THE GURUS APPROVE

With Deep Water poised to arrive in retail stores around Australia over the next month, two of my most admired writers have been singing its praises. Acclaimed newspaper columnist cum author Martin Flanagan and lyrical local surf writer Jack Finlay have both given the book their nod of approval.

Jack, and in particular his 1992 book Caught Inside, was a big influence on Deep Water. Jack wrote a series of evocative surf stories for Surfing World magazine during the late 70’s and early 80’s, including Road Song and Seasons. While I was but a pup when Jack was weaving his magic, pushing the boundaries of surf writing, his collection of stories (Caught Inside) was a massive influence on my writing. To such a degree that the opening chapter title of Deep Water is called ‘The Low Road to Xanadu’ in reference to an article Jack initially wrote for Surfing World issue #168, circa 1978, which was subsequently published in Caught Inside and is now available in his fantastic book Wind on the Water (HarperCollins, 2006). So I was thrilled to the back teeth when Jack contacted me last week because he thought I “might be pleased to know” that he had “purchased a copy of Deep Water and have enjoyed reading it very much”. “The average punter has little idea of the risks, both psychological and financial, involved in putting this type of stuff out there, so Well Done!” Thank-you Jack.

Martin Flanagan is another kettle of fish. Martin writes a column for the Sport section for The Age newspaper. However, his musings extend far beyond the sporting sphere, examining Australian culture and more often than not, the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Martin has written 10 books, including The Call, a dazzling re-imagination of the life of Thomas Wentworth Wills, an Australian Icarus who helped give birth to Australian Rules football (among other things). I met Martin last year when a short film I made with my brother Damien (King Wilf & The Pumas) was a finalist at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Martin was a fan of the film and has since become a fan of Deep Water. “Each story is like a wave, ridden with respect and verbal agility,” he wrote. Thank-you Martin.

            To be honest I’ve been overwhelmed by the positive feedback to the book. Deep Water is a deeply personal journey, so I was a little anxious about how it would be received. That people have connected with my story has been incredibly humbling. As Jack told me: “I guess in the end, if it's anything at all, life is a growth towards wisdom!”