So… I finished filling the car with fuel and took out my wallet to go and pay for the petrol. I was thinking about the dinner, my friends and how excited I am about the up-and-coming launch of 209 A Story. I walked toward the glass doors and they did not open automatically so I leaned across and pressed the button beside the door…

It was not an ‘entry’ button!

The entire place plunged into darkness! The emergency lighting came on and sirens began basting their woooop… woooop sounds! Most people jumped. The people inside the store could not get out… and those of us outside could not get in. The grumpy man behind the console looked even grumpier and it took him a good minute or so to turn the system off. I am pleased I could not hear what he said because the look he shot me... and the words being mouthed really appeared quite unkind and not at all sympathetic to my situation. At that point I wanted the world to swallow me up because EVERYONE knew exactly who had set off the alarm.

Then I began to laugh… because during dinner one of the Angels said to me… 'Rafter, are you sure you are ready for fame of 209 A Story?'

Have a good week everyone…

Steven

ps - the website is up and if you would like to attend one of the launch parties in the UK, Australia or in the USA - please go to www.209astory.com - you can also purchase your copy of the novel. Special First Print Edition almost sold out!

A Respect For Victoria... my home.

As a mark of respect to the fire fighters, the volunteers and the victims of the most horrific natural disaster in the history of Australia, I have not entered a blog for this week. The stories of their heroic acts and also the horrific tales of this situtation make anything I would have to write seem inappropriate. Have a safe week. Steven